Thursday, November 5, 2009

Some University of Kansas scientists say it's time to dredge Potter Lake, the landmark lake in the middle of the Lawrence campus.

Research begun on Wednesday found enough silt in the lake to fill about 600 dump trucks with mud.

A group from the Kansas Biological Survey took soil samples to determine who much it would cost to dredge the aging lake.

The lake's health reached a crisis point this summer, when heavy rains caused an explosion in plant growth. That sucked oxygen from the water, killing hundreds of fish.

Jerry deNoyelles, deputy director of the biological survey, says the only long term solution to the problem is to dredge the lake again.

Previous student groups have estimated it would cost between $50,000 and $100,000 to dredge the lake.