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Martin County extends local state of emergency another week due to blue-green algae

Local state of emergency extended another week
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Martin County said it is extending a local state of emergency for another week due to blue-green algae. It allows the government to streamline efforts to finance projects that could remedy the algae situation that is creating headaches for thousands this summer.

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Meantime the South Florida Water Management District said it has been taking steps as a response to the algal blooms.

In an effort reduce the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee the district says Florida Power and Light will temporarily store approximately 2.2 billion gallons per month in the cooling pond at the FPL Martin Clean Energy Center near Indiantown.

Storage began Tuesday and will continue for approximately three to four months, the district said.

"On behalf of our Governing Board, I would like to thank FPL for responding so quickly to this water storage request after the governor's declaration of emergency," SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Daniel O'Keefe said in a statement.

The district said it will use private properties to store additional water.