John Bunker Sands Wetlands

John Bunker Sands Wetland Center

 The John Bunker Sands Wetlands includes seasonal emergent wetlands, flooded bottomland hardwood forest, and scrub swamp. A wonderful refuge for wildlife, this area serves another purpose: polishing water. Just under 7.5 km² (1,853 acres) of the wetland is managed as a natural filter. Designed to cleanse water, about 95% sediment, 80% nitrogen, and 65% phosphorous is removed from both treated wastewater and natural water flows that were once unused. About 75% of this work is done by the native aquatic plants, but the additional 25% is due to the resulting biofilm.

John Bunker Sands Wetland Center

The East Fork Raw Water Supply Project is only the second, and already the largest, in North America to use wetlands to polish and reuse water. With population predictions in North Texas, the wetland provides more water for relatively cheap that will expand with the population in contrast to building another reservoir. In addition, wildlife has already taken advantage of this vast reserve of which include otters, bald eagles, freshwater shrimp, and American white pelicans.