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Virginia Tech began draining its campus pond today as part of the Virginia State Police investigation of the April 16 campus shootings.
 
Tech spokesman Mark Owczarski said Virginia State Police requested that the university drain the Duck Pond about a week ago. Witnesses have told state police they saw gunman Seung-Hui Cho at the pond in between shootings at West Ambler Johnston dormitory and Norris Hall the morning of April 16.
State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said the decision for the university to drain the duckpond was mutual because it will benefit both parties. Once drained, the police will conduct a grid search of the pond will the university will make any needed repairs.

University staff cut a trench to begin the draining of the lower Duck Pond today. Owczarski said he did not know how long it would take to drain but said it will remain drained after investigators are done with their work so it can undergo repairs. He said it's been 20 years since the pond, created in 1937 by the damming of a creek, has been repaired. Crews will reinforce walls, clean up sediment and trim trees while the pond is drained.
 
Owczarski did not know how long the work will take or what it will cost but he said the pond could remain drained for several weeks.