By Annabelle Chipps
West Lake, SRU’s remaining retention pond, was drained at the beginning of April. This comes almost two years after East Lake was drained.
“The [lakes were] drained in preparation to remove the silt that has built up over the past 20 years and to install a second outfall structure and culvert underneath Kiester Road to improve the stormwater management controls in that area of campus,” associate vice president of facilities, Scott Albert, said.
This should decrease the amount of flooding on Kiester Road that occurs during heavy storms.
While students online and in person believed West Lake was gone forever, facilities shall be “allowing the lake to fill back up with water,” most likely rain.
The lake already had a drainage system built into it, but a contractor was hired to expand the drain so more water could come out. This is common maintenance for drainage ponds.
The lake will also gain a fountain to add aesthetic flair and assist with water quality.
“Aquatic conditions will improve for the fish that will be restocked when the project is completed,” Albert said. The fish that previously lived in West Lake moved downstream with the water that was drained.
The whereabouts of the geese and ducks who previously resided in the pond are unknown at this time.
Throughout SRU’s history, there have been several lakes throughout campus. Some were naturally occurring, others created for mine drainage.
Today, West Lake exists to capture excess water on and around campus, while still serving as a place for students to fish.
