In the early 1970s the University of Michigan Biological Station initiated a series of research projects concerning the quality of the lakes in Northern Michigan under the support of the National Science Foundation through the Research Applied to National Needs (RANN) program. Dr. John Gannon joined the Biological Station's staff in 1972 and directed this program for six years. This research had significant impacts on water quality management of lakes throughout Northern Michigan. The Biological Station continued to receive grants for water quality research for several years after the RANN program had terminated.