Sea Grant and Lake Superior: Sustaining the Freshwater Sea

In this final episode, Shon Schooler from the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) explains the goals of this exciting new project at St. Louis River estuary. The St. Louis River is the largest American river that flows into Lake Superior, and has been an important transportation hub for many decades. University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute has helped sponsor much research in this estuary, including the new research being conducted by Emily Stanley and graduute student Luke Loken on sediment deposition in the estuary. They talk about the goals of their ambitioous research project, and then University of Wisconsin Sea Grant science communicator Marie Zhuikov closes the series with a poem about the intertwined symbiotic relationship between Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Estuary.

This episode takes you to a busy Sea Grant conference in Duluth to meet University of Wisconsin coastal engineering specialist Gene Clark. Clark explains his efforts in designing solutions for dredging materials storage issues and for dealing with mysterious corrosive growths that are appearing on steel pilings in Lake Superior harbors. Clark's ingenious work is a testament on how water resources experts can substantially contribute to maintaining real sustainability and resilience for the communities that rely on Lake Superior.

This video podcast lets you see firsthand the dredging materials from Lake Superior that University of Wisconsin coastal engineering specialist Gene Clark has found beneficial uses for, as well as a close look at the strange corrosion appearing on steel pilings in the lake that has puzzled scientists and challenged harbor managers. It is a companion piece to the previous podcast, where the issues and challenges of maintaining resilient and sustainable coastal communities are discussed in detail. Videography by John Karl.

David Hart, the Geographic Information Systems Specialist and Coastal Community Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, and Sarah Wilkins, a graduate student working with David, share how they are using an innovative synthesis of information from satellite, aerial, and ground sources to create a roadmap for adaptive management of the coastal areas of Lake Superior. Their detective work is creating a robust resource that measures land intensity, a combination of nuanced knowledge regarding land use and land cover that will enable all stakeholders in Lake Superior’s sustainability establish resilient strategies for dealing with the environmental challenges of the future.

The series kicks off with a descriptive historical and geographical background of Lake Superior and an overview of Sea Grant's research efforts regarding the lake. Sea Grant director Jim Hurley shares his insights on the importance of Lake Superior for Wisconsin, the important contribution of graduate students to these efforts, and some personal stories about the intrinsic and inspirational qualities of this greatest of the Great Lakes.

The uniquely preserved shipwrecks of Lake Superior have become a historical resource for the state, as well as a recreational magnet for sport divers. Hear the chilling tale of the sinking of the Lucerne, and listen while underwater archeologists Tamara Thomsen and Keith Meverden share their passion for this fascinating field, explain its scientific and historical significance, and solve the mystery of the Lucerne's final hours.

The area around the Apostle Islands National Seashore comprises one of the most beautiful, and surprisingly least well-known, regions of Wisconsin. Hear some highlights from an Apostle Islands cruise, and listen to graduate student Josh Anderson speak about new technology Sea Grant has helped fund, which is working to save lives and enhance the recreational enjoyment of the Apostle Islands.