Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Introduction
Genesis of the Thunder Bay
National Marine Sanctuary
Managing Thunder Bay
References
Slide
Show
We-no-ka, the daughter of an Ottawa
chief, reclined in a canoe on the lake with her lover, a
young Huron brave, during a peaceful night. A rejected suitor
of the princess spotted them from the beach and set out
in his canoe to quietly approach the unsuspecting lovers.
As the young Ottawa brave drew near, he bent his bow and
fired an arrow at the heart of his rival. We-no-ka, however,
spied the arrow as it hurtled towards her beloved, and leapt
in front of him, just in time to receive the arrow in her
own breast. Her lover sprang up to save her as she fell
into the water. But he too, drowned as their fragile boat
capsized. Then, a rumble and a roar of thunder came from
the Great Spirit Manitou, greatly displeased by the tragic
and unjust death of the princess. A wild storm of lightening
and thunder ensued, and in a fearful frenzy, the Ottawa
brave leapt to his own death into the lake. The storm continued,
with crash after crash of violent thunder and flash after
flash of bright lightening, and the tribes knew that the
Great Spirit was mightily offended. For generations after,
the tribes feared any journey that took them across the
Bay of Thunder.
--Ottawa folk tale
Introduction
The violence of the storms that plagued Thunder Bay may be
rooted in Native American legend, but the storms were an unpleasant
and deadly reality to hundreds of unfortunate 19th century
American vessels crossing the Great Lakes en route to the
new countrys western lands. The Great Lakes had become
an important passageway and trade route in an area where roads
were few and land transportation was slow and difficult.
![New Orleans vessel](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916023022im_/http://mpa.gov/images/helpful_resources/what_is/neworleans.jpg) |
Thunder
Bay is the final resting place for more than 100 19th
century American vessels, such as the New
Orleans, which was built in 1885 by Morley and Hill
at Marine City, MI. It primarily shipped bulk freight
items, such as coal.
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Thunder Bay, Mich., lies off the coast of
Alpena, Mich., in Lake Huron. Mariners knew they could find
shelter from gales in the bay. But strong unexpected stormswhite
squallsoften prevented a ship from crossing the
bay mouth. Thunder Bay Island, a small island just outside
the north end of the bay, also added to the mariners
troubles. When vessels tried to navigate Lake Hurons
sudden storms and thick fog on their way to the lumber port
of Alpena, they often failed to clear the small island. After
so many shipwrecks, the area earned the nickname Shipwreck
Alley. In fact, more than 100 wrecks have been discovered
in the area, and many others are thought to rest in the area
still undiscovered (NMS, 2001).
Thunder Bay is the resting place for an unusual number of
steel propellers, especially those from a critical period
in American history when vessel design was changing rapidly
(c. 1880-1920). Shipwrecked vessels represent all major trades
that were the backbone of Great Lakes commerce, including
wood products, grain, iron ore, coal, and passenger and package
freight.
With such historical significance, the area may soon be added
to the National Register of Historic Places, a designation
that affords even greater protection (NOAA,
1999). In fact, a study exploring this possibility concluded
that the site could shed light on the various phases of American
maritime history and vessel use between 1840 and 1970. It
might also hold secrets to understanding westward expansion
via the Great Lakes, phases of American industrialization
and other topics (Martin, 1996). One
sunken vessel, the Isaac M Scott, could be used to
study the Great Storm of 1913a catastrophic event that
destroyed the ship and led to regional, national and international
repercussions (Martin, 1996).
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Genesis of the Thunder
Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Alpena residents, including the Thunder Bay Diving Club and
several civic organizations, began to lobby for state protection
of the Thunder Bay shipwrecks in the early 1970s. Their efforts
led to the establishment of the Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve
in 1981, the first underwater preserve in the state of Michigan.
In 1983, a group of conservation-minded Alpena residents proposed
to NOAA that Thunder Bay be designated as a national marine
sanctuary. After eight years on the site evaluation list,
the site was designated as an active candidate for national
marine sanctuary protection in 1991, citing its important
cultural significance (GLERL, 2001).
![aerial view of Alpena in 1880](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916023022im_/http://mpa.gov/images/helpful_resources/what_is/alpenaaerialview.jpg) |
A bird's-eye view of
the City of Alpena in 1880. Lumber docks are to the left
of
the mouth of the Thunder Bay River and log booms are to
the right of the river. (Source: Great Lakes Environmental
Research Laboratory) |
In October 1991, NOAA held public meetings
in Alpena and Lansing, Mich., to gauge public opinion about
Thunder Bay and to learn more about the bays resources,
activities and associated management issues. For the next
three years, NOAA met with local, state, federal and tribal
agencies, organizations, and businesses to discuss the scope
and feasibility of a Thunder Bay sanctuary (GLERL,
2001).
In 1994, a Thunder Bay core group composed of representatives
from local, state, federal and tribal agencies was formed.
Within a year, the core group narrowed the scope of the preserve
management focus to include only underwater cultural resources
(e.g., shipwrecks), thus excluding the management of natural
resources, which were already being managed by authorized
agencies and existing laws. In June 1997, the core group published
a draft environmental impact statement and draft management
plan (EIS/MP). Later that year, the Sanctuary Advisory Council,
composed of members from the community, the state and NOAA,
was established to advise NOAA and the governor of Michigan
during the sanctuary designation process (GLERL,
2001).
Meanwhile, the local citizens expressed their frustration
with the process. In November 1997, Alpena residents voted
against the proposed sanctuary in a nonbinding referendum
(1,770 to 776). Despite the defeat, NOAA decided to continue
the sanctuary designation process because the agency believed
Thunder Bay was a unique cultural resource and deserved protection
(GLERL, 2001). The agency vowed to address
local and state concerns, which centered on the fear that
the federal government would preempt local authority and restrict
use of the Bay. Michigan Gov. John Engler encouraged NOAA
to continue with the project provided the agency appropriately
protect state and local rights (GLERL, 2001).
NOAA completed a final EIS/MP in June 1999. Michigan, however,
published its own planthe Michigan Optiontwo
months later. The state plan stressed the need for a state
and federal partnership to manage the sanctuary jointly and
emphasized recreational uses of the site (Brody,
2001). Less than a year later, NOAA and the state of Michigan
reached an agreement on the management of the sanctuary, and
on Oct. 7, 2000, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
and Underwater Preserve became the 13th national marine sanctuary
(GLERL, 2001).
![diver investigating the Monhansett](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916023022im_/http://mpa.gov/images/helpful_resources/what_is/diver.jpg) |
Dr. Jay Martin, director
of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, takes notes while investigating
machinery on the wreck of the Monohansett, a steamer
that sank in Thunder Bay in 1907. (Source: Great Lakes
Environmental Research Laboratory) |
The agreement created a joint management committee
with representatives from both NOAA and the state of Michigan
to ensure equal state and federal participation in the management
of the sanctuary. NOAA also agreed to reduce the size of the
proposed sanctuary from 808 square miles to 448 square miles.
Finally, Michigan agreed to commit $1 million for management
of the sanctuary over the course of five years (GLERL,
2001).
NOAA and Michigan also agreed to revisit the management plan
in 2005, when both parties will determine the extent to which
the management plan and the partnership have been successful.
NOAA will repropose a plan that reflects any outstanding mutual
concerns. NOAA also agreed to obtain approval from the governor
before changing the scope of sanctuary management, promulgating
any regulations or establishing any user fees (GLERL,
2001).
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Managing Thunder
Bay
The management plan establishes numerous goals for the management
of and educational and research uses of the newly designated
sanctuary. In addition to establishing partnerships and coordinating
activities with local agencies and organizations, NOAA plans
to implement an enforcement program with the help of local
authorities (NOAA, 1999).
Activities that may damage the cultural resources are prohibited
in the sanctuary. For instance, any activities that involve
the recovery, alteration or destruction of any of the shipwrecks
are prohibited. In addition, drilling or dredging of the lake
bottom within the sanctuary is prohibited, and the use of
grappling hooks or anchors in areas that could damage the
shipwrecks is not permitted. Any activities involving the
use of natural resources, however, are not affected. For instance,
visitors can still fish, boat and dive within the sanctuary,
and user fees are not imposed (NOAA, 1999).
NOAA and its partners also plan to establish the sanctuary
as an educational resource and research center. They plan
to establish a Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena to promote
awareness of underwater cultural resources, act as a clearinghouse
for educational materials and encourage volunteer involvement.
Other plans include developing a Thunder Bay Shipwreck
Trail and installing underwater video hookups for nondivers
to view the wrecks from shore (NOAA, 1999).
NOAA is in the process of mapping the shipwrecks and conducting
a detailed archeological study of one wreck, the New Orleans
(Brody, 2001). By promoting more research
activities, NOAA hopes to inventory all of the Bays
underwater cultural resources, determine their intrinsic and
monetary value, and ensure their protection from existing
and potential threats (NOAA, 1999).
![steamer of the Monohansett](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916023022im_/http://mpa.gov/images/helpful_resources/what_is/mongears.jpg) |
Machinery on the wreck
of the steamer Monohansett, which sank in Thunder
Bay in 1907. The wreck is now a popular site for scuba
divers. (Source: Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory) |
References
Brody, E., Acting Sanctuary Manager.
2001. Personal Communication.
Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
2001. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater
Preserve Web site. www.glerl.noaa.gov/glsr/thunderbay.
Martin, J. 1996. Preliminary comparative
and theme study of national historic landmark potential for
Thunder Bay, Michigan. Lansing, MI: Great Lakes Visual/Research
Inc.
National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS). 2001.
The National Marine Sanctuary Programs Web site. www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). 1999. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: A Federal/State
Partnership for the Management of Underwater Cultural Resources.
Final Environmental Impact Statement/Management Plan. Office
of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
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