Ever since I attended my elder sister\u2019s orientation at the University of Richmond, one fact about the lake has stuck in my mind. Not the Gazebo Kiss Myth, or where exactly Little Westham Creek flows into the lake. No, what I will never forget from that long week spent in lecture halls with my parents is a very special quote. A long time ago, some important dignitary or other visited the university and was shown around the lake, the jewel of the campus. He pronounced it \u201ca malarial duck-pond\u201d. At the time, I chuckled at how true it seemed, but when I myself began attending Richmond, I found myself a little offended that someone could say such a thing about our beloved, if murky, lake. <\/p>\n
However, on our class\u2019s walk around the lake, that quote seemed to ring truer than ever. As a result of the summer drainage, as well as recent rain, the lake was covered in a mulch-filled scum, accented by small logs bobbing on the surface. Humidity pressed down on us, bringing to mind the large mosquito population such a body of water would produce. In short, I was shocked. My experience with water has been mainly limited to rivers, which swiftly sweep away imperfections, and cow ponds, where livestock laze, chew cud, and pollute their surroundings. The lake looked much like the latter. <\/p>\n
Much of the lake\u2019s current condition can be attributed to the vast numbers of impervious surfaces in its watershed. From suburban streets to the vast wasteland of X-Lot, rainwater has very little chance to sink into the earth before flowing into the lake, carrying with it anything and everything in its path. Much of the scum was likely made up of mulch from the preparatory gardening done before the influx of students, leading me to wonder if perhaps less mulch would have been wise. My father, a landscape architect and an avid gardener, has often informed me that the mountains of mulch and fertilizer seen on many a manicured garden patch are unnecessary and will run-off quickly come rain. Better management of the gardening practices on campus, as well as a general awareness of where our waste goes could go a long way towards disproving the anonymous visitor who made such an impact on how I view the lake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ever since I attended my elder sister\u2019s orientation at the University of Richmond, one fact about the lake has stuck in my mind. Not the Gazebo Kiss Myth, or where exactly Little Westham Creek flows into the lake. No, what … Continue reading