LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- The process of removing harmful algae from the waters of Lee County is getting a big boost in funding thanks to a federal grant.
The county announced Thursday that they have secured $700,000 from the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Management Grant Program through the Department of Environmental Protection.
The money will aid in the removal, processing, and disposal of harmful algae blooms from select test sites in unincorporated Lee County and affected municipalities, most notably Cape Coral.
PHOTOS: Water problems in Southwest Florida during summer 2018
Algae recovery sites will be determined based on the severity of the bloom, the number of residents immediately affected, accessibility of the site, and changing environmental conditions.
The county will continue to do aerial and field assessments in order to determine collection sites on a daily basis.
Lee County has been working closely with DEP and county consultants to create an approved work plan for this project. The work plan includes:
- A health and safety plan to address any physical hazards that may be encountered;
- The equipment to be used and the procedures to be implemented during the algae recovery operations and the transfer, temporary storage, processing and final disposal of the recovered algae;
- The sampling required prior to disposal and will present steps for review of the laboratory data and obtaining approval for disposal.
