Small islands will create a cleaner Harbor

BALTIMORE - An island is being built in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

When the small piece of manmade land is fully functional the water in the Inner Harbor will be cleaner and healthier.

"The islands are made to sit in the water at the right depth so that the wetland plants that are put on there are irrigated from the moment that they're put in the water. And the matrix material is very porous and provides a lot of surface area for microbes which will process nutrients," explains Ted Gattino.

The wetlands that once ringed the Inner Harbor years ago are now gone, taking with them the ecosystem's natural ability to filter water.

The National Aquarium and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore have teamed up to build and install a small floating wetland.

They've modeled it after natural peat based floating islands found in the environment.

"It'll be that last line of defense as runoff comes off the landscape, it will be absorbed by this island, take nutrients out of the water, clear the water, introduce extra oxygen into the water,and create a refuge around it where fish will be attracted," said Dave Nemerson from the National Aquarium.

The aquarium staff and volunteers here installing the island see the need.

"It’s pretty dirtied up right now from the pollution, so I think this will help in filtering out the bay," said Brianna Horne.

"They put out test samples to see if it would really work and I think small things like this around the Chesapeake Bay will actually help it,” said Chanel Moore.

It’s a small island that will provide big benefits toward a cleaner, healthier harbor.