What's Blooming in the ISEA Wetland?

How many of these can you identify?  They are all blooming now in the ISEA Wetland. 

Butterfly Bush

Coriopsis

Fleabane

Broad-leaved Cattail



Rush

Black-eyed Susan

Joe Pie Weed

If you don't agree with my identifications, please send me a note.  Hey, I'm a fish guy.  --Tom K.

Whaleboat "Lake Sturgeon" Launched

ISEA launched its ex-Navy motor whaleboat Lake Sturgeon yesterday afternoon.  All systems operated well, and the brief shakedown cruise was deemed a success.  The next steps are to finish some outfitting details and to do the US Coast Guard stability test.  We hope to be licensed for passengers by the Classic Boat Show on July 20.

 

On our way to the launch ramp.  Thanks, Russ Carew, for the heavy hauling.

About to splash.  George and Calvin Powell handling lines.

 

Radio Check before leaving the dock.  The little Yanmar 3-cylinder diesel is warming up.

Underway. Also aboard were ISEA Comminications Intern Callie Chappell and Capt. Allen Wolfe.

Veiw over the bow.

At the ISEA Waterfront 

Thanks to Gordie and Susan Brown for the donation of the whaleboat, and to all those who helped with the re-fit this winter and spring:  Chuck Dickerson, Janet Dickerson, Ben Hale, George Powell, Calvin Powell, Bruce Lehmann, Tony DeRose, Jerry Battle, Bill Emerson, Lee Hepner, Larry Payton, Ray Hale, Paul McEwen and Russ Carew. Thanks also to the TUKTAWA Foundation and the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund for providing financial assistance for this project.  --Capt. Tom

Where in the World is "Inland Seas"

Our schooner Inland Seas left Suttons Bay Monday morning at 1100 for Escanaba, after waiting out passage of some thunder storms.  They arrived at about 0130 on Tuesday morning.

The crew for this week is Ben Hale, Captain; Bob Hagerman, Mate; Emily Shaw, Sally, Somsel and Rebecah Fuller, Deckhands & Educators; and Kathy Kane, Cook.  Volunteer Instructors are Leo Peveglio, Peg Comfort, John Casteel, Sue Chrostek and Bette Jackson. 

This week will include two local 5th grade classes, Bay Pines Center, Delta Force, Hannahville Tribal School, a public Making the Great Lakes Great Sail, and public sails as part of the Bay de Noc Maritime Festival.

The crew will change on Friday when Tom Kelly, Allen Wolfe, Gary Longton, Ben Clark and Len Klein will take over operation of the vessel.

Inland Seas and Friends Good Will in Escanaba, 2012

What was in the trawl?

Several people who sailed with us last Tuesday wondered what we caught in the trawl - the trawl that never came up.  We had our diver-friend Chris Doyal take a look over the weekend, and he reported a large log, completely swallowed by the trawl.  He was not able to extract the log or recover the trawl, so for now it sits on the bottom in 60'.  We have it buoyed, and we will make another attempt to recover the net, possibly by dragging the net and log into shallow water, at a later time.

Meanwhile, we are using the trawl that is aboard Manitou in the spring.

Capt. Tom

This is the way it is supposed to happen. 

Whaleboat "Lake Sturgeon" at Leland Parade

Lake Sturgeon cruises down Main Street in Leland during the 4th of July Parade

Thanks to Russ Carew for use of his truck.

Chuck Dickerson pulled the raffle canoe

 

Thanks to all those who helped with the whaleboat project and on this day in Leland.  --Capt. Tom

ISEA's Motor Whaleboat "Lake Sturgeon" in the Leland 4th of July Parade

Please join us on July 4th in Leland for the annual parade.  We will be there with our motor whaleboat Lake Sturgeon.

Motor Whaleboat Lake Sturgeon

Fact Sheet

Type:  Navy 26’ Motor Whaleboat

Year Built:  1968

Builder:  Miami Yacht Builders, Miami Beach, FL

Material: Fiberglass (FRP)

Hull No.:  26MW6843

Registration: MC 2362 PF

LOA: 26’    Beam: 8’     Draft: 1’

Displacement: 5,600 lbs

Engine: Yanmar 3-cylinder diesel, Model 3GM30F, 24 hp.  (original engine: Westerbeke 4-107)

Owner:  Inland Seas Education Association, Suttons Bay, MI

Service:  Passenger, USCG Sub-Chapter T (pending)

Former Name:  Water Bug

ISEA will be offering 1 hour programs aboard Lake Sturgeon later in July. 

Manta Trawl Tested Aboard Inland Seas

During last week's Young Women in Science cruise, ISEA tested a Manta net, used to collect surface organisms and to look for micro-plastics (break-down products of plastic materials).  The Manta net consists of an aluminum frame with welded aluminum "wings" on each side to keep the net on the surface, and a long net with 353 micron mesh size.

Manta Trawl being deployed from Inland Seas

The net is pulled behind the schooner for 30 minutes at 2 knots.  We did two trial runs, one in Suttons Bay and one in the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. The Suttons Bay sample consisted of a large amount of midge pupa cases, terrestrial insects, leaf matter and pollen.  The West Arm sample had few terrestrial items, but did contain a lot of material that will need to be sifted through to see if there is any micro-plastic bits present.  The samples were preserved in alcohol and will be given to Dr. Sherri Mason of the State University of New York - Fredonia for analysis.

Manta recovery after 30 minute tow. 

We plan to take Manta net samples throughout June and July for Dr. Mason.  This is part of a larger effort to  describe the implications of micro-plastics on a world-wide basis.

Click here to see Dr. Mason's PowerPoint on plastic reduction ideas.

Click here to see the impact of plastic on Midway Island albatrosses.

Capt. T. Kelly