Nitrogen pollution focus of DEP meeting

Water quality scientists and government agencies will meet in Fort Myers Wednesday to talk about the ailing Caloosahatchee River and plans to rid the waterway of tons of nitrogen.

More than 11 million pounds of nitrogen flow down the river each year, clouding waters and sometimes feeding algal blooms that can cause fish and marine mammal kills and beach closures.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for developing and executing a plan to clean up the river, and DEP will lead Wednesday's 10 a.m. meeting at the South Florida Water Management District office on McGregor Boulevard.