Copper Harbor, MI, recently hosted the Upper Peninsula's first Lake Superior Day celebration as reported by the Mining Gazette.
Marcel Dijkstra, a Ph.D. candidate in environmental engineering working with Dr. Marty Auer, one of the Great Lakes Commons allies with Michigan Technological University, was invited to speak at the event. Here is an excerpt on his address:
Dijkstra said he's working on ecosystem models of environmental challenges to Lake Superior, including invasive species, such as Asian carp, and the effects of excess nutrients entering the lake.
"Lake Superior is common," he said. "It's owned by us all. It's not a commodity."
Addressing some of the approximately 200 people attending the event, Dijkstra said he's encountered some people from out of the area who behaved in ways detrimental to the lake, and he thinks people who live here have an obligation to inform others who may be involved in such activity.
"It's all our job to reach out to people who don't have a beautiful lake in their back yard," he said. "This is a really important part of our job as stewards."