Lakes 303 and 304

Lakes 303 and 304 are two small headwater lakes that are close to the IISD-ELA field station (just over the ridge from the meteorological station). They have been instrumental in eutrophication research at the Experimental Lakes Area over the years.

Both were fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorous in the 1970s and 1980s to help improve our understanding of the relationship between nutrients and algal blooms.

In 2011 and 2012, rainbow trout were added to both lakes to understand growth dynamics in wild populations and strains developed for aquaculture. Starting in 2019, a new body of eutrophication research was started, and both lakes were fertilized with phosphorous.