Does your personal property, farm, area homeowner’s association (HOA), or community contain ponds or small lakes? Ponds, lakes, streams, swamps, marshes, bogs, and other waterways can provide vital and enjoyable safe havens for waterfowl, fish, and other wildlife and plenty of uses for humans. Are your area wetlands damaged or neglected? Midwest Floating Island can help you restore and maintain healthy biodiversity with our Wetland Restoration services.
The Importance of Wetlands
Wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, and many privately owned wetland areas are regarded as wastelands and therefore neglected, used as dumping areas, or filled and developed. Most homeowners and HOA boards believe wetland restoration is too costly and impractical for the value it adds—this is entirely untrue.
Wetlands are crucial in providing essential services to the environment. They serve as a vital habitat for various forms of wildlife, such as fish, waterfowl, and other species. Moreover, wetlands act as natural filters, purifying polluted waters and mitigating the impact of floods and storms. Additionally, they offer diverse recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, photography, and wildlife observation.
The U.S. National Park Service lists numerous ways that wetlands are productive and valuable resources worthy of protection and restoration:
- Water Quality
- Water Supply
- Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
- Flood Control
- Streamflow Maintenance
- Streambank Stabilization
- Erosion Control
- Wildlife, Fish, Fowl, and Shellfish Habitat
- Habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species
- Specialized Plant Habitat
- Ecosystem Productivity
- Recreational Opportunities
The EPA encourages and supports voluntary wetland restoration through funding opportunities, partnerships with federal and state agencies, and collaborations with independent groups. Some vital programs that can help homeowners and property owners with wetland restoration funding and resources include:
- USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetlands Reserve Program
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program
- Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Minnesota Land Trust
- Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
- Red River Basin Institute
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Pheasants Forever
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Minnesota Department of Transportation
- The Nature Conservancy
- Greenway on the Red
- The North American Waterfowl Management Plan
- Prairie Pothole Joint Venture
- Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- US Army Corp of Engineers
Using Floating Water Mats for Wetland Restoration
BioHaven® Floating Wetlands water mats are an excellent means to restore neglected or damaged private wetlands. They offer many aesthetic, functional, and recreational benefits of natural wetlands that include:
Eco-Friendly
The BioHaven® floating water mats offer a spacious surface for beneficial microbes to attach and thrive, effectively purifying the water by naturally removing impurities.
Cost-Effective
Man-made floating wetlands are relatively inexpensive compared to other tools for water quality. Minimize your investment in restoring a wetland while maximizing the water quality and habitat health.
Long-Term Use
BioHaven® Floating Wetlands perform continuously after installation to improve water quality and provide wetland habitat. To extend their life, we have added UV protection called Armor. Leave them in the water year-round and the natural plants regrow year after year.
Aesthetic Appeal
The floating water mats are designed to seamlessly blend into natural or man-made wetlands, enhancing their aesthetic appeal while providing a natural look and feel.
Customizable
Man-made floating wetlands can be tailored to specific shapes and lengths based on your requirements. Additionally, the islands can be modified to include extra buoyancy if needed. The standard islands are available in 5-foot or 6.6-foot wide pieces and can be combined to create larger islands, providing flexibility in design and construction.
Storm, Winter, and Hurricane Proof
Anchored floating wetlands withstand heavy storms and even withstood hurricane-force winds during Hurricane Isaac. The man-made wetlands do not have to be removed over the winter in areas where you would leave a dock floating all year long.
Highly Effective
BioHaven® Floating Wetlands offer an eco-friendly approach to water treatment by harnessing the power of natural processes. These innovative floating wetlands facilitate water conservation and provide significant benefits for overall ecosystem health.
Enjoy Triple Benefits from Every Application
You get at least two additional benefits for every reason you install a floating island. If you choose islands for wetland expansion or restoration, the better water quality also enhances aesthetics. Wildlife habitat can provide important biodiversity by attracting new pollinators, eliminating mosquito populations, and providing critical wildlife infrastructure.
Biohaven® Floating Islands Technology
BioHaven® Floating Islands received notable recognition from the U.S. State Department in 2014 as one of the top six innovations in water technologies. The report emphasized their significant impact on enhancing above-water and underwater ecosystems.
Midwest Floating Islands creates custom artificial floating islands with a framework of non-woven PET plastic fibers sourced from BPA-free recycled plastic beverage containers. Marine-grade foam is included throughout the framework to enhance buoyancy. Wicking holes encourage optimal plant growth, and anchor points allow each island to adapt to deep, shallow, and flowing aquatic environments.
BioHaven® Floating Islands have a complex matrix with over 125 square feet per cubic foot of surface area, including extended roots below the island. These floating islands serve as a virtual bioreactor, replicating the functions of floating peat bogs and natural wetlands.
Restore Private Wetlands with Green FWIs
BioHaven® Floating Wetland Islands (FWIs) mimic natural floating islands while harnessing natural processes to reduce nutrients and greatly enhance man-made or natural private wetlands. Homeowners, HOAs, farmers, and other private property owners can contact Midwest Floating Island at (855) 527-6839 to learn more. You may also complete the interest form to request a contact.