When Lake LaVerne was constructed in 1916, it was intended to contribute to the beautification of the ISU campus. Since then, the lake, although a defining part of the university, has also earned a less flattering reputation in recent years.

Bright green algae has developed on the lake’s surface and an occasional unpleasant smell emanating from the water have led some to wonder if it’s time for one of Iowa State’s most recognizable landmarks to undergo a deep cleaning.

“It’s a gross pond, and it probably needs to be cleaned,” said Mindy Schlueter, freshman in dietetics.

Zachary Brown, freshman in pre-computer science, also thought the area could use a little sprucing up.

“Usually it looks pretty good I guess, but today it looks a little green,” he said.

Brown said he thought a cleaned-up Lake LaVerne could add to the overall appeal of the campus to visitors and prospective students.

“Maybe it would make a better first impression on first-time visitors, because it is kind of a feature of Iowa State,” he said.

The problems plaguing Lake LaVerne are typical of shallow bodies of water, said James Pritchard, adjunct assistant professor of landscape architecture.

“Eutrophication is the biggest problem there,” Pritchard said.

Eutrophication is a process in which too many nutrients enter a body of water, stimulating excess growth of plants and, in Lake LaVerne’s case, algae.

“That’s a general problem with farm ponds and shallow ponds – they’ll turn eutrophic sooner,” Pritchard said.

Contrary to appearances, the condition of the lake is actually better than it has been in the past.

“The water quality is actually the best it’s ever been right now,” said John Downing, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology.

Downing said the way the lake was constructed is to blame for some of the overabundance of nutrients in the water.

“Originally, it was a diversion of a dammed-up College Creek,” Downing said. “It was really polluted by some of the nutrients that came downstream.”

College Creek was later diverted under and around the lake, leaving rain and runoff from campus roads and storm drains as the only sources of water coming into the lake.

Despite aerators installed underwater, oxygen is constantly being taken out of the water because of large amounts of organic sediment on the bottom of the lake. Because of the shallow depth of the lake, sediment and algae are also stirred up any time the wind picks up.

The lake is regularly maintained by faculty and students in facilities planning and management. Each spring, aluminum sulfate is added to the water to help slow down some of the algae growth.

Downing has also been involved in efforts to remove items in the lake over the years. Items removed in the past have included bicycles and traffic pylons.