The office of Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the awarding of more than $30 million in state funding to support six water quality projects in the Caloosahatchee River Watershed. The projects included several projects in Lee County which are intended to help address excess nutrients, which are known to contribute to increased algal blooms, by investing in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. 

“These projects will continue our momentum and further our commitment to preserving the important role Florida’s environment plays in our economy,” DeSantis said.

The projects are intended to improve water quality and better manage the timing and quantity of water flows from Lake Okeechobee, which serves as the entrance point for the St. Lucie River and the C-44 canal to the east and the Caloosahatchee River and C-43 canal to the southwest.

The projects include:

• Lee County ($2.5 million) – Bob Janes Preserve Nutrient Reduction Project.

• Lee County ($1.5 million) – Palm Creek Water Quality Filter Marsh

• Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District and Lee County ($15.5 million) – Frank Mann Preserve Water Quality Improvement Project.

• Florida Governmental Utility Authority ($7 million) – Wastewater Treatment Nutrient Reduction and Effluent Disposal Project.

• Florida Governmental Utility Authority ($2.76 million) – Lehigh Acres Advanced Wastewater Treatment Project.