The Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Garden is seeking funds to upgrade several pieces of equipment in its koi fish pond in the Japanese Garden.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWWL) – The Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Garden is seeking funds to upgrade several pieces of equipment at its koi fish pond in the Japanese Garden.
Not only does the pond need new equipment, but also updated safety measures when operating the garden. The Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Garden is looking to raise $180,000 for its koi fish pond.
The Japanese Gardens have just celebrated their 30th anniversary. However, the pond is starting to show its age as it slowly falls into disrepair.
The pump that runs the waterfalls is not powerful enough to keep pumping the water, so the waterfalls either don't run or have lower performance.
Jenna Hirtz, executive director of the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, explained, “That waterfall on the right didn't run all season last year because that pump is pretty much broken.”
The koi pond has never had a filter system. You also need a UV filter to combat algae and kill pathogens that could harm the fish and plants.
Hirtz added: “Koi are really expensive. Some cost hundreds of thousands of dollars that koi make. “So if we ever lost them because there was something wrong with the pond or they weren’t provided with a good, clean environment, that would be a huge loss for us as a nonprofit trying to replace our koi.”
The Koi fish live 25-50 years. During the colder months, they stay at the bottom of the 12-foot pond to overwinter. By spring, the gardens hope to have raised enough money to empty the pond and install new equipment before peak season begins.
Hirtz said: “If something big were to happen where the pumps were to officially fail and something bad were to happen to the pond, we would probably have to take action immediately,” Hirtz said.
They have raised over $5,000 so far. More information Visit here.