Understanding resident design preferences and priorities for floating wetlands in coastal stormwater ponds

Stormwater ponds are commonly used as a flood control strategy, particularly in coastal developments, serving as the last line of defense before stormwater flows to surrounding marshes and estuaries. Many coastal stormwater ponds are impaired with high nutrient levels that can lead to algal blooms, impacting the water quality of the pond and surrounding ecosystem. Floating wetlands are one technology used to reduce nutrient concentrations in ponds. Floating wetlands provide a variety of benefits for water quality and biodiversity, but their adoption in residential ponds remains low. We ran a series of six virtual focus groups in three coastal South Carolina regions to gauge residents’ perceptions of stormwater ponds and floating wetlands, and to understand how their priorities can inform management decisions. The secondary benefits of floating wetlands (i.e., aesthetics and habitat creation) have a high importance to residents and should be considered during the design process. Communication with residents via a variety of methods is also important for scientists and outreach professionals to help inform and build support for floating wetland installation. By incorporating resident preferences and addressing potential concerns, the number of floating wetland installations within coastal ponds may increase, leading to improved water quality throughout the watershed.