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Grand Haven-Holland Weather Buoy 2021

Donation protected
The 2021 Holland/Grand Haven weather buoy project is 100% supported by contributions from businesses, organizations, and individual boaters.  We receive no funds from the federal or state government (there are simply no programs yet that cover the Great Lakes).  YOUR contribution is needed now to ensure the buoy will return in 2021! 

WITHOUT YOUR CONTRIBUTION THE BUOY WILL NOT BE DEPLOYED IN 2021!!!  

If you donate more than $500, you/your business will have their logo/name displayed on the buoy page website!  The website receives hundreds of thousands of hits each season from boaters and fishermen!!  Please email everhamme at limno.com for more information about becoming a sponsor.  

The buoy provides up-to-date lake conditions to weather forecasters, search and rescue personnel, and thousands of boaters and fishermen throughout the boating season.  Observations of wind speed, wave height, and water temperature were requested over 900,000 times in 20120 from almost 35,000 unique visitors, making it the most popular buoy in the Great Lakes. The buoy’s webcam also streamed high quality images and video to the web, showing exactly what conditions were like on the water.  Become a 2021 buoy supporter NOW.  Your contribution will fund the annual maintenance of the buoy, replacement of sensitive marine instruments, and technicians to keep the buoy fully operational from April to October.

How to get data from the buoy (during the boating season), which is deployed 3.5 miles offshore of Port Sheldon in 90ft of water.
1. Buoy Data Link 
2. Text 45029 to [phone redacted] 
3. Dial [phone redacted]  enter 45029 as station ID

The buoy was purchased by a grant from NOAA in 2014, but local funds are needed to keep it running year after year.  LimnoTech, based in Ann Arbor, is responsible for maintaining the buoy. They provide all of the technical skills and know how to keep the buoy operational.  LimnoTech maintains buoys in South Haven and St. Joseph, 100% of funds are applied to support this buoy.

Funds support the replacement of damaged sensors, cellular data plans, engineering support to check the buoy over in the off season, and labor to deploy/retrieve the buoy every year.   YOUR  individual contributions are crucial to meeting our goal for the year.  If we fall short then we risk not being able to deploy the buoy. 

PLEASE consider how much you personally rely on data from this buoy during the season.  Even if you don't use it that much, know that folks from the National Weather Service, US Coast Guard, Ottawa County Sheriff use data from buoy daily during the boating season.  The buoy is critical during search and rescue operations AND for forecasting Lake Michigan squalls and dangerous rip currents.

Contribute NOW to ensure the buoy comes back in 2021.   If you have questions about this fundraising project please contact Ed Verhamme at everhamme at limno.com 

Donations 

  • Harrison Robert Landman
    • $10 
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 2 yrs
  • Kent Gormat
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • David Krupp
    • $400 
    • 3 yrs
  • Thomas Ledbetter
    • $500 
    • 3 yrs

Organizer and beneficiary

Eddie Verhamme
Organizer
Holland, MI
Patti Fosbender
Beneficiary

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