Lakeside Companion

Ted J. Rulseh writes the newspaper column The Lake Where You Live and is active in lake-advocacy organizations, including the Wisconsin Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. The editor and publisher of several books on the Great Lakes region, he is the author of On the Pond: Lake Michigan Reflections. He lives in the lake-rich region of northeastern Wisconsin.

• PrefaceAcknowledgments1. BasicsPutting in the pierHow the glaciers did their workHow precious is water?It’s all connectedThe impact of landscape positionYour lake is not an islandHow lakes get their waterHow long does your lake’s water stay?In the zoneStories in sediment: PaleolimnologyTrophic status—one way to classify lakesThat all-important oxygenYour lake has layersThin soupIt all starts with the sunHow clear is your lake?The color of waterLight in the waterWave energyYour lake has a “skin”How acid or alkaline is your lake?The nitrogen cycleHow phosphorus behavesHow to know your lake better than almost everyone2. FinsFish anatomy: How they’re builtFish behavior: How they act and surviveAngling interludesSpecies we treasure3. FrozenThe lake in autumnClosing timeSmoke on the waterThe lid goes onThe hard work of freezingHere’s why lakes don’t freeze solidWhy won’t moving water freeze?The glass-bottomed boatOxygen and temperatureJust you and the otterWho made those tracks in the snow?Amazing iceWhy is it slippery?An icy hurdle finally clearedHow much weight can it hold?If you fell throughCrystal candlesTo the new yearLate iceThe lake unveiledWhat a difference a few days makeDaylight Saving Time4. CreaturesThe ring of lifeZooplanktonSnapping turtlesPainted turtles: Here’s why they baskBats: Night shadowsClams and mussels: Not just stationary objectsDragonfly riotFresh live baitDamselflies: Glow sticks with wingsFishing spidersFrogs: Players in the bandTadpoles and pollywogsMeet the muskratWater striders: Row, row, row your bugCrayfish: Freshwater lobstersTravels etched in snowMayflies: Up from the bottomMidges: Those little white fliesWater snake: Slippery, stealthy, unnerving, harmlessWhirligig beetles: Can’t catch this!5. FeathersAny day, any seasonHooded merganser: With a “broken wing”Duckling survivalEagle efficiencyFish hawkGreat blue heronKingfisher: What’s that rattle?Wood ducksCommon mergansers: Two pairSwallows: Master aviatorsLoons: Crown jewels of the lake6. GreeneryWhy do we call them weeds?How water plants spreadAmazing algaePondweeds: Forests of the lakesFishermen’s friend: Large-leaf pondweedNorthern blue flag: A beauty to beholdMilfoils: They’re not all invasiveDuckweeds: Free floatersThree kinds of padsHearts and arrows: Pickerelweed and arrowheadWhat’s the rush?Coontail conundrumWild celeryBladderworts: Carnivorous vegetables7. Caring180.5 acresWater quality: What’s it worth?Dark at night: What a concept!Taking care of the fishGetting warmerThe best gift you can give your lakeWho owns the waters?A salty dilemmaThe wood makes it goodIf the bad guys were biggerWho looks out for your lake?Teaching kids to love the lakeIf everybody didBlazes of glorySuggested Readings

Delivers the magic of lake living while conveying water science topics in a clear and engaging way. Whether you are on the lakeshore or far away, it will bring you back to the waters you love. A great read."" - Michael Engleson, executive director, Wisconsin Lakes""Interesting and informative. Rulseh presents the science of lakes in an enjoyable way, with real-world examples. He explains how little things that shore residents do on their property can have a large impact on the lake's ecology."" - Paul Garrison, retired limnologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources