WEBVTT ANGELA: THAT’S RIGHT. MARTIN COUNTY OFFICIALS TOLD US EARLIER THIS MONTH THEY WILL BE REMOVING THAT BLUE-GREEN ALGAE. THEY EVEN GAVE US A DEMONSTRATION. TODAY THEY GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS. KERRY LUKAS USUALLY WEARS A MASK WHEN SHE’S OUTSIDE IN HER BACKYARD. AND THIS IS WHY. BLUE-GREEN ALGAE. >> IT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO VOMIT. ANGELA: SHE REMEMBERS WHAT IT USED TO LOOK LIKE OUT HERE. >> IT’S DIFFICULT. IT’S EXTREMELY SAD. I’VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 1970’S AND THIS IS JUST, IT’S DEVASTATING. ANGELA: BUT TODAY SHE’S GLAD TO KNOW SOMETHING’S BEING DONE. >> I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL THAT THESE PEOPLE FROM THE COUN HAVE COME OUT HERE TO DO THIS. WE HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO THE WEBSITE AND COMPLETED THE APPLICATION AND WITHIN 48 HOURS THEY WERE HERE. ANGELA: MARTIN COUNTY OFFICIALS RECEIVED A $700,000 GRANT FROM THE FLORIDA D.E.P. TO HIRE AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO CLEAN UP THE ALGAE. CREWS USE A VACUUM TO SUCK UP THE GREEN SLIME, WHICH GOES INTO A TANK THAT’S MOUNTED ON THE BOAT. THE ALGAE IS THEN TRANSFERRED TO A TRUCK THAT’S PARKED NEARBY AND EVENTUALLY TRANSPORTED TO A SOLID WASTE PLANT. >> IT IS FOR THE WILDLIFE. ANGELA: KEN AND VANESSA MORTENSEN ALSO LIVE IN THAT SAME PALM CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. HE SAYS THE CLEANUP IS A GOOD EFFORT, BUT STILL, MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. >> SO I THINK IT’S GOOD THAT THEY’RE TRYING TO KEEP THE SMELL DOWN, BUT THEY’VE GOT TO ATTACK THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. ANGELA: AND AGAIN, THE COUNTY IS USING PART OF THAT $750,000 GRANT TO PAY FOR THIS REMOVAL, AND THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THE FUNDING IS AVAILA