Drought, rain and construction activity have taken their toll on the green space between Klehm Hall and the Life Sciences Building, said a Facilities Planning and Management official.

A majority of the grass in the green space has died, soil has eroded on the west end and rocks litter the ground.

Dave Crockett, the associate director of maintenance and operations, said several factors have contributed to the condition of the green space.

The main factor has been drought, he said.

The grass in the green space has dried out and died because of the severe drought the area has experienced throughout the summer.

To add to the situation, even if the grass received significant rain, the higher-than-normal temperatures the area has experienced throughout the summer would have still resulted in the green space dying, Crockett said.

“This drought has made landscaping very difficult,” he said.

Construction to widen drainage pipes that run along the north end of the Life Sciences Building and down the west side of the green space has created further damage.

Construction equipment was brought onto the green space and used to tear up soil to install new piping, Crockett said. The equipment killed the grass through traffic and breaking the ground.

As recent rain fell on the exposed ground on the west end of the green space, slightly eroding the soil, Crockett said.

However, the rain has also allowed grounds workers to lay down a layer of fabric impregnated with grass seed.

Crockett said the soil moisture should be high enough for the grass to grow again and prevent further erosion.

Recent rain has also allowed the ground to settle where tunnels were built for drainage pipes. Crockett said when the soil was dry it did not compact as it would with normal moisture content.

“When you have a fresh tunnel and dig like that, it’s been so dry you don’t get much settling,” he said.

Now, as rain moved into the area, the soil moisture increased, and the ground where soil was disturbed has sunk.

Crockett said soil will be brought in to maintain the level of the ground as the soil settles.

“We’ll probably get a lot of settling where they dug, and we will definitely have to haul in dirt,” he said.

Construction also introduced rocks into the soil that will have to be removed for grass to grow properly, Crockett said.

“The grounds department will have to go in and clean that rock and debris and rake out the big rocks,” he said. If there are too many rocks, a mechanical device can be attached to a skid steer that scoops up soil and sifts out rocks.

Along with restoring the green space to a lush and grassy plot, a chain handrail will be added to the sidewalk on the north side of the green space, Crockett said.

Tim Deters can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].