The Talking Water Gardens project, an engineered wetlands facility, is designed to:
- Reduce water temperature, or excess thermal load (ETL), by up to 150 million kilo-calories per day to meet state guidelines and protect sensitive fish habitat.
- Naturally aerate and treat water to improve water quality by reducing pollutant levels, including the removal of 2,000 pounds per day of nitrogen and 40 pounds per day of phosphorus.
- Restore riparian forest and wetlands through plantings of native species.
- Promote wildlife habitat in a former industrial area by reclaiming treated wastewater for use in healthy wetlands environments.
- Create a living laboratory that brings wetland science to life for K-12 and university students and informs visitors about responsible water reclamation and environmental sustainability.
- Create a new natural attraction for Albany-area visitors that integrates the history of the site and the Willamette River.