Trillium Funds for Mooring Buoy Project

One of the greatest threats to our sunken marine heritage is the improper anchoring of dive boats, both personal and commercial. The damage although almost always unintended, is usually disastrous in terms of wreck preservation. Once the damage is done the wreck site is forever altered and a piece of our heritage is lost. Further, improper anchoring on some sites can expose divers and their boats to increased exposure of risk and injury.

In order to take a pro-active roll in preserving Ontario’s marine heritage and to ensure safe accessible dive sites, Save Ontario Shipwrecks is establishing a province wide mooring buoy project. In the spring of this year SOS applied for and was successful in obtaining funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The funding totaling $21,000 is for the purchase and installation of 50 mooring buoys. The $21,000 compliments $4,000 of “seed” money that SOS has invested in the project. Through the donation of further money and materials, the total of 50 mooring buoys is expected to be exceeded.

This project besides including all SOS chapters will also be extended to other organizations interested in promoting marine heritage and preservation. By doing so it is expected that the project will not only bring many positive results for the local SOS chapters, but will also introduce other organizations to the work of SOS, thus promoting both the strength and growth of SOS. However, most importantly, SOS will be protecting a delicate and finite resource for future generations to explore, analyze and enjoy.

A project of this size will require the combined effort of all members. It also carries with it significant responsibilities with regard to the Trillium grant. The timeline is as follows:

September 21, 2002: A Letter of Agreement to be signed by the SOS president must be submitted.

March 1, 2003: List of shipwreck sites chosen for mooring buoys must be submitted.

January 1, 2004: Three copies of a final report must be submitted.

Further, there is also expected to be media relations involved with this project.

Chapter presidents and representatives of other organizations will be asked to fill out a basic information sheet for each wreck they propose to put a mooring buoy on. These data sheets will be used to form the basis of the list that will be submitted March 1, 2003. As mentioned, the more successful we are at obtaining material and funds beyond the Trillium grant and SOS funding, the more successful this project will be.

Download .XLS - SOS Buoy Site Application Form

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