Red pond at UPEI worries officials

The P.E.I. government is keeping a close eye on a pond beside the new Canada Games track and field facility at UPEI after noticing the water had turned red with mud.

The problem started after heavy rain during the last weekend in June.

Jennifer Kearney, the province's watercourse alteration supervisor, told CBC News on Monday that soil has leaked from the construction site to the pond.  

"We met on-site with the project manager and the contractor there, and we're working with them to put in some mitigation measures to prevent the soil from reaching the pond," said Kearney.

There were some measures already in place, said Kearney, but the province will be adding more straw bales and possibly a sediment trap that would catch muddy water before it reaches the pond.

The pond will likely remain red for a while because there is no stream moving water through it.

The province will continue to monitor the pond after heavy rains, and will take further mitigation measures if necessary.