Cornell Water Filtration Plant
Cornell University owns and maintains its own run-of-the-river water system: its main facility, the Cornell Water Filtration Plant serves a population of approximately 35,000 including students, faculty, staff, and the residents of the Forest Home community. The plant was built in 1927-28 and its operation began in early 1929. A dam and intake were built on Fall Creek, from which water flows to the plant through a cast iron main utilizing an 11 foot drop in elevation. There is also a pumping station directly across from the plant that can pump water to the plant if the gravity intake is out of service or demand is high. Today, the plant has an average demand of 2.0 MGD and can reasonably produce 3.6 MGD. Weekly water quality testing is performed by Cornell staff at several points around the system to ensure that water quality meets the requirements for the many purposes it serves: domestic day-to-day usage (health, food, hygiene), processes (labs, mechanical systems), irrigation (athletic fields, crops, livestock), and fire protection.
Nervin Center Green Roof
Beyond the trees at this location is a view of the vegetated surface on the Nevin Welcome Center green roof. This location is also part of the Sustainable Landscapes Trail. The vegetation covers 68% of the roof. These plants were chosen not only for their aesthetic, but also their practicality: the vegetated roof surfaces capture and treat precipitation falling on the building roof, which protects local waterways. The layers of soil and plants also act as an insulating layer in the winter and decrease the cooling demand in the summer. Additionally, the plantings require no irrigation and very little weeding and the riverstone ballast alongside the perimeter of the roof serves to slow and direct stormwater runoff to storm drains.
Hydropower intake - Beebe Lake
Once a forested swamp, Beebe Lake was formed in 1898. When the dam built above Triphammer Falls raised the level of water, trees from the surrounding wetlands were cut down, and Beebe Swamp became what we know today as Beebe Lake. A local favorite for joggers and hikers, Beebe Lake attracts people from all around town who come to picnic, swim, canoe, or just relax and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Besides its recreational aspect, it is also one of many water resources that Cornell carefully manages. In fact, the hydropower intake supplies water from Beebe Lake to the hydropower plant through a five-foot diameter, 1700 feet long underground penstock. You can also spot the ruins of the abandoned Cornell Hydraulic Lab at the bottom of the gorge, which was used to study water purification along with the flow from the adjacent water bodies. Generally, Beebe Lake is a great example of environmental trade-offs that are at the center of environmental issues, and although the advantages of turning Beebe Swamp into Beebe Lake may outweigh the drawbacks, it’s important to keep in mind the environmental costs of the choices we make.
Cornell Hydropower Plant
From the suspension bridge, look below in the gorge to find the hydropower facility. In 1830, Cornell’s founder Ezra Cornell blasted a hole in the wall above Ithaca Falls to power a mill he managed at the base of the falls. Cheap and clean, the flows of Fall Creek powered hydraulic mechanisms that gave birth to industry in Ithaca, especially at the turn of the 20th century. These new industrial buildings include the present hydroelectric plant, which was built in 1904. In 1981, the plant was completely renovated: two crossflow turbines were installed with a total rated capacity of 1,780 kW. The plant, however, is limited to about 1,200 kW output because of the size of the penstock, the intake grate. Although this historic facility currently only produces 2% of Cornell’s current electricity, the university plans on upgrading the facility and increasing its production levels by 20%.
Lake Source Cooling Pipes under Libe Slope
You are now at the top of Libe Slope! Take some time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, extending from Cornell’s West Campus to the outskirts of Ithaca. You may not notice, but under your feet runs an elaborate network of Lake Source Cooling (LSC) pipes. The LSC system is an open lake-water loop and a closed campus loop which work together to cool Cornell University and Ithaca High School. From where you’re standing, you can see Cayuga Lake, the main water resource used to implement the Lake Source Cooling system. Although you may not see the Lake Source Cooling facility from up here, you will get a chance to check it out later in the tour. Another interesting feature of Libe Slope is the use of grasses that are naturally slow growing; this allows other areas to naturalize on their own, limiting mowing to once a year. This initiative significantly reduces the carbon footprint for the area and minimizes the need for watering and fertilizer.
