OLDS — Parks director Gillian Campbell has a suggestion on how to clean out contaminants from stormwater ponds naturally – by installing little floating islands of plants in them.
Campbell presented the idea to Olds town council during a meeting last month.
Floating islands are small, artificial platforms stocked native reeds, grass seeds and brush with that can be set up in bodies of water like stormwater retention ponds.
They’re anchored to the shore and can easily be towed out of the way in the fall so they don’t create a hazard or obstacle for skaters in the winter.
Campbell said those wishing to utilize floating islands buy those systems and fill them with the soil and other things required, then tow them into place.
“They’re an innovative solution engineered to enhance the natural processes between your water, your plants and your microorganisms in order to remove contaminants from stormwater in a passive and a natural way,” Campbell said.
“The roots go deep down in the water, creating columns of roots to trap contaminants, which of course are nutrients for the plants.”
She said such islands are already being utilized very successfully in various Alberta municipalities including Airdrie and High River.
"We could place them at the front of stormwater inflows and what-have-you,” she said. "Where we place them is up to us – where it’s doing the most benefit to the pond. I just thought to look into this would be a fun project for everybody.”
Coun. Heather Ryan liked the idea.
"I’m really interested in the floating islands because you know, we’ve always talked about algae problems within Winter Lake and I’m not sure whether or not this could actually help the pond that’s over in the Vistas as well," Ryan said.
Campbell said they don’t require much upkeep.
“We can cut them down. But they don’t grow over into the pond and create a problem if you like. A little bit of yearly maintenance is all that’s required, just to cut off the edges of some of the plants, that’s all. But they’re very effective,” Campbell said.
Coun. Mary Jane Harper described the concept as “great information for our public, our citizens as well as ourselves.”
She suspected Olds College already has employed the concept and agreed those islands might work well on Winter Lake and the pond in The Vistas.
Coun. Mitch Thomson echoed that thought.
He wondered if they would also help the town deal with algae blooms in those two bodies of water.
