This month and next, a local campus is "draining the swamp". Earlier this week, a crew drained the Augustana Slough.
The Rock Island college plans to build retention walls, remove sediment, and clean out trash.
Augustana spokeswoman Ashleigh Johnston estimates the entire project will cost $750,000.
"The Slough is such a central part of our campus in terms of the look and the feel. It really distinguishes Augustana as a place to live and work and attend class."
In the spring the college will complete the slough project by installing new lighting and re-surfacing the walking path.The Slough path will be closed Dec. 16 to Jan. 7 for the project. Augustana plans to finish dredging while students are on winter break
Last June, a large sewer pipe beneath the slough burst, draining the water and flooding parts of lower campus. The college worked with the City of Rock Island to fix the problem and refill the slough. And, the city helped pay for repairs to the sewer pipe.