Creatures of the Great Lakes on TV - 2 this week.

Denise Baker, Tom Kelly and Rich Brauer enjoying memories of underwater film making in the 1980's.

Watershed Moments premieres on Up North 2 with a retrospective look at the 1984 film Creatures in the Great Lakes

Creatures in the Great Lakes features a cast of "underwater stars" from yesteryear and offers insight into why the clear water we see today is less desirable than the turbid water of the past. The 1984 film was originally intended to serve as an educational tool for classroom use, yet has become a baseline for the state of affairs in the Great Lakes.

Watershed Moments is a public access television program by the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay that explores all facets of Grand Traverse Bay, the heart of our region. Its debut revisits Creatures in the Great Lakes with the film’s creators, Rich Brauer of Brauer Productions and Captain Tom Kelly of the Inland Seas Education Association.


Host Denise Baker delightfully navigates a scientific and technological inquiry of underwater cinematography and environmental education. Longtime friends, Rich and Tom reflect upon their early exploration of the aquatic world and the changes it has endured during the past twenty-five years.


Watershed Moments premieres on Up North 2 this Sunday November 15th at 8pm, Monday November 16th at 10pm, and Saturday, November 21st at 9am.

ISEA Great Lakes Seminar on Tuesday Evening

R/V Northwestern (foreground) Watching bottom profile output onboard the R/V Northwestern

The Inland Seas Education Association will present a seminar that focuses on the on-going survey of the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay. The seminar, "Hydrographic Survey of Grand Traverse Bay," will be presented by Hans VanSumeren, Executive Director of Northwestern Michigan College's Water Studies Institute, and Mark Breederland, Extension Educator with Michigan Sea Grant. This seminar is free and open to the public. For more information click on http://www.schoolship.org/news_events/?id=927

Inland Seas Covered for the Winter

Schooners in their winter dress. Inland Seas in foreground, Manitou in distance.
Snug conditions under the cover.

Inland Seas is now wearing her new winter coat, made of white plastic. A brief window of good weather this past week allowed the crew (Remy, Allen and Jan) get the cover on before the next round for rain and high winds. Nice work guys. -Capt. Tom

Inland Seas Heads to Traverse City for Winter

Don Goski takes us around Stony Point
Allen Wolfe on the foredeck, dressed for the weather.

Captain Remy, also dressed for the weather!

R-4 buoy, Lee Point

Today the crew (Tom Kelly, Remy Champt, Allen Wolfe and Don Gorski) took Inland Seas to Traverse City (Greilickville) for winter lay-up. The passage was pleasant dispite the rain and mist. Upon arrival we pumped the holding tanks and took on 145 gallons of diesel fuel. Thanks to Centre Pointe and Harbor West 45 LLC for hosting Inland Seas for the winter. Remy, Allen and volunteer helpers will put on the winter cover in the next few days. -Capt. Tom

Waterlife Film Benefit, Saturday Oct. 19, 2009

ISEA's benefit showing of the Canadian film Waterlife attracted 200 supporters on Saturday evening. The evening began with a outdoor cookout followed by the film at the Bay Theatre. After the film the audience participated in a discussion with our panel of Great Lakes experts (Tom Kelly, Andy Knott, Scott Blair & Greg Goudy). Over $13,000 was raised toward ISEA's shipboard education programs. Many thanks to all those who donated, attended, organized and helped serve this event. Special thanks to our event sponsors, Northwestern Bank and an anonymous ISEA donor. Thanks also to Peninsula Title for providing the challenge matching funds.

Liberty Comes Home From Charlevoix

Liberty at Northport
Our Friendship sloop Liberty is back from her visit to Charlevoix this summer. While there she was operated by Sea Ports/Great Lakes. She is now at Northport Marina awaiting de-rigging, haul-out and storage by Northport Bay Boat Yard. Many thanks to NBBY for helping out with Liberty again this year.

Inland Seas is De-Rigged

How she looks with sails, booms and topmasts removed.

Allen up the foremast taking off blocks.

Remy and Allen have completed the de-rigging of the schooner and now are doing some refinishing work as the weather allows. Next will be construction of the winter cover frame before we take the ship to Centre Pointe for the winter.