The EPA’s principal research vessel on the Great Lakes
The Research Vessel (RV) Lake Guardian is the largest vessel operated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Great Lakes.
It is 180 feet in length, with a 40 foot beam, a 14 foot depth, and an 11 foot draft.
Its gross tonnage is 283 tons and its displacement is 850 tons.
The ship was built in 1981 as an offshore supply vessel (OSV), but was taken over by the EPA in 1988 and converted to its present configuration as a dedicated research vessel.
The Lake Guardian has a range of 6,000 miles at a cruising speed of 11 knots.
It is crewed by 13 sailors and usually carries about ten passenger/scientists.
Its maximum passenger capacity is 29.
The ship has three permanent scientific laboratories: a 208-square-foot chemistry lab; a 300-square-foot biology lab; and a 128-square foot multi-purpose lab.
It can also be fitted with up to four modular laboratories, secured to the deck.
The Lake Guardian is equipped with a variety of sampling equipment.
The Seabird collects basic water column information, such as temperature, depth, conductivity, pH, light penetration, water temperature, and chlorophyll.
Organics extraction equipment is used to measure persistent organic pollutants, such as PCBs.
The box corer is used to collect sediment samples from the lake bottom.
The rosette collects water samples from selected depths.
The plankton net is used to collect small life forms (phytoplankton and zooplankton).
Air sampling equipment is used to filter particles and gases from the air.
EPA scientists conduct biannual, month-long monitoring surveys during April and August to collect samples from up to 20 pre-established locations on each of the five Great Lakes.
The mission of the Lake Guardian is to allow environmental decisions to be based on sound data and good science, rather than speculation.