NEMWI To Host Event on

Great Lakes Marine Sanctuaries

The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will co-host a Congressional briefing on Great Lakes marine sanctuaries on Wednesday, December 17th, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2168. The briefing is a session of NEMWI’s Great Lakes Primer and Orientation Program, sponsored by the Erb Family Foundation.

Join us for a deep dive into the chilling mysteries of the Great Lakes with virtual reality headsets, 3-D shipwreck models, and *Erie* storytelling!

Covering about 10,000 miles of coastline, America’s Great Lakes serve as gateways for trade and tourism, centers for biodiversity and science innovation, and underwater museums for national maritime heritage. Only about 15% of these lakebeds are mapped to modern standards, leaving huge gaps in the data needed to create updated nautical charts, discover untold stories and shipwrecks, and manage the region’s extraordinary natural and cultural resources. The recent designations of national marine sanctuaries in the Great Lakes have led to intensive mapping efforts and new discoveries by NOAA and its commercial, academic, and federal partners.

The answers to many maritime mysteries lie in the depths of these largely unexplored waters, preserving evidence and glimpses into the past, for those who dare to discover. The briefing will focus on the network of America’s premier marine places in the Great Lakes and the new discoveries, innovative technologies, and immersive experiences benefiting their communities.



Light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP to Diane Dotson at ddotson@marinesanctuary.org.

SS Edmund Fitzgerald Sinking Commemorated with Proposed Senate Resolution 

Great Lakes Task Force Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Todd Young (R-IN) cosponsored a resolution in the Senate last week on Monday, November 10, honoring the 50th anniversary of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinking.  

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a devastating storm on November 10, 1975. The storm, referred to in the resolution as “the storm of the century,” remains one of the deadliest in Great Lakes history, claiming the lives of all 29 crew members. 

Senator Young emphasized the importance of this resolution, saying in a press release, “Fifty years ago, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in the Great Lakes, tragically ending the lives of all onboard. Our resolution honors those who were tragically lost and reaffirms our commitment to the safety of America’s maritime workforce.” 

The resolution also expresses support to families, commends Coast Guard efforts, and reaffirms the Senate’s commitment to safe shipping on the Great Lakes.  

The resolution can be found here. 

Reported by NEMWI Intern Jayden Lawrence, North Central College 

Connect With the Northeast-Midwest Institute

on Social Media

The Northeast-Midwest Institute is on social media with new updates and information on its regional research and policy education program and with announcements for upcoming briefings and events. NEMWI is posting our research reports on current regional issues and ongoing policy education on the page to make keeping up with our policy work easier than ever. The Institute also is updating the page with announcements of upcoming policy briefings and webinars. NEMWI is excited for the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible. 

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On Bluesky, also check out our Great Lakes feed at "NEMW Great Lakes Feed" and if you are a Great Lakes organization on Bluesky, contact Great Lakes Program Manager Alex Eastman at aeastman@nemw.org so that we can add your posts to the feed!