Preface Acknowledgments 1. Basics Putting in the pier How the glaciers did their work How precious is water? It''s all connected The impact of landscape position Your lake is not an island How lakes get their water How long does your lake''s water stay? In the zone Stories in sediment: Paleolimnology Trophic status--one way to classify lakes That all-important oxygen Your lake has layers Thin soup It all starts with the sun How clear is your lake? The color of water Light in the water Wave energy Your lake has a "skin" How acid or alkaline is your lake? The nitrogen cycle How phosphorus behaves How to know your lake better than almost everyone 2. Fins Fish anatomy: How they''re built Fish behavior: How they act and survive Angling interludes Species we treasure 3. Frozen The lake in autumn Closing time Smoke on the water The lid goes on The hard work of freezing Here''s why lakes don''t freeze solid Why won''t moving water freeze? The glass-bottomed boat Oxygen and temperature Just you and the otter Who made those tracks in the snow? Amazing ice Why is it slippery? An icy hurdle finally cleared How much weight can it hold? If you fell through Crystal candles To the new year Late ice The lake unveiled What a difference a few days make Daylight Saving Time 4. Creatures The ring of life Zooplankton Snapping turtles Painted turtles: Here''s why they bask Bats: Night shadows Clams and mussels: Not just stationary objects Dragonfly riot Fresh live bait Damselflies: Glow sticks with wings Fishing spiders Frogs: Players in the band Tadpoles and pollywogs Meet the muskrat Water striders: Row, row, row your bug Crayfish: Freshwater lobsters Travels etched in snow Mayflies: Up from the bottom Midges: Those little white flies Water snake: Slippery, stealthy, unnerving, harmless Whirligig beetles: Can''t catch this! 5. Feathers Any day, any season Hooded merganser: With a "broken wing" Duckling survival Eagle efficiency Fish hawk Great blue heron Kingfisher: What''s that rattle? Wood ducks Common mergansers: Two pair Swallows: Master aviators Loons: Crown jewels of the lake 6. Greenery Why do we call them weeds? How water plants spread Amazing algae Pondweeds: Forests of the lakes Fishermen''s friend: Large-leaf pondweed Northern blue flag: A beauty to behold Milfoils: They''re not all invasive Duckweeds: Free floaters Three kinds of pads Hearts and arrows: Pickerelweed and arrowhead What''s the rush? Coontail conundrum Wild celery Bladderworts: Carnivorous vegetables 7. Caring 180.
5 acres Water quality: What''s it worth? Dark at night: What a concept! Taking care of the fish Getting warmer The best gift you can give your lake Who owns the waters? A salty dilemma The wood makes it good If the bad guys were bigger Who looks out for your lake? Teaching kids to love the lake If everybody did Blazes of glory Suggested Readings Index.