Rocking the Boat

In this memoir, Oregon-based limnologist Douglas Larson traces his long career studying the Pacific Northwest's unique and diverse aquatic ecosystems-from the pristine wonders of Crater Lake to the devastating volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens, with its effects on nearby Spirit Lake. Driven not merely by scientific curiosity, but by a desire to serve the public-for instance, monitoring water quality in Portland's Bull Run Watershed or determining the safety of local dams like the one at Willow Creek-Larson's story consistently reminds us of the practical benefits of a life devoted to science.

The tale is especially noteworthy in an era in which science has too often come under assault. Indeed, in his career, Larson faced the kind of institutional pressures that beleaguer many in his field: insufficient budgets, political pressures, academic protocols, professional jealousies, and the occasional bureaucratic ineptitude of entities like the Forest Service or the Army Corps of Engineers. Add in the challenges of extreme weather conditions and long hours, and the meticulousness, dedication, and good humor with which Larson produced his work are even more remarkable-as is the fact that those qualities come through in his lucid prose.