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Freshwater habitats are being degraded and lost at alarming rates, especially in urban settings. As part of its vision for sustainable development, Umeå University aims to enhance the environmental quality of the aquatic ecosystems on campus, including the university pond and Sandbäcken, the stream feeding it. However, we lack a scientific assessment of these ecosystems, and there is no elaborate strategy with clearly defined targets. Based on physicochemical water quality parameters measured during the snowmelt period as well as biomonitoring data, I show that Sandbäcken exhibits traits typical of degraded urban streams. I propose that the university’s goal to increase biodiversity on campus is justified but should focus on the types of diversity which foster resilience to future change and urban development. A perspective at the regional scale is necessary to address drivers of degradation in the catchment and enhance habitat connectivity. Water quality was highly variable over time and largely controlled by discharge during the snowmelt period, which must be accounted for by future assessments of pollution. The environmental amelioration of the campus ecosystems offers valuable ecosystem services and has great potential to contribute to broader Sustainable Development Goals, providing benefits in areas such as well-being, health, and education.