Floating Wetland Launched In Clemson University Pond

The 400-square-foot floating wetland. (Credit: Jim Melvin / Clemson University)

Floating wetlands aren’t a new idea, but their deployments in water bodies still raise eyebrows every now and then, if just for the novelty. But a new floating wetland on the campus of Clemson University may be striking for a different reason: It’s placed in a pond there to resemble the paw shape of a tiger, the school’s mascot.

The 400-square-foot floating wetland is colored orange, with around a thousand holes fitted to support potted plants. A number of aquatic plants have been placed in the wetland where they will grow and stretch their roots into the waters below.

From there, project managers hope that the plants will suck up some of the harmful nutrients and runoff that make it into the pond. Instead of going to feed algae growth in the water body, the idea is the plants can use the materials to grow instead. With that, they will help support a number of birds and insects nearby.

The floating treatment wetland was launched by Carolina Clear, an effort overseen by the Clemson Cooperative Extension.

Top image: The 400-square-foot floating wetland. (Credit: Jim Melvin / Clemson University)