Politics & Government
Plymouth Teen Floats Water Quality Idea
A Plymouth Boy Scout took on a water quality project at the Plymouth Millennium Garden. If his project is successful it could help clear lakes of weeds and algae.
They are problems many Minnesota lakes and ponds are plagued with: weeds and algae. Neither of them are easy to get rid of, but the city of Plymouth is testing out a new tool that may help at the city's Millennium Garden.
With the help of Derek Peterson, 16, the city set out to see if a floating island of plants could absorb the excess phosphorus in the pond. Phosphorus is the main ingredient that feeds algae and weeds.
Peterson, going into 11th grade at Wayzata High School and member of Boy Scout Troop 570, decided to take this work on as his Eagle Scout project.
“I’ve really learned a lot,” Peterson said. “I’m interested in biology and science so when I heard the city wanted to test this idea I wanted to be part of it.”
Peterson wan’t simply a part of the project, he was put in charge of it. With the help of grant money, Peterson was able to buy the floating island called a beemat from a company in Florida. He cut the 400 square foot foam-like mat into the shape of a turtle and chose aquatic plants to put in it. The roots of these plants dangle in the pond inside the Millennium Gardens and are believed to absorb access phosphorus.
“Derek has really put in some long hours on this project,” Plymouth's Water Resources Manager Derek Asche said. “He’s recruited volunteers to help, done research and now he is collecting water samples.”
Every two weeks Peterson swims through the seven foot deep pond to take water samples. He will compare the results to a similar pond to see if the phosphorus levels are indeed lowered by the floating island.
“I am curious to find out the results,” he said.
Three Rivers Park District is testing the samples and should have the results finished this fall. If it’s successful, the floating island could be a suggested tool to fight algae problems on other lakes and ponds.
“To think I might be involved in some research that could benefit people in the future is really cool,” Peterson said.
In all, he has put in more than a 100 hours on the project and hopes it earns him the Eagle Scout badge, one of the highest ranks on the Boy Scout ladder.
“It is a project he should be proud of,” Asche said. “We are glad he stepped up to take it on.”
