Our Mission Since 1901, students and researchers from around the world have been coming to Flathead Lake Biological Station to learn firsthand about biology.  By 1977, year-round research was being conducted at the Morton J. Elrod Laboratory. With the 1981 construction of the state-of-the-art Schoonover Freshwater Research Laboratory, The Flathead Lake Biological Station expanded into one of the finest freshwater research facilities in the country.
		Ecology students at McDonald Lake

The mission of the Flathead Lake Biological Station is:

History by the Years

• 1891 -S. A. Forbes, one of the world's first notable aquatic scientists, completes the first study of Flathead Lake
• 1893 - The University of Montana chartered.
• 1899 - FLBS founded by Professor Morton J. Elrod in the "River House" on the Swan River at Bigfork; Elrod establishes FLBS as the "Sentinel of the Lake."
• 1901 - First organized summer academic session for college students held at FLBS.
• 1905 - "More and more the work done here is attracting the attention of science men throughout the country." Morton J. Elrod
• 1910- FLBS notoriety and work of Elrod helps establish Glacier National Park.
• 1910- Elrod moves FLBS to the current Yellow Bay property granted to UM by Federal government
• 1912-The "Brick Lab" constructed with $5,000 appropriation from Montana legislature.
• 1915- First detailed study of Flathead Lake fishes by Station scientist Robert L. Young and Elrod
• 1924 - "Elrod's Guide To Glacier National Park" published as official guidebook of Park.
• 1929 - R. L. Young publishes "Botany and Zoology of Flathead Lake."
• 1933 - Elrod's last summer as Director and FLBS closes due to lack of funding.
• 1934 - J. J. Johnsrud hired as caretaker of FLBS and begins his Yellow Bay Diaries, daily chronicles of Johnsrud's life watching over the "sleeping"
• Biological Station.
• 1935 - R. L. Young publishes "Life of Flathead Lake" in Ecological Monographs; Kerr Dam completed.
• 1948 - Professor Gordon Castle becomes Director and reopens FLBS with gusto from a cadre of soon-to-be-famous young ecologists teaching a full slate of classes; 40 cabins, 4 classroom buildings, a maintenance shop, caretaker home and boathouse are constructed around the Brick Lab.
• 1951 - Professor Gerald W. Prescott, world-famous aquatic ecologist, begins work at FLBS.
• 1953 - Hungry Horse Dam completed on the South Fork of the Flathead River.
• 1955 - First field classes for high school biology teachers held at FLBS.
• 1962 - Professor Richard A. Solberg becomes Director; adds research emphasis to the highly successful summer academic program.
• 1964 - Largest flood on record occurs in the Flathead River.
• 1967 - New Elrod Lab constructed with National Science Foundation funding, replacing the old Brick Lab.
• THE.
• 1970 - Professor John F. Tibbs becomes Director; initiates year-round research and maintains student enrollment in the summer sessions at an all time high.
• 1973 - EPA funds first large pollution study by FLBS of Flathead Lake; EPA also funds construction of the Yellow Bay Sewage Treatment plant at FLBS as a demonstration in pollution control.
• 1974 - FLBS benefactor Dr. Jessie M. Bierman funds construction of winterized housing for researchers.
• Dr. Jessie M. Bierman, famous MD,on her FLBS experience in 1921 as a student, 1982, "Without any question, I owe Professor Elrod my first appreciation of the scientific method. "
• 1976 - Proposed Cabin Creek Coal Mine in Canada threatens Flathead River-Lake ecosystem.
• 1977 - EPA funds $4M 5-year Flathead River Basin Study that initiates year-round research at FLBS.
• 1979 - FLBS scientists organize the world's First International Symposium on Regulated Streams.
• 1980 - Professor Jack Stanford becomes Director; initiates ecosystem research emphasis and dramatically increases research funding and a permanent scientific staff.
• 1981 - Freshwater Research Lab completed with $850K from Pleischmann Foundation,
• Reno, Nevada.
• 1983 - First lakewide bloom of pollution algae in Flathead Lake is reported by FLBS scientists; Montana legislature creates the Flathead Basin Commission to oversee pollution control and authorizes Flathead and Lake Counties to ban the sale of phosphorus-containing detergents.
• 1984 - FLBS research clearly underscores decision by the International Joint
• Commission that Cabin Creek Coal Mine not be developed due to potential impacts on Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake.
• 1986 - Dr. Jessie Bierman creates distinguished professorship at FLBS: Prescott Forum, a new dormitory and commissary at FLBS, is completed with $800K of UM funds.
• 1987 - Kokanee fishery in Flathead Lake collapses due to invasion of nonnative mysid shrimps; FLBS research documents consequences of this new water quality problem.
• 1987 - FLBS hosts international scientific think-tank on river ecology sponsored by the National Science Foundation, substantially changing the discipline in theory and practice.
• 1989 - "Jessie B," the ultramodern FLBS research vessel, is launched with $80K from the National Science Foundation.
• 1991 - FLBS hosts international meeting on effects of damson rivers.
• 1993 - Second lakewide bloom of pollution algae occurs; concern for water quality increases.
• 1995 - Construction of advanced wastewater plants completed in Kalispell, Bigfork, Whitefish and Columbia Falls
• which further reduces pollution loads to Flathead Lake as recommended by FLBS research.
• 1996 - FLBS hosts international meeting of aquatic ecologists in Kalispell; 835 scientists attend.
• 1998 - 200th peer reviewed paper by FLBS scientists is published.
• 1999 - FLBS celebrates 100 years as "Sentinel of the Lake;" over 800 valley residents attend the festivities.
• 2000 - UM initiates a capital campaign to enlarge the role and scope of research and education at FLBS
• 2001 - NSF funds $2.6M study of Nyack floodplain biocomplexity.
• 2002 - Kamchatka (Russia) ongoing expeditions provide information applicable to long-term restoration and conservation of U.S. rivers