On February 11, 2026, Ed had the pleasure of bringing friend and world-famous wildlife artist Geoffrey Smith along on a flight to the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Storm Water Treatment Area (STA) south of Lake Okeechobee.
These photos are part of a series of “reservoirs” that have been covered in my blog the past months and is meant to be educational. The South Florida Water Management District is to be congratulated on completing the STA, a feat! However we must ask ourselves about the significance of the algae bloom as seen in a couple of the photos below.
There is a lot to this subject but for today, it’s just the photos!
Included are the ” STA 1-W, N side of Reservoir, Reservoir STA, and A-FEB.” Thanks SFWMD!
Thanks for sharing Jacqui and Ed, keep on flying that great little RV!
Thanks Tom! You beautiful photo of the House of Refuge is sitting right next to me!
I’m looking forward to the commentary. I am grateful for your efforts!
Thanks!
Hi Jacqui and Ed and Team- where are those blooms located? are they actually inside the STA? that looks like an enclosure of sorts. Is that the actual storm water treatment area? if so, do they treat the algal blooms? I was in Stuart today at Gilberts on the water and thought of you all when a Treasure Coast sailboat went by with a pirate flag!
Hello, I definitely will tell Ed you thought of us when you saw the pirate flag! As far as the algae bloom, I believe is in something like an intake or seepage canal. These canals bring in water or allow it to ooze and yes that bloom would go through the STA. Blooms in other STAs have been “treated.” In her day, Maggy Hurchalla warned of the EAA R/STA becomeing bloom ridden. The reservoir is not yet build so we shall see. Sugarcane fields surround nearby lands… Alage blooms are definitely a concern and certainly the SFWMD is managing best they can. Thanks for your question.
The A 1 FEB has become a fantastic place for recreation. From birding to
Gator hunting to a top shelf bass fishery. Stores and cleans water as well.
Hopefully, the EAA 2 STA will have similar opportunities. However, since mostly Lake O Water is going into the EAA 2 RESERVOIR, it could become a cattail monoculture. No different than the northern parts of the WCAs.
Newton.