Keck Environmental Field Laboratory

The Keck Lab at W&M

Located on the shore of Lake Matoaka on the William & Mary campus in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Keck Lab is a 5,500 square-foot venue for hands-on instruction and research support. With direct access to Lake Matoaka and the surrounding College Woods, the lab is ideally situated for investigations of the increasingly complex and interdisciplinary world of environmental studies.

Keck Lab Services

Lake Matoaka

With a history spanning over three centuries, Lake Matoaka is one of the oldest human-made lakes in the United States. Water from the lake drains into College Creek and then the James River as part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The surrounding College Woods is the largest remaining, contiguous stand of second growth forest in the city of Williamsburg and has a huge impact on the flora, fauna, and water quality of the area.

Student Research

Terrapins and BRDs

See research on diamondback terrapins, blue crabs, and bycatch reduction devices.
Water Quality, Hydrology, and Stormwater

See research on water quality, hydrology, and stormwater management.
Flora and Fauna

See research on Lake Matoaka/College Woods flora and fauna.
Shorelines and Shrimp

See research on shoreline management and grass shrimp.
Planning & Policy

See research on environmental planning and policy.
Everything Else

See research on other subject areas.

Osprey Cam: Live From the Zable Stadium

William & Mary's Osprey Cam was installed in spring 2024 with Green Fee funding when nesting activity was spotted on top of a Zable Stadium light fixture. Although the pair did not nest successfully, the presumed pair returned in spring 2025 and 2026. They fledged a chick in early August both years. Will they return and be successful in 2027? Who will stop by on the nest in the off season? Tune in to the drama any time on the YouTube live feed (@WMOspreyCam).

Keck Lab News

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