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Monitoring Minnesota's lakes

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Research team
The side mirror of a research team's truck reflects Lake Carlos and the surrounding fall foliage on Monday, Oct. 5, 2010. Lake Carlos, located five miles north of Alexandria, Minn., is being studied as part of the Sentinel Lakes Project.
MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller

State and federal researchers are taking a very detailed look at some Minnesota lakes to monitor the effects of climate change and pollution. The so-called super sentinel lakes that will act as an early detection system for poor conditions include Lake Carlos, near Alexandria, Elk Lake in Itasca State Park and Trout Lake in Cook County.

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Research buoy
An orange buoy marks a research site on Lake Carlos near Alexandria, Minn., on Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. Researchers typically spend a couple of hours on the lake collecting water samples from various elevations.
MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller
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Research team
The side mirror of a research team's truck reflects Lake Carlos and the surrounding fall foliage on Monday, Oct. 5, 2010. Lake Carlos, located five miles north of Alexandria, Minn., is being studied as part of the Sentinel Lakes Project.
MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller
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Readying equipment
Hydrologist Richard Kiesling readies to collect water samples from Lake Carlos on Monday, Oct. 5, 2010. The lake is one of 24 Minnesota lakes that are being studied to see how they are handling global warming, development, invasive species and urban runoff.
MPR Photo/Ann Arbor Miller