Floating islands could help filter cattle feedlot storm ponds

Researchers at Olds College have found success removing excessive contaminants from feedlot storm ponds by using floating islands.

“If you’re not familiar with the islands at all, basically it’s an island constructed to grow plants on its surface,” said Dan Karran, principal investigator, ecohydrologist and instructor in the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology at Olds College. He emphasized the data in this project is preliminary.

Karran and his team wanted to find out whether native wetland plants grown on the islands could clean water in cattle feedlot ponds. Floating islands, which are four feet by eight feet, are started on peat moss, but the root system develops into the water body.

“In a lot of ways, it’s kind of like hydroponics,” said Karran.

The plant roots take up nutrients and other contaminants from the water. Floating islands are patented technology created by Tannas Conservation Services, who were working with Olds College on other projects. The islands are an environmentally-friendly, natural technology powered by sunlight.