Gretchen Gerrish, Director, Trout Lake Station
ggerrish@wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology
As the Director of Trout Lake Station, I am honored to lead a facility rooted in over a century of freshwater research, scientific training, and informing the sustainable stewardship of our lakes. Every year, this place brings together scientists, students, and community partners who share a common commitment: to understand and protect the lakes and watersheds of the Northwoods of Wisconsin and the world.
Today, that mission is more important than ever—and increasingly more difficult to sustain.
Like many research institutions across the country, we face growing uncertainty around federal funding. Budget constraints, shifting priorities, and delayed appropriations have created real challenges—not only for our long-term ecological studies, but for our ability to maintain staff, support graduate students, and to plan for the future with the stability that good science requires. These uncertainties are felt deeply at Trout Lake Station, where much of our work depends on competitive grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation, EPA, and USGS.
Yet, the mission of Trout Lake Station has never wavered.
We continue to serve as a hub for transformative field-based research on freshwater ecosystems—ranging from climate change impacts on water quality to the resilience of aquatic food webs. Our long-term datasets, built over decades, are among the most valuable in the world for tracking changes in water chemistry, food web dynamics, and habitat invasions. These records are critical not only for scientists, but for policymakers and resource managers striving to make informed decisions in a time of rapid environmental change.
We also remain deeply committed to education and training. 2025 is shaping up to be a very busy summer, with dozens of undergraduate and graduate students gaining hands-on experience in ecological research. For many, this immersive experience is a turning point—a chance to connect with mentors, discover their passion for science, and understand the urgency of protecting freshwater resources. Trout Lake Station is where the next generation of limnologists, biologists, and environmental leaders gets its start.
To sustain this, we are exploring new partnerships, diversifying funding sources, and advocating for the value of public science. We are also deeply grateful for the growing network of supporters who recognize that protecting water—our most essential resource—is not optional. It’s foundational.
As we look ahead, I remain optimistic. The work we do here at Trout Lake Station matters—now more than ever. With continued support and shared commitment, we will weather this difficult period and emerge stronger, guided by the values that have anchored us for one hundred years: curiosity, collaboration, and care for the natural world.