Great Lakes Tour: Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary

by: jcherry

Thu Aug 14, 2008 at 12:16:49 PM EDT

Above: NOAA divers explore a Lake Huron shipwreck in the Thunder Bay National Maritime Sanctuary

Back in the early 1980's, State Senator William Faust led an effort in the Michigan Legislature to establish a network of underwater preserves.  Bill Faust was a respected legislative leader who in his pre-political life edited a newspaper in western Wayne County.  He had a life long passion for history.  One of his other significant accomplishments was rescuing the state library from years of financial neglect by transferring its management directly to the legislature.

The looting of Great Lakes' shipwrecks had been brought to the attention of Senator Faust.  To protect the shipwrecks and preserve them for future exploration and research, he authored legislation creating the Michigan underwater preserves.  Subsequently in 1980, Thunder Bay and the nearly 250 shipwrecks that lie within the boundaries of the Thunder Bay preserve were designated a National Maritime Sanctuary.  Today, I had the opportunity to tour the Sanctuary's Historical Center, a gold LEED certified building that houses the Sanctuary's administrative offices and a historical maritime museum.  The Sanctuary is managed by a partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries (HAL).  Consequently, Thunder Bay has become the data collection center for much of NOAA's Great Lakes research.  Several of NOAA's research vessels operate out of Alpena and the National Maritime Sanctuary.  Interestingly, NOAA's Great Lakes fleet has converted to bio-diesel fuel.

Photo: NOAA

The museum houses HAL's maritime collection; and increasingly, private collections are being turned over to the Sanctuary for preservation.  I was very impressed by the presentation of the exhibits.  Through pictures, maps, and graphics the story of Great Lakes shipping and tragedy is captured in a compelling format.  There are numerous hands-on exhibits to excite young minds, as well as those who still remain young at heart.  Artifacts are also available in a protected format that is both available to the public and convenient for researchers.  Even more exciting technologically advanced exhibits are in the works, including an opportunity to communicate with scientific researchers and explorers who are engaged in real time underwater exploration-whether in the Great Lakes or half way around the world.

Of course, the Sanctuary's centerpiece is the shipwrecks themselves.  They lie beneath the waters of Thunder Bay and the expanse of Lake Huron stretching north and south from the Bay.  The cold, fresh waters of the Great Lakes assure a much greater degree of preservation than the warmer salt water of an ocean environment. Unfortunately, time did not permit a tour of the underwater Sanctuary.  However, I did see evidence of how the City of Alpena has embraced the Sanctuary in the boat launches, a dive shop, and the diving charters that have sprung up to service the increasing number of explorers and researchers that are now seeking out a Great Lakes diving experience among the shipwrecks of an earlier era.

While at the Sanctuary, State Representative Matt Gillard and I announced a $30,000 grant to the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) for the development of the Huron Blue Waters Trail.  The mapping project involves identifying access ramps and other points of interest for the paddling community who canoe or kayak the coastline of Lake Huron from Harrisville on the south to the Straights of Mackinaw on the north.  Diane Rekowski who serves as the Director of NEMCOG, was present to accept the grant.

This project is a prime example of how the Sanctuary is serving as a catalyst to the region as its communities begin to redefine themselves through their relationship to the Lakes.  The development of a network of trails for hiking, cycling, and paddling is opening up northeast Michigan to alternative outdoor users.  One of the impacts is that hotel stays are up in the region by 4% when the beginning of the year estimate called for a 3% drop.  More importantly, this redevelopment is resulting in a more eco-friendly interaction between the communities of northeast Michigan and the waters of the region.  Both are benefiting from their new relationships.