113098

Research activities at Mahoney Lake Ecological Reserve consist of water column sampling and non-destructive water quality measurements conducted from a non-motorized inflatable boat (Zodiac). Activities include: (1) discrete water sampling at depth using a Niskin bottle for chemical analysis of dissolved constituents (sulfur species, nutrients, metals, dissolved gases); (2) vertical profiling of physical and chemical parameters (temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, fluorescence) using calibrated in situ multi-parameter probes deployed from the boat; and (3) recovery of short sediment cores (<30 cm) using a small gravity corer for porewater and solid-phase geochemical analysis. The boat will be accessed via the northeast entry point of the reserve and anchored at the sampling station over the deepest portion of the lake. No motorized equipment will be used within the reserve. No permanent structures will be installed. Sampling will be conducted over 1–3 day visits during the open-water season (proposed: July, August, and/or October), with a field team of 2–4 persons. All samples will be transported off-site for laboratory analysis.