The California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Orange Grove, has been a historical landmark that has historically represented the very essence of CSUN all the way back from the year 1952. It was officially announced as a historical site after the Associated Students claimed it to be so officially in 1972. The five-acre orange grove consists of over 400 orange trees, a observatory, a orange grove bistro, and a pond. The pond originally was built at where Chaparral hall stands today, right by the location of the elevator on the main floor.
It was decided that the pond would be relocated to the Orange Grove, after students and staff spoke up to the Facilities Planning. The pond began reconstruction in the spring of 2008, taking 4 months to fully be built. For many students, faculty, and staff the Orange Grove pond has always signified a place of inner sanctum, a place of tranquility, and escaping life problems. The inhabitants of the pond consist of ducks, goose, turtles, several native species of insects such as the dragonfly and water bug, koi fishes, and around the pond are several squirrels scurrying about. Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to inform about the the environmental condition of the CSUN’s Orange Grove pond and how to control and fix the current state of condition. This report discusses about how an increase in population of wildlife has a direct correspondence to waste produced. As well as discuss about how poor maintenance can lead to overgrowth of algae that has the potential to be dangerous, and why it needs to be resolved. Furthermore, this paper will also suggest recommendation on how to maintain and regulate a pond so that it would not pose to be a potential hazardous problem to students, faculty, and staff.
Problem Within the last year, water quality and cleanliness around the park has significantly diminished. And as a result the pond has suffered, from pollution of excrement waste to an abundance of algae growing in the pond water. Algae is known to thrive in warm climate temperature, and so with the increase in pollution and weather, algae growth has been at an all time high. This can be seen in the pond itself, where it is covered in a thick layer of algae all around. Algae pose as a potential threat to both students that visit the pond and to the wildlife inhabitants of the pond itself.
By quickly overtaking the pond altogether, and forcing the wildlife inhabitants to move away. All of which has deterred students from visiting the pond as frequently as they would like to. Excrement waste has also significantly increased as there has been an increased in wildlife inhabitants over the past years. It has quickly turned to a place of tranquility where students can seek refuge from everyday life to a place of avoidance and disgust. According to Andy Good, a CSUN’s Assistant Director of Engineering, the CSUN Orange Grove pond was originally intended for koi fishes not for ducks and turtles.
As time went by, people started to drop off pets such as red-slider turtles, an invasive species that make up the majority of the 150 and counting turtle population that currently reside at the pond. They consume the same food as the ducks and koi fishes, and so competition is created for resources. Along with trouts, bass, and non native plants that would be normally found elsewhere. The pond was not intended for this much biodiversity, and with the sheer size of how much wildlife is at the pond, pollution and biological waste has been a result of the substantial number.
Scope This report focuses on the issues of pond maintenance and water quality at the CSUN’s Orange Grove pond. The problem lies with the pond itself, and the wildlife inhabitants that reside in it. There are various actions that the Facilities Planning, Design and Construction (FPDC) have already implemented, and by following through with those plans and getting involved we can ensure that the CSUN Orange Grove pond will be an enjoyable place for future to come. Discussion
Oxygen is a key factor for maintenance and regulation of a pond, for all aquatic organisms require oxygen, and by helping to regulate and maintain the flow of oxygen at a constant rate, one can improve the water quality and ecosystem of a pond effectively. A pond is made up of a body of water that is separated accordingly to how much sunlight is absorbed through the depth of the pond. This process of separation is known as thermal stratification, in which water closer to the surface of the pond is less dense than the water on the bottom which is much more cooler and denser.
The difference in temperature is what allows for separation of layers, and acts as a physical barrier so that there will no be interaction between the two layers. The reason why there is a difference in the density of the same body of water, is due to the dissolved oxygen (DO) intake of water. With cooler water having a greater capacity to hold oxygen compared to warmer bodies of water. Usually this problem is fixed with the combination of photosynthesis from plants that produces oxygen, and wave to wind action that help breaks down thermal stratification and allow for water on the surface of the pond to be oxygenated by air.
This is a problem for the CSUN Orange Grove pond because its depth is only 18 inches deep, making it a fairly shallow pond. CSUN experiences temperate climate temperatures that will result in warmer waters which will lead to lower DO capacity that will favor algae growth. Algae growth is common in many ponds and usually is not harmful if the growth is not substantial, but if left unchecked can undergo many cycles of cell division increasing their numbers exponentially. Eventually simply dieing after the end of the two week cell cycle period of the algae.
After it will become an “aquatic compost pile” according to Landscape and Irrigation (2006). Which will sink to the bottom of the pond, where it will be used as nutrients for future algae and aquatic weeds. This virtually endless cycle, is known as nutrient cycling. This increase in demand for algae cell division and further decrease in DO levels places great stress on oxygen depletion. According to Landscape and Irrigation (2006), whenever oxygen levels fall below 3 to 4 parts per million (PPM), an oxygen stress will occur.
Typical situation include: Late at night and just before dawn Cloudy and and still days Hot and humid days When the lake’s nutrient content is high After a chemical application In these situation, temperature and sunlight are factors that determine the DO level present. A decrease in DO level will result in nutrients build-up, sludge accumulation, and a chemical imbalance inside the pond. According to a study done at University of Florida, sediments or sludge build up can accumulate at an average rate of 1 to 5 inches per year in temperate climates.
This accumulation of sediments and sludge is whats causing the water quality of the CSUN Orange Grove pond to drastically diminish. Since it will lower the levels of DO in the pond, enhancing growth of algae that demand the increase need for oxygen that is no longer able to be sustained. Drastic decrease in DO levels will result in fishes such as koi fishes that help clean up the “aquatic compost pile” to die due to asphyxiation. So that decomposition of plant material waste matter stays in the pond and build up, further decreasing DO levels of the pond.
Making it essentially uninhabitable for bottom feeder fishes, that help manage the pond and sustain its diverse ecosystem. All ponds will have aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, that help with the process of breaking down natural composition. Aerobic bacteria are able to break down organic nutrients to non-organic compounds through digestion, that algae and aquatic weeds are unable to use as a food source to reproduce. While anaerobe bacteria are able to also break down organic nutrients in places that is oxygen deficient, but does so not as effectively or efficiently as aerobic bacteria. Recommendation
I propose that we should invest in a water filtration that is both Eco friendly and sustainable, implementing natural ways to increase water quality such as placing barley straw, which would act as a mean to eliminate overgrowth of algae, introducing more bottom feeder such as Koi fish that would eat the algae in the pond. Not only would they be visually appealing to have in a pond but they would drastically help with water quality. We can also introduce water lilies in the pond to help with filtration of harmful algae. Which would control the growth of algae and prevent them from overpopulating.
As well as invest in some aerobic bacteria and introduce it to the pond, so that the bacteria will be able to break down organic compounds that will help in the reduction of algae. Investing in a pond aeration system so that DO levels will be at a constant functional state that allows for the sustainability of life for fishes and chemical reaction to take place. Educating people about the harm of introducing invasive species to the pond, and how it just contributes to overcrowding will help people understand not to just dump their pets at the pond.
As well as post signs to notify visitors to not dump their pets at the pond, and to not feed the ducks and turtles outside source food that is not found in nature. CSUN should also consider creating a Wildlife Protection Program whose perk can be priority registration, that way it gives students incentive to help with the upkeep of the pond. That way it’s less labor and trouble for the Physical Plant Management staffs, helping with the cost of upkeep. Cost and Feasibility Water filtration system runs anywhere from $100 or more, depending on the water filter system needed and how large pond is.
Water lilies go for as little as $5 dollars or as much as $20 each. Koi fish go for as much as $40 or $100, barley straw go from $6 to $50 depending on the size of the pond, and a dozen pond snails ranging from anywhere from $9 to $20 dollars. Pond Aeration systems go for $695, aerobic bacteria go from $15 and more. All of which combine in total can prove to be costly in the short run, but can most definitely prove to pay itself altogether in the long run. By having all of these in place, we would greatly reduce the chance of over pollution.
Which in itself if left alone, would cost thousands of dollars to clean after hiring someone to finally do it. Not to mention would possess a huge safety issue altogether for students, faculty, and staff that visit the pond. CSUN contains an estimate of 41,000 students, and if we were able to charge each student just a quarter more in their tuition. We would have more than enough money to cover equipment cost for several years. Conclusion The Orange Grove has always been known as a place to escape, where the beauty of nature and wildlife come together in harmony.
It has always been the go to spot for most students after a long day, to destress and settle down. Arriel Sanchez, a junior majoring in psychology, says “The pond is like a little secret, and I love going during spring to watch and feed the ducks. ” With the incorporation of new equipment, and educating people not to drop their pets at the pond. I believe the pond will once again, be a place for all to enjoy and relax. Let’s all do our part in keeping it that way, and preserving this beautiful historical landmark that has ultimately represented CSUN for so many years.
