The city of Hoover launched the state's first manmade floating island this afternoon in the lake at Veterans Park off Valleydale Road.

The 480-square-foot island, made by Baton Rouge-based Floating Island Environmental Solutions, was pulled into the middle of the lake by two boats following a news conference.

The island, which mimics natural bogs and wetlands, is made from recycled plastic drinking bottles combined with buoyant marine foam. The island is filled with 350 different plants, including seven types that are native to Alabama, Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos said. Among the perennial plants are lizardtail, horsetail, cannas and iris.

The vegetation's roots will reach down into the water and grow, absorbing nitrogen and phosphorus. The city hopes to achieve significant reductions in phosphorus, nitrogen and silt/ sediment between the upstream end of the lake and the outlet end where the lake discharges to a tributary of the Cahaba River.

The river watershed has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as "impaired" because of excess nutrients and sedimentation.

"Hoover has always been on the leading edge as far new technology, as far as anything to do with the environment," Petelos said.

The city received a $10,000 grant for the island from the Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council after learning about the grant opportunity from state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs Village.

Veteran's Park Island 16 Gallery: Veteran's Park Island