Melosira on Lake Champlain

Melosira

The University of Vermont's research vessel Melosira is docked adjacent to the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, where it provides convenient and immediate access to Lake Champlain. The R/V Melosira is staffed with a full-time Captain and Deckhand experienced in all aspects of limnological, geological, and fisheries sampling including: water sampling, plankton sampling, sediment coring, deploying and maintaining in situ sensors, gill netting, bottom and mid-water fish trawling, and hydroacoustic sampling.

Lake Champlain Live! is a program on the R/V Melosira which offers elementary, middle, and high school students and teachers the opportunity to learn first-hand about the study of limnology and to collect their own data on Lake Champlain with the aid of professional educators and lab research staff.

The R/V Melosira is available for charter to groups or individuals for research, education, or other functions. The rate to use the Melosira is $160/hour. Please contact Captain Kirstin Collins for more information.

Captain Kirstin Collins
Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory
University of Vermont
Burlington VT 05401
Email: kirstin.collins@uvm.edu

 

Other Boats

The Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory also has several smaller boats for use on Lake Champlain and surrounding water bodies.

C Hawk boat

C-Hawk

The C-Hawk is a 22-foot, center console with a 150-hp outboard engine. The C-Hawk is trailerable, making it a cost-effective research platform for sampling all of Lake Champlain.  The boat is used to sample water quality, benthos, plankton, and fish and to maintain sensor buoy systems.

Researchers in an inflatable boat on lake

Inflatable

The Laboratory also has a 15-foot, 6-person inflatable with 20-hp outboard engine. This boat provides flexibility in sampling Lake Champlain and smaller water bodies with incredible ease and stability and is particularly useful early and late in the field season when boat ramps are frozen.

Two researchers in a small motor boat

Jon Boat and Dinghies

In addition, the Laboratory has a 16-foot jon boat with 8-hp outboard engine and two smaller dinghies.

Melosira research vessel at dock

Float Plans for Field Work Safety

For safety purposes, when going out into the field, please complete the appropriate float plan and send to Captain Kirstin Collins (kirstin.collins@uvm.edu) and your contact person.