The warmer temperatures in the basin in February are continuing into March so far. Lake Michigan-Huron is lower than it was at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Erie are down 2, 0, & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair & Ontario are both up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 8, 1, 2, 5 & 5 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 11, 12 & 2 inches, respectively, above their long-term March average and Lake Superior is 1 inch below. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Hu
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (MNRF) bear reporting hotline, which usually is active from April 1 to November 30, has opened early in anticipation of black bears emerging from hibernation. MNRF is expecting an early wake up this year due to an unseasonably warm winter and the recent, heavy rains which have the potential to flood bears out of their dens. - MNRF and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are asking people to exercise caution as there is little natural food for bears at this time of year, which will lead them to search for other food sources such as garbage and bird feed. They suggest: Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids (indoors if possible) Wait until pickup day to put out garbage Take away bird feeders f
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Great Lakes Commission, and International Joint Commission have agreed to work together more closely to achieve better results on restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. Although there is no specific action items set out in this agreement, it clearly makes sense to establish a closer working relationship to avoid duplication of effort, and leverage the significant skills and substantial knowledge between these three organizations. - Read the IJC press release here and the Memorandum of Understanding here.
The warmer temperatures in the basin in February are continuing into March so far. Lake Michigan-Huron is now lower than it was at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 1, 2, 2 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 8, 2, 6, 6 & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 2, 10, 12 & 0 inches, respectively, above their long-term March average and Lake Superior is at the same level. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior is expected to stay at the sa
Mild weather and the lack of ice might make it feel like spring, but the water is not going to warm up any time soon. The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) is hosting their last virtual Cold Water Awareness workshop this winter on Tuesday, Mar. 12 & Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024 featuring Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht (aka Professor Popsicle), a world-renowned expert in hypothermia. Virtual workshops take place over 2 evenings from 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. The cost is $100 and participants will receive a certificate of completion. Just added--In-person sessions! CSBC will also be hosting an in-person one day Cold Water Workshop (general interest) and a two-day (instructor) workshop in Victoria Harbour, Ontario on April 13 & 14, 2024. The cost for the in-person sessions is $185/pers
The warmer temperatures in the basin in February are continuing into March so far. - Lake Michigan-Huron is now lower than it was at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 3, 9, 3 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 8, 3, 5, 4 & 5 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 1, 7, 10 & 0 inches, respectively, above their long-term March average and Lake Superior is at the same level. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior is expected to stay at the s
GBA would like to congratulate OPP provincial marine co-ordinator Sgt. Dave Moffatt, who was recently honoured as the 2023 Marine Professional of the Year by the Canadian Safe Boating Council. Sgt. Moffatt is the Provincial Marine and ATV Coordinator for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). He is responsible for training the OPP’s 380 marine officers along with officers from municipal police services, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests and First Nation band constables. He is also responsible for 170 OPP vessels in Ontario. The Canadian Safe Boating Awards (CASBAs) honour the people, programs, organizations and marinas that are helping to make boating in Canada safer, cleaner, and better for all of us. Sgt. Moffatt is a valuable resource for GBA and always very genero
The International Joint Commission (IJC) is seeking public opinion about the Great Lakes, water quality issues and other topics related to restoring and protecting this unique freshwater system. This is the IJC’s fourth survey, with prior polls conducted in 2015, 2018 and 2021. This year’s poll takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and repeats several previous questions to track trends. Results from this survey are expected this summer. Take the 2024 online Great Lakes Regional Poll here. The Great Lakes poll will be available until March 15, 2024. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your opinions heard and please use your cottage location to answer the questions. -
February 22 usually marks the statistical peak of ice cover on the Great Lakes, but this winter February ice coverage remains at record low levels. As of February 11, 2024 researchers at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) measured Great Lakes ice coverage at 2.7%. Coverage on each of the lakes was measured as follows: Lake Superior 1.7 % Lake Michigan 2.6 % Lake Huron 5.9 % Lake Erie 0.05 % Lake Ontario 1.7 % GLERL’s scientist have not seen ice levels this low in mid-February since record keeping began in 1973. Warmer temperatures in December, which is considered a "priming" month, and no major cold snaps means that ice formation did not pick up in January and has been non-existent so far in February. The current season maximum ice co
February continues to be warmer then normal. Lake Michigan-Huron is now lower than it was at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & St Clair, are down 2, 0, & 9 inches, respectively, and Lakes Erie & Ontario are up by 5 & 4 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 8, 1, 2, 0 & 4 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 13, 15 & 3 inches, respectively, above their long-term February average and Lake Superior is 1 inch below. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior is expected t
Bats are exceptional creatures. These nocturnal creatures pollinate our crops, spread seeds, and prey on pests like mosquitos. They also possess a superpower that’s unique among mammals: flight. The power of flight requires a highly specialized physiology and demands an enormous amount of energy so bats need to eat an enormous quantity of food and drink plenty of water. They hunt at night and can eat up to 600 insects an hour! - When bats aren’t looking for food, they’re likely resting in their roost. Roosts provide bats with a safe space where they can rest during the day away from adverse weather conditions, predators and other disturbances. It's also where bats can socialize and raise their young. Bats can roost in a variety of places, but common roosting sites include cave
Township of the Archipelago (ToA), Town of the Blue Mountains, Township of Georgian Bay (TGB), and the town of Parry Sound have all passed resolutions opposing the TC Energy pumped storage project at Meaford. The resolutions implore the Minister of Energy to cease support of this project citing economic and environmental concerns. Only one of these municipalities is near Meaford, the other three are along the east coast of the Bay. This demonstrates that there is concern about the potential impact of this project throughout Georgian Bay and that opposition to the project is not just a local matter. Read the resolutions here. - Find out more about the TC Energy pumped storage project here.
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GBA Amplifies Your Voice
Since 1916, we have taken a leadership role, advocating to all levels of government and other stakeholders to protect and preserve this precious and fragile freshwater ecosystem on behalf of 18 water-based communities on the eastern and northern shores of Georgian Bay. We advocate on a broad range of issues as your watchful eye on the Bay. GBA works to identify and address issues before they become problems.
Read our Value Proposition >>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
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. -
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 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
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
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