Part 3/7:
The current state of the lake must be understood within its historical context. After devastating hurricanes in the 1920s led to significant loss of life, Florida authorities, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, constructed a dike to manage water levels in the lake. This management continues today; however, it comes with the side effect of releasing nutrient-heavy water into the Caloosahatchee River and eventually into the Gulf. These practices have exacerbated the algae problem, creating significant environmental challenges.