RE: Using CTA busses for underwater fish habitats

Leeann,

Thanks for your inquiry. If the proposal were for the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan (and I realize it isn't) a license would be required from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, under IC 14-29-1 and 312 IAC 6-8. Stated in overly simplified terms, the agency would evaluate whether the busses would likely result in either navigation hazards or environmental harm.

Two of the professionals within the Division of Water have offered their very informal perspectives on the proposal. James Hebenstreit, Assistant Director, expressed concerns over whether chemical contaminants would be effectively removed. He noted if they were promoted as fish attractors there would presumably be a need to communicate their location to the public. If they need to be marked, that might create new challenges for Conservation Officers or others who patrol Lake Michigan.

Steve Davis, DNR's shoreline dynamics professional, expressed reservations about their influence on and from wave action. He continued. "Here are some more obvious issues...: The busses should be well out of navigation channels. If they are going to put them in the open lake--dynamically, they need to take into consideration severe winter storm wave conditions. Dynamically, a bus would present a 'large surface area' to the forces of waves and currents (kind of like a sail)--but are designed to be 'light in weight' for better fuel economy on the road-so they (the busses) should be weighted down and put someplace (deep enough water maybe, or maybe in a protected area behind a breakwater) where large waves and strong currents won't roll them around and destroy them. Another thing to consider in the open lake: Low lake levels (like we have now) cause 'large storm waves' to first touch the lake bottom a farther distance offshore than during times of higher lake levels. The location of 'strong lake bottom currents' can also shift offshore during low lake levels. Maybe the busses could be fastened (chained) together if they are in a highly dynamic wave and current area to prevent them from being scattered on the lake bottom-if the busses do start to move around and adjust themselves to the dynamic conditions in their area. They could put them in an area with 'not a lot of sand' so they won't be buried completely by sand when the bsses change the wave and current patterns in the area. Sand tends to accumulate in 'low energy areas' when objects disrupt (slow down) currents, or reflect wave energy creating low energy zones on the lake bottom."

Hope this information helps.

Steve Lucas

-----Original Message-----
From: Tomas, Leeann [mailto:leeann.tomas@chicagoparkdistrict.com]
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 1:42 PM
To: beachnet@great-lakes.net
Subject: Using CTA busses for underwater fish habitats