Blue-green algae and Lake Okeechobee. These have been two of the most widely discussed topics here in Southwest Florida the last few months — and they've had a major impact on people’s health, the environment, and our local businesses.
In July, Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in seven counties including Lee County over the blue-green algae blooms after visiting Southwest Florida and seeing it for himself.
But this problem isn’t anything new. It all boils down to two elements — nitrogen and phosphorus — in the freshwaters of Lake Okeechobee, and how they react with salt water in our estuaries.
Read the full story and watch all nine parts of the in-depth docu-series here.
Watch “Liquid Heart of Florida: Beneath the Algae” a documentary airing Saturday on Fox 4 at 4 pm in partnership with Hello SWFL.
