Boater safety with a splash! Watch the Wave Watch deployment video

Wave Watch buoy splashes as it lands in Lake Superior - Jon Okerstrom photo

May 25, 2025

Launching the Wave Watch boater safety buoys for the 2025 season takes teamwork, timing and some help from our Friends who value this life-saving service enough to support it. Late last week, a team from the National Park Service, University of Wisconsin – Madison and Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore boarded a park service boat to deploy five solar-powered buoys. Buoys that are now providing real-time wave height, period and direction, as well as water temperature for key locations within the Lakeshore. Thankfully, the plan, the people and the weather came together for a successful mission; there’s more work to be done. You can help us to spread the word, raise awareness and support safe boating.

Watch the video to experience what it’s like to cover a hundred miles of Lake Superior water in a day, and set up the Wave Watch network to benefit thousands of boaters who love exploring the islands. 

Transcript of the 2025 Wave Watch deployment video – click to view PDF

Below: additional photos from the deployment mission – click to enlarge

Navigating to the next Wave Watch buoy location - Josh Hodgdon photo

Navigating to the next Wave Watch buoy location – Josh Hodgdon photo

UW student Josh Hodgdon prepares to deploy a yellow flag attached to a Wave Watch buoy - Jon Okerstrom photo

UW student Josh Hodgdon prepares to deploy a yellow flag attached to a Wave Watch buoy – Jon Okerstrom photo

A Wave Watch buoy in position to report real-time data - Jon Okerstrom photo

A Wave Watch buoy in position to report real-time data – Jon Okerstrom photo

The freighter Algoma Buffalo at anchor among the islands - Josh Hodgdon photo

The freighter Algoma Buffalo at anchor among the islands with a common loon in the foreground – Josh Hodgdon photo

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ranger pilots the vessel to five locations - Josh Hodgdon photo

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore ranger pilots the vessel to five locations – Josh Hodgdon photo

NPS Supervisory Park Ranger Karl Carlson launches a Wave Watch buoy over the side of the Park Service boat - Jon Okerstrom photo

NPS Supervisory Park Ranger Karl Carlson launches a Wave Watch buoy over the side of the Park Service boat – Jon Okerstrom photo

UW Student Josh Hodgdon dropping weights that anchor a Wave Watch buoy to the lake bottom - Jon Okerstrom photo

UW Student Josh Hodgdon drops weights that anchor a Wave Watch buoy to the lake bottom – Jon Okerstrom photo

Paddlers explore the mainland caves as we deploy a Wave Watch buoy - Josh Hodgdon photo

Paddlers explore the mainland caves as we deploy a Wave Watch buoy – Josh Hodgdon photo

Friends of the Apostle Islands Executive Director Jeff Rennicke wants to thank the National Park Service, University of Wisconsin – Madison, project partners, individual donors and business sponsors for their support. Now in our second year, Friends encourages you to join us in supporting this vital service. Read more about this year’s Wave Watch deployment day and how you can help ensure that the program continues.

Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Wave Watch Sponsors

Wave Watch Apostle Islands Buoy Project logo
Apostle Islands Cruises logo

Apostle Islands Cruises

Bayfield Yacht Club logo

Bayfield Yacht Club

Bodin Fisheries logo

Bodin Fisheries

Chequamegon Food Co-op logo

Chequamegon Food Co-op

Escape Excursions logo

Escape Excursions

Great Lakes Cruising Club logo

Great Lakes Cruising Club

Island City Kombucha float plane with banner logo

Island City Kombucha

James and Angele Passe logo

James and Angele Passe

Pikes Bay Marina logo

Pikes Bay Marina

Click to view website: Port Superior Marina

Port Superior Marina

Sea Grant - University of Wisconsin logo

Sea Grant

University of Wisconsin - Madison logo

University of Wisconsin – Madison

Click to view website: Wild Pursuits Charters

Wild Pursuits

Willigan's Adventures logo

Willigan’s Adventures

Jon Okerstrom

Video and photography by Jon Okerstrom. Jon is a Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore board member and digital and social media volunteer with a background in digital and television journalism, photography and graphic design.

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