2018-Apr-23
Water Quality
Water quality issues fall into three categories:
- Water purity
- Recreational water quality
- Water Ecosystem
Water quality issues fall into three categories:
Ontario voters will soon be heading to the polls. We encourage all GBA members to question prospective MPP candidates' commitment to protecting the Great Lakes, particularly concerning issues affecting Georgian Bay. This is best done at “all candidates” meetings in your riding, but other meetings or approaches to individual candidates also provide an opportunity. Cottage owners and waterfront communities along eastern Georgian Bay substantially contribute to Ontario's economy. According to a 2022 GBA survey, our members collectively spend between $134 million and $144 million annually. Given that GBA members represent approximately 55 per cent of all Georgian Bay residents, the total expenditure by all waterfront property owners in the area is estimated to be around $244 million ann
Lake Michigan-Huron is now 11 inches below its level 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, 9, 4 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 11, 21, 14 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie are 0 & 2 inches above their long-term January averages, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 7, 7 & 4 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their January record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are expected to fall by 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair, Erie
The federal government announced on Friday January 31, that it would defer the implementation of the capital gains inclusion rate change from June 25, 2024, to January 1, 2026. According to the Finance Minister the deferral "will provide certainty to Canadians" as tax season approaches. This comes after the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced earlier this month that they would continue to manage the tax under the proposed rules included in the Notice of Ways and Means Motion tabled on September 23, 2024, even though they have not been passed into law. Ottawa also said it would pair a new $250,000 annual threshold for Canadians effective Jan. 1 2026, with the increase to the lifetime capital gains to “ensure individuals earning modest capital gains” can benefit from the one-hal
The Ford government is using $285 million in taxpayer money to advance the TC Energy pumped storage project in Meaford. This project aims to provide up to 1,000 megawatts of energy storage by pumping water from Georgian Bay into a reservoir during off-peak hours and releasing it back into the Bay to generate electricity during peak demand. The $285 million investment will cover the project's pre-development costs, including the completion of a detailed cost estimate and environmental assessments. Save Georgian Bay, a vocal critic of the project, argues that this is a normal business expense that TC Energy, a company with a market value of $71 billion, should cover itself. GBA has expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact of this project on Georgian Bay's freshwa
A recent incident in Smiths Falls, where a 14-year-old boy fell through the ice into the Rideau River, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of venturing onto frozen water. Fortunately, the teenager was rescued quickly and treated for hypothermia (you can watch the dramatic rescue here). While OPP and fire services are trained to respond to ice and water rescues, precious time can be lost as they travel to the scene. This delay can be critical, as the effects of hypothermia can set in quickly. Knowing how to self-rescue can significantly increase your chances of survival. Whether you're ice fishing, snowmobiling, or simply taking a winter stroll, it's crucial to be prepared for the unexpected. CBC and Boreal River Rescue have some great advice to help yourself and others if y
In the early 20th century, a mysterious ecological crisis nearly wiped out the prized fish species in the Great Lakes, ruining local industries, damaging small town economies and indigenous communities, and destroying livelihoods in the United States and Canada. A dedicated group of scientists, policymakers, and conservationists tackled the mystery, and their story is now being told in a new documentary. - The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery, set for release on January 31, explores the devastating impact of the invasive sea lamprey on the Great Lakes ecosystem. The documentary features stunning footage of the Great Lakes and its inhabitants, as well as interviews with experts and individuals affected by the sea lamprey invasion. - The film will be relea
The recent arctic blast has caused ice cover on the Great Lakes to surge to levels not seen since 2022! As of January 23, the combined ice cover for all the Great Lakes reached 23.2%, just shy of the region's normal ice coverage of about 24% by this point in January. This is a significant increase from the less than 2% ice cover at the beginning of the month. - Each of the individual Great Lakes have also had significant increases in ice coverage with Lake Huron reaching 25.3%, Lake Michigan at 21.5%, Lake Ontario at 13.4%, and Lake Superior at 8.2%. with Lake Erie being the most affected. As of January 23, Lake Erie's ice cover had risen to 85.1%, up from 28.1% just the week before. The rapid formation of ice on Lake Erie has also caused disruptions to shipping, with a Canadi
Lake Michigan-Huron is 9 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are down 3 & 1 inches, Lakes St. Clair, Ontario and Erie are up 4, 1 & 2 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 9, 13, 6 & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie are 8 & 5 inches above their long-term January averages, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are all 7, 6 & 4 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their January record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & St. Clair are expected to fall by 2, 1 & 3 inches,
- https://youtu.be/T7HHOMsB4YY No Ice is Ever 100% Safe Don't overestimate the strength or quality of ice! Always, always use extreme caution if you are venturing out on a frozen lake. Before you go, there are three key steps to perform to assess the safety of the ice: - 1. Complete a Visual Inspection - Look for: cracks, breaks, holes in the ice or flowing water water sitting on top of the ice ice that appears soft or mushy ice that appears to have thawed and refrozen If you see any of these signs during your visual inspection, do not go out onto the ice! - It’s important to remember too that logs and rocks absorb the heat from the sun, which may result in faster melting and slower formation of ice in those areas. - 2. Check the Ice Colour - The
A significant development is on the horizon for the expansion of Highway 69 south of Sudbury. Henvey Inlet First Nation Chief Wayne McQuabbie has announced that a deal with the province could be ratified as early as June, paving the way for an expansion from two lanes to four lanes on a 68-kilometre stretch of the highway. The expansion to four lanes will reduce travel times and improve safety on this critical transportation route. This expansion of Highway 69 will involve reserve land from three First Nations: Henvey Inlet First Nation, Shawanaga First Nation, and Magnetawan First Nation. Chief McQuabbie noted that Henvey Inlet First Nation has agreed to surrender 31.3 acres of reserve lands for the highway construction in exchange for 100 acres of land from the provi
Lake Michigan-Huron is 9 inches below its level at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & St. Clair are down 3, 1 & 1 inches, Lake Ontario is up 2 inches and Lake Erie remains the same. Lakes Superior Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 9, 11, 6 & 5 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie are 2 & 4 inches above their long-term January averages, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are all 7, 5 & 4 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their January record highs. - In a month, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are expected to fall by 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Cl
Recent incidents on Lake Ontario, Lake Scugog, and Lake Simcoe are a stark reminder of the dangers of thin ice at this time of the year. Last week a Toronto man in his 70s tragically died after falling through the ice while skating on Lake Ontario, two people fell through thin ice on Lake Scugog but managed to escape safely, and a lone fisherman on Lake Simcoe was rescued after being trapped on an ice floe 450 when strong winds broke the ice, leaving him stranded. Recent cold weather may give some people a false sense of security about ice conditions, but the OPP have a simple message for anyone venturing out onto any frozen bodies of water: NO ICE IS SAFE! Even if the ice appears thick enough, there are still risks. Ice quality and thickness can change quickl