Water Projects - lykes.com

Water Projects

Water Projects

PROTECTING THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE WATERSHED

Lykes Bros. Inc. is the largest private property owner in the Lake Okeechobee watershed and one of the largest in Florida, managing more than 339,000 acres for agriculture and conservation. The size and location of the Lykes Ranch makes it a logical and important location for regional water projects. Lykes is already a proud partner with SFWMD on three water projects, Brighton Valley, West Waterhole, and Nicodemus Slough. The hallmark of the Lykes-SFWMD joint projects is cost effectiveness, early implementation, location, and flexibility of operational management. Lykes Bros. Inc. is an efficient and important cooperative partner in reaching both water quality and water storage goals for Lake Okeechobee.

Brighton Valley

Brighton Valley is a large-scale (8,143 acres) stormwater storage and treatment project designed for its unique and desirable location that can both capture significant nutrients and help manage Lake Okeechobee levels and regulatory releases.

West Waterhole

The Project encompasses approximately 2,500 acres located in the Indian Prairie Basin, south of SR 70 and west of the Lykes Ranch headquarters at Brighton. Indian Prairie Canal water is pumped into the project at the northeastern edge and runs south through the site before being returned, post treatment to the canal further downstream.

Nicodemus Slough

The Nicodemus Slough project began operating in 2015. When Lake Okeechobee levels are high, water is pumped from the lake's rim canal west to the highest of the project site. The water then moves in a sheetflow east across the site through a series of basins.