Great Lakes Total Eclipse 2024

2024 solar eclipse | Credit: NASA Keegan Barber

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse moved across North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. During the event, the moon’s shadow moved across the region from the southwest toward the northeast.

In the Great Lakes region, the eclipse path of totality included parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Southern Ontario.

The eclipse continued through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse exited continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

Some of the most popular locations for viewing the 2024 total solar eclipse were located along the southern shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

The eclipse drew large crowds of enthusiasts to the region. Cities such as Toledo, Cleveland, Erie, and Buffalo were in the prime viewing area. Festivals and special events were held in almost every city.

Total Eclipse Fest 2024 was held at Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. The Science Center and its partners NASA’s Glenn Research Center and The Cleveland Orchestra partnered in a three day celebration.

Eclipse enthusiasts also watched the event at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and other public spaces.

Near Buffalo New York, crowds gathered at Buffalo Harbor State Park, Niagara Falls State Park, Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State College, Explore & More Children’s Museum, Niagara Falls USA, Buffalo Audubon Society – Beaver Meadow Nature Center, Knox Farm State Park, Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, and other locations.

In the Lake Ontario area, the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) hosted a three day ROC the Eclipse at the RMSC event.

Other areas for viewing the eclipse near Rochester included Parcel 5 in Downtown Rochester, Ontario Beach Park (along Lake Ontario), Cobbs Hill Park (closed to cars), Highland Park, Genesee Valley Park, High Falls, Durand Eastman Park, Mendon Ponds Park, Webster Park, Perinton Town Park, Hamlin Beach State Park, Black Creek Park, Churchville Park, Greece Canal Park, and Northampton Park.

Information about viewing solar eclipses safely is available from NASA and other numerous online resources.

Lake Erie - Saginaw Bay Water Quality Projects

Saginaw Bay - Lake Michigan
Credit: NPS

Water quality in the western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay watersheds is getting a major boost: a $4 million initiative aimed at advancing wetland restoration and reducing harmful algal blooms in the two regions.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) are partnering on the project, through the Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay Wetland Conservation Program (WCP) with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

DU will administer the ARPA and WCP funds and is already looking for local municipalities and private landowners interested in taking action to restore wetlands on their property.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also are partnering on this project.

In the Great Lakes, harmful algal blooms have become a frequent problem. HABs are caused by increased levels of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from fertilizer, wastewater, and stormwater runoff that then infiltrate waterways.

Such blooms occur in western Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay every year. HABs can contain toxins that are poisonous to wildlife, pets and people. They cause areas known as "dead zones" that have little or no oxygen, which can result in massive fish die-offs.

Blooms can also close water to swimming, fishing, boating and other water-based recreation, and make drinking water unsafe for human consumption.

A toxic bloom once caused a water supply plant in Toledo, Ohio, to shut down because it was being overwhelmed by the amount of algae. Saginaw Bay runs the same risk with its water supply infrastructure.

Healthy wetlands will help reduce excess nutrient levels in the water, which is key. They absorb carbon and nutrients and function much like sponges, absorbing and storing water during heavy rainfall and releasing it during drier seasons.

The $4 million program is part of the DNR’s larger Michigan Legislature-allocated $10 million ARPA grant (in 2021) for wetlands to improve water quality.

The DNR and DU will use the additional $6 million of ARPA funds to support the advancement of several wetland projects that are already underway or in the planning stages, such as those at Crow Island State Game Area in the Saginaw Bay watershed and a water quality-focused wetland project in the Lake Erie watershed.

The goal for these wetlands is to reduce phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment entering the waters of Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay.

source: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Lake Carriers Annual Maintenance 2024

MV John J. Boland enters the Poe Lock from Lake Superior Nov. 28, 2024 | credit USACE

The annual process of maintaining U.S.-flagged fleet of lake carriers on the Great Lakes began in mid-January after the navigational locks connecting Lake Superior to the lower lakes closed for repairs.

U.S. companies will invest more than $120 million into their vessels bringing skilled labor to shipyards and repair facilities around the Great Lakes states.

Wisconsin will lead investments with $55 million followed by Ohio with $39 million, Pennsylvania at $19 million, and $7 million in Michigan.

During winter maintenance, engineers carefully inspect each vessel and execute any needed repairs while also upgrading systems and crew quarters.

Major investments have been made to improve habitability onboard the vessels including wireless communications.

Some ships will be re-fitted with state-of-the-art electronics including navigational computers and propulsion control systems.

Hull plating will be replaced with steel made from iron ore that was shipped by the vessels to steel mills during the season.

This winter, milder than normal winter conditions across the Great Lakes region have allowed crews to work with less interruptions.

The Philip R. Clarke was the last ship through the Soo Locks for the 2023-2024 Great Lakes navigation season. Located in Sault Ste Marie, MI, the Soo Locks will reopen on Monday, March 25, 2024.

During a 10-week off season, lock workers conduct preventative maintenance, replace worn components and inspect the locks.

When a lock is dewatered, it sometimes becomes a dry dock for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessels allowing their hulls to be inspected and repaired.

sources: Lake Carriers’ Association, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District

Related Information

The Great Lakes 2024

Icebreaking Season

Icebreaking Season

USCG Cutter Morro Bay | credit: USCG

Each winter, crews from the USA and Canada work jointly to perform icebreaking, marine traffic assistance, search and rescue, and other tasks on the Great Lakes.

The U.S Coast Guard (USCG) is the agency responsible for conducting icebreaking operations to assist commercial vessel traffic in the Great Lakes and other connecting waterways of the United States.

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is the agency responsible forice breaking on Canadian waters of the Great Lakes and connecting waters.

Operation Taconite is the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest domestic ice-breaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, the St. Mary’s River, the Straits of Mackinac, and Lake Michigan.

Operation Coal Shovel includes icebreaking operations in the southern part of Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair and Detroit River systems, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

Traditionally, icebreaking season begins in December to January and winds down in March. Leading up to and during the spring thaw, considerable effort involves clearing channels and ice dam mitigation.

Prior to unstable ice conditions, public safety officials usually remind outdoor enthusiasts to  remove ice fishing shanties and refrain from venturing onto remaining ice.

Some of the harshest ice conditions ever recorded in the Great Lakes occurred during the winter of 2013-2014. At one point during March 2014, 92.5 percent of the Great Lakes were covered by ice; the highest percentage of ice coverage seen since 1979.

Related Information

Historical Icebreaking Photos