Lake Huron Undercover: 2025 Lakebed Mapping of the Sanctuary

JOIN US FOR OUR MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES! In October, go beneath the surface of Lake Huron with NOAA Physical Scientist and Hydrographer, Melissa Weber as she shares the story of the 2025 lakebed mapping campaign in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, conducted as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This large-scale effort supports habitat restoration, ecosystem health, protection of historical resources, and resource management throughout the Great Lakes.

This engaging presentation will cover the purpose and goals of the 2025 field season, the advanced technology and vessels used to collect bathymetric and habitat data, and what scientists found beneath the waves—from geologic features to habitat zones and more. You’ll also hear about the technical and logistical challenges the team faced during the project and what’s next for the data, including how it will be made publicly available to support scientific research, education, and conservation.

Whether you’re curious about underwater mapping, the Great Lakes, or how science supports restoration and preservation of our natural resources, this presentation will bring you closer to the fascinating and often unseen world of the Great Lakes lakebed. This is a free community event and open to everyone. The doors to the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center will open at 5:30pm and the lecture begins at 6pm.