HAVANA – The Northwest Florida Water Management District and its partners have begun implementing an Innovative Technology project that will capture and remove harmful algae from Lake Munson.
The project utilizes a mobile algal harvesting unit that will remove intact cellular algae and associated nutrients from Lake Munson, improving water quality within the lake and helping reduce nutrient enrichment within the Wakulla Spring groundwater contribution area.
The project received more than $1.9 million for a Harmful Algal Bloom Innovative Technology grant from the Department of Environmental Protection through the Blue-Green Algae Task Force established in 2019 by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“The District is excited to learn how applying this technology to Lake Munson will not only improve water quality on the lake but how it may help Wakulla Spring,” said District Governing Board member Kellie Ralston, who represents Leon and Wakulla counties. “This is the type of creativity and innovation we need to explore as we address water quality issues throughout northwest Florida.”
The algae harvesting unit was deployed at Lake Munson in early May. The system is designed to collect water from the lake, separate and remove the algae, and then return clean water directly to the lake. The unit can process as much as 700 gallons of water per minute, or 1 million gallons per 24 hours.
“The protection and restoration of Wakulla Spring is not going to happen with just one project,” said State Sen. Loranne Ausley, who represents 11 counties, including Leon and Wakulla. “It’s important we approach this from multiple angles and exploring the use of this type of technology in Lake Munson can provide another tool for our long-term strategy at Wakulla Spring.”
In addition to removing algae from the lake, the project calls for water quality data collection and the evaluation of water quality, sediment, and hydrologic data. Additional modeling to analyze nutrient flux from sediments and water column will also be conducted.
“The innovative technology being used in this project could potentially be used in lakes and waterbodies throughout karst-sensitive areas,” said State Rep. Allison Tant, who represents part of Leon County. “It’s a testament to the scientists at the water management district and DEP for looking for creative methods to address the nutrient loading into our springs.”
Lake Munson is a 255-acre lake south of Tallahassee which discharges to a sinkhole leading to Wakulla Spring. The lake has a history of water quality and ecological degradation. Four waterbodies are expected to benefit from this algae-harvesting project: Lake Munson, Munson Slough, the Upper Wakulla River, and Wakulla Spring.
“Safeguarding our water quality is truly a team effort, from our partners at the State of Florida, to the County’s in-field experts, to the citizens we serve,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Rick Minor. “Our water is an important resource, encompassing life, beauty and recreation. I am very proud of the County’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and this innovative project is another step on that journey.”
The results from the project will support an evaluation of how well the harvesting system reduces the nutrient load in Lake Munson, and whether the technology can be applied to similar karst-influenced lakes in the region.
“We are proud to support the water management district and DEP as they address one of the most complex and destructive threats facing our aquatic ecosystems today,” said Dan Levy, vice president with AECOM’s environment business. “Our patent-pending Algae Harvesting Hydronucleation Flotation Technology is a nationally recognized innovation to mitigate and prevent HABs without causing collateral damage to aquatic organisms. This novel process helps turn back the clock on impacted waterways, prevent future outbreaks, and support an environmentally sustainable industry – a truly comprehensive solution to combat this growing crisis.”
