Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee has been the name sake for the City since its inception, and Lake Okeechobee is truly the heart of our community.  Lake Okeechobee is known for its superior fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch.  Each year the lake is visited by thousands of anglers and water fowl hunters to enjoy one of our natural resources.  Visitors also visit Lake Okeechobee to photograph the flora and fauna and breathtaking views of the area.  We are blessed to have this resource. 

The issues currently with the lake have taken center stage in South Florida with its discharges and have even drawn visits from Governor DeSantis, several Congressmen, and Senators.  State Senators and Representatives have also been involved with Lake Okeechobee discharge issues and brought a spot light to the area.  Our own President Trump has made a visit to its shores as well. 

Lake Okeechobee has been managed by the Army Corps of Engineers with attention paid to its level and discharges.  It is important to ensure an environmentally healthy lake and ecosystem where everyone can benefit.  These discharges are comprised of flows from not only Lake Okeechobee’s area, but from the direct inflows from the north by the Kissimmee River and other tributaries.  Local basin flows that are released into the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee outfalls are composed of over half of local basin flows; not flows from Lake Okeechobee directly.  The areas immediately surrounding Lake Okeechobee comprise a very small percentage of flows to the lake. 

We have proudly been the first city to adopt the Lake Okeechobee Compact, placing Lake Okeechobee as a primary concern for our region. 

Lake Okeechobee is where our name sake lies. We look to the future to ensure this world-renown and diverse ecosystem will remain a jewel in the crown of our area.