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 & Ontario are up 2, 2, 0 & 0 inches, respectively. Lake Erie is down 1 inch. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, & Erie are lower by 4, 4 & 2 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior & Ontario are up 5 & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 9, 5, 9, 9 & 10 inches, respectively, above their long term June average. All the lakes remain well below their June record highs, except for Superior which is only 6 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superio
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 up 6, 4, 3, 0 & 6 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, & Erie are lower by 3, 1 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior & Ontario are up 7 & 8 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 13, 7, 13, 13 & 13 inches, respectively, above their long term May average. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs, except for Superior which is only 3 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michi
Transport Canada invites you to have your say on the proposed changes to Small Vessel Regulations regarding Pleasure Craft Licenses (PCL). A PCL is a document issued by Transport Canada which contains a unique number used to trace a vessel to its owner. This number (displayed on the front of your boat) allows police and search and rescue personnel to access important information in an emergency and also supports accountability and compliance with safety and environmental regulations. This affects us all as the PCL is required for all vessels with 10 or more horsepower. The proposed changes have been published in Canada Gazette 1 and include: the establishment of a 5 year validity period (currently 10 year) licence holders will be required to notify transport Canada of any chang
The issue of floating cottages is a topic GBA has been working on for many years, and last year we formed a strategic committee with multiple organizations, and municipalities to engage with the relevant government agencies to get these structures properly regulated. The helpful proposed MNRF regulations to prevent floating cottages from tying up to crown land and anchoring overnight are much appreciated, but GBA is asking again for MNRF to help get the needed changes to Transport Canada (TC) regulations. The strategic committee that GBA formed is prioritizing this and has developed a comprehensive strategy to push TC to make the needed changes so that these floating accommodation units can be properly regulated and located. See GBA’s letter here and the full details of GBA actio
GBA supports municipalities having the ability to regulate development within their jurisdiction through policies and by-laws. We are concerned that under the current Transport Canada regulations the construction of a water aerodrome is able to bypass the planning and environmental impact assessment processes. GBA recognizes that residents with float planes need to have a safe place to dock, but construction of such dock facilities should follow the same rules as apply to all other shoreline structures - municipal planning regulations and provincial environmental assessments. Please support the petition that is being circulated to ban circumvention of these rules. For further details see GBA’s letter to Transport Canada here.
The bi-national GLFC does important work for you and needs Canada to honour their funding commitments to ensure operations, such as controlling sea lamprey populations, are not interrupted. GBA has written in support of the GLFC and their request for a funding method that will provide this needed stability. See full details here and GBA’s letter here.
When you open your Summer 2023 UPDATE from GBA you'll notice a little something extra courtesy of BrokerLink Insurance. GBA has teamed up with BrokerLink to design a magnet for your fridge so that you can jot down your 3 words and post them in a prominent place for reference in the event of an emergency. what3words is an app that divides the world into 3m squares and gives each square a unique combination of three words. what3words addresses are easy to say and share, and as accurate as GPS coordinates. 9-1-1 and emergency services in North America are using what3words to help them find people who are in need of help and are unable to give an easily identifiable location especially in remote areas and on vast waterways. If you haven't already done so, download the app today and keep i
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 up 7, 5, 4, 1 & 9 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron & St Clair are lower by 2 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior, Erie & Ontario are up 9, 0 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 13, 7, 13, 13 & 14 inches, respectively, above their long term May average. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs, except for Superior which is only 3 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron,Â
During warm late spring and summer months, should a Lake Trout caught in deep, cold water be released? Anglers need to understand, before releasing their fish, how water pressure and temperature can determine the fate of the fish’s life. Deep, cold-water species like Lake Trout swim at depths ranging from 35 feet (10.7m) to 65 feet (19.8m) during the warmer months. Swimming at these normal depths, the swim bladder (see diagram) in the fish’s body is regulating depth and buoyancy while water pressure is keeping the swim bladder small. When the fish is caught at these lower depths and is hauled to the surface, the water pressure declines causing the swim bladder to rapidly expand. This is called Barotrauma pressure shock. The Trout will not have sufficient time to absorb the bu
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 up  10, 6, 2. 1 & 11 inches, respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron & St Clair are lower by 2 & 0 inches, respectively, and Lakes Superior, Erie & Ontario are up 10, 0 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 12, 8, 13, 13 & 15 inches, respectively, above their long term May average. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs, except for Superior which is only 4 inches below. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michiga
In March of 2022 Transport Canada (TC) conducted a Let's Talk Transportation consultation asking the public to give their opinions on potential regulations for small vessel noise emissions. There were 5 options ranging from doing nothing to creating performance standards for both small vessel manufacturers and operators. Over 2,300 people responded with a strong majority in favour of noise emission regulations of some sort. Your voices were heard and it looks like TC is moving toward Option 5 which will have performance standards for both manufacturers and operators with applicable S.A.E. standards for both idling at the dock and passing by noise emissions. The next step in the process will be posting the proposed changes in regulations to Canada Gazette 1 at which point the public w
Ontario’s 2023 Fishing Regulations require the immediate release of fish caught in a designated fish sanctuary zone, out of season, over the daily catch or restricted size, and an endangered or threatened fish species. Round Gobies and other invasives must not go back into the water. Fish caught in open season, meeting legal size and daily catch limits, but not intended for the dinner table, require immediate release at the time and place of capture. One exception to the rule allows anglers, fishing from boats or in fishing tournaments, to delay releasing fish if kept in a live well with a mechanical aerator. Anglers must regularly monitor their fish and when released ensure they are healthy and that any kept fall within catch and possession limits. Requiring anglers to release