2018-Apr-18
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Temperatures this past week in the Great Lakes basin were unseasonably warm. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. 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 & Ontario are down 3, 1, 4, 3 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 4, 2, 3, 2 & 17 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 31, 27, 24 &
GBA has added their voice to comments submitted to the Ontario government on the proposed Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) project list spearheaded by the Canadian Environmental Law Association. This list inappropriately restricts the application of Comprehensive Environmental Assessments to a relatively small number of major infrastructure projects and, amongst other shortcomings, does not include any objective, persuasive, or evidence-based justification on why the selected projects are on this list in the first place. See the GBA submission here. -
GBA joined the Green Budget Coalition in calling for non-partisan support for a sufficient budget to protect 25% of both lands and inland waters and coastal waters by 2025, and 30% by 2030. GBA's submission can be found here: Protected Areas in Canada GBA submission Nov 7 2020 - Twenty-five of Canada’s largest environmental and conservation organizations form the Green Budget Coalition. Together, these groups have more than a million members and supporters, and decades of experience solving Canada’s biggest environmental challenges. The Green Budget Coalition's report Recommendations for Recovery and Budget Actions in 2020-2021 can be found here. -
A new report by the International Joint Commission (IJC) examines seven of the biggest stressors currently plaguing the Great Lakes to learn how they interact to affect the health of the lakes. An Evaluation of Stressor Interactions in the Great Lakes looks at fish harvest, habitat loss, nutrients, pathogens, climate change, invasive species and toxic chemicals and the compounding effect these problems can have. One of the key stressor combinations identified in the report is the interaction of climate change with nutrient pollution resulting in increased algae blooms. GBA attended this webinar and had a follow up meeting with the IJC at which we asked them to research how stressors caused by open net pen aquaculture in Lake Huron could be causing negative interactions with other stressor
Temperatures this past week in the Great Lakes basin were unseasonably warm. For the upcoming week, temperatures will be more seasonable across the basin, and the next large system will move into the region Saturday night into Sunday, bringing widespread precipitation to the basin. Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. 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 either the same as, or lower than, they were at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 2, 4, 2 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Super
An innovative Canadian business is helping to cull the invasive Asian carp in a unique way. Wilder Harrier, based in Montreal, is an ethical pet food company that uses non-traditional ingredients in its products. The company plans to import 50 to 100 tons of Asian carp over the next year from fishers in the Illinois River Basin to produce an easily digestible food for dogs. The new dog food has been tested and is now sold in pet supply stores in the province of Quebec and will be available in the rest of Canada at the beginning of 2021. Read more here.
Parry Sound-Muskoka's MPP has added his support to the Archipelago, Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) and GBA in calling for ban on unencapsulated dock foam. Norm Miller has introduced the Keeping Polystyrene Out of Ontario's Lakes and Rivers Act at Queen's Park. This private member’s bill is designed to reduce polystyrene pollution by requiring any foam used in the construction of docks and rafts to be fully encapsulated. - GBA has been working with Georgian Bay Forever on their say no to dock foam committee and this support from Norm Miller is a welcome move forward towards a ban on the use of unencapsulated dock foam for new docks or repairs. Read more here. -
Francis Pegahmagabow, whose First Nation name was Binaaswi (The Wind), was a decorated war hero who called both the Wasauksing and Shawanaga First Nations home. Among the many books inspired by or written about him is Three-Day Road, by Joseph Boyden, and Sounding Thunder, by Brian D. McInnes. - Francis Pegahmagabow is one of eight finalists, selected from a list of 600 eligible candidates, in consideration to be featured on the new $5 bill. Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, will announce the new face of the $5 bill early in the new year. - Read more about Francis Pegahmagabow's life here.
For the month of October, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron has received approximately 20% above average precipitation. Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. 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 either the same as, or lower than, they were at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 3, 3, 4, 3 & 5 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 6, 3, 4, 1 & 18 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superio
For the month of October, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron has received approximately 20% above average precipitation. Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but all the lakes are continuing their seasonal declines. 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 either the same as, or lower than, they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 2, 2, 2 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 6, 1, 2, 0 & 15 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superi
The Georgian Bay Biosphere, has dropped the word “Reserve” from its name and adopted a bilingual Anishinabemowin (the Ojibway language) place name: Mnidoo Gamii – Spirit of the Water. The UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Biosphere area stretches 200 km along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay and includes territory of at least nine First Nations. Read about how GBB made this choice here.
It would be difficult to find any other scientist who has done more to protect the ecology of Georgian Bay than Karl Schiefer. His professional expertise was immensely valuable to GBA and other Georgian Bay organizations over the years. Karl passed away on September 17, 2019 and his family had hoped to have a celebration of his life in the spring. In lieu of this, Karl's family has put together an online celebration. Please find the tribute to his life here. - Karl delivered a four-part presentation at the GBA 100th Anniversary event in 2016. Entitled Unique Ecosystems of Georgian Bay, these videos exemplify his passion for the Bay. - Unique Ecosystems of Georgian Bay Part 1 - Physical Environment Unique Ecosystems of Georgian Bay Part 2 - Chemical and Biological Unique Ec