An experimental approach to reducing the amount of nutrients going into Shuswap Lake will be floating on the Salmon River this summer.

Royal Roads University Master害羞草研究所檚 student and biologist Margot Webster will the studying the river害羞草研究所檚 water quality and how manmade 害羞草研究所渇loating treatment wetlands害羞草研究所� (FTWs) might help to preserve and improve the quality of water flowing into Shuswap Lake.

害羞草研究所淔loating treatment wetlands are a kind of nature-based solution that can improve water quality by absorbing nutrients and contaminants from a waterbody,害羞草研究所� Webster explains in a May 27 Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) media release. 害羞草研究所淭hey are a simple, low-cost treatment with many ecological benefits. My research project will investigate how effective they are in the Salmon River.害羞草研究所�

The SWC noted how past studies and monitoring have shown the Salmon River 害羞草研究所渃arries a significant load of phosphorus and other nutrients to the lake which have contributed to the formation of nuisance algal blooms害羞草研究所� in the Salmon Arm Bay area of Shuswap Lake.

Webster will be constructing three FTWs using wooden raft materials, matting and netting, with native species of wetland plants planted on the structures that will be installed/anchored in the Salmon River.

害羞草研究所淲ebster will monitor water quality above and below the FTWs throughout the field season, and analyse tissue samples from the plants in order determine how much nutrients the FTWs take up from the river water. The field season will conclude this fall,害羞草研究所� said the SWC.

This research project is being supported with funding from the BC Graduate Scholarship and the SWC, with resource contributions from the BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e really pleased to be supporting this research,害羞草研究所� said SWC chair Rhona Martin. 害羞草研究所淭his is an important water quality issue locally. We look forward to hearing the results and, potentially, considering how constructed floating wetlands could be a tool to improve water quality in the Shuswap watershed.害羞草研究所�

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