There are three small shallow lakes on the University of Waikato campus, and all have high nutrient loadings, creating ideal conditions for plant algal growth. These lakes were created by excavation during construction of the university for the purposes of stormwater detention. Water quality in the lakes has been a matter of concern to the University of Waikato Site Committee for a number of years, and the concern intensifies in late 2000 with the commissioning of the WEL Energy Academy of Performing Arts, which was built with a view over Knighton Lake.