Project Name: National Aquarium in Baltimore

Project Location: Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Date of Installation: August 2010

Project Details:

The efforts of the National Aquarium’s Habitat Conservation Group, along with the City’s Sustainability Plan, the Swimmable Fishable Harbor Initiative and the Waterfront Partnership led to a pilot project studying the effectiveness of BioHaven Floating Islands in the brackish water of the Inner Harbor.  Project goals include:   Examining use of wetland treatments in a location unable to accept typical wetland creation options (100% hardened shoreline), Nutrient reduction, Habitat value & Public education.

Working with NAIB staff, Bluewing assembled and launched a 200 square foot BioHaven Floating Island into the Harbor between piers 3 & 4 next to the Aquarium.  The island was anchored with several 20 lb. anchors in about 15 feet of water.  The island is expected to remove nutrients and attract wildlife above the water and provide a fish haven below.  Species planted on the islands consisted of the following: Hibiscus moscheutos, Spartina alterniflora, Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani.  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 200 square feet of BioHaven islands provide a home for bacteria and microorganisms to filter nutrient laden water as it circulates around the harbor.  The aquarium will be monitoring water quality within the island as well as studying the overall effectiveness of the planted system by in-situ monitoring and removing plugs of the island matrix for study under lab conditions.

Launch Pictures