MARQUETTE, MI— The Superior Watershed Partnership has deployed three climate-monitoring and safety buoys on the southern shore of Lake Superior.
Last year, the SWP received an almost $48,000 grant from the Great Lakes Observing System to purchase the buoys. Placed near Marquette, Munising and Grand Marais, they’ll collect navigation and climate information like wave height, wind speed, water temperature and more.
Officials say the live data from the buoys is critical for commercial and recreational boaters, as well as the National Weather Service, Environment Canada and NOAA. In addition, the SWP uses buoy data for long-term climate adaptation planning with coastal communities in the Upper Peninsula.