Michigan City buoy offline for repairs

Posted August 21st, 2020 in Buoys, Featured, News
damaged yellow buoy floating in the waters of Lake Michigan

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s oldest Lake Michigan real-time monitoring buoy was badly damaged in August 2020. The buoy—which is moored 3.5 miles off Michigan City, Indiana, in about 64 feet of water—lost multiple solar panels as well as wind, air temperature and barometric pressure sensors, and suffered a broken mast.

“We knew something was wrong because the data weren’t transmitting correctly, but when we got there we couldn’t believe it”, said Jay Beugly, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquatic ecology specialist and chief buoy wrangler. “We’re very disappointed because lots of people rely on that buoy’s data.”

Well-wishers were quick to reach out via email and @TwoYellowBuoys on Twitter, with meteorologists, engineers, boaters and lake lovers sending support. “It’s always great to hear from people,” Beugly shared, “but most don’t know that we don’t have a huge budget to deploy these buoys each year. Buoy support isn’t mandated by our organization the way it is for other sections of NOAA—it’s just a service that we really like to provide to help with water safety in southern Lake Michigan.”

The Michigan City buoy has been deployed annually since 2012. In a typical year, the buoy requires minor upgrades to improve data transmission or minimal repairs to sensors and internal power systems. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant works with the Purdue University Lyles School of Civil Engineering to ensure the buoy can consistently relay data from the lake, and relies on a supporting network of partners including LimnoTech, the National Data Buoy Center, the Coast Guard and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to help keep things running for minimal cost. The damage suffered in August 2020 will be a major blow to the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant real-time buoy program.

“Our real-time buoy program is incredibly popular, and we’re committed to continuing it,” said Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Assistant Director Stuart Carlton. “We accept donations for the buoys via Purdue University, and we hope people consider helping out if they can. We know times are tough for everyone right now, and, regardless, we’ll try to get the buoy back in the lake as soon as possible.”

Instructions for donating can be found at https://iiseagrant.org/buoys/donate/. Questions related to the buoy program can be directed to Jay Beugly (jbeugly@purdue.edu) or iisg@purdue.edu.  

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a part of University of Illinois Extension and Purdue Extension.

 

Writer: Carolyn Foley, cfoley@purdue.edu

Contact: Jay Beugly, jbeugly@purdue.edu

IISG Instagram

Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.

Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.Full story at the link in bio.

There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!

Learn more & register at the link in bio.

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There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!Learn more & register at the link in bio.

🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists!
We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.

They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17925527007208099
🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists! We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.Full story at the link in bio.