A plan to build a large freshwater reservoir near Lake Okeechobee would benefit Everglades National Park and its wildlife, according to proponents/NPS file

Congress is being encouraged by the National Parks Conservation Association to support a reservoir project for Florida that would provide freshwater for Everglades National Park.

The Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir proposal is viewed as a way to increase water storage south of Lake Okeechobee as part of an effort to reduce harmful lake discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. Such a project is seen as a way to reduce damaging discharges to the northern estuaries, deliver clean water for Everglades restoration, and achieve water quality standards.

A project component of CERP, the reservoir would be designed to hold at least 240,000 acre-feet of water and include water quality features necessary to meet state and federal water quality standards.

“A plan to begin construction of the desperately needed Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir was sent to Congress today and must be included as they plan to move water infrastructure legislation through the Water Resources Development Act," NPCA President and CEO Theresa Pierno said Wednesday. "Everglades National Park is parched for freshwater, while polluted water from Lake Okeechobee continues to inundate Florida’s coastal estuaries, causing blue-green algae blooms that are dangerous to public health, the environment and the economy.

"Native seagrass, wading birds, fish, and other national park species face catastrophic consequences unless Lake Okeechobee’s polluted water is treated, and freshwater is restored to Everglades National Park."