A fixture in the Charles River is going into hibernation for the winter.

On Tuesday, the floating wetland downriver of the Longfellow Bridge in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was towed to the MIT Sailing Pavilion, where it will live until mid-March to protect its roots from freezing.

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The Charles River Conservancy installed the 730-square-foot floating wetland in 2020 following years of research and development. Thus far, it has proven effective in improving water quality and restoring biodiversity.

"What the island is, is effectively a hydroponic growing mat or dock. It floats, and we've planted it with over 3,000 native wetland species," said Laura Jasinski, executive director of the Charles River Conservancy. "It rea

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