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Lakebed 2030

Today, only 15% of the lakefloor has been mapped at high-density. 

The Great Lakes have never been mapped in detail. Though many maps of the Great Lakes show the shape and depth of the lake floor, known as bathymetry, they are created using data that is sometimes decades old and low-density.

Modern, high-density data enables an extremely detailed map and is critical for effective management, research, and innovation, particularly under mounting climate change threats and a growing blue economy in the Great Lakes region.

High-density data provides visualization of small objects such as pipelines, cables, shipwrecks, and boulders.

Great Lakes Lakebed 2030
Lakebed 2030 Hex Map
Lakebed 2030 Hex Map
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Understand
Water Health

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Discover
Cultural Sites

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Protect Homes +
Infrastructure

Map of the Great Lakes with differing colored Hexagons to show lake depth
Sept. 17-19, 2024 | Traverse City, MI

Lakebed 2030 Conference

The objective of the Lakebed 2030 conference is to bring together science and research, policy, government, and industry professionals to:

  • Focus on high-resolution mapping and bathymetry data in the Great lakes.
  • Develop a strategy to catalog new and existing lake bed information for shared use.
  • Share the latest technology advancements with the Great Lakes community.
Lakebed 2030 Conference

2024 Presentations

Learn more and view all the presentations from the this fall’s conference.

Conference Recordings Lakebed 2030 Conference in 2021
Lakebed view of an old shipwreck

A map that is easy to use and open to everyone

In 2019, a group of researchers, technologists, and others dedicated to creating a complete map launched Lakebed 2030.

Begun as a grassroots regional initiative that harmonizes governmental and non-governmental efforts, Lakebed 2030 is dedicated to bringing together new and existing bathymetric data to create a new map of the Great Lakes that is easy to use and open to everyone.

Email underwater@glos.org to get involved or to learn more.

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Costs and Approaches for Mapping the Great Lakes

In 2020, GLOS commissioned three experienced surveying organizations to estimate the total cost of mapping the Great Lakes at high-density.

Though different in their approaches and estimates, all reports agree that mapping the Great Lakes at high-density is within grasp, given the proper funding. With continued innovation and a collaborative approach, a continuous, open, and highly detailed map is achievable.

In general, mapping the lakes will require:

  • 7 years
  • $200 million
  • Covering 244,160 square kilometers

How to get involved

If you are interested in participating or being engaged as a stakeholder in the Lakebed 2030 mapping initiative, please fill out this form.

And subscribe to Lakebed 2030 News below!

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