By STAFF REPORTS
Through state funding championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is partnering on five projects aimed at improving the water quality and ecological health of Lake Okeechobee.
In coordination with South Florida Water Management District, local governments and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DEP’s performance-based grant program only pays contractors as they demonstrate successful removal of harmful levels of phosphorus and other nutrients from the lake. Much of the work will take place on the eastern portion of the lake beginning this summer.
Among the five projects underway, the aquatic restoration approach centers on removing phosphorus and nitrogen-laden muck from targeted, high-concentration areas of the lake. The muck is diverted to constructed wetlands and biofiltration ponds on-site, designed to replicate and accelerate natural filtration processes. Filtered water is then returned to the lake and the treated organic material can be beneficially reused as a soil amendment on farms or other approved applications.
As with many of its previous restoration projects, Sea & Shoreline’s method involves removing harmful elements from the lake that will create the conditions that encourage the return of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and support its expansion long term.
“When aquatic vegetation thrives, it means cleaner and clearer water for our ecosystems and communities for years to come,” said Carter Henne, Sea & Shoreline CEO and Chairman. “And that’s why our team jumped at the chance to join the effort to restore Lake Okeechobee. We’re excited about the opportunity to dig into this important work and are grateful for the support of state leaders who are focused on delivering real results.”
DEP has also enlisted several other companies approaching restoration through a mix of physical muck removal and science-backed flocculant applications. One method will remove nuisance vegetation and nutrient-rich muck to improve water quality and clarity, relocating the mixture for beneficial reuse as soil amendment in approved applications. Another will remove phosphorus through an iron-based extraction process, returning cleaner water to the Kissimmee River as it flows into the lake. Still another involves the application of flocculants to bind excess phosphorus and sequester or stabilize it in the lake to prevent reabsorption.
“EutroPHIX is proud to partner with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and stakeholders across the state to advance the restoration of Lake Okeechobee,” said Dr. Tyler Koschnick, President and CEO of SEPRO Corporation. “Excess phosphorus remains the primary driver of water quality impairment and addressing legacy sediment phosphorus is essential to achieving long-term restoration goals. Our EutroSORB® technologies, built on a strong scientific and technical foundation, consistently deliver measurable, scalable water quality improvements by binding and permanently sequestering phosphorus. As part of an integrated lake management strategy, we believe this proven approach can accelerate meaningful, lasting progress in Lake Okeechobee’s restoration.”
Decades of environmental pressures, including nutrient accumulation, storm impacts and sediment disturbance, have stifled restoration efforts, affecting the long-term health of the lake and the region’s communities that depend on it for their livelihoods.
However, the state’s latest effort may reflect a more sustained commitment to restoring the largest lake in the southeastern U.S. and one of Florida’s most important ecological and economic resources.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the County Coalition for the Responsible Management of Lake Okeechobee, DEP’s Director of Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration Ed Smith signaled that this commitment will be paired with responsible stewardship of state dollars.
“We will be looking at each of these from a cost-effectiveness means,” Smith said.
As algal blooms on the lake became more frequent over the last three decades, state agencies stepped up efforts to better understand the lake’s ecosystem. In the early 2000s, studies evaluated potential sediment management strategies, while Florida implemented phosphorus and nitrogen reduction targets through its Total Maximum Daily Load program. Additional research in 2011 and again in 2020 confirmed that legacy phosphorus stored in lake sediments remained a significant obstacle to recovery, particularly when stirred up by wind and storm events.
Recent hurricanes and extended periods of elevated water levels increased turbidity throughout the lake, as strong winds churn bottom sediments and reduce water clarity. The suspended sediments combine with excess phosphorus in the water to fuel harmful algal blooms that contribute to the ongoing decline of SAV.
A critical component of the lake’s ecosystem, SAVs provide habitat for wildlife and support natural water quality functions. The extended absence of adequate SAVs allows phosphorus-rich muck to accumulate on the lake bottom, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that continues to degrade the health of Lake Okeechobee.
As restoration efforts gain traction, state leaders and environmental partners are beginning to view these recent investments as an important step toward improving water quality, ecological resilience and recreational opportunities for future generations.
Greg Knecht, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy of Florida, praised the efforts.
“As restoration efforts gain traction, we view these recent investments as an important step toward improving water quality, ecological resilience and recreational opportunities for future generations,” he said.
