Grand Valley Teams Up With Lake Express For 'Lakers on Lake Michigan'
MUSKEGON -- Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute will team up with the Lake Express high-speed ferry service for "Lakers on Lake Michigan," an open house that will include special Lake Michigan excursions.
The event will be hosted by Lake Express at its Muskegon terminal, 1918 Lakeshore Drive, Muskegon, on May 5.
The event will highlight how AWRI and the Lake Express promote West Michigan's "Blue Water Economy" -- a term used to describe businesses and initiatives in the greater Muskegon area that involve water resources.
Scientists from AWRI will be on hand to explain current Great Lakes research projects and important issues facing Lake Michigan.
The Lake Express ferry will also offer two special one-hour excursions into Lake Michigan. Reserved tickets for the special trips are available, and can be purchased online at www.lake-express.com/events. Tours of the ferry will be available for a suggested $2 donation. Louie the Laker, Grand Valley's mascot, will be on hand and children can take part in free face painting. Food will be available for purchase at the terminal.
Timeline of events:
10 to 11 a.m.: Open house in terminal, tours of Lake Express
11 a.m. to noon: Ticketed excursion on Lake Express
12:30 to 2 p.m.: Open house in terminal
1 to 1:30 p.m.: Tours of Lake Express
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Ticketed excursion on Lake Express
The Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute is a multidisciplinary research organization within Grand Valley's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. By integrating research, education, and outreach, AWRI strives to enhance and preserve freshwater resources.
Recent AWRI projects incude installation of a Muskegon Lake buoy, providing real-time data on the water qdsuality conditions of Muskegon Lake (www.gvsu.edu/wri/buoy); monitoring the ecological success of the Muskegon Lake shoreline restoration project; identifying ways to improve reproductive success of lake sturgeon in the Muskegon River Watershed; conducting research to determine appropriate restoration actions for cleaning up toxic sediments in Muskegon Lake and its tributaries; development of watershed management plans through west Michigan; exposing more than 140,000 passengers to hands-on learning experiences on two research vessels: W.G. Jackson and D.J. Angus; and helping refine the Hydraid Biosand Water Filter to provide potable water in developing countries.
For more information, visit www.gvsu.edu/wri or contact Alan Steinman, AWRI director, (616) 331-3749.
