For The Love Of Lakes

Shaylee Davis ’21 Environmental Science and Marine Science is chipping away at an impressive environmental health project.

“I’m seeking to determine if the amount of phosphorus in a local lake is detrimental to the natural ecosystem. I’m working with Dr. Lesher and a consultant, Maggie Mills of FB Environmental, to conduct lake sediment chemistry experiments for the Long Pond Association. Through a process called the Psenner extraction, I process sediment samples through different chemical steps to pull out any phosphorus that has been trapped. The LPA’s goal is to get a permit to do a treatment on their lake to mitigate algae problems. This research can have a large impact on our environment, especially if it becomes more widespread, to combat the growing prevalence of phosphorus in more well-known lakes.”