Wetlands project floats Springfield’s boat

In a collaborative effort to protect source water and enhance the local ecosystem, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and City Utilities (CU) of Springfield have launched an innovative floating wetland project at Fellows Lake, a critical source of drinking water for the area.

The 8-by-12-foot floating wetland, named “BeeBass 100,” is the first of its kind in Missouri, constructed entirely without plastic components. Its unique design features a base of recycled glass aggregate contained within an aluminum frame, providing a durable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional floating wetland platforms.

“Wetlands are often referred to as nature’s kidneys because of their ability to pull pollutants out of the water and cycle nutrients,” said Frank Nelson, wetland systems manager with MDC. “Unfortunately, close to 90% of Missouri’s historic wetlands have been lost over time and therefore our watersheds lack this natural ability to clean water as it passes to and through our state.”

To date, MDC and CU have deployed six BeeBass 100-type wetlands with plans to launch three more soon. The new floating wetlands mitigate and reduce the excess nutrients flowing off the land and into Springfield’s waterways.

“CU monitors its water from source to tap, and one of our biggest concerns with surface water is algae,” said Kari Wolken, water quality lab supervisor at CU. “Excessive nutrients in our drinking water sources contribute to algal blooms. The floating wetlands we have in place are meant to uptake the extra nutrients and decrease the possibility of these blooms. This improves the quality of the water and decreases the need for algaecide treatments.”

By preventing harmful algal blooms at the source, water treatment is less costly and more efficient down the line.

“These blooms, in addition to causing potential for cyanotoxin release and taste and odor compounds, can clog our filters at the treatment plants,” said Will Sappington, water quality analyst at CU. “This cuts the filters’ run time down significantly. The better the water at the source, the easier it will be to treat and send it out to our customers, while also giving our equipment the best shot at performing well for longer.”

Restoring healthy habitat havens

The floating island also provides a space for native aquatic plants to filter the water and create a habitat for insects, pollinators, turtles and birds.

“These structures increase the native biodiversity and improve habitat for a range of species across the entire ecosystem,” said Nelson. “Beneficial pollinators use these sites and are locations for pest control species, like dragonflies, to patrol. A range of other wildlife including birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates have been observed keying in on these locations as well.”

Beyond simply providing habitat, these floating wetlands actively contribute to a healthier ecosystem.

“The environmental benefits are great,” said Sappington. “Two-hundred fifty square feet of floating wetland islands influence about one acre of water. They provide fish habitat, pollinators food, and can clean potential contaminants that make it to the source.”

Continued community engagement will be crucial for expanding and replicating such innovative projects across Missouri’s waterways.

“The public can get involved through encouraging the use of native shoreline plants in ponds and lakes,” said Kara Tvedt, fisheries biologist with MDC. “Hopefully, we can get to a point where we have an ‘Adopt a Wetland’ program to help reestablish lost biological connections between our built urban environments, our intense agricultural landscapes, and our native plant communities.”

As communities like Springfield take proactive steps to safeguard their source water, AWWA is gearing up for this year’s Source Water Protection Week (Sept. 29-Oct. 5). The promotion aims to engage consumers, water utilities and environmental advocates and demonstrate that the best way to ensure high quality drinking water is to protect water sources. Downloadable materials are available on the Source Water Protection Week materials webpage.