OGDEN — An effort to keep Weber State University’s duck pond a little cleaner and able to better do its duties is well underway.

The pond at Ada Lindquist Plaza is the subject of a major ongoing reconstruction project this summer.

Mark Halverson, WSU’s associate vice president for facilities and campus planning, told the Standard-Examiner that the project isn’t simply for the aesthetics of the pond.

“The renovation project has several objectives,” he said. “What many people don’t know about the Ada Lindquist Plaza and the associated pond is that it serves as the stormwater detention basin for most of the Ogden campus. To provide more capacity for that water, we’re deepening most of the pond by 4 feet. The added depth will also help control the algae that grows on the surface of the pond during warmer seasons.”

He said the renovations don’t stop there.

“We’re also installing a concrete floor, which will allow sediment and debris to be cleaned out more frequently,” he said. “We’re also adding new fountain infrastructure, aeration equipment and improving our ability to use this water to irrigate the campus landscape, reducing our overall use of secondary water.”

Halverson said the project is expected to wrap up sometime this fall.

Meanwhile, the duck pond’s “residents” are being taken care of as the project continues. Weber State is working with the Division of Wildlife Resources “to ensure the ducks and geese are not harmed during the process,” Halverson said.

According to WSU Director of Public Relations Bryan Magaña, the animals are not stocked into the pond by WSU or any other agency.

“The birds naturally gravitate to the waters at Weber State. In the past, we’ve had domesticated ducks and geese brought to campus by folks with good intentions, but volunteers helped to safely relocate them back in 2021,” he said.

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