Sailing Season on Lake Superior is busy. Approximately 4,500 ships travel through the Soo Locks. One boat, the Blue Heron, docked in Duluth, Minnesota, spends the summer season as a Research Vessel for the University of Minnesota’s Large Lakes Observatory. Captain Rual Lee has been at the helm of the 87’ vessel since 2014. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with him about what it takes to operate a floating science lab on the Greatest of the Great Lakes.

Quotes:

1. “We're still working on the boat, trying to make it a better tool for science.”
2. “The lake is humbling. It really doesn't matter what boat you're on. It will put you in your place as it were.”
3. “One of the great parts of my job is that the crew and I get to hang around with some really smart people doing some really clever research, looking at different parts of the lake.”
4. “The science comes and goes according to the individual projects. So we're the platform. We're a useful tool to get the science done.”
5. “Out in the middle of Lake Superior, you can see the results of a policy change that showed up in the mid-70s. And that's really a great thing I think.”

Helpful links:

• Learn more about the R/V Blue Heron:
  https://scse.d.umn.edu/large-lakes-observatory/vessels/blue-heron
• Learn more about the Large Lakes Observatory:
  https://scse.d.umn.edu/large-lakes-observatory
• Learn more about Science on Deck events:
  https://scse.d.umn.edu/large-lakes-observatory/news-events/science-deck
• Track Great Lakes vessels with BoatNerd AIS:
  https://ais.boatnerd.com/
• Learn more about “The Freshwater Everest” / Superior Shoal livestream:
  https://inspiredplanet.ca/live/

Connect With Us:

• Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcast
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation

Sponsors:

• Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability. Learn more: cafeimports.com
• National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior’s five national parks: nplsf.org/donate