Diatom Lagoon · The solution
A patented fix for Lake Okeechobee's legacy phosphorus problem
A process that removes and permanently locks away phosphorus already settled at the bottom of the lake, without moving it off-site or relying on chemical treatment.
An in-lake process, built to run continuously
Diatom Lagoons draw down that fluid mud and sequester it permanently, using no chemicals and no off-site disposal. Solar-powered pumps move sediment from an outer trap into a contained interior lagoon, where it consolidates into new land over time and is planted with native vegetation, including pond apple trees that once lined the lake's southern shore. Cleaner water returns to the lake through a sand, rock, and limestone filter system, in a process designed to run continuously, indefinitely, entirely within the lake.
U.S. Patent No. 11,795,646 B2
"System for Reducing Contaminants in a Body of Water." Issued October 24, 2023. Owned by Ironclad Siege, LLC. Invented by Keith Richardson.
Hedrick Brothers is a longtime South Florida contractor and builder committed to preserving the state's environmental heritage, the same commitment that led to the founding of its environmental division. As Director of Special Projects, Keith felt called to help revitalize this key water source for generations to come, in a manner designed to earn support from both policymakers and the public.