Jeff Koch, a staff member with the Superior Watershed Partnership, deploys a buoy in Lake Superior near Marquette. That buoy and others deployed near Munising and Grand Marais will collect valuable scientific information. (Photo courtesy of the SWP)

MARQUETTE — Three climate-monitoring and maritime-safety buoys have been deployed from the south shore of Lake Superior, the Superior Watershed Partnership announced.

In 2021, the SWP, based in Marquette, received $47,786.80 in grant funding through the Great Lakes Observing System to purchase and deploy three monitoring buoys. This year, buoys were deployed at Marquette, Munising and Grand Marias.

The Marquette buoy was placed northeast of Black Rocks with boat support provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. SWP staff deployed the Munising and Grand Marais buoys with boat support provided by Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Each of the three monitoring buoys collects important navigation and climate planning data, including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, the SWP said. The live data provided by these buoys is critical for commercial and recreational boaters as well as the National Weather Service, Environment Canada, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In addition, the SWP uses buoy data for long-term climate adaptation planning with coastal communities in the Upper Peninsula.

SWP is a Great Lakes nonprofit organization focusing on environmental conservation, habitat restoration and community climate adaptation throughout the Upper Peninsula; visit www.superiorwatersheds.org for more information.

Live buoy data can be accessed at: https://seagull.glos.org/landing.