There's a clear improvement along the Indian River Lagoon.
"This is the way the water should look," said Mike Conner.
He knows it likely won't stay that way.
"It's a yo-yo effect," said Conner.
Which is why he there needs to be a fix to clean up this estuary. A reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee aims to reduce discharge by about 65 percent. Congress just authorized the project.
"Anticipated that if all funding is in place it would take 9 to 10 years to design and construct," said Matthew Morrison with the South Florida Water Management District.
"Ten years is a long time," said Conner.
Morrison says the district is working on other reservoirs and storage to help reduce discharges and complement the EAA Reservoir.
"Interim storage on private and public lands north of the lake and on the estuaries in addition, we have the estuary protection program," said Morrison.
Estuary Protection Wells north of the Lake would move water deep underground.
"Will get us ultimately where we need to be both near and long-term," said Morrison.
Conner is not on board with those wells but agrees there needs to be storage north.
"I think we need above ground storage so that water can be utilized when it's needed," said Conner.
