“We've had an algae bloom for months and months, and it's when it does that it sucks all the oxygen and we get these fish kills,” Souto said.

But there's hope and a 10-year plan that's already into its fourth year, which tapped into the county's $400 million restoration plans with hundreds of cleanups. All this possible thanks to voters approving the half cent sales tax plan, but progress won't happen overnight and it will take some time.

Regardless, nothing can be as bad as 2016, Souto said.