The Army Corps of Engineers is answering questions about water discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
Residents along the Gulf Coast expressed their frustration with the water releases that cause green algae blooms along the Caloosahatchee River.
The Corps says that water released from "Lake O" can only flow east or west, since there is no system to send water south towards the Everglades.
Residents on both coasts say the bright green water is ruining their quality of life, harming real estate values, and hurting tourism-related businesses.
The Corps says lake levels have to be maintained to protect the aging dike system and nearby property.