The June 5 announcement of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary –- adjacent to Oswego, Jefferson, Cayuga and Wayne counties –- as just the 16th federal sanctuary of its kind – brought celebration from those working toward this designation, and will bring additional opportunities, including for students, to the SUNY Oswego campus.
“It’s a really exciting development,” said Lisa Glidden, director of SUNY Oswego’s Great Lakes Institute, as well as a political science faculty member. The designation supports a lot of campus goals and can serve as a win-win for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which announced the sanctuary’s approval. Glidden said talks began with NOAA while the plans were still under review.
As the only higher education institution in New York state on the shores of Lake Ontario, and with a lot of existing research related to this crucial body of water, SUNY Oswego is uniquely positioned as a partner going forward. The university's previous Grand Challenges: Fresh Water for All campuswide project explored this relationship in many ways that can help lay the foundation for future projects.
“NOAA is going to need local offices, the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is going to need space locally, and SUNY Oswego is an attractive option given our resources,” Glidden said. “They will have opportunities for hiring students and offering student internships. We are happy to support any needs they might have for space, conferences and expertise.”
An increased interest in and focus on the many shipwrecks in this region of Lake Ontario could dovetail with academic opportunities as well. Glidden would love to see offerings supporting the study of marine archeology or related underwater technology since some of the shipwrecks are located too deep for human divers. “It’s a very broad opportunity,” she said.
“There will also be other scholars and researchers coming to the area to do work, which can increase our opportunities for collaboration,” Glidden said. “We should see more student opportunities with it.”
The Sanctuary Advisory Council members that supported the application and collective vision for the sanctuary spanned governments, education and agencies -- and included Dean of Graduate Studies Kristen Eichhorn.
It also underscores the importance of working with valued communities partners for progress, she said.
"From our 50-year relationship with New York Sea Grant to our more recent leadership with the Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee, SUNY Oswego's reputation and ability to build strategic partnerships will be pivotal in conversations going forward," Eichhorn said.
Historic designation
The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is a 1,722-square-mile area in eastern Lake Ontario that celebrates the region’s maritime cultural history and provides new opportunities for research, education, recreation and maritime heritage-related tourism in local coastal communities and the broader Great Lakes region.
In a news release, NOAA noted that the sanctuary designation advances President Joe Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative, which supports locally-led collaborative conservation efforts across the country for the benefit of all Americans and sets a national goal of protecting, conserving or restoring at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. With more than 41 million acres already conserved, President Biden is on track to conserve more lands and waters than any president in history.
“The designation of this sanctuary is a milestone for NOAA, New York and the nation,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad –- a native New Yorker who shared his enthusiasm in making the announcement for the first such sanctuary in the Empire State. “Establishing a national marine sanctuary in the cold, fresh waters of eastern Lake Ontario opens the door to world-class research and education initiatives, and provides opportunities to support and enhance tourism and the local economy within one of the most historically significant regions in the Great Lakes.”
Eastern Lake Ontario’s waters and coast tell the story of America’s diverse history and heritage, from early indigenous settlements to today. The area includes transportation and trade routes for indigenous peoples and early European explorers, and locations of military conflicts and maritime innovation. Eastern Lake Ontario supported the growth of the young American republic and the nation’s industrial core, including the Port of Oswego through which many of the materials and goods that fueled 19th-century America's growth traveled.
There are many nationally significant shipwrecks located in Lake Ontario and at least one known aircraft. The historical record indicates that more than 40 shipwrecks and two historic aircraft are also likely within its boundaries. Of those known shipwrecks, the St. Peter is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the David W. Mills is New York State’s only Submerged Cultural Preserve and Dive Site in its Great Lakes.
NOAA will use its expertise to further locate, research and monitor these and other maritime cultural resources. NOAA will also focus on education and outreach through partnerships with indigenous governments, local partners and institutions.
Team effort
In January 2017, the adjacent counties and the City of Oswego, with support from the governor of New York, submitted a sanctuary nomination for the area to NOAA. A diverse group of governments and non-governmental organizations, including the Onondaga Nation, regional and local units of government historical societies, museums, recreation, conservation, tourism and education groups, endorsed the nomination.
The local steering committee celebrated the milestone, given its vast potential. “This designation marks an incredible achievement for Oswego County and its partners –- one that will benefit all of our Lake Ontario communities through economic development and heritage preservation as well as increased tourism and educational opportunities,” said Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup. “I am proud to accept this designation and look forward to the successful impacts it will have on our region.”
“The designation of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is important, not only for its heritage but for the cooperative effort that led us here,” said Oswego County Administrator Philip Church, chair of the sanctuary nomination task force and a longtime advocate for this designation. “It represents 10 years of tireless work by NOAA and state staff, public officials and civic organizations and dedicated private citizens who volunteered countless hours to help bring this designation to fruition.”
“The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is one of the most historically significant regions in the Great Lakes and North America,” said William Christ, chairman of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Committee. “This designation enhances the rich nautical history of Eastern Lake Ontario and brings much-deserved worldwide recognition to our area.”
The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is designed to enhance public access and activities on the lake. There are no new restrictions on sportfishing, scuba diving, boating, water quality, commercial shipping or dredging.
NOAA and the State of New York will co-manage the sanctuary, the third designated in the Great Lakes. The designation will take effect following 45 days of continuous session of the U.S. Congress after publication of final documents in the Federal Register.
NOAA and its local and state partners will host a community celebration for the new sanctuary at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. The event will take place at William S. Cahill Pier, 39 Lake St. in Oswego. Visit the sanctuary's website during the coming months for more information about the event.