Biohaven floating islands are a man-made product that mimics naturally occurring floating islands found in many of the world’s freshwater lakes, including right here in the United States in Wisconsin. The result is a natural way to improve water quality by filtering pollutants, floating particles/sediment, and nutrients in a highly efficient manner. BIOMIMICRY, the process of understanding and using biological principles to solve human problems, is where the concept and design of floating island biohaven comes from.The islands are built of recycled polyester called MATRIX. Layers of matrix are bound together and floated using polyurethane foam. The islands are normally covered with biomix and planted with wetland plants; eventually allowing the root systems of the plants to grow through the matrix into the water below. The matrix and root system of the wetland plants provide an enormous amount of surface area that is colonized by beneficial bacteria/microbes. Both the vegetation and the bacteria are able to utilize nutrients in the water column, reducing the nutrient load that would otherwise be available for undesirable organisms like algae.Floating island biohavens also provide the added benefit of creating habitat for wildlife such as waterfowl, aquatic insects, fish, and other plants. They represent an important tool to increase biodiversity within our pond systems.Biohavens, large scale and small scale, have been launched around the world successfully to address nutrient issues in many different pond environments including: stormwater ponds, waste water lagoons, zoos, golf courses, and ornamental ponds.