Large algae bloom covers over half of Lake O as releases lower

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – The Army Corps of Engineers are reducing water releases from Lake Okeechobee. 

Col. Andrew Kelly said they’re lowering from 2,000 cubic feet per second to 1,500 cfs. This comes after local conservancy groups and Governor Ron Desantis called the Army Corps to make changes.

“We heard the governor’s remarks,” Col. Kelly said.

Right now, a large algae bloom is covering more than half of Lake Okeechobee. Water experts said that water is heading down the Caloosahatchee. 

The lake is two feet above where it should be for this time of the year. Water experts all over Southwest Florida are worried harmful discharges will be coming our way this summer. 

Pilot Ralph Arwood took NBC2 for a tour of the lake Friday. Algae was seen on the west and north side of the lake, and the other areas were too cloudy to see the streaks from above.

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NBC2 Fort Myers