About

The Lake Michigan Biological Station is located in the North Unit of Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois.

Lake Michigan Biological Station was founded in 1985 and primarily conducted creel surveys on the Illinois shoreline of Lake Michigan. Since its inception, the station has expanded its capacity to encompass a wide range of research studies, including those on fish, invertebrates, plankton, and other organisms. The Lake Michigan Biological Station samples Lake Michigan and the Chicago Area Waterway System from the beginning of May until the end of November on three research vessels, the R/V Namaycush, R/V Sculpin, and R/V Bloater. Read more about our Research. 

The Lake Michigan Biological Station is supported by: