Sampling on Thompson Lake

The sun was already up but the day was calm as I stood outside the boatshed, waiting for the field vehicle to back so I could hook the boat for sampling. On the water, the 15 horse Johnson outboard purred along on glass-smooth water. Turning north towards our first sampling point, the boat tremored slightly as light breeze rippled the water. It was another beautiful late summer day on Thompson Lake. The "algae" bloom of last week had subsided slightly, yet I puzzled over the cause of the tea-colored water - it had been nearly crystal clear only months ago. At mid-lake, the "algae bloom" (actually cyanobacteria) was still evident. Over the water soared hundreds of swallows, swooping effortlessly to harvest the ariel plankton. All summer I had enjoyed the skill and company of my graduate student, Jackie Negro. This was to be her last time, at least as an employee, for us to work together. Jackie had become proficient at field sampling. There are many rhythms that must be adjusted to, like hooking the boat, loading equipment, filling out data sheets, reading instruments precisely - Jackie did this masterfully, growing in skill throughout the field season. It was a wonderful day for our last tour.