Plans to create an artificial island on the River Ouse to help wildlife and improve water quality have been put forward.
Environmental charity St Nicks wants to install the pontoon-like structure on the river near North Street Gardens in York.
A spokesperson for the charity said the “floating ecosystem” would “inject life” into that part of the River Ouse and give birds a place to “rest and nest”.
They said the island would be attached to the river wall via an anchoring system so it could rise and fall during flooding.
Yeah, they should roll it out further. I wonder if there any plants that also help clean water as well? Double win!
Stuff like redroot floaters (usually used in aquariums) would absorb a ton of nutrients from sewage, but they have a tendency to replicate way too fast under ideal conditions (sunny, 27c water, relatively still waterways)
There may be native plants that work better in northern waters :)
https://buceplant.com/blogs/aquascaping-guides-and-tips/plant-profile-red-root-floaters