The Lake Guardian, the U.S. EPA's largest research vessel is docked along the DECC's harborside on Monday. Scientists aboard the ship collect data to evaluate water quality, sediment and animal and plant life in all five of the lakes.

According to the EPA, the Lake Guardian is equipped with sampling equipment and three laboratories. The scientists on the Lake Guardian are searching for new species and evaluating the lower food web. These efforts help scientists to better understand and track environmental conditions and trends in the Great Lakes.

"We're able to do this because we're fortunate to have funding through the great lakes restoration initiative," Annie Scofield told us. "That let's us come out two times every year so every April and every August since the late 1980s we've been going around to the five lakes and sampling water quality."

The ship is owned and operated by the EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office. The ship is closed to the public due to COVID-19, but visitors may take photos from the dock.

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