Beach season means it’s time for lifesaving Lake Michigan water safety resources

Posted May 22nd, 2025 in Featured, Recreation & Tourism, Resources, Uncategorized, Video
Chicago Beach

Although Lake Michigan attracts over 20 million recreational visitors each year, it is also deceptively dangerous. Its massive size and unique orientation allow wind and waves to build quickly, creating powerful rip currents, structural currents near piers and longshore currents. 

On top of the dangerous currents, rapidly shifting weather, deep drop-offs and uneven lakebeds make the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan the most dangerous stretch of water in the Great Lakes when it comes to drownings.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is encouraging beachgoers, boaters, and anglers to be aware of the unique hazards of Lake Michigan, and to use the many tools available through IISG.

“Lake Michigan can be fun to play in, but every visitor still needs to remain alert to changing environmental conditions such as winds and storms,” said Leslie Dorworth, aquatic ecology specialist at IISG.

To help people stay safe, IISG brought together a coalition of local, state, and federal agencies—plus community leaders and volunteers—to form the Southern Lake Michigan Water Safety Task Force.

The task force launched the Lake Michigan Water Safety site, which offers a wide array of resources, including boating and fishing guidelines, brochures for warm- and cold-weather conditions, printable safety posters, fact sheets, beach signage and even an interactive water safety knowledge quiz.

“Some of our most helpful materials are the condition-specific brochures, our boating safety resources and the signage developed in collaboration with the National Weather Service,” said Dorworth. “And the videos are a great way to quickly get familiar with key safety tips.”

A great place to start is with the Lake Michigan water safety video for a quick overview of what to watch for before heading out on the water.

This Water Safety Month, IISG encourages all lake visitors to take a few moments to learn about the conditions unique to Lake Michigan and explore the tools available to help prevent accidents. Stay aware, stay informed and stay safe!

 

IISG Instagram

Some partnerships just make sense. Happy Valentine’s Day from IISG! 💕

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Some partnerships just make sense. Happy Valentine’s Day from IISG! 💕

This February marks a major milestone: 30 years of aquatic invasive species outreach by our team! To celebrate, IISG Director, Stuart Carlton, and Strategic Communication Coordinator, Renie Miles, sat down for a Sea Grant Chat with two key figures in IISG’s AIS history: Pat Charlebois, our assistant director and program leader, who spent over two decades leading our prevention efforts, and Katie O’Reilly, who took over that role in 2022. We discussed the evolution of the invasive species issue in the Great Lakes, the shift toward understanding human behavior, and the creative strategies that make this team so effective.

Dive into the full interview at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18053780390453750
This February marks a major milestone: 30 years of aquatic invasive species outreach by our team! To celebrate, IISG Director, Stuart Carlton, and Strategic Communication Coordinator, Renie Miles, sat down for a Sea Grant Chat with two key figures in IISG’s AIS history: Pat Charlebois, our assistant director and program leader, who spent over two decades leading our prevention efforts, and Katie O’Reilly, who took over that role in 2022. We discussed the evolution of the invasive species issue in the Great Lakes, the shift toward understanding human behavior, and the creative strategies that make this team so effective. Dive into the full interview at the link in bio.

Introducing the Lake Michigan Explorer!
Start exploring the varied factors that impact the Great Lakes with our Explorer Series. This searchable database of external resources can help you find hands-on activities that spark curiosity and inspire action.

✨ What’s inside?
Lesson plans, fact sheets, and reading materials
Engaging videos and visualizations
Easy-to-use filters by grade level, topic, and time.
Perfect for classrooms and informal learning, this resource empowers students to become stewards of the Great Lakes.

🔗 in bio for more.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17993556791875462
Introducing the Lake Michigan Explorer! Start exploring the varied factors that impact the Great Lakes with our Explorer Series. This searchable database of external resources can help you find hands-on activities that spark curiosity and inspire action. ✨ What’s inside?Lesson plans, fact sheets, and reading materialsEngaging videos and visualizationsEasy-to-use filters by grade level, topic, and time.Perfect for classrooms and informal learning, this resource empowers students to become stewards of the Great Lakes.🔗 in bio for more.