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Research: Completed projects |
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The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research (NIWA) of New Zealand has undertaken world class reserach on Floating Treatment Wetlands and the ability of BioHavens to sequester heavy metals such as zinc and copper from the water column.
Link to the Auckland Regional Council website to read NIWA's comprehensive review of Floating Treatment Wetlands. Scroll to publication no 324.
Technical Publication number 324
The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology study is now complete. Click on this link to read the Final Report
Accomplishments of the Research and Commercialization Grant Research
Major Research Results
* The islands demonstrated rapid removal of ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, organic carbon and suspended solids, compared to controls and to
previous data by other researchers. Removals were calculated on a unit basis (milligrams of nutrient removed per day per square foot of island surface).
 The best removal rates obtained by BioHaven floating islands in outdoor test ponds during this project were as follows:
ammonium 759mg d-1 ft-2;
nitrate 759 mg d-1 ft-2;
phosphate 106 mg d-1 ft-2;
BOD 547 mgd-1 ft-2.
The best removal rates obtained by BioHaven floating islands in test tanks under laboratory conditions during this project were as follows:
ammonium 338 mg d-1 ft-2;
nitrate 10,600 mg d-1 ft-2;
phosphate 428 mg d-1ft-2.
* The BioHaven floating islands achieved simultaneous aerobic and anoxic removal of ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, and organic carbon within a single island in a single impoundment.
* The BioHaven floating islands removed phosphate via bacterial processes at approximately the same rate as suspended algae removed phosphate via plant growth. After the phosphate had been removed, water in ponds with BioHaven floating islands was much clearer than algae-choked water in ponds without BioHaven? floating islands. Turbidity values were 26
NTUs versus 388 NTUs for the island pond and the control, respectively.
* The performance of BioHaven floating islands can be optimized by providing proper conditions for the bacterial processes. These conditions are dependent upon the nutrient of concern: for ammonium removal,
alkalinity and aeration control are critical;
for nitrate removal, adequateorganic carbon is required. In order to maximize the efficacy of the
islands, critical parameters must be measured prior to and during the treatment process; auxiliary aeration, alkalinity and carbon should be supplied if necessary.
Our peer-reviewed paper entitled "Floating Islands as an Alternative to Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Excess Nutrients from Agricultural and Municipal Wastes : Results of Laboratory-Scale Tests" was accepted for publication in Land Contamination and Reclamation Journal.
Reporting on the grant research, Frank Stewart et al. had their paper entitled Floating Islands as an Alternative to Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Excess Nutrients from Agricultural and Municipal Wastes : Results of Laboratory-Scale Tests published in a peer-reviewed journal, Land Contamination and Reclamation. Click here to read the article in full.
Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology $400,000 Grant over 2 years
Biomimetic Floating Islands that Maximize Plant and Microbial Synergistic Relationships to Revitalize Degraded Fisheries, Wildlife Habitat, and Human Water Resources
Principal Investigator: Frank Stewart 406-586-0790; fstewart@wildblue.net
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research - New Zealand (NIWA)
Principal investigator: Dr Chris Tanner +64-7-856 7026, Hamilton, New Zealand c.tanner@niwa.co.nz
Researcher: Dr Tom Headley
The National Institute for Water and Atmospheric research (NIWA) is a government-owned research company, and the leading provider of environmental research, consultancy and monitoring services to the public and private sectors in New Zealand.
NIWA's research interests lie primarily in applications of floating islands for water quality enhancement. Initial studies a focus on the removal of fine particulates and heavy metals, particularly zinc and copper, from urban stormwater using native NZ wetland plant species.
NIWA is currently undertaking preliminary studies for Auckland Regional Council, which if successful will lead to comprehensive mesocosm studies, performance evaluation of retrofitted stormwater ponds, and possibly setting up new treatment systems incorporating floating islands. Actual research to date (limited by the availability of
islands) has found that, after 10 weeks, plants placed bare-rooted directly onto the matrix grow slower but show more root development than their counterparts planted into pockets.
3. Implementation of an Effective Floating Island / Water Quality Treatment Technology, Ontario, Canada :2 phase project Completion date: March 2006
Consultant team: R. Mark Palmer, P.Eng. - Greenland Technologies Group 705-444-8805; mpalmer@grnland.com
The $1.5 million Assimilative Capacity Studies (ACS) within the Lake Simcoe and the Nottawasaga River Basins is now complete. The conclusions in summary are:
1) The CANWET Model is a defendable tool that can be used to quantify and qualify pollutant sources (phosphorus, nitrogen, total suspended sediment) within both watersheds.
2) The model will be used to assess and develop comprehensive management strategies for both watersheds (includes land use change along with implementation of BMPs).
3) Agriculture remains the largest source contributor of phosphorus and sediment in the Nottawasaga watershed.
4) Agriculture, urban and atmospheric sources equally contribute phosphorus loading to Lake Simcoe.
Further information about the ACS can be found at www.assimilativecapacity.info
4. Delta Waterfowl
Principal investigator: Professor Frank C. Rohwer, Louisiana State University, 225-578-4146
This study is funded by Floating Island International. The purpose of the study is to test various low-cost embodiments of floating islands for duck nesting efficacy. The two year study takes place in North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana, and involves 150 islands in different sizes and configurations.
Findings so far:
1) The brush/flax straw islands first used in 2005 are getting greater nesting use in 2006. Don't know yet if it is philopatry, more ducks in area, or the sites chosen in 2006.
2) The sod islands are not getting any use as nesting islands, but the ducks sure love to use them for loafing. In most cases the islands get far too much duck usage to allow sod to grow starting in spring.
Suggest we try re-sodding in late August to see if the sod can get a head start and get some good growth when the duck loafing isn't such a "problem."
5. White Water Loon Study
Principal: Dean Premo 906-822-7889; dean.premo@white-water-associates.com
White Water Associates, a research organization, was asked to launch four 36 square foot islands in lakes near their headquarters in Crystal Falls, Michigan. Here is the latest update from Dean:
" I thought you might be interested in some 2006 observations on the four FII islands that we placed last spring/summer as loon nesting sites. You, of course, recall that in 2005 nesting loons occupied two of the four islands and these two nests were successful in bringing off young loons. Both of these successful nests were on lakes where loons had not been known to nest in the past. On the other two lakes, loons chose their traditional
(natural) nest sites.
The islands seemed to come through the 2005/2006 winter in good shape and vegetation is becoming established. Remarkably, three of the four FII islands had loon nests this year (the two that were occupied last year and Bennan Lake). On Bennan Lake, the loon pair chose the FII island over their traditional nest site. We have not had free time to check further on these nests."
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