Lake Michigan-Huron is now 7 inches hgher 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 up 7, 14, 11, 9 & 15 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario levels are up 4, 7, 2 & 17 inches, respectively, from last year. Lake Erie levels are the same as they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 0, 2, 1 & 10 inches above their long-term May averages. Lake Superior is 1 inch below its long-term May averages. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expected to rise by 4, 3, 2, 2 & 4 inches, res

It is officially spring on Georgian Bay. The ice has cleared, boats are going in, and the sun finally has some real heat behind it—but the water remains dangerously cold. - The recent tragedy on Heart Lake in Brampton on April 11, 2026, is a devastating reminder that you don't need a storm or a massive lake to lose your life. A man and woman in their 30s—in a simple canoe on a calm, inland lake—capsized. Despite being close to shore and within earshot of bystanders, the man did not survive. Neither were wearing lifejackets. - Cold Water Season on the Bay Lasts from October through June For Georgian Bay, the "summer" window is smaller than you think. Water is considered dangerously cold before June 15 and after September 15. In 2025, 10 out of 19 marine fatalities in O

Ontario Corps is the province’s premier emergency response initiative, designed to unite skilled professionals, community volunteers, and private-sector partners under a single mission: protecting Ontario during times of crisis. Managed by the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response, the program bridges the gap between traditional emergency services and community-led relief. - The Foundation: A Network of Everyday Heroes  Established in late 2024, Ontario Corps provides a "rapid-response" layer for communities overwhelmed by natural disasters. It operates on a volunteer-driven model where participants, depending on their skills, are matched with needs such as:  Infrastructure Support: Debris removal and flood barrier construction Humanitarian Aid: Wellness ch

The federal review of TC Energy’s (TCE) proposed pumped storage project in Meaford has reached a new phase with the release of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada's (IAAC) Summary of Issues, which outlines the environmental, social, and technical risks that must be addressed before the project moves forward. - The IAAC received over 420 comments during this initial consultation phase, including a submission from GBA, and it is promising to see that several of the IAAC’s key requirements mirror specific concerns raised by GBA, including the risk of disturbing PFAS and PCBs in the soil around the site, the potential for water quality degredation, and  habitat disruptions. - Identified Areas of Concern Based on feedback, the IAAC has flagged several areas of concern that TCE

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 6 inches hgher 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 up 4, 12, 12, 11 & 17 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario levels are up 3, 6, 3 & 15 inches, respectively, from last year. Lake Erie levels are lower by 2 inches than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 2, 5, 2 & 13 inches above their long-term April averages. Lake Superior is 1 inch below its long-term April averages. All the lakes remain well below their April record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expected to rise by 4, 3, 1, 3 &

On Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 PM, GBA invites you to go beneath the surface for a comprehensive look at the shifting ecology of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. - Join us for an exclusive 90-minute webinar with Arunas Liskauskas — renowned biologist featured in the documentary All Too Clear — for an in-depth look at the fish populations of Georgian Bay. From walleye and trout to pike, salmon, and channel catfish, Arunas will walk us through the latest data on each species and explore what’s driving population changes across the Bay. - Meet the Expert: Arunas Liskauskas Arunas’s life and career have been defined by the waters he protects. He spent his youth learning to fish the waters of Severn Sound near Waubaushene, a passion that led him to pursue an Hon. BSc. in Fisherie

The Canadian Coast Guard’s Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) program will hold search and rescue training for crews between April 24 and May 11, 2026 in Parry Sound, Ontario.  Training will be carried out during daytime and nighttime hours at the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) base in Parry Sound and surrounding waters south to Midland, and north to Britt. The public can expect to see upwards of 10 CCG Zodiac Fast Rescue Craft and helicopters throughout the area. There is no real emergency or danger to the public.  This training certifies and prepares students to respond to marine emergencies during the summer months, such as, but not limited to, medical emergencies, persons overboard, vessels aground, vessels taking on water, and disabled vessels.  Each summer, the Canadian Coast Guar

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 4 inches hgher 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 up 2, 10, 11, 8 & 15 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario levels are up 4, 4 & 11 inches, respectively, from last year. Lake St. Clair levels remain the same as this time last year, while Lake Erie levels are lower by 6 inches than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Erie are 2, 2 & 2 inches below their long-term April averages. Lakes St. Clair & Ontario are 2 & 8 inches above their long-term April averages. All the lakes remain well below their April record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair,

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