View allAll Photos Tagged Spring2019
Northwest Missouri State University celebrated its spring bachelor's degree recipients during commencement ceremonies May 4, 2019. The University awarded a record 1,062 degrees during the weekend.
(Photo by Brandon Bland/Northwest Missouri State University)
Alexandra Arrich - #BIOL394Photo1
On Saturday, April 13, 2019, I went to the Hidden Lakes Historic Trout Farm in Bolingbrook, IL with Mo and Nasreen. While walking around the area, I noticed that these drainage holes were installed in the various lakes. In addition to being used in lakes, drainages holes are also incorporated in dams and reservoirs. Besides the drainage hole system seen in my picture, they can also appear like an inverted bell with water encompassing its entire perimeter. In the context of a dam, drainage holes are used to control the release of water so that the dam does not overflow and become damaged. As for the drainage holes used in lakes, they offer a solution to flooding that can occur when it storms. Although flooding has both positive and negative impacts on the environment, drainage holes help to prevent the negative effects from occurring. Flooding is a problem because it could damage the ecosystem in various ways. The lake’s shoreline could become eroded due to the water exceeding the normal level. Plants are able to endure water that overflows up to a certain extent. If an area remains flooded for an extended period of time, then the plants’ roots could be damaged because they will not be able to receive as much oxygen. Additionally, if any animals have created their homes near the lake, then their homes could be destroyed when the water overflows. Aquatic ecosystems could also be affected in addition to these terrestrial ecosystems. The trout that live in the lake could be negatively impacted because they would have difficulty finding food. Their gills could also become irritated if they spend an elongated amount of time in muddy water. This was the first time I noticed that a lake in a forest preserve had a drainage hole. I think the Bolingbrook Park District made a smart decision by implementing this device to help their ecosystem. I question why more park districts do not incorporate this type of machinery into their lakes. My thought is that drainage holes would only help to promote the ecosystem that is in existence, rather than have it be disrupted by overflowing water. I wonder if there is a high cost associated with incorporating a drainage hole into a lake. If that is the reason why I have not seen as many drainage holes, I think the park districts should either try to put funds aside so they can get them installed or hold fundraisers so that they would be able to do so. I feel like the common public doesn’t realize the importance of drainage holes because they can be easily overlooked. If more people were made aware of how they benefit ecosystems, I think they would have a renewed appreciation for its significance.