The Flathead Lake Biological Station Research Cruise set sail out of Lakeside with over 100 passengers Tuesday.

 The lake cooperated for all but a rainy 20-minute squall but even that produced a full double rainbow from Somers to Bigfork.

Food, drinks and live music filled the deck as the ship motored to one of the station’s lake monitoring sites. There the cruise rendezvoused with the station’s research vessel, the Jessie B., and scientists on board demonstrated ecological sampling techniques. They passed live samples of zooplankton to the cruise ship, giving participants a chance to see the small animals that feed so many fish species in Flathead Lake.

FLBS Lake Ecologist Dr. Shawn Devlin gave a presentation detailing the long-term Lake Monitoring Program. FLBS Director Dr. Jack Stanford discussed the breadth and importance of the station’s research, education and outreach programs. Proceeds from the cruise benefitted the station’s research in the Flathead Basin.