SDG11
Cheng-Kung Lake Dredging Project: Integrates Sustainable Development and Ecological Education
What lies beneath the waters of Cheng-Kung Lake at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)? Due to the eutrophication of the lake, the university recently initiated a water pumping and dredging project. To integrate environmental education, NCKU hosted the event “Go Find It! The Great Treasure of Cheng-Kung Lake” on October 21. Students eagerly stepped into the lake, where the water level had been lowered to around 50 cm, for a “treasure hunt.” Besides catching various fish and turtles, some even retrieved items like balls. The university hopes the dredging will not only enhance the lake's scenic beauty but also create a better habitat for its wildlife.
Cheng-Kung Lake, located on the Kuang-Fu Campus of NCKU, is a beloved open green space. Its tranquil waters, crimson arched bridges, weeping willows, and surrounding greenery make it popular among students, faculty, and local residents. While dredging has been carried out periodically over the years, sedimentation and environmental factors have inevitably affected water quality. To maintain the sustainability of the lake’s water quality and ecosystem, the university began dredging the lakebed in mid-October 2024, with the project scheduled to conclude by October 31.
Executive Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen, who attended the event’s opening ceremony, remarked that Cheng-Kung Lake is a shared memory for all at NCKU. In earlier years, graduation celebrations included activities like water balloon fights and even tossing people into the lake, though these have been prohibited for safety reasons. She expressed hope that the dredging project would significantly improve the water quality and enhance the environment and ecosystem.
General Affairs Director Jian-Hong Wu noted that it had been 15 years since the last dredging. He expressed gratitude to the Office of Student Affairs, the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and the Department of Environmental Engineering for their collaboration, as well as to the students for their enthusiastic participation. Wu emphasized the importance of maintaining Cheng-Kung Lake’s water quality and ecosystem and thanked the students for contributing to environmental preservation.
The General Affairs Office provided wading gear for the participating students, who were eager to suit up and step into the lake. Ding, a senior from the Department of Chemical Engineering, described the opportunity to fish in Cheng-Kung Lake as irresistible and called it one of the most unforgettable experiences of his university life. Initially joining for fun, he found the “Pre-event Briefing & Ecology Education” session particularly enlightening, gaining valuable knowledge about environmental conservation and ecology. Wang, a freshman from the Department of Information Management, shared that the sticky lakebed made walking difficult and that the fish swam too quickly for him to catch any.
Professor Tzu-Fun Fu, Director of the NCKU Library, also joined the event in wading gear to catch fish. She described the lakebed sediment as stickier than expected, providing a vivid experience of “being stuck in the mud.” History Professor Wen-Sung Chen brought students from his Inquiry and Practice course to observe and document the event, believing that the dredging would improve water quality. He emphasized the value of giving students firsthand experience exploring the ecosystem of Cheng-Kung Lake and its surroundings.
Assistant Professor Jung-Chen Huang from the Department of Environmental Engineering led a research team to collect water samples. He explained that sampling had started one to two months before dredging and would continue during and after the project. These samples will establish baseline data for future water quality management.
Cheng-Kung Lake, a cherished memory for many at NCKU, has drawn significant attention from faculty and students during the dredging project. The General Affairs Office collaborated with the Office of Student Affairs, the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and the Department of Environmental Engineering to organize the “Go Find It! The Great Treasure of Cheng-Kung Lake” event, offering 30 spots to interested students. Before the activity, a “Pre-event Briefing & Ecology Education” session was held on October 18 to explain the importance of the dredging project for sustainable development and to instill a sense of environmental conservation in students.
During the treasure hunt, students caught various fish, with tilapia being the most common, along with plecos and red devils. Turtles included both native species and non-native species, such as red-eared sliders.
General Affairs Director Jian-Hong Wu stated that the aquatic species caught during the event would be identified by the bioscience team as either native or invasive. Native species would be returned to the lake, while invasive species would be removed. The environmental engineering team would conduct pre- and post-dredging water quality analyses, algae studies, and other research to guide future lake management.
Looking back at its history, Cheng-Kung Lake can be considered a “byproduct” of the Kuang-Fu Sports Field. In 1966, when NCKU acquired the land for the Kuang-Fu Campus, the site of today’s sports field was a low-lying area used for parking. Soil was excavated from the current location of Cheng-Kung Lake to construct the sports field, yielding 11,000 cubic meters of earth. The lake was landscaped with stone-lined banks, low hedges, and decorative features such as a miniature mountain and arched bridges, creating a scenic water space.
Rainwater runoff fills the lake, with excess water flowing into drainage channels. When necessary, lake water is used for irrigation, and fresh rainwater replenishes the lake, exemplifying effective water resource management.
Cheng-Kung Lake, located on the Kuang-Fu Campus of NCKU, is a beloved open green space. Its tranquil waters, crimson arched bridges, weeping willows, and surrounding greenery make it popular among students, faculty, and local residents. While dredging has been carried out periodically over the years, sedimentation and environmental factors have inevitably affected water quality. To maintain the sustainability of the lake’s water quality and ecosystem, the university began dredging the lakebed in mid-October 2024, with the project scheduled to conclude by October 31.
Executive Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen, who attended the event’s opening ceremony, remarked that Cheng-Kung Lake is a shared memory for all at NCKU. In earlier years, graduation celebrations included activities like water balloon fights and even tossing people into the lake, though these have been prohibited for safety reasons. She expressed hope that the dredging project would significantly improve the water quality and enhance the environment and ecosystem.
General Affairs Director Jian-Hong Wu noted that it had been 15 years since the last dredging. He expressed gratitude to the Office of Student Affairs, the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and the Department of Environmental Engineering for their collaboration, as well as to the students for their enthusiastic participation. Wu emphasized the importance of maintaining Cheng-Kung Lake’s water quality and ecosystem and thanked the students for contributing to environmental preservation.
The General Affairs Office provided wading gear for the participating students, who were eager to suit up and step into the lake. Ding, a senior from the Department of Chemical Engineering, described the opportunity to fish in Cheng-Kung Lake as irresistible and called it one of the most unforgettable experiences of his university life. Initially joining for fun, he found the “Pre-event Briefing & Ecology Education” session particularly enlightening, gaining valuable knowledge about environmental conservation and ecology. Wang, a freshman from the Department of Information Management, shared that the sticky lakebed made walking difficult and that the fish swam too quickly for him to catch any.
Professor Tzu-Fun Fu, Director of the NCKU Library, also joined the event in wading gear to catch fish. She described the lakebed sediment as stickier than expected, providing a vivid experience of “being stuck in the mud.” History Professor Wen-Sung Chen brought students from his Inquiry and Practice course to observe and document the event, believing that the dredging would improve water quality. He emphasized the value of giving students firsthand experience exploring the ecosystem of Cheng-Kung Lake and its surroundings.
Assistant Professor Jung-Chen Huang from the Department of Environmental Engineering led a research team to collect water samples. He explained that sampling had started one to two months before dredging and would continue during and after the project. These samples will establish baseline data for future water quality management.
Cheng-Kung Lake, a cherished memory for many at NCKU, has drawn significant attention from faculty and students during the dredging project. The General Affairs Office collaborated with the Office of Student Affairs, the College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and the Department of Environmental Engineering to organize the “Go Find It! The Great Treasure of Cheng-Kung Lake” event, offering 30 spots to interested students. Before the activity, a “Pre-event Briefing & Ecology Education” session was held on October 18 to explain the importance of the dredging project for sustainable development and to instill a sense of environmental conservation in students.
During the treasure hunt, students caught various fish, with tilapia being the most common, along with plecos and red devils. Turtles included both native species and non-native species, such as red-eared sliders.
General Affairs Director Jian-Hong Wu stated that the aquatic species caught during the event would be identified by the bioscience team as either native or invasive. Native species would be returned to the lake, while invasive species would be removed. The environmental engineering team would conduct pre- and post-dredging water quality analyses, algae studies, and other research to guide future lake management.
Looking back at its history, Cheng-Kung Lake can be considered a “byproduct” of the Kuang-Fu Sports Field. In 1966, when NCKU acquired the land for the Kuang-Fu Campus, the site of today’s sports field was a low-lying area used for parking. Soil was excavated from the current location of Cheng-Kung Lake to construct the sports field, yielding 11,000 cubic meters of earth. The lake was landscaped with stone-lined banks, low hedges, and decorative features such as a miniature mountain and arched bridges, creating a scenic water space.
Rainwater runoff fills the lake, with excess water flowing into drainage channels. When necessary, lake water is used for irrigation, and fresh rainwater replenishes the lake, exemplifying effective water resource management.
Go and Find It! The Grand Treasure Hunt at Cheng-Kung Lake Kicks Off
The students enthusiastically caught fish.
The students worked hard to catch fish while trudging through the muddy lakebed.
The students caught turtles from Cheng Kung Lake.
The onlooking students curiously watched as the fish caught were placed into a jar.
