There are 14 islands totaling 2,674 square feet. Each island is a miniature replica of the natural archipelagos of the Mississippi River.
Before the islands were placed in the creek, four prototype designs in a variety of shapes and sizes were developed.
In Dubuque, Iowa, an old creek that was reopened became the site of an unusual experiment: 14 floating islands made partly from thousands of recycled plastic bottles. The islands were installed in 2017 as part of the Bee Branch Creek restoration and were designed to do more than just add greenery. Sometimes the answer for a city that has fought floodwaters for years isn’t more concrete, bigger pipes or taller walls. Scroll down to read the details. The islands perform a variety of ecological functions. Their construction is such that their structures interrupt the wave energy and this helps to reduce erosion along the edges of the creek. They also serve as barriers to slow water as it moves around the islands, allowing suspended sediment to settle and helping keep the water clear. Now, plants absorb nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, on the islands. Preventing these nutrients from entering waterways can help reduce the amount of nutrients that eventually contribute to ecological problems downstream in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. Below the surface, the islands can be even more valuable. The plant roots and the floating structures provide space for biofilms, microorganisms that can help break down pollutants. The roots below the water also provide shelter to fish and juvenile aquatic species, and insects and crustaceans use the vegetation as part of the wider food web. And birds also use the islands as resting places and potential nesting habitat above the water.
Today, they help protect the creek, improve water quality and provide small pockets of habitat for fish, birds and aquatic life, states an online report by IECA News.