Lake Huron

Making a Wreck of History

An interesting program on the Science Channel last night focused on the ship wrecks in Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay. Apparently, Thunder Bay is the go to place for maritime archeologists, historians and students interested in studying 19th century shipping as numerous shipswrecks are spectacularly preserved in the depths of the fresh waters.

Unlike wrecks in salty seas and Oceans, the metal ships that lie in state in Lake Huron are not corroded. It is possible to really see these ships, many of which were sunk during turbulent November storms, in their former glory. Students of maritime history and nautical Read More » »

A $20 Billion Carp Barrier

Tucked inside the massive $21 billion Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization is $9 million for the Corps of Engineers to construct and maintain a permanent barrier that will keep non-native Asian carp from wreaking havoc on Lake Michigan’s ecosystem.  

It is too bad that the only way to stop the ferocious fish has involved nose pinching. While WRDA has attracted some unwanted attention as a piggy bank  for the Army Corps of Engineers, it holds within it one of the most significant programs for the survival and vitality Read More » »

Zebra Mussels, Lake Huron & Future of Salmon Fishery

Salmon fishing in Lake Huron hasn’t been great recently, due to the decline in prey base. The prey populations are being decimated by invasive species like the zebra mussel, leaving little food for the salmon.

Eric Sharp in the Detroit Free Press writes:

“But new data developed by a University of Wisconsin biologist suggests the problem isn’t over-predation by salmon but a collapse at the bottom of the food chain caused by invasive European mussels. That theory says that huge amounts of energy that once produced tiny crustaceans and fish, which in turn fed slightly larger fish like juvenile alewives, now go Read More » »

Huron: The Great Lakes’ Best Kept Secret

The watershed of Lake Huron isn’t as densely populated as Michigan’s, Erie’s, or Ontario’s, but it is among the largest in the system—larger even than the Lake itself—and contains some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. Its northern section, Georgian Bay, is cut off from the rest of the lake by Manatoulin Island, the largest lake island in the world. The sandy beaches of its main body and the rocky shores of Georgian Bay are some of the Great Lakes’ gorgeous hidden treasures.

Huron’s wide-reaching basin contains very active agricultural economies. The many rivers and streams that flow into Read More » »

The State of the Great Lakes - Michigan

Click to view a larger map of the restoration sites.

State of Great Lakes - Michigan
Fact Sheet (PDF)

The Great Lakes are one of our most precious national treasures. With nearly 20 percent of the Earth’s fresh surface water, they provide drinking water to 28 million U.S. residents. Threats to the Great Lakes basin impact the overall economy and quality of life in the United States, especially in the Midwest.

The Great Lakes are a Read More » »