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All Departments Administration Corrections Development Services Facilities Management Human Resources Information Technology Library Services Management and Budget Services Natural Resources Management Neighborhood and Human Services Parks and Recreation Public Safety Public Works Veterans Services Waste ServicesThe Escambia County Water Quality and Land Management Division will install temporary floating wetlands in one of three county-owned lakes located north of Navy Boulevard near Bayou Chico during the week of June 4. The floating island installations will improve water quality by removing excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous), grow native plants to be incorporated into local restoration projects, and provide environmental education for school-aged children and college-level participants.
Funding for this project was provided through a $295,500 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gulf of Mexico Program.
The floating wetland installation will begin Monday, June 4 and is expected to be completed by Friday, June 8. The floating islands will cover approximately 21,000 square feet or 5 percent of the open water area in the lake and will be in place for approximately two years.
The islands will be used to grow several species of wetland grasses, including smooth cordgrass, saltmeadow cordgrass, seashore paspalum, and soft rush. The project is expected to grow more than 100,000 individual plants which will be harvested for use in multiple local restoration projects such as living shorelines and other coastal wetland restoration projects.
Escambia County will be conducting surface water quality monitoring during the project to document water quality improvements. This county lake is not open to the public.
For more information and updates on the project, click here or contact Escambia County Water Quality and Land Management Division Manager Brent Wipf at [email protected] or 850-595-3445.
The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.
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