On Aug. 8, The University of New Mexico Duck Pond is expected to have its long-awaited grand opening that invites students into a lush and vibrant habitat teeming with aquatic life, according to UNM Facilities Design and Construction. The nine month long renovation project is expected to bring improvements in water quality, compliance with ADA guidelines and the return of most of the pond animals.
The $4 million renovation project will keep character defining features — the shape of the pond, waterfall and fountains — unchanged from its 2006 condition, according to a Project Overview document provided to the Daily Lobo.
While some of the pond’s wildlife will be reintroduced to the pond, the turtles, who are not native to the pond, will not have a home at the pond any longer, Michael Pierce, a UNM Project and Construction Manager associated with the renovation, said.
“We believe that they have been left behind by students and the general public over many years. They were loved, but bringing them back was not recommended,” Pierce said.
The senior red-eared slider turtles along with the flightless ducks will be retiring at the UNM Golf Course, according to UNM Newsroom.
Other wildlife like the wild ducks, will find their way back to the duck pond naturally through migratory processes, Pierce said.
“We’ve seen a few ducks around the pond already,” Pierce said.
Some bass and minnow have already been reintroduced to the pond, which is filled halfway and aerated to oxygenate the water, according to Pierce.
“The purpose of reintroducing the fish this early on is to start the biological process of what a pond will do naturally in its natural environment. It’s been very intentional,” Pierce said.
Marsh plants such as water rush, horsetails and yerba mansa will be planted along the edge, for some filtration, as well as to create a habitat for frogs or other small animals that find their way to the pond, according to Pierce.
The measures being introduced to improve water quality include increasing the depth of the pond, installing biofilters, making pond maintenance easier and the introduction of fish species to begin the pond’s biological processes, according to Pierce.
“We removed a large amount of dirt. Sunlight will not be able to penetrate as deeply into the pond, which would create a healthier aquatic environment,” Pierce said.
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Increasing the pond depth reduces sunlight penetration, helping control algae growth, lowering water temperature and supporting fish that control pests like mosquitos, according to a statement from UNM Institutional Support Services to the Daily Lobo.
Additionally, the water will be cycled through biofilters which convert fish and duck waste into harmless nitrates, and ultraviolet units will sterilize harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and cryptosporidium, according to the statement.
To maintain a healthy pond, UNM negotiated an operating agreement with the Albuquerque Water Utility Authority that will allow the University to drain the pond into a sanitary sewer line every 2 years. The same sewer line will be used to backwash the pond, running water backwards through the filter to clear debris monthly, according to Pierce.
Renovations were also made to “fix a few minor things in terms of ADA accessibility,” Pierce said.
“We added a safety shelf to the interior, so the first two or three feet into the pond are not very deep. If someone were to fall into the pond, it would be easier to get out. The previous pond had a more dramatic slope under the water,” Pierce said.
There will also be improved lighting around the pond, according to the Project Overview document.
Pathways leading from Zimmerman Library to the peninsula, the center of the duck pond, will also be renovated to allow easier access for wheelchairs, the elderly and those with various disabilities, according to Pierce.
Communication and remaining on schedule were identified as major challenges, Pierce said.
“We were targeting substantial completion by graduation. We started in November of 2024 but we realized in March and April that we weren’t going to meet that deadline, so we had to communicate with various departments in UNM about that,” Pierce said.
To maintain the pond, contractors, architects and engineers will train facility management personnel on how to operate and clean the pond, although the pond will mostly run itself, Pierce said.
“It is a beloved portion of campus and the renovations will make it easier to maintain and enjoy,” Pierce said.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
