Following recommendations from the state’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force with support from Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature appropriated fiscal year 2020 grant funding for innovative technology projects to test new processes for dealing with water quality challenges.
Several grants were awarded for innovative projects across Florida, including a pilot project to control, eliminate and possibly prevent algal blooms from forming in Lake Minneola, in Lake County.
Lake Minneola, which has been plagued with cyanobacteria, or potentially harmful blue-green algae, was a prime candidate for a pilot remediation project to combat harmful algal blooms.
The St. Johns River Water Management District entered into a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to provide the support for contracting with BlueGreen U.S. Water Technologies, Inc. (BGWT) to test its technology’s ability to control and manage algal concentrations in Lake Minneola.
Using a combination of collected field data, water samples and a hydrogen peroxide-based product, the BGWT pilot project has worked to identify algal-prone areas in Lake Minneola and then deploy its technology in strategic locations to reduce current or forming algal blooms.
The pilot project was expected to be in operation for at least six months with initial deployment for November 2020. Approximately 12-15 treatments have been applied since the beginning of the project
On May 24th, St Johns River Water Management District, Lake Minneola Team reported that a preventative Algal Bloom treatment was applied on Lake Minneola. Signs were posted at the public ramp in the City of Clermont indicating that the Algal Remediation Treatment was in Progress.
Dotted lines represent the regions where the Lake Guard® Oxy granules were broadcasted from a moving boat. The treatment application focused on the perimeter of the Lake, and from the Inflow point in the southwest corner of the Lake, through the center of the Lake, then toward the Outflow point in the northwest corner of the Lake.
The treatment application targeted the shores around the Lake, the Inflow, the Center, and the Outflow points in the Lake.
This will likely be the last treatment performed, as the project is concluding at the end of May. A public meeting summarizing data results will be held this summer.
Find additional information on this project at: https://www.sjrwmd.com/projects/#lake-minneola. You may also use the following email address to report any algal blooms on Lake Minneola: minneola@bgtechs.com.
