Campus Pond
A view to the east of campus, with the pond in the foreground
Campus Pond Show map of Massachusetts Campus Pond Show map of the United States
Location	University of Massachusetts Amherst
Coordinates	42°23′21.87″N 72°31′35″W / 42.3894083°N 72.52639°W / 42.3894083; -72.52639
Type	Pond

The Campus Pond at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a pond located in the center of campus that was created in the early 1890s. It is bordered to the south by the Fine Arts Center.

In the late 1880s, Massachusetts Agricultural College, a college in University of Massachusetts Amherst, decided to create a dam on one of the streams that ran through campus. The stream ran through the center of campus dividing the orchards on the eastern side and the academic buildings and fields on the west side. In the early years, the stream was dammed during the winter of 1890 and 1891 by two students.^[1] The pond was justified as a source of natural ice for dairy and orchard activities in the days before refrigeration. Over the years, the pond was used for various student activities, as well as numerous events,^[2] including the Spring Concert.^[3]

Over the years, the number of Canada geese has increased around the pond, a direct result of increased acreage of lawns around the region. Furthermore, their waste has combined to create a nuisance for pedestrians in and around the pond, as well as foul the pond with algae growth.^[4] In 2009 two fountains were installed in order to help mitigate the algae.^[1]

Since the original stated purpose of the pond has become outdated, students have found other ways to use the pond. These uses include ice skating and swimming, and to a lesser extent, swimming during the spring term.^[1]

• Official history
• Video showing the 2010 dredging of the pond

v t e University of Massachusetts Amherst
Academics	College of Education College of Engineering College of Humanities and Fine Arts College of Information and Computer Sciences Isenberg School of Management College of Natural Sciences College of Nursing School of Public Health and Health Sciences School of Public Policy College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Stockbridge School of Agriculture
Research	Research centers DEFA Film Library Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (defunct) Large Millimeter Telescope Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center National Center for Digital Government Political Economy Research Institute
Campus	Facilities Fine Arts Center John W. Lederle Graduate Research Center Morrill Science Center Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center (Blue Wall Cafe) Orchard Hill Observatory University Museum of Contemporary Art W. E. B. Du Bois Library Landmarks Campus Pond Old Chapel Chestnut Ridge Historical Area East Ridge Historical Area Ellis Drive Historical Area
Athletics	Programs Baseball Softball Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's ice hockey Women's ice hockey Men's lacrosse Football Men's soccer Facilities Curry Hicks Cage Earl Lorden Field William D. Mullins Memorial Center Sortino Field Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Rudd Field History and traditions UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen Sam the Minuteman UMass Fight Song University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band
Student life	Housing University bus and PVTA Five College Consortium Greek life Student Government Association University Without Walls Amherst
People	Alumni Faculty Presidents and Chancellors
Media	The Campus Chronicle Jubilat The Massachusetts Daily Collegian The Massachusetts Review WFCR WMUA
Miscellaneous	1980 campus water shortage