Floating Wetland

You are standing on a 32-acre man-made reservoir, which once provided drinking water to this region of Philadelphia. Unlike a natural lake with a shore, otherwise known as a littoral zone, it's a steep drop into the water with concrete and brick along the side, making it harder to create habitats due to the lack of sediment and space. Our floating wetland solves this issue by emulating the natural environment we need. Many animals, such as young fish and macroinvertebrates, use the roots to hide and feed. The roots also help clean the water by cycling excess nitrates and ammonia. Flying insects, like dragonflies and damselflies, will perch on the plants for habitat and laying eggs! This project was made by an Alliance for Watershed Education Fellow Su in 2022 and has been maintained by future fellows.

Take a closer look at some of the native plants that are growing on the floating wetland: