The BYU Botany Pond, also known as the duck pond, will be drained and cleaned next year. This will be the first time the pond has been cleaned since 1981.
The Botany Pond is a small body of water on the south end of campus. It is home to many creatures, most prominently the ducks that roam the surrounding area.
The Botany Pond, along with the surrounding area, was constructed by BYU professor Bertrand F. Harrison.
Long before the Life Science Building was built, Harrison and his team found an underground spring at the building’s current location.
Harrison and his students used the spring water, along with water from a nearby canal, to fill the site for the duck pond. Harrison retired in 1974 but has undoubtedly left his mark with the arboretum south of campus.
"It was upgraded and cleaned in 1981. That is the last time it's been cleaned, and as you can tell, it's become somewhat brackish," said Glenl Wear, BYU grounds director.
This 40-year gap has prompted BYU Grounds and Landscape Management to find a way to clean the pond. After three years of research, the team has a plan to accomplish this much-needed task.
"We will actually drain it, clean it up and refill it. It will be far more appealing than it currently is." Wear said.
What will happen to the many ducks and ducklings that live at the pond?
Thankfully, they will not be left stranded.
BYU Grounds and Landscape Management will work with professionals based in Layton to safely relocate the ducks.
"They actually capture them for us, take them up, find homes, keep them and take care of them until they find a way to relocate them,” Wear said.
Until then, visitors can still enjoy the duck pond and its peaceful surroundings.
Wear encourages people to feed ducks only appropriate bird feed and to avoid releasing ducklings or turtles into the pond.