Constructed Wetland

EcoGro (a new division of Advanced Mulching Technologies) was contacted to provide assistance on a constructed wetlands site at the Blue Ridge landfill facility in Irvine, KY. The wetland was initially built an estimated 20 years ago and was no longer operating effectively. It was created as part of a treatment system to reduce pH and iron levels in runoff. The water was currently bypassing along one side of the wetland and not flowing evenly through the entire area.

EcoGro provided a cost effective and environmentally friendly approach for rehabilitating this wetland. After accumulated sediment and vegetation was cleaned out of the basin, EcoGro installed a compost filter cell in the existing basin. The purpose was to force the water entering to navigate completely through the system, creating a longer hydraulic residence time and allowing for more deposition, filtration, vegetative uptake and bioremediation.

After the flow diversions were created, EcoGro also installed compost into the area creating a biologically active wetland system. To neutralize pH, limestone was added to the compost mixture before it was blown into the filter cell and compost blanket. The area was seeded with fescue and rye for short-term cover, and reseeded with the naturally occurring cattail and Joe-Pye Weed, abundant in the area.