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Spring Update Newsletter

News and Information from the Georgian Bay Association

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News

March 2023

March 26 Water Levels Report

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior is down 1 inch, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 3, 5 & 4 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 4, 2 & 6 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior is up 10 inches, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 7, 4, 14, 17 & 8 inches, respectively, above their long term March average. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron,

March 2023

Canada Commits $420 Million over 10 Years to Protect the Great Lakes

President Joe Biden’s first official visit to Canada reaffirmed the Canada-US binational commitment to protect our shared waterways, biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. In a joint statement, the two leaders committed to “preserving and restoring our shared national treasure, the Great Lakes”. Prime Minister Trudeau announced on Friday that Canada has committed $420 million in funding over the next 10 years as part of a shared responsibility to preserve and restore the waters of the Great Lakes. This investment will focus on cleaning up pollution hot spots and efforts to stop harmful chemicals and agricultural run-off from entering Great Lakes waters, but falls short of the $1 billion over 10 years requested by the Action Plan 2030 coalition, which GBA has been supporting, see: h

March 2023

March 12 Water Levels Report

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior is down 1 inch, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 8, 9 & 4 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron & Ontario are lower by 4 & 4 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior, St Clair & Erie are up 11, 1 & 2 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 8, 4, 17, 19 & 6 inches, respectively, above their long term March average. - All the lakes remain well below their March record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time

March 2023

March 5 Water Levels Report

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior is down 1 inch, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 5, 7 & 5 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, Erie & Ontario are lower by 4, 0 & 4 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior an St Clair are up 12 & 1 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 4, 13, 15 & 6 inches, respectively, above their long term March average. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs, except for Superior which is only 6 inches below. - In a month’s time Lake

March 2023

“Parry Sound 33” by Joseph Hartman Currently on Display in Toronto

The Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto is presenting “Parry Sound 33”, an exhibit by photographer Joseph Hartman. The exhibit is a series of landscape photographs and watercolour paintings documenting the aftermath of the Parry Sound 33 forest fire on the Henvey Inlet which began on July 18, 2018. The fire devastated over 11,000 hectares of ecologically important Georgian Bay coastal habitat along with several cottages and homes. GBA worked with Dave Seglins of the CBC and Jean Burke, who represented local victims, for several years to compel the MNRF to release the fire investigation report, but our efforts were struck down by an independent adjudicator last spring. This exhibit examines how humans can rapidly change a fragile landscape and the effects this has on the ecosystem

March 2023

Have Your Say on MNRF's Proposed Changes for Floating Cottages

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is asking for your feedback on proposed changes to how floating cottages may be used on Ontario waterways. These changes are intended to reduce the environmental and social impacts of floating accommodations which GBA’s Floating Cottages Strategy Group has been working toward over the past year. MNRF is proposing to amend the Public Lands Act with regards to camping on water over public lands. The proposed changes will clarify the types of camping units that can be used on water by allowing watercrafts equipped for overnight accommodation (live-aboards and houseboats), but excluding floating homes or barges with residential units or camping facilities These changes would not apply to a person exercising rights that are p

March 2023

Steps Non-Canadian Property Owners Should Take to Comply with CRA’s UHT Rules

As GBA previously noted, the new Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a 1% annual tax levied on the value of residential property owned by non-Canadians that is vacant or considered underused. The intention of this tax is to deter non-residents from passively investing in Canadian real estate and make housing more available to Canadian residents. The tax itself will not apply to GBA members who have property that is water access only/not insulated for winter use however all non-Canadian property owners do need to submit a UHT tax form (form T1261) to the federal government by April 30th annually. To file a UHT tax form one must also apply for an ITN which is a 9-digit number issued to Non-Canadian individuals who need an identification number. - After talking with the CRA there are some is

March 2023

Vol 33 No. 1 Spring 2023

February 2023

February 26 Water Levels Report

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are down 2 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 2, 2 & 4 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 4, 0 & 5 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior is up 12 inches, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 7, 4, 15, 14 & 7 inches above, respectively, their long term February average. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes S

February 2023

GBA Requests Changes to Transport Canada’s Vessel Definition and Licensing Protocols

As part of the ongoing work of your Floating Cottage strategy group, GBA has asked Transport Canada for fundamental changes needed to pave the way for the implementation of appropriate provincial and municipal regulations to prevent floating cottages from causing any environmental harm, and for the safety of those on board. - GBA is asking that Transport Canada publish, with clarity, the definition of a vessel, reassess whether a structure that is designed as an accommodation unit should be granted a vessel licence, and modify the existing online self registration process to include a photo upload requirement for the vessel being registered. Read the letter here. -

February 2023

February 19 Water Levels Report

So far this month, temperatures continue to be above average throughout the basin. - Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are down 2 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 4, 4 & 5 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 1 & 3 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior & St Clair are up 12 & 7 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 7, 4, 15, 14 & 7 inches above, respectively, their long term February average. All the lakes remain well be

February 2023

Underused Housing Tax Form for Non-Canadian Property Owners Now Published

Last spring GBA reported on the proposed new Underused Housing Tax (UHT) for US and overseas property owners. The federal government put forth this new 1% annual tax levied on the value of residential property that is vacant or considered underused. The intention of this tax is to make housing more affordable for Canadian residents by deterring non-residents from passively investing in Canadian real estate. GBA has been looking into the effects UHT may have on our members. Here are some of our findings: This new tax only applies to non-Canadian residents. Canadian residents do not need to submit a UHT tax form. Non-Canadian residents must submit this form by April 30 annually even if they are exempt from the tax. As far as GBA is aware, non-resident owner

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GBA's Priority Actions

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Water levels >>
Planning Issues >>
Dock Foam >>
Septic Management and Inspections >>
Waste Collection >>
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COVID-19 Access for Seasonal Residents >>

See an overview of our priorities >>

Featured - Water Levels

GBA will continue to work with government and non-government agencies in the US and Canada to determine if and how a better job can be done to improve coordination between the different control structures that affect our water levels. The aim is to do the best we can to mitigate and address the impacts of extreme high and low water levels which are expected to worsen if climate change impacts unfold as expected. We will also be surfacing any issues on the accuracy and completeness of water levels data and exploring how water levels data can be enhanced to improve ease of interpretation and better inform decision making including adaption strategies.

Learn more about this priority >>

Articles

February 2023

Sea Lampreys in Lake Huron - They Just Won’t Go Away!

What are sea lampreys and why are they problematic? Sea lampreys are an ancient form of a jawless fish with a toothed, funnel like mouth, that suck blood out of fish. They entered the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway. During the 50’s, Lake Huron’s commercial fishing industry was verging on collapse. In particular, one of the most valued species, Lake Trout, a favorite sea lamprey meal, was nearing extinction. The good news is Lake Huron’s sea lamprey population (once the largest in the Great Lakes with over 700,000 in the 1940’s and 1950’s) has been declining. For example, in 2015 the population fell to 70,000, well below the target of 90,000 set by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission (GLFC), established in 1954 to oversee a Great Lakes sea lamprey control

March 2022

Is Catch and Release a Good Idea?

The message from traditional Indigenous teachings is that catch and release is disrespectful to the fish (it can also harm their ability to eat properly after they are released) and one should only fish respectfully, which includes eating the fish we catch. Now it seems there is another reason to question this practice. Some bass are smarter than we might think, learn to avoid lures and can pass that knowledge down through the generations! Who knew! - Read more here. -

November 2019

Guardians of Georgian Bay – Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams

What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Sheila Williams and I (Celesta Bjornson) are the co-presidents of the Bay of Islands Association (BICA) and have been enjoying our summers in the Bay of Islands since we were toddlers. My family is from Pittsburgh and we originally found the Bay of Islands in the 1950s by vacationing at a fishing lodge called Moredolpton Lodge. Sheila's family is one of the founding families of the Bay of Islands. Her grandfather discovered the Bay of Islands in early 1900s while working on the lakers, travelling from southern Georgian Bay to the North Channel, transporting lumber back south. He fell in love with the area and purchased an island around 1924 and began building a cottage. Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to yo

October 2019

Luc Voorn: Guardian of the Bay

Luc Voorn is a cottager in the South Channel and a passionate advocate for Georgian Bay. He currently serves as the Membership Chairperson for the South Channel Association (SCA), Editor of the SCA “On the Waterfront” newsletter, and as Director, Friends of the Massasauga Park. This past summer (2019), he was nominated as a Guardian of Georgian Bay for his ongoing enthusiasm and efforts to protect and preserve the Bay. Note from Jamie Drayton, GBA Chair of Guardians of Georgian Bay Committee My Dad used to take us camping. His lure to get us to bathe was to promise us ice cream if we ran into the water first thing in the morning for a swim. I recall the water being absolutely freezing at 7 o’clock in the morning… I don’t recall ever getting any ice cream. A few years l

October 2019

Cold Water Awareness

Boating from October through June offers a very different experience steeped in solitude and excellent fishing. It is a beautiful time to be on the water. But boating during this season also requires extra attention to detail and the ability to be self-sufficient given that there are fewer boaters around should you require assistance. Here are some helpful tips from the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters to make off-season boating safer for you. Check the weather forecast. The weather can change quickly and storms can be more violent. Fog is also more common. Ensure that your boat and engine are in good working order. Ethanol-based fuel can allow water contamination in the tank. The use of a fuel additive prevents water in the f

July 2019

Kathryn Davis – Guardian of Georgian Bay

As nominated by Heather Sargeant My Phragbuster Hero About 5 or 6 years ago, at an event jointly put on by the Georgian Bay Association, Georgian Bay Forever, and featuring Dr. Gilbert, an ecologist with Phragmites expertise , I first learned about invasive Phragmites and the harm it can have on wetlands. I decided to investigate if Phragmites was a threat in Woods Bay (my favourite area of Georgian Bay), and that’s when my journey tackling this plant began. I wasn’t sure if a plant across from the family cottage was indeed the invasive type, and so I was nervous and queasy about leading people to help me cut it. What if it was the native plant, and I’d taken all these people out to cut down something benign? One of my neighbors told me there was a hero on Georgian

June 2019

Help a Turtle Cross the Road

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to look out for vulnerable turtles on our roadways. Road surfaces provide an attractive source of warmth for these cold-blooded reptiles, particularly in the spring and early summer. During this time, turtles are mating and nesting; in late summer and early fall, newly hatched turtles are travelling from their nests to nearby wetlands. The Nature Conservatory of Canada has an informative video and tips for safely moving turtles. Watch the video and read the tips here.

May 2019

Fire Safety Suggestions for Individuals

Here are some things to think about around Fire Safety at the cottage: Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working. Have a list of local emergency numbers posted for all to see. Include all pertinent cottage location information. Have the right fire extinguishers in the right places. Have an individual fire plan for evacuation. Make sure your plan has two escape routes. Respect local fire ratings. Have a fire pump and use it regularly to ensure it is in good working order. At the very least have a list of neighbours to call for assistance. Follow your association’s emergency plan if it exists. Make sure you have insurance. Make sure you understand what it covers and that it is adequate to rebuild and covers contents AND fire de

April 2019

How to Reduce your Environmental Footprint

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has just released a useful guide on how to how we can all reduce our environmental footprints. Being a Guardian of the Bay also means doing what we can to reduce our individual consumption of carbon based fuels. - Here is a very good fact sheet and here is a full presentation on this topic. -

February 2019

Magnetawan First Nation Lands & Resources Dept. - Guardian of the Bay

What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Cory Kozmik, Anthony Laforge, Samantha Noganosh, Chevaun Toulouse. We are the Lands and Resource Department for Magnetawan First Nation, in Britt, Ontario. - Source: Magnetawan First Nation Our connection to the Bay is the dense biodiversity that it hosts and the role its ecology plays in our lives, including the environment. It is also where ancestors of the Anishinabek Nation walked and practiced each day what it means to live with the land in reciprocity. The connection to the land and water is sacred to the Anishinaabe culture, and held very close to the communities that inhabit the area. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? We take great pride in being “Guardians” because it is our

January 2019

Excessive Wakes

Large wakes continue to be a bone of contention. They cause damage to docks and shorelines and can be very disruptive to cottagers enjoyment of their docks. What can be done? The occasional disruption and damage caused by excessive wakes are an ongoing source of irritation between boaters and cottagers. Boaters are responsible for their wakes and any damage caused by them. But the OPP tells us that damage caused by wakes is a civil issue. And so what you need to do is be able to identify the vessel and the operator and pursue the matter in small claims court if a reasonable result can’t be agreed upon between the parties on their own. However, if a boater is observed to be operating their vessel in a dangerous or careless way then the OPP should be called. They ideally would like t

January 2019

Opp Search and Rescue

This past summer there seemed to be a search & rescue operation happening and it left many cottagers confused about what was going on. The questions were about what to do in a situation like that - where to get information, and potentially how to help. When involved in a current investigation the OPP generally will not disseminate info through the media. They most often feel they have the resources to adequately conduct a search. Note that, if the OPP does ask the public for assistance, they are civilly liable if a member of the public gets injured while searching, and so tend not to involve the public. If the OPP is not successful then they will ask the public for assistance through media channels. If people have questions they can call the OPP non emergency ( 1 800-310-1122 ) num

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GEORGIAN BAY ASSOCIATION

YOUR VOICE ON THE BAY

Spring Update Newsletter

News and Information from the Georgian Bay Association

Boating, Safety & Emergencies

Everything you need to know to enjoy a safe and happy boating season.

Our Priorities

LEARN MORE ABOUT GBA’S TOP PRIORITIES

News

March 2023

March 26 Water Levels Report

March 2023

Canada Commits $420 Million over 10 Years to Protect the Great Lakes

March 2023

March 12 Water Levels Report

March 2023

March 5 Water Levels Report

March 2023

“Parry Sound 33” by Joseph Hartman Currently on Display in Toronto

March 2023

Have Your Say on MNRF's Proposed Changes for Floating Cottages

March 2023

Steps Non-Canadian Property Owners Should Take to Comply with CRA’s UHT Rules

March 2023

Vol 33 No. 1 Spring 2023

February 2023

February 26 Water Levels Report

February 2023

GBA Requests Changes to Transport Canada’s Vessel Definition and Licensing Protocols

February 2023

February 19 Water Levels Report

February 2023

Underused Housing Tax Form for Non-Canadian Property Owners Now Published

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GBA's Priority Actions

Our Current Focus

Featured - Water Levels

Articles

February 2023

Sea Lampreys in Lake Huron - They Just Won’t Go Away!

March 2022

Is Catch and Release a Good Idea?

November 2019

Guardians of Georgian Bay – Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams

October 2019

Luc Voorn: Guardian of the Bay

October 2019

Cold Water Awareness

July 2019

Kathryn Davis – Guardian of Georgian Bay

June 2019

Help a Turtle Cross the Road

May 2019

Fire Safety Suggestions for Individuals

April 2019

How to Reduce your Environmental Footprint

February 2019

Magnetawan First Nation Lands & Resources Dept. - Guardian of the Bay

January 2019

Excessive Wakes

January 2019

Opp Search and Rescue