One of a series of mile-square aerial photos taken of the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The potential for Cladophora accumulation on beaches is a function of geomorphology, biomass distribution, and nearshore hydrodynamics.  Our current efforts are focused on determining Cladophora spatial distribution, locating areas of high biomass, and assessing the roles of zebra and quagga mussels in augmenting nuisance levels of Cladophora. 

In order to assess large-scale Cladophora distribution patterns along the Wisconsin coast of Lake Michigan, we have conducted an aerial survey of the Wisconsin coastline on Lake Michigan. During summer 2004, aerial photographs of the nearshore coastline were taken from Racine to about the middle of the Door Peninsula.  Combining the aerial imagery, which provides clues to the nearshore bottom type, with ground-truthing via scuba, snorkeling, drop video camera, and unmanned submersible observations as well as bathymetric data, will improve our knowledge of Cladophora distribution in relation to the geomorphology of the western Lake Michigan coastal environment.

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