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On Saturday October 24, Georgian Bay Association (GBA) and Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) jointly hosted our Water Levels Symposium. Over 700 people registered for our inaugural online event. Attendees were treated to excellent presentations from leading scientists, engineers, academics, and policy makers with a thorough understanding of the intricacies of Great Lakes water levels issues. Many thanks to all involved, particularly our speakers, and the volunteers from both GBA and GBF for all their hard work and organization. If you missed it, the slide presentations are available here. GBA and GBF are currently working to answer all the questions that couldn’t be answered during the symposium and a synopsis of the event, which we will share with you soon. View the slide presentatio
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. 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, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 3, 5, 4 & 3 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, & Ontario, are lower by 6, 2, & 12 inches, respectively, and Lakes St. Clair & Erie are higher by 1 inch, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 30, 28, 24 & 3 inches, respectively, above their long term October average. All the lakes are now well below thei
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. For the first time in 2020, Lake Michigan-Huron is 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, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 4, 6, 6 & 6 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 6, 1, 0, 0 & 12 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 31, 29, 24 & 4 inches, respectively, above their long term October average. All the lakes are now well below their October reco
Support the Georgian Bay Land Trust's work to protect Georgian Bay's wilderness through the Bayscapes annual fundraiser. This year's online format provides an opportunity for people everywhere to participate. Bid online on a fantastic array of Georgian Bay themed art, photographs, items, and experiences, with all proceeds supporting nature conservation. Bidding closes at 7:30 pm on October 24th with a live virtual celebration,featuring musical entertainment from the shores of Georgian Bay and updates from the Land Trust from 6-6:30 pm. Visit gblt.org/bayscapes for more information and to participate. Bayscapes Online Auction: Friday October 16th, 10 am – Saturday October 24th, 7:30 pm Virtual Celebration: Saturday October 24th, 6-6:30pm
The use of ballast tanks is a well-established practice, but about 30% of invasive species found in the Great Lakes have been introduced through ballast water. The impact of ballast water exchange is a fairly new area of study, and the Lake Superior Research Institute is commencing a five-year research plan hoping to reduce the number of organisms being discharged within the Great Lakes. Researchers are particularly interested in developing a system for treating ballast water that is effective enough to exterminate invasive microorganisms like eggs, zooplankton, phytoplankton, bacteria and viruses. GBA will continue to monitor and report on ballast water issues and the development of technological solutions. Read more here. -
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. For the first time in 2020, Lake Michigan-Huron is 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, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 4, 9, 6 & 7 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 4, 1, 4, 3 & 13 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 32, 28, 25 & 4 inches, respectively, above their long term October average. All the lakes are below their October record high. -
Drownings in Lake Michigan reached a new record high in 2020. According to Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit that tracks drowning statistics, there have been 97 drownings in the Great Lakes so far in 2020. 53 of these occurred in Lake Michigan, 9 in Lake Huron, 2 in Lake Superior, 15 in Lake Erie and 18 in Lake Ontario. The previous record for drowning fatalities in Lake Michigan was 49 back in 2019. There is speculation that this uptick may have been caused by closures during the pandemic. Read more here.
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 4, 7, 6 & 8 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 4, 0, 4, 4 & 14 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 10, 33, 29, 26 & 6 inches, respectively, above their long term October average. All the lakes are below their October record high. - In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to d
A collaboration between the Council of the Great Lakes Region, Pollution Probe, Boating Ontario, and the University of Toronto is rolling out a new initiative to clean up the Great Lakes using trash-trapping technology. By the end of October, 23 marinas in Ontario are deploying Seabins, a floating garbage can invented in Australia, and Litta Traps, a catch trap installed inside storm drains, to scoop up garbage after a pilot project in Toronto Harbour last year proved successful. - This project is the largest deployment of Seabins and Litta Traps in a freshwater environment and is an excellent example of positive action to address plastic waste in the water. Many marinas in Georgian Bay are already in the program, and we should all encourage others to follow suit. Read more here.
In 2009 GBA successfully opposed offshore wind for Georgian Bay. We are pleased to see that the moratorium, established by the liberal government at that time, has effectively been renewed by the current Ontario government. The attached letter from Energy Minister Greg Rickford clarifies the government's decision not to proceed with any proposed offshore wind projects. Read the letter here. - -
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 4, 4, 4 & 9 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 4, 0, 0, 2 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 30, 28, 23 & 1 inches, respectively, above their long term September average. All the lakes are at or below their September record high. - In a month’s time, the level of Lake Superior is expected to be 1 inch lower, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to be 3 or more i
COVID-19 access for seasonal residents >>
High water levels >>
Official Plan & Bylaw review >>
Septic management and inspections >>
Waste collection >>
Aquaculture on the Bay >>
TC Energy pumped storage project >>
Cormorant hunt >>
All indications are that water levels are going to be up sharply again this year. GBA is providing timely and accurate information on current and projected water levels and will work with members and municipalities to share information on mitigation measures. Some septic systems, docks and low-lying structures are expected to be severely impacted.
Learn more about this priority >>
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
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
Boating in the fall offers colourful views, solitude and excellent fishing. It is a truly great time to be on the water. But fall boating 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 fall 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 fuel line from freezing. Having a backup gas tank onboa
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
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
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
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
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
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