This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. 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 down 2, 4, 4, 5 & 2 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 11, 16, 14, 8 & 4 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michi

Does excessively loud boat noise impinge on your summer enjoyment? The Decibel Coalition wants to change this in Canada. The Decibel Coalition was formed by Safe Quiet Lakes with the objective of lobbying Transport Canada to enhance Small Vessel Regulations SOR/2010-91 to include decibel limits on boat motor noise. GBA as well as over 40 associations and 7 municipalities have joined the coalition to support this initiative (a full list of Coalition members can be found here). This is not overly complicated or new. About 30 states in the USA have had decibel limits in place, some since the late 1980’s. The EU has decibel standards on boat motor noise as well. The decibel limits set are very consistent. Canada needs to modernize its regulations and to bring us up to international sta

Since 1981, thousands of citizen scientists have been watching loons on 4500 lakes across Canada and submitting their observations as part of the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey. Researchers with Birds Canada have used this data to produce the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey 40-Year Report. This extensive report reviews the results from the program, including how loons are faring nationally and regionally, what factors influence loon productivity, and what you can do to help protect common loons. You can read the full report here. To find out more about the survey, tips to help loons, and how to get involved visit www.birdscanada.org/loons.  

We have a Federal election on September 20. GBA encourages all of our Canadian members to engage the candidates in their home ridings on Georgian Bay-related issues and exercise your franchise by voting. GBA has prepared the following questions that we are asking candidates for office, and suggest you do the same. Water Quality ­The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) has identified many priorities that the Canadian and American federal governments should address to improve and protect water quality. Many concerns have been raised that more needs to be done to prevent harmful chemicals and plastics from entering the Great Lakes. Do you support increased action and funding to address those threats? In this respect, the “Action Plan 2030 to protect the Great Lakes”

The Ontario government has made it easier for the public to help protect the environment by introducing a new way to report spills and pollution incidents. In addition to the existing Spills Action Centre call line, which is available 24/7, the public now has a user-friendly online option to quickly report occurrences of illegal waste dumping, improper pesticide use, and pollution on land, in the water or air. This new digital reporting system can be accessed via computer and smart phone and allows users to upload photos and videos so that quick action can be taken to mitigate potential environmental damages and keep our communities safe. Need to report a spill? Please call 1-866-MOE-TIPS (663-8477) or use the online reporting tool here.

GBA is seeking a recent graduate from university or college to carry out research and analysis and prepare presentations and reports on several coastal protection projects. - This is a 12-month full time position based in Parry Sound and applicants must meet Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC) requirements. For more details, see the job description here. - Interested candidates can forward résumés and inquiries to gba@georgianbay.ca.

This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. 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 down 2, 2, 1, 3 & 2 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 12, 17, 9, 5 & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan

Boating fatalities are on the rise and the 2021 boating season has been a terrible one so far. The OPP Marine Unit wants to remind everyone to be safe on the water this holiday weekend and beyond. Please watch this short video below and consider these safety tips before you head out on the water.  

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