Round Goby Invades Streams

See the video of round goby invasion of streams in Wisconsin.  Click here!  --Capt. Tom

Round Goby.  Photo by Chris Doyle.

Historic Changes to the Lower Food Web of Lake Michigan

If you missed Gary Fahnenstiel's presentation at the Freshwater Summit in October here is the video produced by Bob Russell:  Click Here  This is required viewing for anyone trying to understand what's happening in Lake Michigan.  Gary Fahnenstiel works for the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Laboratory in Muskegon.  --Capt. Tom

Quagga Mussel

"Building the Schoolship Inland Seas" is Topic of December 13th Seminar

Tom Kelly, ISEA's Executive Director, will present an illustrated discussion of the design, construction and sea trials of the schooner Inland Seas on December 13th at 7pm.  The presentation is part of ISEA's monthly Great Lakes Seminar Series and will be held at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay.  The program is free and open to the public. Many of the delivery crew will be present to offer their remembrances of the trip from the Palm Coast, Florida shipyard to Grand Traverse Bay in 1994.

The Treworgy Yachts building crew pose in front of the hull of Inland Seas, Palm Coast FL.
Mark and Toni Treworgy are in the center.

Dry Dock Inspection Completed

Yesterday the Coast Guard inspectors from Sault Ste. Marie were at Inland Seas    to do the Dry Dock Hull Inspection.  They inspected the hull plating, internal structures, seacocks, and drive train.  We passed the inspection with no problems.  They will be back for our annual in-water inspection in June. 

The ship is covered now, and all systems laid up for the winter.  We will continue with maintenance tasks throughout the winter months. 

Liberty is also ashore at Northport Bay Boatyard.  She will be covered soon.

Liberty at NBBY, Nov. 2011

-Capt. Tom Kelly

Climate Change and the Great Lakes

Get the climate change facts from Don Scavia at University of Michigan.  Don Scavia is Graham Family Professor and Director, Graham Sustainability Institute; Special Counsel to the U-M President on Sustainability; Professor, School of Natural Resources & Environment; and Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering. 

Prof. Don Scavia

This is a 33 minute video, so find some quality time for yourself, and you will be well rewarded for your interest.

Click here to begin the video Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region.

--Tom Kelly

Upcoming Great Lakes Seminars at Inland Seas Education Center, Suttons Bay

November 8, 2011
“Meeting the Challenge of Stormwater Pollution”
Sarah U’Ren
Program Director
The Watershed Center

December 13, 2011
“Building the Schoolship Inland Seas”
Tom Kelly
Executive Director & Captain
Inland Seas Education Association

December 29, 2011
“Building the Schoolship Inland Seas”
Tom Kelly
Executive Director & Captain
Inland Seas Education Association
(repeat of Dec. 13 program)

January 10, 2012
“Changes in Great Lakes Water Levels and Global Climate Change”
Drew Gronewold
Hydrologist and Physical Scientist
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

February 14, 2012
"Sturgeon Research in the Great Lakes"
Marty Holtgren
Senior Inland Fisheries Biologist
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians

March 13, 2012
“Sea Lamprey Barrier Methods”
Michael Wagner
Assistant Professor and PERM Scientist
East Lansing, MI

Free Seminar Tonight on Stormwater Treatment Techniques

Suttons Bay, MI – The Inland Seas Education Association will present a seminar focusing on stormwater treatment within the Great Lakes watershed at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 8th, at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay. The program will be presented by Sarah U’Ren, Program Director at the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay. This seminar is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Outfall of Broadway Street Drain in Suttons Bay

Plume of contaminated water in Suttons Bay from Broadway Drain after rain event.

The Watershed Center is a non-profit organization located in Traverse City, dedicated to the protection of our water resources in Grand Traverse Bay. They work within the entire 1,000 square mile watershed to advocate for clean water through public education and on-the-ground projects. One such project currently underway is working towards improved runoff filtration systems in Suttons Bay and Traverse City. Land use management within the watershed is an important aspect of maintaining water quality, as poor land use practices can lead to public health concerns and degraded ecosystem health. “By managing runoff from the three largest storm drains in Suttons Bay, we hope to drastically decrease public health risks at local beaches associated with runoff,” says U’Ren.

Inland Seas' Winter Cover Installed

The crew put in a long day on Friday, November 4th.  We got the winter cover on and the plastic heat shrunk around the sides.  Monday we will return to finish shrinking the top portion of the cover.  This can be done from the inside.  Then we will be ready for the icy blasts of winter.

Larry and Allen rigging the strapping that will hold the lower edge of the cover.

Bob and Jan rolling our the plastic sheet that will form the cover.

Putting heat-shrink tape around the masts.

One side of the cover has been secured.  The other (stbd) side is being secured along the centerline with a wooden batten.

Port side of cover in place.  The aft section was later covered with an athwart piece of plastic sheet.

Inside view with cover in place, prior to heat shrinking.

The Cover is secured for the weekend.  Monday we will finish up the heat shrining from inside.

Inland Seas' Topsides Painted on November 1st

We got a break in the weather on Tuesday Nov. 1 and painted the topsides and bulwarks.  There was a little rain in the afternoon, but then the sun came out and we finished the day with temps. in the low 50's.  The next, and probably final painting day this year will be this coming Friday when more sun is forecast. 

We also removed the engine raw water impeller (in good shape) and drive belts (4 - will replace all and keep older ones for spares).

Thanks to Bob, Jan, and Larry for your help.

Jan and Bob applying the topsides "Sea Green" paint.

Tom taking it easy in the bow net.

Larry removing blocks from Libety's mast prior to refinishing.