Lake Okeechobee sees 240 Square Miles of Blue-Green Algae

Lake Okeechobee is seeing about 240 square miles of Blue-Green Algae on the north, west, and south shores. That is about a 30% increase over the last two weeks.

The Army Corps of Engineers began to release water from Lake Okeechobee two days ago, with 78% of water being released right now from Lake Okeechobee being moved into the Caloosahatchee River system.

This has the Calusa Waterkeepers, a local conservation group, concerned about what might be next for the Caloosahatchee River.

“If they start releasing water it is possible that could inoculate with some of that algae-laden water in the Lake,” said John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper.

And while the Calooshatachee River does see small blooms year-round, Lake Okeechobee releases can worsen those blooms by increasing nutrient loads and flushing current algae down the system.