Dried mussels that once thrived on the sides of buoys now slowly die as Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay removed buoys from western Lake Erie, Nov. 13, 2007, before the Great Lakes freeze over and crush the buoys. These buoys are replaced with specialy designed ice buoys. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William B. Mitchell.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan J. Reyes inspected one of the 50 cables that support the tower at Long-Range Navigation Station Baudette, Minn., April 3, 2008. LORAN is in a state of transition and may fall into a backup roll for Global Positioning System. Photo by PA3 William Mitchell.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan J. Reyes inspected one of the 50 cables that support the tower at Long-Range Navigation Station Baudette, Minn., April 3, 2008. LORAN is in a state of transition and may fall into a backup roll for Global Positioning System. Photo by PA3 William Mitchell.

CHICAGO - The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30) arrived at the Navy Pier with a delivery of more than 1,000 Christmas trees that were given to needy families during a public ceremony Dec. 1, 2007, at 10 a.m. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William B. Mitchell.

DETROIT - Chief Warrant Officer Jon W. Wiedemann gingerly moved a buoy out of western Lake Erie and onto the buoy deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay, Nov. 13, 2007. The lever with the decorative red turk's head not on the knob is the lever that controls up and down movement of the crane's winch. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William B. Mitchell.

DETROIT - Chief Warrant Officer Jon W. Wiedemann gingerly moved a buoy out of western Lake Erie and onto the buoy deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay, Nov. 13, 2007. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William B. Mitchell.

DETROIT - Petty Officer 2nd Class William C. Swisher guided a buoy’s concrete block anchor onto the buoy deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay in western Lake Erie, Nov. 12, 2007. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class William B. Mitchell.