Precision Measurement Engineering, Inc. (PME) articles

 
Despite their diminutive size, small water bodies like ponds make up the majority of our world’s still water systems. It is estimated that 95% of Earth’s still water systems measure less than 10 hectares; and of that percentage, most rarely even exceed a single hectare (2.5 acres). Such distinctions may seem trivial, but where water bodies are concerned, dimensions can be everything. Size is an important predictor of how aquatic ecosystems function; yet ponds remain un

Tea versus coffee, biscuits or cookies; when it comes to the differences between Americans and the British, one can surely add wastewater systems to the list. In most of the United States, industrial and municipal waste streams are kept separate for the duration of their respective treatment processes, but throughout the United Kingdom, these streams are often combined before final treatment. This mixing frequently takes place in Victorian-era sewers, which may struggle to contain their conte

The City of San Francisco is synonymous with iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, as well as the surrounding bay. While the bay’s cold waters and brisk currents hardly invite casual swimmers, less than 15 miles due east lies another scenic spot with far friendlier waters. Lake Anza is nestled amid the Berkely Hills in Tilden Regional Park, one of over 70 parks within the East Bay Regional Park District. Constructed in the 1930s, today the reservoir is known

When imagining a rich wilderness, places like Los Angeles seldom come to mind. The Southern California city is now the second-most populous in the United States; but it was not always the urbanized area we picture today. Remnants of untamed areas like Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area have been preserved, and dedicated researchers continue to guard the integrity of diverse ecosystems within the park’s borders. The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) was formerly

Case Study Description
Taking shape from Kenyan tributary streams, the Mara River is a defining feature winding through Eastern Africa’s Serengeti region. Before discharging into Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, the Mara snakes across miles of savannah grasslands, serving as an important source of water for the territory’s diverse wildlife. While lions, zebras or elephants may visit the river for a drink, other animals like hippopotamus (hippos) have evolved to spend their

Introduction
Dr. Heili Lowman is a post-doctoral scholar and member of PME’s New Researcher Program studying aquatic ecology and biogeochemistry at the University of Nevada at Reno. Dr. Lowman and her colleagues have been monitoring Lake Tahoe since late 2021, and in June of 2023 she traveled to Palma, Spain, to present her recent data to the Association of the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). In her talk “Littorally turning green: Qua

Management of Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms
The California Lake Management Society (CALMS) is a non-profit organization that works to manage lakes and reservoirs throughout California. In April of 2023, Precision Measurement Engineering (PME) had the privilege of attending a webinar hosted by CALMS. Guest presenter Rick Almalfi, Vice President at Aquatic Consulting & Testing Inc, discussed the management of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which is a rising globa

Case Study Description

When miniDOTS Go Missing
Lake Tegel – or Tegeler See to the local Berliners– is the second largest lake in Berlin. The sprawling lake spans roughly 4.6 square kilometers, encompassing several islands and, until recently, three missing miniDOT® Loggers. The Loggers were deployed in the lake’s waters in 2020 on a monitoring chain, had disappeared without a trace soon after their initial deployment. Although the

Measuring Ecosystem Metabolism After Stream Restoration

Case Study Description
Dams constructed of coarse woody debris (CWD) have long been used as a cost-effective approach for stream restoration efforts. Despite its relative prevalence, little is known about CWD’s long-term ecological impacts and efficiency in reducing erosion. In his doctoral dissertation Samuel Bickley, Ph.D., conducted several studies using data gathered from PME’s mini

Management of Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms
The California Lake Management Society (CALMS) is a non-profit organization that works to manage lakes and reservoirs throughout California. In April of 2023, Precision Measurement Engineering (PME) had the privilege of attending a webinar hosted by CALMS. Guest presenter Rick Almalfi, Vice President at Aquatic Consulting & Testing Inc, discussed the management of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which is a rising globa