January 25, 2017
South Florida Water Management District's Hydrology and Hydraulics Bureau Chief Akintunde Owosina, P.E. and his modeling team of professional engineers and scientists have a single goal, to offer the public and decision-makers with objective, dependable science to help make informed public policy. Tom Van Lent represents a special interest group driving a private agenda.
Owosina's team of engineers and scientists examined the modeling study highlighted during today's testimony and found the claim that the benefit of southern storage is superior to northern storage in minimizing estuary discharges is misleading, the product of an agenda-driven academic exercise.
For a contradiction of today's claims and an objective account of Everglades storage issues, please see the January 11, 2017 testimony to the same Subcommittee by the University of Florida Water Institute's Director Wendy Graham. On the topic of benefits of both northern and southern water storage in the Everglades, she stated at the 31:45 mark of her testimony:
"If you want to protect the estuaries, it's pretty equal north or south of the Lake."
- To view Dr. Graham's January 11, 2017 testimony where she states at 31:45 that "If you want to protect the estuaries, it's pretty equal north or south of the Lake" click here.
- To view the 2015 University of Florida Water Institute Study, commissioned by State Sen. Joe Negron, click here.
- To view SFWMD Hydrology and Hydraulics Bureau Chief Akin Owosina's response letter to Tom Van lent, click here.