Environmental Services

The Lykes West Water Hole Project became one of the first pilot projects of the Florida Ranchlands Environmental Services Project. Regional water from the Indian Prairie Canal (C-41A) is pumped into the 2,500 acre West Water Hole site and gradually flows over it before being returned to the canal. During the process particles containing excess nutrients are filtered from the water column by native vegetation. Initial indications are that the West Water Hole Project is capable of reducing phosphorus concentrations by 56% while retaining over 5000 acre ft of water that would otherwise potentially be discharged to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. Lykes Bros Inc. continues to actively participate in the planning activities of state agencies to aid in developing viable projects with private landowners that will ultimately result in environmental restoration of the regional ecosystem.