BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — State water managers seek to prevent further trouble from brewing in the Indian River Lagoon.
They’re redirecting millions of gallons of potentially nutrient-rich freshwater away from the lagoon in the hopes of avoiding algae blooms.
Dick Pettit has lived along the lagoon for decades. He said he enjoys the lagoon’s fishing, but he's concerned about the lagoon’s overall health.
“I think they got an organization and enough organization and enough focus on this problem to do something about it,” Pettit said. “They have to -- this is a treasure here.”
The St. Johns River Water Management District said it hopes to do just that.
“When I came here in the 60s, the fishing was excellent,” Pettit said. “It's still good, but we don't have any grass.”
Earlier this year, decaying algae caused dissolved oxygen levels to plummet, sparking one of the worst fish kills in recent memory.
“I think it's part of the Space Coast,” resident Jeff Godwin said. “It's part of our health and what we keep here in Brevard.”
The water management district is pumping 6,000 gallons of water each minute from a canal north of Fellsmere.
Water testing is also being done to monitor the impact of the changes.