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A Regina stormwater pond got a little greener on Wednesday, as students helped launch a pilot project to clean the water, reduce algae, and give wildlife a new place to land.
Students from Campbell Collegiate joined the City of Regina at the Rochdale stormwater retention pond near the Northwest Leisure Centre on May 27 to help install floating treatment wetlands – platforms filled with soil and native plants that sit on top of the water.
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“These floating wetlands work to improve the water quality in our stormwater retention ponds,” said Shelley Wellman, manager of environmental services with the City of Regina.
Wellman said the project was also a chance to show students how classroom learning connects to the real world.
Shelley Wellman, manager of environmental services with the City of Regina, speaks to reporters during the floating treatment wetlands installation at Rochdale Park on Wednesday. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)
“It was important to have students involved,” she said. “It’s great to have students learn how both the city works and how important water quality is to our environment.”
The floating gardens are planted with native sedges and rushes, the kind of plants found around natural water bodies in southern Saskatchewan.
Wellman said those plants grow roots down into the water, where they help remove excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
Those nutrients typically come from runoff that washes off city streets, including fertilizers from lawns.
“When there’s too much of them and they get in the water, it can produce algae,” Wellman said. “When there’s too much algae, it turns the ponds green and it creates some odour issues, depletes the oxygen.”
She said the floating wetland helps remove excess nutrients, promotes beneficial bacteria and reduces algal blooms.
Campbell Collegiate students help assemble a floating treatment wetland during a hands-on environmental science project in Regina on Wednesday. (Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
The pilot project was done in partnership with the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds and the Wascana & Upper Qu’Appelle Watersheds Association Taking Responsibility, also known as WUQWATR.
Wellman said the city was testing the wetlands in three ponds: Rochdale, Lake Ridge and Lakewood.
“We’re only doing it for three at this time,” she said. “Over the next number of years, we’ll monitor how well it works. If it’s really helping reduce or improve the water quality, then we’ll look at whether or not we should put it in any of the other ones.”
The platforms are placed in deeper water and anchored with cement blocks. Wellmand said they are expected to last about 10 years, with occasional trimming to encourage new growth, which she called “pretty low-maintenance implementation.”
The wetlands are also expected to create habitat for wildlife.
“Native birds like red-winged blackbird will find a habitat in these,” Wellman said.
Campbell Collegiate teacher Barry Houlden speaks with reporters during the floating wetlands installation project at Rochdale stormwater retention pond in Regina. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)
She joked that the ducks may enjoy them too, though netting is used, at first, to protect the plants before they become lunch.
Barry Houlden, a high school teacher at Campbell Collegiate, said the project is a strong fit for environmental science students.
“There’s a great connection for the kids in terms of what they’re learning in class and what they get to participate and learn today,” he said.
Grade 11 student, Ghassen Azaouzi, said he used to live in the area.
“I really like the idea of coming and helping the environment,” Azaouzi said.
Campbell Collegiate students John Rico Dahunan (left) and Ghassen Azaouzi (right) speak to reporters after helping install floating treatment wetlands at Rochdale Park in Regina. (Joshua Potter/980 CJME)
Another student, John Rico Dahunan, said the project gave him a chance to get out of the classroom and work with nature.
“I like this experience a lot because I don’t go out much,” Dahunan said. “I got a chance to go outside and work with nature, plants and other people.”
