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Shipwreck Dive Sites Map

Katie Kahl - kkahl@tnc.org
 
link DOWNLOAD FILE: Full Map - Version 2

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Shipwrecks dive sites in relation to regional ecological and social values
There are more than 6,000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, with 286 in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). Shipwrecks are considered an irreplaceable cultural resource that provides a historical record for researchers and freshwater recreation for residents in the Great Lakes. Shipwrecks include military, commercial, and private vessels and are managed as a public trust. With the strong support of local diving groups, Ontario, Ohio, and Michigan have passed laws that prevent the removal or damage of shipwrecks and related artifacts in the Great Lakes. Archaeologists and recreational divers value the pristine condition of shipwrecks in the lakes’ fresh, cold waters relative to those found in salt water. Many of the shipwrecks in Lake Erie are located in shallow, easily accessible waters, which increase the appeal of these sites for divers. Divers drawn to Lake Erie often rent gear, take charter boats to wreck sites, and pay for food and lodging during their trip, which contributes to the WLEB tourism revenue; in 2011, the Lake Erie coastal and island tourism industry as a whole brought $1.6 billion to Ohio alone. A survey of natural resource professionals in the WLEB found that recreation and tourism is the most highly valued service provided by Lake Erie.  Shipwrecks have been included in the analysis in recognition of their recreational and historic importance, and their corresponding economic value to the region.

 

Shipwreck dive sites data layer
This data layer shows shipwreck locations in relation to marinas throughout the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). In the analysis, the shipwrecks included in this layer were valued according to their proximity to marinas, with the assumption that wrecks closest to marinas will have the greatest value to local economies. The shipwreck data layer was obtained from the Great Lakes Historical Society, which compiled the data layer from multiple literature sources (received . The marinas layer was compiled by the Great Lakes Environmental Assessment and Mapping Project (GLEAM) and used for the valuation of individual shipwrecks.

 

 

 

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