Celebrating 35 Years of Water Stewardship with the MMSD's Research Vessel Pelagos

08/29/24 08:30:am

This August, we celebrate 35 years of service by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s (MMSD) Research Vessel (R/V) Pelagos, a vital asset in monitoring and safeguarding Greater Milwaukee’s water quality.

Launched in 1989 from Sturgeon Bay, WI, the R/V Pelagos has played a crucial role in advancing MMSD’s mission of fostering a healthier, cleaner, and more resilient region.

The Pelagos, a custom-built vessel designed specifically for scientific research, features a spacious back deck, enabling our scientists to perform essential water quality sampling and field measurements in compliance with the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) program permit.

The R/V Pelagos operates in the Milwaukee Estuary, Milwaukee Harbor, and the open waters of Lake Michigan—areas deep enough for larger vessels. This work is critical in protecting our community, involving comprehensive sampling, monitoring, analysis, and reporting on water quality within our local watersheds.

Over the years, the R/V Pelagos has been instrumental in a wide range of research, from biological sampling with phytoplankton tows to chemical analyses conducted by MMSD’s Laboratory. The vessel has also supported numerous Wisconsin researchers in collecting essential data for their projects.

Perhaps you’ve spotted the R/V Pelagos on Lake Michigan during a picturesque summer day. Our dedicated MMSD scientists are in all conditions—stormy weather, early spring ice flows, thick fog, and rough waves that would challenge even the strongest stomachs.

For 35 years, the R/V Pelagos has proven to be a reliable vessel, and we look forward to many more years of service to help protect public health and the environment.

Graphic of MMSD's Research Vessel the Pelagos