Harmony Wetlands

Harmony Wetlands is located in Rocky View Municipal District west of Calgary. Urban Systems designed three constructed wetlands, one on an innovative subsurface design, to be among other critical best management practices in the development area that will help protect Harmony Lake. The lake is the source of the community's drinking water, and extra care was taken to protect the lake source from degradation as a result. The wetlands provide aesthetic and wildlife appeal to the community, while also treating runoff. Two of the wetlands have a diverse mix of open water areas, including deep pools and shallow areas with dense vegetative growth, and dry areas that become flooded during large rain storms. Treatment is provided by settling in open water, and filtering through soil and uptake by vegetation. The third wetland, called a subsurface gravel wetland, also relies on filtering and uptake, but provides added nutrient removal within the subsurface gravel layer; it does not have permanent open water areas.