LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to accept donations to create floating islands at Clark”s Island that remove pollutants from the water and could create habitats.
County staff will also work together to develop a plan that could be implemented in other parts of Clear Lake, including Middle Creek and the Clearlake Oaks Keys.
“I think this is fascinating,” Supervisor Rob Brown said. “This could open up a whole industry in Lake County.”
Sean Dempsey of Floating Island International told the board the benefits of placing floating islands in waterways, including reducing algae, creating habitats and walkways and removing pollutants, including nitrates, phosphates, ammonia and heavy metals.
Dempsey said floating islands could reduce nutrient loading with 100 times less space than wetlands because plant roots on the island don”t become blocked as wetland roots do.
The islands cost about $30 a square-foot without installation or plants.
Supervisor Denise Rushing worked with supervisors and county staff to bring the floating island project to the board. She thinks for the amount they help they are relatively inexpensive. With a community fundraiser and grants Rushing said she thinks the project could be successful.
“There”s enough community interest to give it a try,” Rushing said.
She said the floating islands take nutrients and turn “them into humming birds and plant life.”
County Administrator Kelly Cox said because the Redevelopment Agency owns the Clark”s Island, the agency could participate in a floating island project.
Lake County and its Redevelopment Agency bought Clark”s Island in Clearlake Oaks and moved mobile home residents, removed debris and rezoned it to open space. The county and community members have been working together to develop and environmental project for the island.
“It”s a perfect site,” Dempsey said of Clark”s Island. “We”re going back in history. We”re reintroducing a tool that was used there previously.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
