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Plant islands eyed as an option to mitigate nutrient runoff

Researchers at Iowa State University are floating a plan to dredge excess nutrients from farm lakes with a series of “plant islands” – wire mesh structures planted with flowers and perennials that are designed to allow plant roots to grow through the mesh and into the nutrient-rich water below.

Mimi Wagner, an associate professor at Iowa State University who was involved in a plant island trial conducted on Iowa’s Lake LaVerne, would like to see plant islands tested in drainage ditches throughout the state. KCRG reports. | READ MORE