Project Name: Jakes Branch County Park

Project Location: Jakes Branch County Park, Ocean County, NJ

Date of Installation: June 2010

Project Details:

Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation was the recipient of a grant to enhance water quality and wildlife habitat in its facilities.  Having experience with smaller floating wetlands, OCDPR decided to use grant monies for a larger floating wetland (90 sq ft) to increase nutrient uptake and wildlife habitat potential in the stormwater facility at the Jakes Branch County Park in Beachwood, NJ.

Working with OCDPR staff, Bluewing successfully assembled and launched a 90 square foot island, planted with 5 each of the following: Calapogon pulchellis, Spiranthes odorata, Sarracenia flava, Sarracenia purpurea, Helonias bullata (provided by OCDPR) and 40 each of the following: Eupatorium perfoliatum, Iris versicolor, Lobelia siphilitica, Lobelia cardinalis, Carex comosa and Aster novae-angliae (provided by Sylva Native Nursery & Seed Co.).  The island was placed near the main inlet to the pond from an adjacent pond to maximize nutrient capture within the island. The island was wrapped in a coconut fiber mat over a wetland seed mix (Ernst Mix #131) on the island edge and had a temporary goose protection fence installed. The island provides a home for organic organisms to filter nutrient laden water as it enters the pond and remove 54 lbs of nitrates, 7.5 lbs of phosphates and 54 lbs of ammonia, 0.02 lbs of copper and 0.16 lbs of zinc from the water per year (based on published scientific studies).

Launch Pictures