MISSOULA – Scientists plan to deploy two buoys on Flathead Lake that carry equipment to monitor the water quality at least four times a day.
Researchers plan to place one buoy west of Yellow Bay and another west of Woods Bay on Wednesday. Boaters are asked to stay at least 50 yards away from the buoys, which KECI-TV reports are worth $250,000 each.
The buoys were developed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Scientists with Woods Hole and the University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station modified the buoys for lake use.
The data will provide scientists with better information about the changing conditions in the lake’s water quality as well as wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, air temperature, solar radiation and humidity.
The public will be able to access the data online.