Assistant Director of Outdoor Programming Brian Kunz closed the College's swimming docks on the banks of the Connecticut River last week due to water pollution.Kunz said he made the decision to close the swimming area after he heard a warning on Vermont public radio advising people to boil their water before drinking it and after safety and security informed him of the high level of debris in the water.
The water became polluted as a result of intense rains and flooding in between Stowe, Vermont and the New Hampshire border following a period of drought, Kunz said.
"The drought created a situation that when the cleansing rain came down a lot of debris was flushed into the water," he said.
That debris was mixed with pesticide that could cause swimmers to become sick, Kunz said.
Pesticide "is a big factor nowadays," he said. During a period of drought "farmers continue adding chemicals and it doesn't get washed out with periodic rains but all of a sudden."
Kunz said the river cleaned itself naturally.
Over time, the continuous flow of water either settled the silt to the bottom or moved it downstream, he said.
The dam created a situation that aggravated the problem, Kunz said."It opened and closed, causing periods of backup and the problem got worse and worse," he said. "It's like having blockage in your toilet."
Liz Lajoie '97, who works as a lifeguard at the docks, said the water last week looked like chocolate.
"It was full of silt and really brown," she said.
Lajoie said last week was the first time this summer the docks have been closed for reasons other than weather.
But she said she found it strange that people were using the word pollution to describe the river.
"Basically the reason they closed [the docks] was because so much debris floated down like big branches and stuff that would make the water really unsafe," Lajoie said. "I certainly wouldn't want to swim in it."
The debris in the water would make the lifeguard's job harder if someone were to get into trouble, she said.
"The water was murky and it would have been hard to see people," she said.
Closing the docks meant no lifeguards were on duty and the chain barring the steps down to the river was in place, although no warning signs were posted.
"Putting the chain up certainly doesn't prevent people from swimming," Lajoie said. "But basically people took one look at the water and said I don't want to go in this."
