Vandals strike at Seul Choix Point Lighthouse
An Upper Peninsula lighthouse on Lake Michigan was vandalized this past week, members of the Gulliver Historical Society said in a Facebook post.
On Saturday, the group posted several photos on Facebook showing spray- painted words on signs and buildings at the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse historic site, which also remains an active light on the northern shore of Lake Michigan.
“Defacing a historical building does nothing for your cause,” the group said in one post. “Now we have to use more money that is all donation based to fix the mess. Please care about history more than this. Also…we have cameras. Have a great day!”
The group shared photos of the words “BLACK LIVES MATTER” spayed in pink paint onto the side of a brick auxiliary building.
In addition, a sign at the road was painted with wavy lights, symbols and the words “love,” and “wake up.”
Most Great Lakes face below-normal water levels
after reaching lows not seen in over a decade
Water levels on most of the Great Lakes are below their long-term average for this time of year as they’ve fallen to levels not seen in more than a decade.
Lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior and Ontario are about 4 to 6 inches below the long-term average as of Friday. Lake Erie is the only lake that remains above normal, but it could fall below average later this summer.
Keith Kompoltowicz is the chief of hydraulics and hydrology for the Detroit District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He said Lake Superior fell below average last August while Lakes Michigan and Huron have remained below normal since October.
He said the lakes are well below record high levels that occurred between 2019 to 2021. Wisconsin’s shoreline communities spent an estimated $86 million on damages due to flooding, erosion and storms.
“This is really the first time since 2013 or 2014 that we’ve seen levels in the system below average,” Kompoltowicz said.
Water levels on the lakes rose between 2 to 7 inches from last month as they continue their seasonal rise, but levels still remain below normal.
At the end of February, all lakes were below average for the first time since the end of March 2014, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Kompoltowicz said drier than normal conditions in the last two years have meant less rainfall and runoff making its way into the Great Lakes.
Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron saw greater-than-normal declines this winter, which was one of the top 20 driest in Wisconsin. The drop in water levels is leaving behind larger beaches and shallower water in certain areas.
Barry Moreland, owner of Southport Marina in Kenosha, estimated that water levels are down 18 inches to 2 feet. He said because of that drop, they are discouraging racing sailboats with deep keels from coming into the marina.
“Just to be on the safe side, we just tell them if you’re over 7 feet [deep below the water line], just don’t bother coming because we don’t want them to get stuck,” Moreland said.
Wisconsin Public Radio
Video Spotlight: Know Your Ships and its long-time editor
Author and documentarian Wes Oleszewski chats with Know Your Ships book Editor and Publisher Roger LeLievre. Listen here:
Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!
- When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
- Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
- Limit: 100 passengers
- Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
- General Adult Admission:
-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)
-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)
-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)
- Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
- Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
- Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.
This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.
Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).
Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.
If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.
Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.
Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.
