Sanctuary Installs New Data Buoy in Lake Michigan

May 23, 2024

researchers on deck preparing to deploy a new data buoy — NOAA and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee researchers prepare to deploy a new environmental data buoy in the sanctuary. Photo: NOAA

A team from Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's School of Freshwater Sciences, recently deployed a new data buoy in the sanctuary. The buoy was engineered and built by UW-Milwaukee and funded through a grant from the Fund for Lake Michigan.

The buoy provides real time wind, wave, current, water temperature, and water quality data to the public and researchers, which fills a large gap in data collected along the western Lake Michigan shoreline and improves public safety on the water.

The buoy is located in 120 feet of water with the water temperature sensors located at every 10 feet, which is particularly appreciated by the charter and recreational fishing communities. Along with three Sofar Ocean "smart moorings" maintained by sanctuary staff, there are now four real time data buoys in the region.