Progress at the South Cove, Despite the Rain

Draining the South Cove to remove the mucky sediment beneath it has been a little like trying to dry a floor while the faucet is still running. Stormwater from several of Arlington’s gardens flows directly into the cove, and this summer’s profuse rainfall has repeatedly replenished the water we need to remove. It rains. The cove fills. We pump it dry. It rains again.

Rinse and repeat, quite literally.

Despite that cycle, our Grounds Team continues to remove one hundred years of accumulated muck more than three feet deep while other parts of the restoration are moving forward, too. The cove has been widened, the east bank has taken shape, and once the west bank is formed, the Memorial Walk renovation will follow.

To the best of our knowledge, Arlington Lake has never been dredged. Beneath the surface lies a sediment deposit that has built up over many years. This buildup raises the bottom closer to the surface, creating unsightly and unhealthy algae and making it harder for wildlife to survive. Restoring the cove requires care for both: removing what has accumulated on the bottom while protecting the life the lake still sustains.

We still expect to complete the project this construction season, although rainfall continues to disrupt progress. We recognize that the exposed banks and ongoing work are an unwelcome interruption to the beauty people come here to enjoy.

Thank you for bearing with us during this ongoing phase of permanent improvements to the grounds. With each load of sediment removed, the South Cove moves closer to becoming a place of beauty once again.

We will continue to provide periodic updates until the project is complete.