Lake trout swim near a spawning site in this photo provided by Dr. Ellen Marsden.

ALPENA — Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) will host Dr. Ellen Marsden for a community lecture on Lake Trout Restoration in Thunder Bay at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Marsden was part of a conservation effort in 2010 to build a series of 29 rock piles to serve as artificial reefs in Thunder Bay. The artificial reefs were a response to the loss of natural habitat due to cement kiln dust, and served as a place for lake trout to spawn.

TBNMS states that several other fish species such as bass, walleye, and whitefish are also attracted to the reefs.

During her lecture, Marsden will explain the background behind the reef project. She will also share how scientists have been using scuba diving, fish tracking, and underwater videos to study fish behavior and how the reefs benefit fish populations.

According to TBNMS, sanctuary divers and vessels supported this effort, contributing to the overarching goal of preserving the Great Lakes. The public can view an exhibit at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center that highlights the project.

Marsden received her doctorate in Fisheries in 1988 from Cornell University. In 1990, she joined the Illinois Natural History Survey as director of the Lake Michigan Biological Station, then moved to the University of Vermont in 1996. She studies restoration, ecology, behavior, and genetics of fish in the Great Lakes. Her primary focus is on lake trout.