Wilson Monitoring and Cleanup Project
This Project has been Canceled
Please join us for the 8th annual event. We will be counting Zebra and Quagga Mussels to track the population trends. This year we may be collecting mussel samples for the U of M and DNR for their research labs to study.
In interested, please register for the project by clicking on the "Register Now" button above right.
If you have registered already and have a conflict and have to cancel, please inform the project leader by email or phone so that we can free up the spot for any reserved persons waiting for an opening. The Project Leader's contact information is above.
Itinerary:
This project is mainly for Monitoring the Mussel infestation in the upper Lake Superior Basin. We may also measure deterioration of the wreck, and pick up trash around the site if time allows.
The diving level on this project is level 3. An advanced scuba diving certification will be required on this project. We will be diving to depths up to 75 FFW. This will require a redundant air source such as a pony bottle either strapped to you tank or mounted like a stage bottle. If you don't have one, we will provide a stage tank for you. You will also need to check your Buoyancy Compensator to see if it has D-Rings so that you can accommodate a stage bottle. We will provide Surface Supplied O2 for your safety stop at 15 feet. Divers will be following the NO decompression schedules on this project!
Please Note: Liability Waiver Forms are required for all Participants to print, read and sign before they can work on this project. Please click here: Master Liability and Waiver Forms to print your copy. To speed up the process, please bring the signed form to hand into the project leader. We cannot leave the dock until all forms from participants have been turned in.
If you have any questions about the Wilson Project, please contact Tim Pranke with the contact information below.
Tim Pranke
Wilson Project Leader
dirttrackin2001@yahoo.com
Project Itinerary:
1. 6:30 AM - Wake up call for those staying on boat.
Please Note: All participants need to meet at the dock at Spirit Lake Marina and be loaded by 7:00 AM Saturday
2. Departure time no later than 7:30 AM. All waiver forms need to be turned in at this time. Perform boat safety briefing
3. Cruise down river to harbor and out in the lake 1 mile SSE from the Duluth Harbor Entrance. Hook the Wilson shipwreck.
4. 8:45 - Dive Safety briefing (15 min). Establish dive teams and order. Then brief the teams on their assignments. Set up and drop surface supplied O2 system on accent line (anchor line).
5. 9:00 to 10:00 AM - Commence diving operations. Send first dive team.
6. 10:00 to 11:00 AM - Send second dive team.
7. 11:00 AM Start refilling scuba air tanks for first dive team while recording results of the dive. (Zebra Mussel count).
8. 11:30 AM - Finish filling scuba tanks with air for first team and start second team air filling.
9. 12:00 Noon - Lunch will also be served for first and second dive teams.
10. 12:30 - Start recording results of the second dive team.
11. Long 1 hour surface interval and discuss results of the two dives after recording them. Start briefing on the next tasks that need to be accomplished.
12. 1:30 to 2:30 PM - Send first team on second dive after a short briefing on their new assigned task.
13. 2:30 to 3:30 PM - Send second dive team on second dive of the day after a short briefing on their new assigned task.
14. 3:30 all diving ends for the day and air filling begins for the next days diving. (Air filling will continue as we cruise back to the Marina if wind is favorable).
15. 5:00 PM returning to dock at the Spirit Lake Marina for dinner. (Local dining of the groups choice).
16. 10:00 PM ALL participants need to return to the boat for lights out. (Required sleep for divers and crew).
Sunday Project Itinerary:
1. 6:30 AM - Wake up call.
2. 7:00 AM - Departure from dock / Spirit Lake Marina and start breakfast.
3. 8:00 - 8:30 AM - Dive safety briefing for the day.
4. 9:00 AM - Diving starts after short briefing on what tasks need to be completed for each team.
5. 10:00 AM - First dive team returns then Send second dive team.
6. 10:30 AM - Record first dive teams results.
7. 11:00 AM - Second dive team returns and records results of their dive.
8. 12:00 Noon - Lunch is served. Start filling tanks with air if second dive is required.
9. 1;00 PM - If second dive has been discussed and approved - Start second dive after short briefing on left over tasks that need to be completed.
10: 1:30 - If there is not a second dive to perform, wrap up diving operations and head back to the Marina to unpack and head for home.
11. 2:30-3:30 PM - (If there is a second dive). Send second dive team.
12. 3:30 PM - Diving operations end wrap up and head back to Marina for unloading and debriefing on the project. (This takes place typically on the way back to the Marina).
13. 4:30 return to dock at Spirit Lake Marina.
14. Thank you all that participated in this project. We hope you had fun learning about Zebra Mussel monitoring. Hopefully you will be able to participate in a future GLSPS Project.
Please Note: Watch for the results of our project in the "2016 Projects Report" page coming up soon after the project.
Safe diving,
Tim Pranke
Wilson Project Leader