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Working with our water-based communities and other stakeholders to ensure the careful stewardship of the greater Georgian Bay environment.
The majority of the Great Lakes have entered their seasonal declines at this time but levels are still high compared to long term averages. Lake Superior and Lake St. Clair are one inch above their highest monthly average for September, Lake Erie is 2 inches above and Lakes Michigan-Huron and Ontario are 5 inches below. Lake levels are forecasted to continue their seasonal decline headed into October with predicted net decreases of 1 inch on Lake Superior, 3 inches on Lake Michigan-Huron, 5 inches on both Lake St. Clair and Erie, and 8 inches on Lake Ontario. Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are forecasted to be above average for September. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the Detroit River, are al
After escaping a Quebec fish farm in the 1990s, Eurasian tench fish made their way into the St. Lawrence River, threatening local fish and disrupting sport and commercial fishing in the area. This highly adaptable bottom-feeder may now be on its way to the Great Lakes. A member of the minnow family, tench fish are voracious eaters, reproduce quickly, and can tolerate low oxygen levels so well that they can live out of water for up to a day. This species tends to favour wetlands, which scientists fear may make the Great Lakes a place for this invasive fish to thrive. McGill University researchers are currently studying the effects Eurasian tench fish may have on other native fish species found in Quebec rivers to better understand the potential impacts of their spread. Read about how
Currently Lakes Superior and Ontario are at their highest September monthly average, Lake Michigan-Huron is 4 inches below, and Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 1 and 3 inches, respectively, above. Above average water levels will continue on the Great Lakes over the next month even though all of the lakes are predicted to continue their seasonal decline. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are forecasted to fall 1, 2, 5, 6, and 12 inches, respectively. Outflow from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River is forecasted to be above average for September. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the Detroit River, are also projected to be above average in September. Moreover, Lake Erie’s outflow through th
- Georgian Bay Association and Georgian Bay Forever are proud to present H20 2019, a symposium about topical issues important to the well-being of the Bay. Join us in Toronto on Saturday, October 19, 2019 for this half-day session focusing on the impact of climate change and possible mitigation strategies related to Georgian Bay. Expert speakers will provide valuable insights on water levels, septic systems, municipal challenges, and solar vs. hydro power. Seating is limited, so register today! - - -
Gail Krantzberg, a McMaster engineering professor, has co-edited a study that illustrates the economic and community benefits of cleaning up the Great Lakes. Her case study examined the transformation of Collingwood's harbour from an industrial brownfield, to a vibrant waterfront with beautiful homes and re-naturalized wetlands. The project, which cost about $3 million, is now bringing in $1 million per year in property taxes and non-tax revenue. Read more about the project and the case study on rehabilitation here.
Georgian Bay has lost a great artist and a great friend. Ed Bartram, 81, died Sunday August 25, 2019. One of Canada’s foremost painters and print makers, Ed used the diverse rock formations of Georgian Bay as his primary subject matter. His work showcases the natural geological beauty of Georgian Bay landscapes and can be found in public and private art collections around the world. Ed fell in love with the landscape of Georgian Bay as a camper at Camp Hurontario, and later purchased an island in Manitou, Bartram Island, where he built a cottage and studio. A local legend in the area, Ed was always generous with his art, often donating his work to help raise money for causes close to his heart. Ed’s obituary can be found here and you can read more about his life and his legacy her
High water levels are expected to continue on the Great Lakes despite the fact that all of the lakes are forecast to continue their seasonal declines over the next month. Lakes Superior, St. Clair and Erie are currently at their highest monthly average August water levels, whereas Lake Michigan-Huron is 4 inches below and Lake Ontario is 7 inches below their highest monthly average August levels. All of the Great Lakes are forecast to have a net decline in water level over the next month, with Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron falling 2 and 3 inches, respectively and Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario falling 4, 6, and 10 inches, respectively. Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River and the Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River are predicted to be
GBA continues to closely monitor the impacts on water quality from the fish farm operation at Lake Wolsey, an embayment of the North Channel on the north coast of Manitoulin island. We received photographs taken on the August Civic Holiday weekend by a local resident of the nasty blankets of algae in this bay, which prohibited normal enjoyment and impacted the safety of the waters. View the photos here: Algae on Lake Wolsey The same embayment has had annual toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) outbreaks as seen in the photo. These outbreaks pose a threat to humans, wildlife and pets. Public Health warnings are issued when this occurs. There appears to be a rise in dog deaths in North America from ingesting water containing cyanobacteria. Read more about it here.
High water levels are expected to continue on the Great Lakes despite the fact that all of the lake are expected to decline over the next month. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 2 and 3 inches, respectively, above their highest monthly average August levels. Lake Ontario is 4 inches below its highest monthly average August level. All of the Great Lakes are forecasted to decline over the next month as follows: Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario by 2, 3, 5, 6, and 12 inches, respectively. Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Marys River and the Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River are predicted to be above average for August. Outflows from Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River, and outflows from Lake Erie into the Niagara River, are als
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has directed Hydro One to eliminate the seasonal rate class affecting secondary and seasonal use properties, but Hydro One is recommending an alternative approach - read about it here. Eliminating the seasonal rate class means that the majority of current seasonal rate customers would be reclassified into one of two other rate categories depending on their location: R1 class for properties located in medium density areas, or R2 class for properties in low density areas. Customers moving to the R1 class would see a slight decrease in their monthly distribution charges because R1 designates an area of higher population and concentration and is therefore easier to service. These customers would see a decrease in their annual hydro bills estimated at $7 - $9 p
A $2.2 million investment from the federal government is ensuring that rural communities in the Parry Sound area will receive new or improved high-speed internet connectivity. Read more about the program and which communities will benefit here.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has just announced 26,514 acres, or approximately 60 percent of Cockburn Island, just west of Manitoulin Island, have been protected. The island contains hardwood forest, wetlands and inland lakes that provide habitats and migratory stops for a wide variety of plants and animals. Read more about the acquisition and the island’s ecological significance here.
- Georgian Bay Association and Georgian Bay Forever are proud to present H20 2019, a symposium about topical issues important to the well-being of the Bay. Join us in Toronto on Saturday, October 19, 2019 for this half-day session focusing on the impact of climate change and possible mitigation strategies related to Georgian Bay. Expert speakers will provide valuable insights on water levels, septic systems, municipal challenges, and solar vs. hydro power. Seating is limited, so register today! - - -
As nominated by Heather Sargent 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 B
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
Go Wild and Protect the Bay What is your connection to Georgian Bay? I came from a family of campers. We didn’t have a cottage. This was back in the 1960s and early 70s and Killbear Provincial Park was one of my favourite campgrounds. It’s where I saw my first rattlesnake and caught my first smallmouth bass. I was introduced to the South Channel in the early 1980s when my wife, Beth, invited me to her family cottage. We bought our own property in the late 90s and have made the annual trek from Alberta to Georgian Bay every year since. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? I believe that an individual’s actions are as important as government regulations for protecting Georgian Bay. We are the guardians of our property’s ecological health. Collectively, Guardi
Don’t Let Them Catch a Ride is part of Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program see www.invadingspecies.com. In partnership with the Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers Federation (FOCA) created a new aquatic invasive species sign for outdoor installation at marinas and boat launching sites. Signs are available to all FOCA members including Georgian Bay cottagers’ associations.
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