Enviro-Net

News Update

First finalists named in $10 million competition targeting nutrient pollution

Staff report

The Everglades Foundation announced teams from Delray Beach and the University of Idaho as the first finalists in a $10 million competition aimed at identifying ways of removing excess nutrients from Florida waterways.

The foundation’s four-year competition targets phosphorus, the primary nutrient behind harmful algae blooms like those plaguing the Indian River Lagoon.

The Delray Beach team’s proposal relies on a natural ocean mineral and the University of Idaho’s proposal is based on a plant scrubbing water clean.

Tom Van Lent, the foundation's director of science and policy, said that applicants range from garage-based inventors to some very large and sophisticated corporations.

Each team receives $5,000.