Overland Park launches floating wetland to fix algae overload in South Lake

Harmful algae levels in South Lake prompted Overland Park to add a floating wetland that will balance the water body’s ecosystem.

Overland Park public works staff this week launched the floating wetland — a manmade island with native Kansas wetland plants growing on it — to prevent harmful algae from spreading. The island improves the water quality and works by filtering the water, which prevents harmful algae from forming. “We have decided we need to fix this problem — and the cheapest and probably the most efficient solution we have found — is to put some plants on a buoyant structure and float it out on the lake and soak up some nutrients,” Ian Fannin-Hughes, a water quality specialist with Overland Park public works said.