CONNECTING RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY - A KEWEENAW LAKE SUPERIOR NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

A community effort to advance a Keweenaw Lake Superior National Marine Sanctuary proposal is gaining momentum with a proposed theme of the geology and geoheritage of Lake Superior. National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) are federal designations that recognize and protect marine resources of national significance such as valuable biodiversity, physical features, coastal habitats, and cultural features. Sanctuaries are designated through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), within the US Department of Commerce. There are 15 NMS designations in the United States; Thunder Bay, Alpena is the only NMS currently hosted on the Great Lakes.

The world-class Keweenaw rift geology has resulted in the largest known native copper deposit on Earth, shaped our harbors, islands, and peninsulas, and created the basin of Lake Superior. This underpinning geologic story has created a strong relationship between the resultant coastal and marine resources and the long passage of people to this place; the rich geologic history serves as a unique point of departure for a NMS theme. If designated the Keweenaw Lake Superior National Marine Sanctuary would be the only designation within the NOAA program that hosts a research university at its hub.

National Marine Sanctuaries are perfectly suited to place-based education and research opportunities and serve to broaden community Earth science and Great Lakes literacy. In collaboration with educators and community partners, research focused on natural events/features and anthropogenic activity within the sanctuary can be communicated with the broader public helping them to make more informed decisions on environmental issues in their community. Examples of current research associated with a Keweenaw Lake Superior NMS include a deeper understanding of rift geology, dynamics of shoreline migration, rising lake levels, increased severe storm intensity and frequency, and issues stemming from legacy mining such as impacts on public health, fisheries, and Manoomin (wild rice) harvests. Current geotourism efforts in the Keweenaw serve to compliment formal research and education initiatives by providing additional channels for informal science outreach in tandem with recreational opportunities.