Creating Wildlife Habitat and Expanding Fisheries with Biohaven Floating Treatment Wetlands

Abstract

 BioHaven floating islands are an environmentally low impact and economical way to create new wetland, while augmenting the vitality and biodiversity of a waterway. They are made using non-toxic recycled materials and are hands off and non-mechanical. The biomimetic design gives our fish, wildlife and waters the least carbon footprint and the most natural support for the systems they depend upon for healthy and productive lifecycles. The benefits are many: habitat creation and restoration for a myriad of fauna, from microbiological systems to aquatic and wetland wildlife; reduced turbidity and pollution mitigation (with resource recovery of nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate); and aesthetic and unique living water features of any size or shape for any water body. Floating Islands used in landscaped water features and pools offer a chemical free approach to managing water quality. Placed in a stream or pond, BioHavens and their suspended root complex give secure habitat for fish, offering shade and protection from currents and predators. The living islands attract a range of insects that also become a food source for fish and wildlife and further promote biodiversity. Unique configurations can be designed for nesting sites, spawning platforms and load bearing hanging banks to increase protective fish habitat. Several projects have developed successful, protective bird habitat specifically for Duck, Loon and Swan and a 22,000 sf Caspian Tern Habitat Island.