In the Field with Finn: Summer as an ACRC Intern
My name is Finn Finnegan, and I am going into my fourth year at UAS pursuing a BA in environmental studies. Working with ACRC over the summer has been a great opportunity to expand my experience in environmental research and gain a deeper understanding of our local environment here in Juneau.
During my time with ACRC, I have been able to work on numerous different projects, including regular stream sampling and discharge measurements. For this project, I collected and processed weekly samples from several streams. In processing, I got to prepare samples and measure properties including alkalinity, turbidity, carbon content, and more. Seeing our local creeks and rivers change from week to week over several months has given me a deeper appreciation for the complexity and sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems. It was an amazing experience to see the shifts that come with salmon in real time!
I also was able to get up close to glaciers! I had the opportunity to collect water samples at the Mendenhall outflow, where I was able to get a close look at the glacier and the birds that nest near the terminus. I also was able to assist with a project monitoring the movement of Taku Glacier. We took a helicopter onto the glacier where we used a steam drill to insert poles with attached GPSs into the glacier.
I also worked on a biomass survey of bivalves, including butter clams. We dug for clams in several spots at Auke Rec, weighed and measured them, and collected some clams and cockles for further testing. Bivalves hold an incredibly interesting role in understanding our changing environment as filter feeders, since they take in pollutants and toxins (including paralytic shellfish poison) from the surrounding water.
Overall, working at ACRC has been an incredible experience. I’m grateful to have been able to learn so much this summer and for all of the amazing people I got to work with! The Forest Service Lab is an incredibly welcoming work environment. All of the skills and knowledge I’ve gained this summer will be invaluable to me as I continue my education in environmental studies.