Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
Get yours: subscribe here. Refer a friend: share this link.
The Depot Pond in September 2023
The Batavia Park District is aiming to fix worsening water quality at Depot Pond, where years of sediment buildup have led to algae blooms and left the water stagnant.
At the most recent board meeting, an engineering consultant and a lake management expert presented a plan that leverages a surface aerator (which can operate in shallow water). Nearby residents showed up to thank the board for taking on the issue, citing its effect on downtown's appearance and their property values.
Here's what to know:
Sediment is the main issue: A 2025 survey found about two feet of soft, mucky buildup in the pond, which the consultant said is choking off water movement and feeding algae growth.
An aerator won out over a fountain: Staff had previously considered a fountain, but the consultant noted that a surface aerator moves 800 to 1,000 gallons of water per minute and needs only 18 inches of depth to run. A fountain moves just 100 to 200 gallons per minute and needs three feet of water, which the pond doesn’t consistently provide.
Power from the Depot Museum: Crews plan to trench underground conduit and install a control panel to pull electricity from the museum next door, with the aerator designed to run continuously from spring through fall.
A separate solution for lily pads: Aeration won't clear the lily pads growing up from the pond bottom. A contractor is scheduled to physically harvest them during the first week of July.
The aerator is being treated as a stopgap. Staff said the district may need a full dredging project within the next two to three years, one they estimated at over $1 million, and that any contaminated sediment pulled from the pond would have to be tested and potentially hauled away as special waste.
No formal vote was taken on the recommendation during the meeting.
Watch the full presentation recording.
📖 Thanks for reading
Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.
Not signed up yet? Subscribe here.