It's National Drowning Prevention Week and the Lifesaving Society is encouraging all persons venturing out on a vessel or going for a swim to be "water smart". Take a moment to view the following links and hopefully help avoid a water tragedy this summer. If Holly can wear her lifejacket - maybe you should too! - Do you know the difference between a lifejacket and PFD? Great information on these lifesavers can be found here. The Red Cross also has summer water safety tips that can be found here. - With the increased number of new boating enthusiasts this year, officers will be out trying to educate operators about safe boating on Georgian Bay and the surrounding waterways. The new Weather to Boat app can provide you with marine weather and vessel equipment tips. Always remember if you

Precipitation throughout July has been above normal for the Great Lakes basin except for Lake Superior. This month predicted outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be only average, not above average as they have been for at least 2 years. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie and Ontario are up 0, 3, 4, 3 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 8, 18, 13, 11  &am

It's been 16 months since the initial closure of the Canada-US border due to COVID-19, but it looks as if non-essential travel may be opening up before summer's end. According to an official summary of a meeting between Prime Minister Trudeau and provincial leaders, the government is looking to open the border to vaccinated U.S. travelers weeks before a broader re-opening to vaccinated travelers from other countries. The Prime Minister noted that if the current vaccination rate and public health conditions continue, Canada would be in a position to welcome fully vaccinated travelers from all countries by early September. Read more here.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes Water Quality Board is inviting people to complete their third Great Lakes Regional Poll. This survey looks at issues relating to Great Lakes water quality and explores the public's opinions, values, and beliefs about the Great Lakes as well as their concerns and suggestions for the future.  It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and all individual responses will be kept in strict confidence. The survey closes on July 31, 2021. Additional information about the survey can be found here.

Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. However this month predicted outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be only average, not above average as they has been for at least 2 years. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie and Ontario are up 4, 1, 2, 1 & 1 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 6, 19, 14, 12 & 21 inches, respe

GBA has been working with other NGOs to prevent the use of Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) to destroy wetlands and other important habitat. We have made a number of submissions on this topic, and last December we weighed in on the key test case of Lower Duffins Creek in Pickering.  In late 2020, the Ontario government authorized an MZO for the construction of a warehouse and other facilities on this important coastal wetland complex. This move was met with strong opposition from environmental organizations, Indigenous groups, and the local community (see here). - These collective efforts have now been rewarded, as the MZO has been revoked. The area at Duffins Creek now returns to its status as an “urban reserve” with environmentally protective zoning. Read more here. -

The basin overall received 106% of its average precipitation for the month of June. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. However this month predicted outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are expected to be only average, not above average as they has been for at least 2 years. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. - Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie and Ontario are up 2, 2, 5, 2 & 1 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huro

Ballast water, which is important for the safety and stability of lake vessels, can also introduce and spread aquatic invasive species. GBA has been calling for tighter ballast regulations to protect the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. Following our update last year on upcoming improvements to ballast water legislation, the recent announcement of new Canadian regulations is a step in the right direction, but the industry is likely to ask that some inequities are addressed. - Read more about the proposed new regulations here. - The Chamber of Marine Commerce has alerted the federal regulators that the new regulations unfairly target Canadian ship operators while giving extra time for compliance to US owners. See their concerns

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.

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

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. -

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

My name is Eileen Maynard;   I am 10 years old and the eldest of the 5th generation in my family at our cottage in Cognashene, part of the Georgian Bay Archipelago. Georgian Bay is so special to me. It is where I spend my summers and any weekend we can get free of our crazy life in the city. In the summer you can go swimming and tubing or out to islands for picnics. In the fall, it is so pretty with all of the colorful leaves and trees and a great time to go for a walk on Beausoleil Island. Being a Guardian of the Bay is important to me because Georgian Bay is vital to us and the animals around us. Being a Guardian of the Bay is a responsibility that we all have for keeping it healthy for the next 5 generations. Last year, with my grandfather, I applied for and was accepted as a vo

Sticking it to Garbage Along the Shoreline What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? My name’s Chloe Drayton and I’ve been going to Georgian Bay with my family since I was born - I’m only 7! It’s a nice, peaceful place and it’s nice to go swimming, look for turtles, go exploring on the rocks along the shore and spend time with my family. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? Because I want to help all the animals and plants in nature and because it’s nicer to enjoy the cottage when there isn’t garbage lying around. I also want to enjoy Georgian Bay for a long, long time so we have to keep it nice and clean. - What’s your story that helps to show your Guardian of the Bay  values? Every year we walk around the shoreline of ou