A comprehensive overview of all things aquatic, from water chemistry to nutrient enrichment to acid rain and invasive species, "The Secret Life of a Lake" by Peter Tobiessen is designed for the non-scientist.
"Ultimately, my purpose was to help the curious lake enthusiast better understand the dynamics within these complex ecosystems," Tobiessen writes in the prologue. "The more we understand these beautiful ecosystems, the deeper appreciation we will have for our lakes, and the wiser our decisions will be in preserving them."
A biology professor emeritus at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., Tobiessen is a long-time summer resident of the Adirondacks. He owns a home on Sacandaga Lake near Speculator, N.Y.