GVSU research vessel offers Charlevoix cruise

CHARLEVOIX, Mich. — Grand Valley State University's W.G. Jackson research vessel is offering cruises into Lake Michigan as part of its Making Lake Michigan Great 2009 tour. The purpose of the tour is to spread the word about the management plan for Lake Michigan and gather input on lakewide issues from the public at the tour’s ports of call.

The W.G. Jackson is the 65-foot specially designed research and education vessel of the Grand Valley's Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI). The Jackson takes out more than 3,000 people per year on hands-on educational cruises. There is no charge to participants on Jackson cruises. The tour schedule for the general public at the Charlevoix stop on July 30 is: 1-2:15 p.m., and 2:45-4 p.m. To reserve a spot (age 9 and above), call the Charlevoix Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-367-8557 or 231-237-0920.  Spaces are limited.

The Jackson science instructors and crew, in cooperation with local hosts, provide the program for the cruises on the tour. Generally, there are cruises for groups of up to 30 adults and children age 9 and above. On cruises, participants experience hands-on science as they sample and analyze lake water. There are presentations about the Lake Michigan Lakewide Management Plan, the U.S. EPA Lake Michigan Forum, and local issues of concern. On the vessel are informational handouts for the public and some space for displays from local groups.

The tour is a project of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lake Michigan Forum in cooperation with the AWRI.  The EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office funds the tour. This will be the 12th year for Making Lake Michigan Great. During these years, 33 ports of call in Lake Michigan will have been visited.  The 2009 Tour reaches Milwaukee, Port Washington, Beaver Island, Charlevoix and White Lake.

Information gathered on the tour about lakewide concerns helps the Lake Michigan Forum with its mission, which is to be a public input group to the U.S. EPA's Lake Michigan efforts.  For more details about the tour, contact Dr. Janet Vail, GVSU-AWRI associate professor and co-chair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lake Michigan Forum, at (616) 331-3048 or [email protected].

Links:

• Annis Water Resources Institute: (http://www.gvsu.edu/wri/education)
• EPA’s 2008 LaMP update: (http://epa.gov/greatlakes/lamp/lm_2008/index.html)
• Lake Michigan Forum: (http://www.lkmichiganforum.org)