Oswego Rotarians Learn about the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary

OSWEGO – On March 31 the Oswego Rotary Club hosted a program on the Great Lakes focusing primarily on Lake Ontario and the new Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Presenting were Prof. Lisa Glidden, Director of SUNY Oswego’s Great Lakes Institute and Bryan Santiago, a senior history major at SUNY Oswego. The Institute’s purpose is to advance the understanding, stewardship and sustainable management of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Prof. Glidden spoke on the politics involved in addressing the issues facing the Great Lakes and how they have been and are being addressed. This requires cooperation among the US, Canada and Native Americans. These include managing the Great Lakes Waterway, addressing competing interests concerning water levels and dealing with invasive species such as Zebra Mussels and Sea Lamprey.

The Great Lakes Institute facilitates interdisciplinary research across different fields of study. Bryan Santiago addressed the history of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. It was designated in 2024 and is the 16^th national marine sanctuary. It encompasses 1,722 square miles and borders 4 counties. Bryan also talked about the shipwrecks within the sanctuary. One of the emphases of the Great Lakes Institute is to encourage and facilitate exploration of the wrecks and promote responsible diving which protects both the safety of the divers and the integrity of these historic sites.

For more information the Institute can be contacted at [email protected].C

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