The Final Frontier

"Schooner" by Dodge ~Enlarge

No, Star Trek fans, it's not outer space, it's the spaces beneath the world's water -- including Great Lakes water. And it's time to explore it by creating a formal system of underwater preserves in the Lakes.

The issue has been on my mind for some time -- almost 30 years, since Michigan established a "bottomland preserve" system to manage access to and preserve shipwrecks.  That's worthy, but shouldn't older historic sites underwater and other sites that are geologically or ecologically important also enjoy protection for this and future generations?

Nationally, efforts are underway to catalog so-called marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine managed areas (MMAs). Interestingly, the Great Lakes already has a number of each.

The National Marine Protected Areas Center observes, "There are at least 15 federal MPAs and MMAs located within the Great Lakes.  The number of state sites is still being counted. These areas include a national marine sanctuary, a national estuarine research reserve, eight national wildlife refuges, and five national parks.  They cover a diversity of natural and cultural resources in lakes Superior, Ontario, Michigan, Huron, and Erie."

Most of these are on or close to Great Lakes shoreline.  I propose additions that are not always just shoreline-related.

Like a reserve protecting an amazing Lake Huron sinkhole.

Like a reserve creating an aquatic habitat corridor for threatened lake sturgeon.

Like a reserve protecting rumored sites giving evidence of human occupation during historic Great Lakes low water levels. And ancient forests now underwater.

In addition to being a management tool -- and an inexpensive one at that -- the network of preserves would also be a way of educating the Great Lakes public, especially young people, about the wonders under the Great Lakes.