Dubuque, Iowa, September 20, 2026: An unusual environmental project in the US city of Dubuque is demonstrating how discarded plastic can be transformed into infrastructure that supports both water management and wildlife.

In 2017, the city installed 14 floating islands in Bee Branch Creek, using recycled plastic equivalent to roughly 67,000 water bottles. Together, the islands cover about 2,674 square feet and have become part of the creek’s ecological restoration effort.

Rather than treating recycled plastic simply as waste material, the project incorporated it into floating structures designed to support aquatic vegetation, improve water conditions and provide habitat for wildlife.

From Flood Problem to Environmental Restoration

Bee Branch Creek has a long history of flooding in Dubuque. The wider watershed covers approximately seven square miles and has experienced repeated flash-flooding problems affecting homes, businesses and local infrastructure.

As part of a broader flood-management project, the city reopened a section of the creek that had previously been confined underground. The restoration transformed the waterway into a more visible natural feature while also creating opportunities to improve the surrounding environment.

The floating islands became one of the project’s distinctive features.

Recycled Plastic Forms the Foundation

The floating structures were manufactured using recycled, BPA-free PET plastic, the same general type of plastic widely used in beverage bottles.

The material provides buoyancy while creating a platform on which aquatic plants can grow. The islands were assembled, planted and installed in 2017 before being secured to the creek bottom with stainless-steel cables.

Because the islands are anchored rather than permanently fixed, they can adjust to changing water levels and flow conditions.

Plants Help Filter Nutrients

The islands serve a purpose beyond their appearance.

Their vegetation and suspended root systems create surfaces where microorganisms can develop. These biological communities can help process pollutants, while the plants take up nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the water.

The structures can also slow water movement around portions of the creek, allowing suspended material to settle and reducing the movement of sediment.

Dubuque’s own sustainability materials describe the floating islands as a way to target excess nutrients while increasing biodiversity.

A Floating Habitat for Fish and Birds

The islands have gradually become small ecological zones within the creek.

Plant roots extending below the floating platforms provide shelter for fish and young aquatic organisms. The vegetation also creates conditions suitable for insects and other small organisms that form part of the aquatic food chain.

Above the water, the islands offer resting areas for birds. Native vegetation and pieces of driftwood were incorporated into the design to create structures resembling natural wetland and shoreline habitats.

The environmental value therefore comes from several layers of the floating system rather than simply from the plants growing on top.

Designed as Small Wetland Ecosystems

The 14 islands were designed in different shapes and sizes to resemble small island groups associated with the Mississippi River ecosystem.

Their placement was selected based on functional requirements as well as visibility and aesthetic considerations. Native plants were used, while protective fencing helped shield vegetation from waterfowl and other disturbances.

The arrangement effectively creates a collection of small floating habitats within the restored creek.

Maintenance Remains Important

Like any ecological infrastructure, the islands require continuing maintenance.

Inspections are needed to check the condition of the floating structures, anchoring systems and vegetation. An inspection in 2019 found that most plants were doing well, although some areas required replanting and fencing repairs were necessary because of animal activity.

This highlights an important aspect of nature-based projects: installing the infrastructure is only the beginning. Long-term monitoring and maintenance are essential for keeping such systems functional.

A Different Approach to Urban Water Management

The Dubuque project illustrates how flood-management infrastructure can be combined with ecological restoration.

Instead of relying exclusively on conventional concrete structures and drainage infrastructure, the city incorporated living vegetation, floating systems and restored waterways into its approach.

The floating islands were part of a wider effort rather than a standalone flood-control solution. Their functions include habitat creation, nutrient uptake, sediment management and educational value.

Could Similar Projects Be Replicated?

Floating ecological islands could potentially be considered by other communities dealing with polluted waterways, stormwater problems or declining aquatic habitat.

However, such systems are not universally suitable. Water depth, sunlight, flow conditions, plant selection, anchoring requirements and ongoing maintenance all need to be considered before installation. The IECA notes that sites should have sufficient depth and appropriate environmental conditions for floating islands to function effectively.

Dubuque’s experience nevertheless demonstrates how recycled materials can become part of a larger environmental solution.

Turning Waste Into Habitat

The Bee Branch Creek project offers an unusual example of circular environmental thinking: material that could otherwise become plastic waste has been incorporated into structures that support living ecosystems.

The approximately 67,000 recycled bottles used in the floating-island system now form the hidden foundation of a project involving plants, fish, birds and microorganisms.

For Dubuque, the experiment represents more than a recycling initiative. It shows how urban infrastructure can be designed to address environmental challenges while simultaneously creating new habitat and reconnecting communities with their waterways.