Algae bloom reflects improving health of Lake LaVerne
The filamentous algae on Lake LaVerne poses no threat to beloved residents Lancelot and Elaine. Photo by Bob Elbert.
It may not look pretty, but the floating gunk in Lake LaVerne is a sign of facility planning and management's recent switch to more sustainable and environmentally friendly care methods.
The filamentous algae grows at the bottom of the lake and thrives on oxygen and sunlight. Chris Strawhacker, landscape architect in FPM, said the 2.8-acre lake measures only about six feet at its deepest point, giving the algae ample sunlight to grow and bloom toward the surface. High levels of phosphorous, like those found in the soil and animal waste, also feed the algae growth.
"The algae is the result of the nutrient levels in the water; it's not really a problem for the lake," Strawhacker said. "It's just another aquatic plant in the lake. Unfortunately, it's pretty unsightly."
Filamentous algae. Photo by Bob Elbert.
Strawhacker said a long-term restoration plan that includes stabilizing the shoreline and increasing the lake depth will be needed to reduce the nutrient and algae levels.
Meanwhile, FPM's efforts have shifted toward limiting and controlling the amount of phosphorous that makes its way into the lake. For example, Les Lawson, FPM campus services manager, said crews no longer fertilize the grass areas surrounding the lake. They also conduct an annual application of aluminum sulfate, which adheres to the phosphorous and settles at the bottom of the lake.
"We're not necessarily trying to kill the algae," Strawhacker said. "We're trying to manage it in a way that's good for everything in the lake."
FPM works with the ISU Limnology Laboratory and Chris Filstrup, a postdoctoral research associate in ecology, evolution and organismal biology, to regularly test and track the lake's water quality. Filstrup and his team make recommendations for the optimal application times and how much of the treatment is needed. Lawson said the lab reports show that the approach over the last couple of years has been effective.
"The lake is pretty healthy," Lawson said. "We were doing some other things to kill the algae, and we really got into problems because we were messing with Mother Nature. Now we have a healthier lake -- we're getting more little creatures in there and it's looking better."
Share your comments about diversity in short survey
By taking a short, automated telephone survey, faculty and staff can contribute to the most comprehensive diversity study ever undertaken at Iowa State, says Miles Lackey, associate vice president and chief of staff.
In a June 11 email, Lackey urged faculty and staff to share their comments about university diversity.
"The survey is part of an effort to take stock of all diversity programs and initiatives at Iowa State," Lackey said. "The more information we can gather, the better we can align resources to promote diversity on campus and throughout the Ames community."
Participation in the survey is voluntary. Those who wish to take the survey (11 questions or less) should call the appropriate toll-free number below by June 25. All survey responses will be kept confidential.
Survey toll-free numbers
- Tenure-track faculty, (855) 450-1545
- Nontenure-track faculty, (855) 450-1543
- Professional and Scientific, (855) 450-1547
- Merit and supervisory confidential staff, (855) 589-9648
Survey responses will be aggregated for a final report, which will be submitted to the president's office in late summer and, subsequently, released publicly.
Questions about the survey can be emailed to Jerlando Jackson, jjackson@jcfnet.com. An ISU alumnus and University of Wisconsin professor, Jackson leads The Jackson Consulting Firm, which is conducting Iowa State's diversity audit and inventory.
The firm also is surveying Iowa State students, alumni, recruiters and city of Ames representatives.
Dial in to your new phone's potential
Editor's note: Iowa State University no longer uses Aastra telephone products. Information about current phone hardware is in IT portal's voice and conferencing services.
If your old phone was a single-line, your new model likely is the Aastra 6737i (right). If your old phone had many buttons or multi-lines, your new one likely is the Aastra 6739i (left). Photo by Bob Elbert.
If there's not a new phone sitting on your desk, there will be soon. By the end of this month, crews will have installed some 8,000 new phones in offices and units throughout campus. The new phones, which employ cloud computing, will be less costly than the old ones and offer many new features.
All about the phones
The New Telephone System website tells you when phone installers will be in your building and where to go for detailed information on using your new phone.
In a series of Inside articles over the next few weeks, information technology services staff will help you get acquainted with your phone and start taking advantage of some of those new features. The series kicks off this week with some basic training on a few essential tasks. In the coming weeks, ITS staff will introduce you to more, including some high-tech tricks you've probably never had on a phone before.
What phone do you have?
Before getting started on this week's basic training, you need to know your new phone model. Operating instructions differ for the two versions of phones on campus. Most will be using the Aastra 6737i, the successor to the old single-line phones. About one in eight will have the multiline, touch screen Aastra 6739i.
Basic training starts here: Click 6737i or 6739i
In this session, you'll find out how to:
- Check voice mail
- Transfer a call
- Adjust volume
Aastra 6739i: Basic training
Aastra 6739i
Set up voice mail
- Press "messages" (right button, just below the screen)
- When prompted, enter the default passcode provided by your ISU voice/data coordinator, followed by "#."
-
When prompted, change your passcode, followed by "#." Your passcode must be 6-12 characters long. You can't:
- repeat a single number (333333)
- use your own phone number or your phone number reversed
- use your previous passcode or your previous passcode reversed
- When prompted, record your name
Note: After five failed attempts, a passcode is revoked. You'll need to contact the Solution Center, 4-4000, to reset.
Until conversion
Your new phone won't be fully functional until it's completely converted to the new system. Until conversion, your phone:
- Won't display caller IDs
- Won't relay calls from old model university phones or off-campus.
Check voice mail
- Pick up handset
- Press "messages" key
- Enter your passcode
- To access your voice mailbox, press 1
To access voice mail from an off-campus phone:
- Dial (515) 296-6245. You'll need your mailbox ID, which is your 5-digit extension (for example, 4-XXXX), and your passcode.
Transfer a call
To make the transfer unannounced
- Press "transfer" on the touchscreen or the “transfer” key
- Dial desired number (4-XXXX)
- Press “transfer” again or the “goodbye” key to complete the transfer
To make the transfer after announcing the call:
- Press "transfer" on the touchscreen or the "transfer" key
- Dial desired number, wait for answer and announce the transfer
- Press "transfer" on touchscreen or “goodbye" key to complete the transfer
To cancel the transfer and return to original caller:
- If phone is still ringing, press the active (lit) line key (usually, line 1)
- To return to the original caller after speaking with the second party, press the active (lit) line key (usually, line 1)
To transfer caller to Jane Doe's voicemail:
- Press"transfer" on the touchscreen or the "transfer" key
- Dial voicemail number -- 6-0927
- At the prompt, dial Jane Doe's number -- 4-XXXX
- Press "transfer" on touchscreen or “goodbye" key to complete the transfer
Adjust volume
Use the two sound keys (bottom row) to adjust volumes.
- To set ringer volume, leave the handset in the cradle.
- To set handset volume, lift handset and adjust
- To set speaker volume, adjust while speaker is turned on
- To set headset volume, adjust volume while on a call
User guide
Detailed instructions on using your phone is in the online Aastra 6739i user guide (PDF)
Aastra 6737i: Basic training
Aastra 6737i
Keys and softkeys
Keys are the permanently labeled buttons on the lower half of the phone. Examples: "goodbye," "options" and "hold" keys.
Softkey labels appear on the screen adjacent to them. Examples: "voice mail" and "call pickup."
Set up your voice mail
- Press "voice mail" softkey
- When prompted, enter the default passcode provided by your ISU voice/data coordinator, followed by "#"
-
When prompted, change your passcode, followed by "#." Your passcode must be 6-12 characters long. You can't:
- repeat a single number (333333)
- use your own phone number or your phone number reversed
- use your previous passcode or your previous passcode reversed
- When prompted, record your name
Note: After five failed login attempts, a passcode is revoked. You'll need to contact the Solution Center, 4-4000, to reset.
Until conversion
Your new phone won't be fully functional until it's completely converted to the new system. Until conversion, your phone:
- Won't display caller IDs
- Won't relay calls from old model university phones or off-campus.
Check voice mail
- Pick up handset
- Select “voice mail” softkey
- Enter your passcode
- To access your voice mailbox, press 1
To access voice mail from an off-campus phone:
- Dial (515) 296-6245. You'll need your mailbox ID, which is your 5-digit extension (for example, 4-XXXX), and your passcode.
Transfer a call
To make the transfer unannounced:
- Press "Xfer" softkey
- Dial desired number (4-XXXX)
- Press "goodbye" key
To make the transfer after announcing the call:
- Press "Xfer" softkey
- Dial desired number (4-XXXX), wait for answer and announce transfer
- Press "Xfer" softkey or "goodbye" key to complete transfer
To cancel the transfer and return to original caller:
- If phone is still ringing, press the active (lit) line key (usually, line 1)
- To return to the original caller after speaking with the second party, press the active (lit) line key (usually, line 1)
To transfer caller to Jane Doe's voicemail:
- Press "Xfer" softkey
- Dial voicemail number -- 6-0927
- At the prompt, dial Jane Doe's number -- 4-XXXX
- Press "Xfer" again
Adjust volume
Use the two sound keys on the bottom left of the phone to adjust volumes.
- To set ringer volume, leave the handset in the cradle
- To set handset volume, lift handset and adjust
- To set speaker volume, adjust while speaker is turned on
- To set headset volume, adjust volume while on a call
User guide
Detailed instructions on using your phone is in the online Aastra 6737i user guide (PDF).
