Regeneration and Natural Environment

The floating islands pilot project includes the installation of three islands in Riverbend pond and five in Bowes pond. These floating islands are filled with native plants and were purchased with funds from the Boulder County Sustainability Grant. The goal of this collaboration between the Sustainability and Parks departments is to protect Superior ponds from harmful algae blooms through a nature-based solution and provide habitat for local wildlife.

Currently, the Town applies herbicide to ponds as needed to prevent harmful algae blooms. Algae blooms are common in Superior during the summer in particular. This project offers an innovative alternative where the roots of the islands’ plants work to remove excess nutrients from the water. This prevents algae blooms that suck oxygen out of the water, which harms fish, birds and invertebrate species that rely on pond ecosystems.

Beyond preserving water quality, this project also allows pollinators to access the plants and provides habitats for fish below. The islands are designed so the plants’ roots grow down through the island and into the water.

The Town is monitoring water quality improvement in the selected ponds through regular testing and analysis. Floating islands have been successfully installed to help with algal blooms in Lakewood and other cities are considering this approach as well, so this project also encourages shared learning and collaboration between municipalities.

The Town developed a Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan in 2021 with the purpose of “Encouraging vibrant and meaningful community by providing exceptional parks, facilities, open space, events and services.” The PROST plan encompasses a broad range of focus areas from Growing and Maintaining the Park System to Recreation Programming.

The Town uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach based on best practices to control weeds and pests on all parks and open space areas. This approach is well-researched and established as an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to weed and pest management based on a foundation of several broad elements. Prominent IPM program components include applying common-sense practices; utilizing a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical measures that emphasize the least-toxic approach to controls; economic feasibility; and a strong emphasis on minimizing the use of chemical control measures.

Weed and Pest Management Application Schedule

The four basic steps of the Town’s IPM program:

• Set action thresholds. Before any control action, Town staff determines if the amount of weeds or pests present in an area requires a response.
• Monitor and identify pests. Not all weeds or insects require immediate control actions.
• Prevention. Measures include improving soil health by aeration and adding soil amendments, mulching trees, and aerating. Well-maintained facilities and healthy plant material are less susceptible to weeds and pests.
• Control. Effective, less-risky methods are implemented first, such as mowing weeds before going to seed, releasing Canada thistle gall mites, or hand-pulling small areas. EPA-approved synthetic herbicides and pesticides are applied to targeted areas when determined to be necessary; and this is done at the lowest application rate possible by State-licensed and certified applicators.

When determined to be the most appropriate control measure as part of the Town’s overall IPM program, the Town will use chemical controls for broadleaf weeds in landscape turf, noxious weeds in open space areas, weeds on soft-surface trails; mosquitoes; algae and duckweed in ponds; and ash borers and IPS engraver bark beetles in spruce and pine trees.

Visit the Weed and Pest Management page for more information on the Town's IPM approach.