About R/V Lake Guardian

Onboard the Research Vessel Lake Guardian

The Lake Guardian is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) largest Great Lakes' research and monitoring vessel. It is the only self-contained, non-polluting research vessel on the Great Lakes. The Lake Guardian, owned by the EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) and operated by a contractor crew, conducts monitoring programs that sample the water, aquatic life, sediments, and air in order to assess the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem by using state-of-the-art data collection techniques and instruments during the biannual spring and summer surveys. It is also used to support research activities conducted by federal, state, local agencies, and universities. The R/V Lake Guardian has been operating on the waters of the Great Lakes since 1990. The ship is offshore, collecting data, for approximately 7 months a year from April to October. The ship is also ready for emergency response missions. The Lake Guardian is a vessel of opportunity and has participated in numerous emergency response exercises with the U.S Coast Guard, and with other federal agencies, state and local governments.

There are 16 rooms on R/V Lake Guardian, divided between a maximum of twenty-seven scientists and 14 crew. Rooms include bunks, desks, lockers, and computer LAN connections. Private bathrooms with showers or bathrooms shared between two rooms are available. Recreation, exercise, and meal facilities aboard R/V Lake Guardian are excellent.

The R/V Lake Guardian's captain and crew and are noted for their high degree of professionalism, cooperation, and efficiency in monitoring and research work.

Visiting Researchers

The Great Lakes National Program Office offers the R/V Lake Guardian as a ship of opportunity during its monitoring surveys to other federal, state and university scientists. We especially encourage research compatible with the standard sampling performed at each station. That is, simple water and/or plankton samples which can be subsequently processed and analyzed.
If you have an interest in utilizing the R/V Lake Guardian to facilitate your research, please contact Ms. Eda Lam at (lam.eda@epa.gov) or by phone 312-353-1739, for more information on the capabilities and general requirements for use of the ship. To request ship time, please fill out an online survey plan form or contact Eda Lam.

All those new to traveling onboard the R/V Lake Guardian are required to watch Safety Aboard R/V Lake Guardian. If your computer cannot support this action, please email Larry Brail (brail.larry@epamail.epa.gov) for a DVD/CD copy.