Water-Related News

$15M flows to FGCU for Lake O, regional water quality study

The Fort Myers-based university has studied ways to improve water quality in South Florida.

In one heck of a surprise "sprinkle", Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) secured $15 million for a water study.

Funding for the Fort Myers university was included in the Senate Supplemental Funding, affectionately called the “sprinkle list,” But originally, the item was listed for only a “Comprehensive Study on the Health of Lake Okeechobee.”

Senate officials, though, made clear this money will go through FGCU’s The Water School, and will be used for a comprehensive water quality study of regional significance.

Sen. Jason Brodeur, a Lake Mary Republican, had requested $5 million in the budget this year for FGCU to conduct a study chiefly on Florida’s largest lake.

His request said funds would go to “conduct a comprehensive and predictive data assessment of the environmental health of Lake Okeechobee based on natural and anthropogenic influences on the biota to produce a current state of the Lake with gaps identified around the Lake’s condition, gather information to address gaps, and create a suite of potential water level and in lake management strategies that may be implemented and explored for lake improvements.”