Experts Question Reliability of Lake Okeechobee Dike

摘要

It has long been known that the Herbert Hoover Dike, a 140 mi (225 km) long earthen barrier surrounding Florida's Lake Okeechobee, suffers from internal erosion problems, and the initial stages of an ambitious rehabilitation project are already under way. However, ever since Hurricane Katrina burst the levees surrounding New Orleans, many Floridians have sought assurances that they are safe from a similar tragedy. Now an independent panel of experts has evaluated the condition of the dike, and its findings are as grim as they are controversial.