Lobo champions UNM's Duck Pond wildlife relocation

As one of the most cherished and picturesque spots on campus, the UNM Duck Pond has served as a place of calm, connection, and community for nearly five decades. Known for its scenic beauty and playful resident ducks, turtles, and fish, the Duck Pond is about to undergo a much-needed revitalization.

The University is investing approximately $4 million in an improvement project that will focus on enhancing the pond's safety, accessibility, and sustainability-all while honoring its original charm and character. The construction project kicked off on Nov. 6, and is expected to take six months to complete, requiring a new home for the wildlife that calls this home.

One of the challenges the project faced in its planning and design was consideration of the residents of the Duck Pond. Michael Pierce, project manager leading the design and construction effort was struggling to know what to do with the animals. Given the duration of the project, the University needed to find new homes for the wildlife. This is where our champion comes in.

While attending a design and construction project meeting, Lydia Thomas, marketing & communications manager for Institutional Support Services (ISS), heard the struggles the team was having with finding a space in New Mexico to relocate the animals. In true Lobo spirit, Thomas proactively spearheaded a campaign to find a home in New Mexico.

Thomas explained that relocating our animals wasn't just a logistical necessity; it was an ethical commitment to care for the wildlife that makes the Duck Pond a beloved place. She reached out statewide to potential partners, advocating for a safe and tranquil environment for the pond's resident animals. Her efforts ultimately led to a discovery that there was a home within our own UNM footprint. During a retreat at the UNM Championship Golf Course, she learned of the course's two ponds and partnered with Adam Roybal, general manager, who warmly offered the course's serene water features as a temporary habitat.

The Championship Golf Course, known for its lush landscape and calm environment, is an ideal sanctuary for these animals. With the help of our pond renovation contractor, Aquatic Solutions, flightless ducks, turtles, and fish will be relocated to the course's ponds, while wild ducks are expected to continue their natural migration and find other water sources.

Roybal and his team welcomed this unique partnership with open arms, recognizing the significance of protecting UNM's wildlife heritage.

"We're honored to provide a peaceful home for the pond's animals," Roybal shared. "It's not every day that a golf course gets to be part of a conservation effort like this."

The Duck Pond revitalization demonstrates UNM's holistic approach to environmental care-balancing infrastructure needs with respect for the natural world, while Thomas's outreach and planning have been integral to ensuring that every aspect of the project aligns with these values. Her dedication and thoughtfulness ensured a smooth transition for the animals, reinforcing UNM's commitment to both its natural spaces and the creatures that inhabit them.

The community is invited to visit the Championship Golf Course, where students, staff, and faculty enjoy reduced rates. While there, they can greet the pond's temporary residents and appreciate the collaborative spirit that made this relocation possible.

The revitalized Duck Pond will reopen as a safer, more sustainable space for future generations, and thanks to Thomas' stewardship, its wildlife will continue to play an essential part in its legacy.

For more information, visit Duck Pond Revitalization Project.