Algae & blooms
What triggers cyanobacteria, how to read a bloom risk, and why one side of the lake can be green while the other is clear.
Field science & expert opinion
The Lake Whisperer
Long-form reads on blooms, clarity, invasives, and the science behind the readings.
What you'll find here
Science translated for the dock.
The Lake Whisperer is where our team — limnologists, data scientists, and field researchers — publish what we're learning from lakes across the country. No press releases. No jargon without explanation. Just honest insight into how lakes work and how to read what yours is saying.
Nutrients & chemistry
Phosphorus, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and the chemistry that drives a lake's trajectory from season to season.
Invasive species
eDNA, early detection, and the science of knowing what's in your lake before it becomes a headline.
How to read your data
Plain-English guides to Secchi depth, trophic state, temperature profiles, and what the numbers actually mean.
From the notebook
Recent dispatches
Full articles coming as we publish.
Field science
Why one lake grade is never enough
A single A/B rating misses the cove that's pristine and the landing that's stressed. Here's how to think in places and seasons instead.
Read moreData
The difference between a snapshot and a timeline
One test tells you what one spot looked like that day. A timeline across places and seasons tells you whether your lake is drifting — and how fast.
Read moreInvasives
eDNA sampling: what it can and can't detect
Environmental DNA is a powerful early-warning tool, but it isn't a census. We explain the limits and the right way to use it.
Read more