US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Post

Sometimes Great Lakes science is done in very unusual conditions, like a mayfly hatch on #LakeErie! EPA and University of Minnesota-Duluth co-operate the Great Lakes Sediment Surveillance Program, which monitors the spatial distribution and temporal trends of persistent, bioaccumulative, and/or toxic chemicals in sediments of the Great Lakes. To make the research vessel #LakeGuardian a less attractive destination for the mayflies and keep them from landing in the sediment samples being collected, scientists from University of Minnesota-Duluth and EPA worked under red light. Although a bit of a nuisance, mayfly hatches are also indicators of Lake Erie’s health because mayfly populations provide a valuable food source for fish and birds. Fun fact: Mayfly swarms can appear as rainstorms on Doppler radar!

  • Solitary mayfly on the EPA R/V Lake Guardian.
  • Mayflies scooped up by the dozens on the EPA R/V Lake Guardian.
  • Thousands of mayflies attracted to the EPA R/V Lake Guardian.
  • Scientists deploy the box corer near Lorain, OH.
  • Scientists operated under red light to not attract as many mayflies.
Evening Hade

Parks Services Specialist at Anoka County Parks

1w

Good to see mayflies, as strange as they seem. They are a great indicator of clean water. Proud of the Lake Erie community.

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Anthony Patrick Urbano

A Helpful tip. PgM™, MMNA™, NAICP,™ xSPAT™

2w

Even a inverted submersion basin mogul dams or "reverse dry docks" can contain micro plastics and other contaminants

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Emma Land

MS student at The Warnell School of Forestry at the University of Georgia; Secretary of the Warnell Graduate Student Association

2w

Meredith Laidly could never forget

Deidre Brown

Deidre Brown foundation aka the foundation copyright

5d

Need flooding plans

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