Western Courier

Issue date: 6/18/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Zach Wingerter The Lake Ruth renovations are scheduled to be completed by late June or early July as long as Mother Nature has little interference.

Western Illinois University has long prided itself on the cleanliness of its campus. As a part of the never-ending job of maintaining the campus, the massive undertaking of cleaning Lake Ruth has taken place.

More than 30 dump truck loads of sediment and other materials have been removed from Lake Ruth.

According to Physical Plant civil engineer Dennis Wells, the lake has been drained and sediment has been removed and transported to the university farm and brush removal.

The renovation of the lake is important because it will restore the lost volume, which the sediment had taken over. It will also remove the unwanted and unsightly vegetation, namely Duckweed, which thrives in the warm, shallow water Lake Ruth supplies.

At the recommendation of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the family of geese that inhabited the campus attraction have not been relocated, but instead have moved on their own.

Upon advice from Care of Trees consultant Todd Degner, personnel have also taken to caring for the trees that encircle the lake, with special attention given to the Lake Ruth sycamore. The 60-year-old tree that hovers at an angle over Lake Ruth will remain as the project is carried out.

After completion of the project, which is expected during late June or early July, Lake Ruth will require 500,000 gallons of water in order to return it to normal levels.

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