District, partners celebrate Lake Jesup Innovative Algae Harvesting Pilot Project
Executive Director Mike Register with DEP Assistant Deputy Secretary of Ecosystems Restoration Kristine Morris and Vice Chair of St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board Maryam Ghyabi-White.
Executive Director Mike Register with DEP Assistant Deputy Secretary of Ecosystems Restoration Kristine Morris and Vice Chair of St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board Maryam Ghyabi-White.
PALATKA, Fla., Dec. 17, 2021 — Today, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined partners and interested stakeholders in celebrating the Lake Jesup Innovative Algae Harvesting Pilot Project on the shores of Lake Jesup.
“Addressing nutrient loading has always been a priority at the District and I am grateful for Governor DeSantis’ commitment to confront this problem head on,” says St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Mike Register. “Funding for innovative projects like these is critical to address water quality issues across the state.”
Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has made tackling water quality issues a priority and recognized the need to provide funding for innovative technology that can reduce nutrient loading in both freshwater and the coastal communities. As a result of the Governor’s efforts, the Innovative Technology Grant was created and since has provided funding to numerous projects statewide, including the Lake Jesup Algae Harvesting pilot project, which received $1.65 million through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The pilot project’s objective is to collect representative data to evaluate the system’s efficiency and cost effectiveness of a full-scale system that can help improve water quality at Lake Jesup.
Learn more about our ongoing work to benefit Lake Jesup at www.sjrwmd.com/projects/#lake-jesup.