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.

NMC & ISEA

ISEA has had a long working relationship with Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. This has continued this week as NMC's Watershed Studies Class, lead by Prof. Colleen Masterson Bzdok sailed aboard the schoolship Inland Seas on Tuesday morning. The class trawled for fish, took samples of the bottom sediments, hauled a net for zooplankton, and used an Alpha Bottle to collect water samples for pH, D. O. and temperature determinations. They also measured the water transparency with a secchi disk (12 meters). We had very little wind to work with, but we did sail, and it was a beautiful day to be on the lake. A second Watershed Class will sail with us on Monday September 14th.

NMC's Water Studies Institute project finds the wreck of the Lauren Castle in Grand Traverse Bay. The tug Lauren Castle, which sank 5 November 1980 off Lee Point near Suttons Bay, lies in water more than 400 feet deep. For details go to http://www.km.kongsberg.com/ks/web/nokbg0238.nsf/AllWeb/F4F5D670781F6F4BC1257623004BD9FB?OpenDocument

And, finally, ISEA's Executive Director Tom Kelly will present a program today for NMC's new Freshwater Studies program entitled "An Ecological History of the Great Lakes."

Underwater Exploration for Non-Divers

Join ISEA for a day-long underwater exploration of shipwrecks and underwater features in Grand Traverse Bay. Come along with underwater photographer Chris Doyal and ROV builder/operator Kurt Jankowski as they investigate the remains of ships long concealed under the surface. Talk with the divers as they explore the wrecks using the two-way audio comminucation system. Watch as they encounter schools of fish and other creatures using live video connected to underwater ROVs (remote operated vehicles). Learn about the maritime history of Grand Traverse Bay as you beomce crew members on the gaff-rigged schooner Inland Seas.$80/person, $75/child under 18; limited to 25 people. Lunch is included while aboard the schooner. Call (231) 271-3077 to registerJoin ISEA for a day-long underwater exploration of shipwrecks and underwater features in Grand Traverse Bay.

Underwater Videos From Chris Doyal

Here are views into Grand Traverse Bay, courtesy of Chris Doyal. Check out the round gobies in the Tramp video and the growth of algae and mussels on the wrecks. http://www.chrisdoyal.com/section195090.html

Recently Chris made a presentation at the Inland Seas Education Center and has helped us by cleaning our underwater camera lens. Thanks for all your good work, Chris.

Capt. Tom