In the summer of 2016, discharges from Lake Okeechobee caused widespread toxic algae blooms in the St. Lucie River. Wochit
Here's why that Lake O reservoir is necessary. DACIA JOHNSON/TCPALM Wochit
Plans to curb detrimental Lake Okeechobee discharges languish as politics and the economy change. DACIA JOHNSON/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Wochit
Dry weather has cleaned up the St. Lucie River. TYLER TREADWAY/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Wochit
The problem dates back to 1923. DACIA JOHNSON/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Wochit
The Weather Channel's digital team, led by correspondent Kait Parker, takes a closer look at the history of Lake Okeechobee and the future implications of this toxic algae pollution in “Toxic Lake: The Untold Story of Lake Okeechobee.” The Weather Channel
Video: 2016 Algae Bloom Timeline
Video: How a drop of water at Disney can pollute the St. Lucie River
Video: The story of curbing Lake Okeechobee discharges
Video: The water's clean again ...
Video: Blue-green algae through the years
"Toxic Lake: The Untold Story of Lake Okeechobee"
The South Florida Water Management District has proposed five options for the proposed reservoir to cut Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.
The five are on two "footprints" — one about 16,700 acres, the other about 31,200 acres — almost entirely on state-owned land.
More: Lake Okeechobee reservoir keeps Treasure Coast in 2018 Florida legislative session spotlight
Several environmental groups say the smaller footprint isn't big enough, and the larger footprint would take over land already being used for a court-ordered water-cleaning project. The Everglades Foundation has proposed expanding the smaller footprint through land swaps.
How big is 31,200 acres?
If the footprints were square and sat on top of Stuart, the larger footprint would stretch from the beach to the turnpike:
SFWMD proposal
The larger footprint would look like this:
The smaller footprint would look like this:
Everglades Foundation proposal
The Everglades Foundation has proposed building the reservoir and stormwater treatment area on about 18,000 acres of state-owned land and an extra 11,000 acres to be acquired through land swaps.