Quote Originally Posted by LEfriend View Post
A little more info on reason for this buoy. As I understand, it is collecting data for a study of the effects of open lake disposal of the dredged sediment as part of the USACE permit to dredge Toledo Harbor. The scientists who put it out there will be studying turbidity and sediment movement among other things. Hence all the real time data collection of waves, directions, currents, turbidity, conductivity, etc. Scientists working on the lake will use this information to better understand what is going on out there, and this particular buoy collects a whole lot more data than normal.

The Limno folks will also use it to develop the computer simulation model they are working on. I have seen it and it is really cool animation. Shows detailed hour by hour maps of formation, density and movement of sediment, algal plumes and phosphorous concentrations in response to actual rainfall events and runoff in the Maumee Watershed. All this work is being done to better understand the limnology of the lake and the watershed, what drives the algae, and ways to eliminate the blooms.

Funding for buoy study is likely coming from the US Corps of Engineers and for a lot of the other modeling work probably also support from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and/or the Great Lakes Protection Fund that was established by the 8 Great Lakes.
Thanks for posting LEriend! A great summary of whats going on this year. Itd be GREAT to bring it back next year. In order to bring it back its going to require the cooperation of the people that use the data from the buoy. As everyday users of the great resources of Lake Erie you guys have alot more power to convince people that this is a useful thing. I'd be happy to talk to anyone or any group or organization thats interested in helping to bring this buoy back next year.

Don't hesitate to email me everhamme at limno.com

Ed