The Army Corps of Engineers says it will reduce flows from Lake Okeechobee Friday. The releases for the St. Lucie Estuary will stop on Saturday and Sunday. Lake Okeechobee is currently at 14.66 feet. The agency said that is almost a foot higher than it was this time last year. Researchers with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection say the water levels in Lake O are alarmingly high thanks to increased rainfall and from last year's Hurricane Irma. "When that comes through, it drops a lot of rain. That rain will pick up nutrients and move them into our waterways. So we saw a lot of rain bring a lot of nutrients into lake Okeechobee," said Drew Bartlett. He oversees ecosystem restoration for the Florida DEP. At a presentation Thursday, community members heard about the latest initiatives to combat the nutrient problem, which experts believe is the culprit behind the toxic algae. "We really walk through the science, more has to be done to improve the nutrients coming into lake O but that one year was very much so dominated by Irma," said Bartlett. The department says it's working with ranchers, local governments and the water management district to get everyone on the same page. Lacki Politis say it is working. "They are all on the same page, so that's great," said Politis."I hunt, I fish, I love the state of Florida. And, the water quality seriously impacts every part of my everyday life," he said. But there is one thing he would like more clarification on. "Can we pinpoint which regional areas are causing these problems?" Politis asked at a public comment section of the meeting. The DEP says they are working on it. "We need to keep working and we need to control our nutrient pollution because we'd like to restore our water bodies," said Bartlett. The DEP set a goal to get the lake restored within 20 years. Politis says folks need to put the pressure on our local government if community members want a faster fix.