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The Great Lakes basin experienced much higher than average temperatures over the past week. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. 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, 0, 1, 2 and 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 7, 13, 15, 17 & 28 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are 7, 22, 19, & 15 inches, respectively, above their long term April
GBA continues to liaise closely with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) who have been helpful in providing us with updates and, in the past, resolving such issues as the valuations for small undevelopable islands. - Read the update on 2021 assessments from MPAC here: - As part of the Ontario Government’s Budget on March 24, the Minister of Finance announced the Province’s decision to once again postpone a province-wide property assessment update due to the pandemic. - Property assessments for the 2022 property tax year will continue to be based on January 1, 2016 current values. This means your property assessment remains the same as it was for the 2021 tax year, unless there have been changes to your property, for example: - A change to your prop
Ontario has declared its third provincewide state of emergency, issuing a stay-at-home order effective 12:01 a.m. Thursday April 8. The stay-at-home order requires all Ontarians to remain at home except for essential purposes such as grocery shopping, health-care services, exercise, and work that cannot be done remotely. The government is asking people to stay home and maintain which means that trips to a cottage or second residence should be avoided unless it is for emergency purposes. Marinas are among the business deemed essential. Marinas, boating clubs and other organizations that maintain docking facilities can continue to operate with conditions in place. First Nations access may be limited to comply with stay-at-home orders. If you must travel, please check ahead. The stay-at
The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) has formed Circular Great Lakes, whose ultimate aim is to ensure valuable materials never become waste or pollution in the Great Lakes, starting with plastics. GBA has been working on these issues for decades, most recently helping Norm Miller with his bill to eliminate the use of unencapsulated dock foam, with Georgian Bay Forever. - Read more here. -
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. 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, 0, 2, 2 and 3 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 6, 13, 15, 18 & 27 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are 7, 22, 20, & 15 inches, respectively, above their long term April average, whereas Lake Ontario is 13 inches below. All the lakes are now well below their
Yet again provisions to undermine environmental protections are being snuck into other legislation. In this case including in Bill 257 Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act, 2021, a Schedule 3, which proposes to amend the Planning Act so that both existing and future Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) would no longer have to be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). - Read more here. -
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller’s private member’s Bill 228, Keeping Polystyrene Out of Ontario’s Lakes and Rivers Act was unanimously passed after being reviewed by Ontario’s Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills. The efforts of GBA, Georgian Bay Forever, Federation of Ontario Cottager’s Association, Township of the Archipelago and others to support this bill are bearing fruit as the proposed legislation is moving toward the third and final reading – we will keep you posted. - Read more here. - You can help move this bill over the finish line by sending an email to your local MPP to ask them to support this important piece of legislation to keep this pollutant out of our Bay. Click here to find your MPP and send a quick email.
In the coming month, water levels are expected to rise on all lakes. Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are forecast to rise by 2 to 3 inches, while Lakes St. Clair and Erie are forecast to rise by 5 inches, and Lake Ontario is forecast to rise 9 inches by April 26th. Over the last two weeks temperatures have been above average, but this is not expected to continue over the next week. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. 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 and Ontario are down 1, 2, 0 and 1 inches respectively, and Lake Eri
GBA is renewing efforts to persuade the various levels of government to allow an exemption or variation from the rule banning non-essential cross-border travel for US citizens who own a seasonal property in Canada in time for the 2021 cottage season, when safe to do so, and with appropriate isolation, vaccination, and other conditions. Arguments include the very low risk to Canadians posed by our American friends and neighbours visiting their Georgian Bay homes. Read more here.
A watershed conditions statement for water safety has been issued for the Parry Sound District. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is advising that high flows, melting ice, and expected precipitation may cause hazards for boaters and anglers and may create slippery and unstable shoreline conditions. Flooding is not expected at this time, but residents and visitors should exercise caution while around water bodies and maintain close supervision of children and pets. This statement is in effect until Wednesday, March 31. See the statement here.
For the past ten years, the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) has been negotiating to purchase the private Skyline Nature Reserve, which includes a long stretch of the celebrated Heaven’s Gate Trail. This 1,984-acre land parcel will provide a link between Killarney Provincial Park and other protected lands along the Northeast Shore of Bay of Islands. On February 2, 2021, the vendor agreed to protect the land and accepted EBC’s offer of purchase. Protecting this land will ensure cleaner air, cleaner water, carbon sequestered, biodiversity saved, and places kept for generations to come for hiking or just sitting on a rock marveling at the landscape. For further information, please visit: https://escarpment.ca/about/campaigns/save-la-cloche-mountains
Over the last two weeks temperatures have been above average, but this is not expected to continue over the next week. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. 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 and Ontario are all down 2 inches, and Lake Erie is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 7, 11, 11, 15 & 28 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are 6, 24, 24, & 19 inches, respectively, ab
Water levels >>
Planning Issues >>
Dock Foam >>
Septic Management and Inspections >>
Waste Collection >>
Aquaculture on the Bay >>
COVID-19 Access for Seasonal Residents >>
GBA will continue to work with government and non-government agencies in the US and Canada to determine if and how a better job can be done to improve coordination between the different control structures that affect our water levels. The aim is to do the best we can to mitigate and address the impacts of extreme high and low water levels which are expected to worsen if climate change impacts unfold as expected. We will also be surfacing any issues on the accuracy and completeness of water levels data and exploring how water levels data can be enhanced to improve ease of interpretation and better inform decision making including adaption strategies.
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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