Rare Lake Erie Seiche Unveils Sunken Artifacts and Decades-Old Tales Along the Shore

A powerful winter storm swept through the Great Lakes region this week, triggering a rare seiche on Lake Erie that dramatically altered water levels along its western shores. This phenomenon, pronounced "saysh," occurs when strong winds and rapid atmospheric pressure changes push water from one end of a lake to the other, temporarily exposing areas of the lakebed that are typically submerged. 

 

On December 29, residents of Luna Pier, Michigan, witnessed this extraordinary event firsthand. Local resident Austin Lada and his friends anticipated the seiche's arrival and ventured to the beach to explore the exposed lakebed. "We knew this system was coming through; we had heard about the bomb cyclone," Lada remarked. 

 

The group was astonished to find themselves walking nearly a quarter mile from the usual shoreline, uncovering artifacts hidden beneath the waters for decades. Among their discoveries was a rusted car axle from a Volkswagen Beetle, believed to have fallen through the ice in 1969 while pulling skiers. "We have local accounts that it went down in 1969 when it was on the ice pulling people around on some skis," Lada explained.

 

Another significant find was an unidentified class ring, estimated to have been underwater for over 60 years. Lada expressed hope of returning it to its rightful owner, stating, "We're going to get that cleaned up and see if we can't find out some more. What a story that would make if we could find the rightful owner of that." 

 

The seiche also revealed a snowmobile encrusted with zebra mussels, which had fallen through the ice two years prior. The owner, assisted by friend CJ Witfoth, successfully retrieved the vehicle and plans to restore it.

 

This rare event attracted numerous onlookers, including Scarlett Hill from South Carolina, who described the experience as "amazing, something I ain't never seen before." 

 

By December 30, water levels had returned to normal at Luna Pier Beach. However, the memories and stories unearthed during this seiche will be cherished by the community for years to come. Reflecting on the experience, Lada noted, "It was a fun day, quite windy and cold but well worth it." 

 

Seiches are not uncommon on Lake Erie, occurring approximately every one to two years. They result from strong winds and rapid atmospheric pressure changes that cause water to oscillate between the lake's ends. While they can lead to significant water level fluctuations and expose hidden artifacts, seiches also pose hazards such as shoreline flooding and strong rip currents.

 

The recent seiche serves as a reminder of Lake Erie's dynamic nature and the hidden histories lying beneath its surface, waiting for the right moment to resurface.