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History |
In
1971, a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to Michigan
State University provided funds for the construction of 18 experimental
ponds, two holding ponds and a reservoir. |
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| Each experimental pond was
approximately 30 m in dia. with a maximum depth of 2 m and was lined
with vinyl plastic to prevent seepage losses. The liners in the original
18 ponds were covered with 25 cm of compacted topsoil. |
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After
construction, the ponds were allowed to colonize naturally with flora
and fauna from surrounding lakes, and within a few years the
experimental ponds closely resembled natural systems. These conditions
provided the opportunity to conduct a number of significant experiments
in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s on species interactions and
habitat selection in fishes. |
| However, by the mid-1980’s, the ponds had become choked
with dense, persistent stands of macrophytes (predominantly Ceratophyllum). These conditions made many types of experiments
impossible. In 1987, a grant from the NSF program for Field Stations and
Marine Laboratories funded the renovation of 9 of the original 18 ponds. In these nine ponds, the organic rich sediments and
plastic liners were removed. New 20 mil PVC liners were then installed
and were covered with a mixture of sand and clay (25 cm depth). This
sand/clay substrate was nutrient poor compared to the original topsoil.
These renovations successful returned the ponds to a less eutrophic
state. Currently, Chara is the dominant vegetation cover in the
renovated ponds (as it is in most nearby lakes), along with Potomogeton spp in the deeper water areas and Typha around the pond perimeters.
Total phosphorous concentrations in the open water of the ponds are in
the mesotrophic range (15-20 µg/L). The remaining original 9 ponds were
renovated in a similar manner in late summer 2000, again with support from
the NSF and MSU. |
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A Legacy of Conservation
A Commitment to Sustainability
©
2006 Michigan State University Board
of Trustees.
MSU is an affirmative-action,
equal-opportunity institution.
