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New decision-support tools bring foresight to Lake Okeechobee management 

February 16, 2026

By Megan Sam Water managers can now explore how lake conditions and water release strategies could affect Lake Okeechobee’s water quantity and quality, using two new web-based tools designed to support more proactive decision-making.  Co-developed by researchers from seven institutions, the Lake Okeechobee Optimization of Nutrients Exports (LOONE) Forecast and Planning tools were showcased at the Optimizing Solutions for Resilient Coasts summit in December 2025. Project co-leaders David […]

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Scientists study how the dance of underwater vegetation can support algae management

August 9, 2024

The sway of plants caused by the flow of water resembles a dance to graduate student Katie Schoenberger, who is researching how this movement can affect the growth and removal of algae in Florida’s springs. Excessive algae growth in many of the state’s springs have rendered blue, pristine bodies of water green and coated in […]

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Aerial view of a lock system, part of the Okeechobee Waterway, featuring gates that control water flow between different sections. Surrounding areas include green grass, a small building, and patches of algae in the water.

Scientists trace sources of South Florida’s harmful algal blooms

January 30, 2024

Last summer, blooms of blue-green algae spread across 440 miles of Lake Okeechobee, covering nearly half of the state’s largest inland lake. For years, these blooms have posed a health hazard to the lake’s vegetation and wildlife, and to the people who swim in and drink the lake’s water. Scientists at the University of Florida, […]

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A scenic view of a vast body of water under a partly cloudy blue sky. In the distance, there is a strip of land with a few structures. Buoys can be seen in the water, guiding navigation.

Researchers awarded $2.5 million to expand harmful algal bloom research along Florida coasts

January 11, 2023

A team of 11 professional researchers and scientists from the University of South Florida (USF), University of Florida (UF), and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) were awarded a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support the development of new state-of-the-art water quality data and models to better predict and […]

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