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Working with our water-based communities and other stakeholders to ensure the careful stewardship of the greater Georgian Bay environment.
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago, water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 1, 4, 1 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 17, 6, 2 & 11 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 14, 36, 28, 25 & 17 inches, respectively above their long term December average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan Huron are predicted to be 3 and 2 inches lower, respectively, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are forecasted to be 2, 1 and 2 inches higher respectively. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow int
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is requesting legislation to allow a cormorant hunt commencing on March 15, 2020 that would run through the summer months. GBA believes the hunt poses a risk to public safety, does not appear to be supported by any scientific evidence, and sets bad precedents. Read more about the proposal here.
GBA joined Environmental Defense (ED) and the Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) in their submissions on Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act which includes legislation that will reduce environmental protections on such matters as permits to take water, exposure to toxins, pollution enforcement, groundwater quality, and risks to human health. The ED submission and the ORA submission (GBA wrote separately to add our name to this) can be viewed here: - Environmental Defense Submission on Bill 132 Nov 2019 Ontario Rivers Alliance submission on Bill 132 Nov 2019
The microplastics problem in the Great Lakes is mirroring the problem currently seen in the oceans. According to Gail Krantzberg of McMaster University, small organisms are mistaking microplastics for plankton, allowing the plastics to work their way up the food chain. Krantzberg is hoping government action can curb consumer behaviours and reduce the microplastics in our water. Read more about the microplastics situation here. In 2018, GBA along with Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) urged the federal government to move toward a ban on single-use plastics by 2025. Read more about GBA’s call for a national waste reduction strategy here.
The Great Lakes basin was relatively dry over the past month, receiving just two-thirds of its average precipitation in November. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels - in fact, the lakes are 14 to 37 inches above their monthly average December levels. From a month ago water levels on all the Lakes are down 1 to 4 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 16, 8, 2 & 12 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are predicted to be 2 to 3 inches lower, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are all expected to remain at the same level. Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron
GBA is asking for open net cage aquaculture in Georgian Bay and the North Channel to be compliant with UN and Canadian regulations & standards. In our submission on the proposed Aquaculture Act, GBA recommends that the federal government ensures that these operations comply with the provisions of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the new Canadian Fisheries Act, UN Aquaculture guidelines and related agreements. Read GBA's submission and the details of why we believe they do not currently comply here: GBA Submission to DFO - Proposed Aquaculture Act Dec 3 2019 More information about the aquaculture issue can be found here.
Forecasts indicate a strong storm arriving this weekend in the basin. - Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels - in fact, the lakes are 18 to 33 inches above their monthly average November level. From a month ago water levels on all the Lakes are down 2 to 3 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 16, 7, 2 & 13 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. In a month’s time, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are projected to be 2, 3, 1, 1 & 1 inches lower respectively. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River are predicted to be above average for November. Lake St.
Scientists are currently researching various methods to control quagga mussels in the Great Lakes. Zebra mussels in Georgian Bay have been virtually eliminated by the far more impactful invasive quagga mussel, which has contributed significantly to large reductions in native fish stocks. Finding an effective and practical way to kill the quagga mussels is vitally important to both the ecology and the economy. Read more about the latest research here. -
GBA submitted a detailed response to the province’s Environmental Study Report (ESR), and a request for a bump-up in the level of environmental review applied to the proposed settlement, in light of important public interest issues that the ESR failed to address. GBA supports this land claim settlement. Moreover, together with the Northern Georgian Bay Association, we have been working constructively with Wiikwemkoong to ensure that the Philip Edward Island Archipelago becomes a park, with ongoing access for all, including thousands of canoeists, kayakers and campers who have traditionally enjoyed these pristine lands. GBA’s ESR response urges the province to support the park proposal. It also addresses the government’s failure to follow a process that is consistent with the
The sea lamprey is one of the greatest threats to wild fish stocks and has been a major cause of previous declines in wild fish stocks. In Lake Huron, sea lamprey populations are slightly above target levels, but their numbers have been holding steady for the past five years. More work needs to be done to reach agreements with First Nation groups on treating some currently untreated tributaries to further reduce numbers. Read more about the sea lamprey situation in all the Great Lakes here.
Canada’s abundance of clean, fresh water may soon be a myth. According to a new report by the Global Water Futures project, toxic algae, climate change, and bad policy are threatening Canada’s fresh water supply. GBA continues to work on protecting water quality from potential impacts from non-functioning private septic systems, and municipal overflows in the basin. This report also underpins the need for change in the open-net aquaculture industry in Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Read more about the report here. The full report by the Global Water Futures project can be found here: Water Futures for the World We Want
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago water levels on Lakes St. Clair and Erie are unchanged, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are 4 & 2 inches lower respectively, and Lake Ontario is about an inch higher. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 2, 16, 9, 4 & 16 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. In a month’s time, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are projected to be 3, 2, 2, 1 & 2 inches lower respectively. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River are predicted to be above average for November. Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the De
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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