Water Storage Plan May Clean Up Murky Florida Water

Brown water that plagued the beaches in Lee County, FL last year may be avoided with a new water storage plan.

The problem that led to brown and murky water stems from Lake Okeechobee water releases, according to WINK. But under a plan supported by Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane, the storage area of the lake would be increased by six inches.

How would that help?

The releases are necessary to "ease the stress on the lake’s frail dike system," according to the Naples Daily News. "Lake releases to the west go into the Caloosahatchee River through Hendry and Lee counties, affecting the balance of fresh and salt water along with releasing polluting nutrients."

Adding storage area "would reduce the amount of water sent downstream when a release is needed," the report said.

"If we could hold six more inches up at the lake, convince the Army Corp to do that, that's one way. Then during the dry season when we need water, if we held six more inches, we could release more," Ruane said, per the report.

Florida officials have considered some aggressive options for combating the water pollution problem caused by lake releases.

"While long-term solutions have been in the works for years, other temporary fixes presented [in August] to the Senate Select Committee on Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee Basin included cleaning the water that comes into the lake from the Kissimmee River; reducing nutrients from septic tanks; raising the allowed water levels in canals by a few inches; and getting Gov. Rick Scott to declare a state of emergency for the lake to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to re-evaluate the lake protection plan," the report said.

Officials have avoided sending discharges from the lake this year due to concerns about water quality, but they may be necessary anyway.

"After discharges at the St. Lucie Locks devastated the lagoon with fish kills and toxic algae last summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has avoided sending any lake water east this year. However, with the lake swelling from recent heavy rains, the corps may have no other choice," WPBF reported.

For more on source water, check out Water Online's Source Water Solution Center.