Lake Mendota Boat Trip - 14 June 2023

After 2 days of strong winds we got lucky that the weather for John Magnuson's Lake Mendota Limnology field trip was perfect. The lake was still and the water was clear down to 3 meters. Nine people joined Dr. Magnuson and our very skilled boat captain, Aaron, for a view of the entire shoreline of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve from the water. The morning was filled with information about the glacial history and ecology of the lake and stories about the human history of the area. Several participants shared their experiences with the area, including Steve Holtzman who was present when the State Historical Society staff pulled the first of 2 ancient Ho Chunk dugout canoes from the lake. We learned about how land management of the Preserve is helping to slow erosion of the shorelines. We were able to watch as cliff and bank swallows fed their chicks in their mud nests clinging to the bluff. We took vegetation, sediment and water samples from the lake and discovered abundant invertebrates living in the water. If you have not yet done this field trip, I highly recommend it. It will greatly expand your knowledge of both the lake and the Preserve. 

Report by Kelly Kearns.