Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Improvements planned for Allerton mansion pond

Road to recovery The mansion pond at Allerton Park is shown Nov. 6 partially drained. Staff members have noticed a marked deterioration of the pond’s health, so the pond will be fully drained to aid in diagnosing problems. UI students in the department of natural resources and environmental sciences will aid in proposing and implementing a restoration plan.

Photo by Chris Hermann/Allerton

The mansion pond and surrounding area are a favorite spot for visitors to Allerton Park. However, staff members will soon be emptying the pond to better assess the cause of noticeable deterioration in the pond’s health. In an effort to identify the causes of these problems and recommend a solution, Allerton Park and the UI department of natural resources and environmental sciences have created a unique educational opportunity. During the next year, UI students will propose and implement a restoration plan to improve the health of the pond and restore beauty to the pond area. As the pond is drained, fish species will be relocated to the Allerton Diversified Farm Pond. While the pond is empty, research and repairs will be performed. Data will be gathered on depth and composition of sediment, contour of the pond, and water flow rates. The student team and Allerton staff members will remove sediment to restore the original depth of the pond and plant aquatic vegetation on the banks. If necessary, repairs will be made to the wall of the dam and pond banks. After completing necessary repairs and improvements, the pond will be allowed to refill naturally. When the water level returns to an appropriate depth, the student team will introduce a diverse fish population to the pond. The restoration project is scheduled to continue through the summer of 2004. Visitors will notice ongoing work by both students and Allerton staff members throughout the research and implementation phases of this project. These temporary inconveniences will provide long-term benefits ensuring future health and enjoyment of the pond. For more information, stop by the Visitor Center at Allerton.

Back to Index

Read Next

Life sciences Photo of Michael Ward standing in tall grass on a riverbank.

How are migrating wild birds affected by H5N1 infection in the U.S.?

Each spring, roughly 3.5 billion wild birds migrate from their warm winter havens to their breeding grounds across North America, eating insects, distributing plant seeds and providing a variety of other ecosystem services to stopping sites along the way. Some also carry diseases like avian influenza, a worry for agricultural, environmental and public health authorities. […]

Announcements Marcelo Garcia, professor of civil and environmental engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering.

Illinois faculty member elected to National Academy of Engineering

Champaign, Ill. — Marcelo Garcia, a professor of civil and environmental engineering in The Grainger College of Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

Social sciences Male and female student embracing on the quad with flowering redbud tree and the ACES library in the background. Photo by Michelle Hassel

Dating is not broken, but the trajectories of relationships have changed

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — According to some popular culture writers and online posts by discouraged singles lamenting their inability to find romantic partners, dating is “broken,” fractured by the social isolation created by technology, pandemic lockdowns and potential partners’ unrealistic expectations. Yet two studies of college students conducted a decade apart found that their ideas about […]

Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

507 E. Green St
MC-426
Champaign, IL 61820

Email: stratcom@illinois.edu

Phone (217) 333-5010