Duck Pond to see renovations; fish, turtles and ducks to be relocated

The University of New Mexico Duck Pond is scheduled to undergo a renovation that will begin in mid-November and improve aging infrastructure, water quality, safety, accessibility and maintenance demands.

The revitalization project will not change the shape or character of the Duck Pond, according to UNM Facilities Design and Construction.

The renovation is expected to improve the circulation of oxygen using a new fountain, according to a statement by UNM Institutional Support Services to the Daily Lobo. The pond will be made deeper to reduce sunlight penetration, water temperature and algal growth.

A new gutter and drain system will be installed to capture runoff and prevent contaminants from entering the pond, according to the statement. New marsh plants will also be planted.

The aquatic animals will be relocated to a pond in the UNM Championship Golf Course, according to the statement.

Museum of Southwestern Biology Director Christopher Witt said he hopes the revitalized Duck Pond will have an intact food system that supports fish and turtles. These animals add to the character of the pond, Witt said.

“There have been plans swirling to rebuild the Duck Pond for some time, and I’m glad that there’s a plan finally going forward,” Witt said.

Biology classes have taken advantage of the Duck Pond’s ecosystem to look at the health of freshwater aquatic urban systems, according to Witt.

The Duck Pond also serves as a habitat for migrating birds, including the Green-winged Teal, Wilson’s Phalarope and Spotted Sandpiper, Witt said.

There have been about 121 species of birds spotted at UNM this year, according to eBird.

“We have to hope that in the renovation, which targets water quality to some extent, that they don’t lose that quality that allows it to be a good habitat for wildlife,” Witt said. “That really adds to the richness and quality of this campus feature.”

Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo