GBA’s current Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2025 can be viewed here.
Plans, priorities and committee structures are reviewed and updated from time to time as required, and details can be found on the GBA website, as referenced in the Strategic Plan.
GBA AGM 2023
GBA held its 107th Meeting of Members on April 15, 2023. Summaries and highlights of the wide range of issues and topics that we deal with on behalf of our members were presented and discussed. You can view the presentations here.
In September the basin experienced above average temperatures and less than half the usual level of precipitation. - Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are down 2, 4, 7, 5 & 9 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are lower by 2 & 2 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 3 & 11 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 3, 11, 12 & 2 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their
September 30 is Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. How will you mark the day? Think about the children and families of our neighbours who were and continue to be impacted by the residential school system Wear orange in honour of the children who did not come home, those who have lived as survivors and their families Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action and look for ways to bring action to reconciliation Commit to learning about the people who’s traditional territory we live on. Here are some great resources: Shawanaga First Nation has an interesting history of The First Peoples of Georgian Bay Georgian Bay Biosphere has an extensive collection of resources for cultural learning The National Centre for
Wakes have been an ongoing problem, and have been exacerbated more recently by wake surfing boats that are weighted down at the stern to produce large wakes for surfing. The wakes produced by these boats can be as high as 6 feet and have been known to flip boats up onto docks. All wakes can cause destructive turbidity threatening shorelines and fish, fowl and wildlife habitats. GBA has joined a new coalition to take on the wake issue led by Safe Quiet Lakes that currently includes: the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Association, Muskoka Lakes Association, Haliburton Property Owners Association, L’Association pour l’Amélioration du Lac Manitou, and the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and is expected to grow. The coalition is aiming to get Ontario to implement provincewide regulations
Boating from October through June can offer a very different experience steeped in solitude and excellent fishing. It is a beautiful time to be on the water. But boating during this cold water season also requires extra attention to detail and the ability to be self-sufficient given that there are fewer boaters on the water 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. Dress for the water temperature rather than the air temperature this can help slow the progression of hypothermia should you find yourself in the water Check the weather forecast weather can change quickly and storms can be more violent fog is also
The Georgian Bay Biosphere's (GBB) incubation program preserved 1,728 eggs this year to help boost Ontario's at-risk turtle populations. Turtle nests are generally laid in soil that is easy to dig and provides proper moisture which makes roadside sand and gravel and appealing place to nest. GBB staff working with roadside construction crews to rescue vulnerable roadside turtle eggs which are then incubated at GBB's facility and released back to the roadside wetlands where they were collected. This turtle incubation program has collected approximately 9,000 vulnerable eggs from Blanding’s, Snapping, Painted, and Map Turtles over the last four years. All of the eight turtle species in Ontario are currently listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern by COSSARO (Committee
Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are down 2, 2, 4, 2 & 8 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are lower by 3 & 2 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 0, 3 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 4, 11, 12 & 4 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 10 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior &
It's September and that means bears are starting to prepare for winter. Most bears are focused on finding as much food as possible to prepare for winter. The quest for calories means bears are active and foraging. As the wild food sources bears rely on become more scarce. Improper food disposal, untidy garbage cans, poorly cleaned BBQ’s, and bird feeders may provide just the feast hungry bears are looking for. Whether you are closing the cottage for the season or just between stays, here are some precautions you can take: Before leaving your cottage make sure to: remove your garbage take it home or drop it off at an approved waste disposal site on your way use a strong disinfectant to eliminate all odours from garbage and recycling containers and lids never disca
Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are down 0, 2, 2, 0 & 6 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron is lower by 3 inches, and Lakes Superior, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 2, 4 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 5, 13, 15 & 7 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 8 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair,
Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to the biodiversity of Ontario's waters, wetlands and woodlands by displacing our native species and upsetting the delicate nature of our ecosystems. And they love hitching a ride on your boat! In 2022, rules came into effect in Ontario requiring boat owners to take “reasonable precautions to remove all aquatic plants, animals and algae from any boat, boat equipment, vehicle or trailer” before transporting a boat or boating equipment overland. When getting ready to retrieve your boat this year, remember Clean, Drain and Dry to help keep invasives in check. Upon Retrieval of your boat: Clean As soon as the boat is removed from the water, visually inspect all equipment (watercraft, trailer and gear) for aquatic
Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 0, 1, 2, 0 & 5 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron and St Clair are lower by 2 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior, Erie & Ontario are up 2, 3 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 6, 6, 12, 15 & 9 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, M
With the increase in traffic on our waterways, one Muskoka cottager is encouraging swimmers and paddlers to be seen when out on the water to increase the safety of these activities and to cut down on marine fatalities. Martha Robinette, founder of ICU Safety Aware, is now selling florescent hats and stickers at local Muskoka retailers and online through her website www.icusafetyaware.com to raise awareness about high-visibility gear on the water. In a news article Robinette recounted her own close call when she was on her paddle board and saw a plane coming in. She didn't know if the pilot could see her on the water and described having a "deer-in-the headlight moment." Whereas children’s gear tends to be bright and vibrant colours, adult gear and items such as lifejackets and padd
Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, Erie & Ontario, are down 0, 1, 0 & 4 inches, respectively, and Lakes St Clair is up 1 inch. Lake Michigan-Huron is lower by 3 inches, and Lakes Superior, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 4, 4 & 14 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 5, 6, 17, 17 & 10 inches, respectively, above their long-term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs, except for Superior which is only 7 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, M
