Lacawac Biological Field Station

Lacawac Sanctuary is an independent, non-profit biological field station and nature preserve located in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania known globally from international participation in workshops on cutting edge sensors for lake research. Research at Lacawac is increasing, particularly research projects and workshops focused on automated buoy systems, sensors, ecological observatory network (EON) approaches, lakes as climate sentinels, and coupling these topics with novel optical water metrics.

Lacawac Sanctuary has a long history of supporting limnological research on UV impacts to pelagic communities and ecosystems, the development of novel dissolved organic matter optical metrics, and as a site to test emerging sensors, sensor platforms, and sensor techniques. Lacawac as a field station is becoming a regional research and training hub for the EON’s. Lacawac is a site member of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network and is dedicated to organizing and hosting an annual international sensor training workshop (Lacawac Ecological Observatory Workshop), and is committed to providing a site and resources for researchers and educators to accomplish EON-related projects.

Lacawac Sanctuary is a natural living laboratory for field-based research and education.  Composed of 545 acres along the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Lacawac encompasses protected native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.  Lacawac’s field station is composed of:
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• Lake Lacawac, a nearly pristine 52 acre glacial lake (National Natural Landmark)
• The entire Lacawac watershed and drainage (protected)
• Year-round and seasonal analytical biology laboratory
• Partner Ridge Preservation Area
• Wallenpuapack Ledges (National Natural Landmark)
• Heron and Golden Ponds

• Northern boreal bog
• Vernal ponds and streams
• One mile of undeveloped shoreline along Lake Wallenpaupack
• Numerous hiking trails
• Native Plants demonstration garden
• Four Experimental Deer Exclosure areas
• Forest regeneration test sites
• Long-term lake monitoring and weather station data

Research conducted at Lacawac has been reported in a broad spectrum of scientific journals over the years. Currently there are more than 100 published papers focused on projects based at Lacawac.  For more information on specific published papers, refer to the Publications Page

Organizational Memberships

Lacawac Biological Field Station is a proud member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations (OBFS) and the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON).

Applying to Conduct Research at Lacawac

For those scholars and scientists interested in conducting research and/or staying at the Lacawac Field Station, please submit a research application to the Director of Science and Research at info@lacawac.org.  In this application, applicants will need to specify their lab, equipment, office and other basic space requirements, in addition to information on project collaborators, funding, research goals and expected outcomes.

Research Application