Researchers move from Minnetonka to other lakes to scan for wrecks
Two researchers who scrutinized the bottom of Lake Minnetonka for possible shipwrecks are turning their underwater sights on Lake Waconia in Carver County and White Bear Lake in Ramsey County.
Ann Merriman and her husband, Chris Olson, are archaeologists who together founded the nonprofit Maritime Heritage Minnesota in 2005. Their quest is history, not treasure, since the steamboats, barges, sailboats and other objects they’ve identified were usually stripped of anything valuable and intentionally sunk when they became outdated.
The couple use inexpensive but high-quality sonar equipment to scan the bottom of lakes and rivers methodically, searching for possible archaeological sites.
Generally of only local historical interest, but it shows what fairly simple projects can accomplish. Of course, they haven’t done any actual diving yet to verify any of the finds. . . . .
