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:
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 11 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Erie & Ontario are down 1, 0 & 2 inches, respectively, while Lakes St. Clair is up 9 inches, and Lake Ontario is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 11, 10, 14 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake St. Clair, Erie & Lake Ontario are 6, 9, 1, 2 & 9 inches below their long-term March averages. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 1, 2, 4, 6 & 8 inches,
In a significant move to address environmental and health concerns, the Canadian government has designated most perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This classification gives the government the authority to regulate and potentially ban the use of these "forever chemicals" in various products. PFAS, or "forever chemicals", are a class of approximately 15,000 synthetic chemicals used to make products that resist water, oil, grease and heat, including makeup, stain-proof furniture, outdoor gear, and firefighting foam. These compounds do not break down in the environment and have been linked to various health issues, including kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, reproductive
what3words (w3w), an innovative location-based platform, is making a significant impact in emergency response situations across the province and has been consistently utilized by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) over the past two years, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness in a variety of critical situations. In 2023, w3w was used by the OPP in 80 occurrences. In 2024 that jumped to 94 occurrences with 37 of those incidents involving individuals who became lost on trails and in forests. w3w enabled emergency responders to pinpoint the exact location of those in need, ensuring timely and effective rescues. The platform has been instrumental in several recent high-profile rescues, including: App helps save hiker injured in On
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 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, 2, 6, 2 & 0inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 11, 17, 14 & 10 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Erie is 1 inch above the long-term February average, andLakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake St. Clair & Lake Ontario are 8, 8, 4 & 7 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 0, 1, 10, 5 & 5 inches, respectively
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 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, 2, 21, 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 7, 11, 24, 13 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Erie is 2 inches above the long-term February average, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario are 8, 8, 11 & 6 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 0, 1, 17, 4 & 5 inches, resp
We are writing to express our deep concern over the Ontario government’s decision to allocate up to $285 million in taxpayer funds for cost estimates and environmental assessments to advance the TC Energy pumped storage project in Meaford. - The Georgian Bay Association (GBA) represents 18 community associations along the east and north shores of Georgian Bay. This includes four municipalities—Township of The Archipelago, Township of Georgian Bay, Town of Parry Sound, and McDougall—that have passed resolutions opposing the project due to concerns about its far-reaching impacts on the greater Georgian Bay region. - While we acknowledge the government's intent to address energy demands, GBA has serious concerns about the proposed project's costs to taxpayers and risks to water qual
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 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, 2, 21, 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 7, 11, 24, 13 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Erie is 2 inches above the long-term February average, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario are 8, 8, 11 & 6 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 0, 1, 17, 4 & 5 inches,
Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, has put the brakes on a $1.2 billion project at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam aimed at keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes, citing concerns that President Donald Trump's administration may not cover the federal government's share of the costs. - The project, which involves installing technologies such as bubble curtains, electric fields, and sound frequencies to deter and stun carp before they can enter Lake Michigan, has been in development since 2020. Governor Pritzker is seeking written assurances from the federal government that it will provide the necessary funding before proceeding, to prevent the state from being on the hook for the project's costs. - The Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, is the
Over the years, the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) has led the charge in educating boaters on the dangers of cold-water immersion. Despite these efforts, drowning incidents still occur, even in warmer waters, with boaters, regardless of swimming ability, losing their lives after falling overboard. To address this ongoing issue, The Shock Factor was launched as a three-year national campaign aimed at reducing drowning incidents and improving Search and Rescue outcomes by revealing how vulnerable boaters are to drowning during accidental immersion. The Premise Behind the Shock Factor The primary goal of The Shock Factor experiments was to challenge misconceptions about lifejacket use. Many boaters excuse not wearing a lifejacket, citing reasons like confidence, swimming ability
It's Snowmobile Safety Week and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are urging all snowmobilers to prioritize safety. Over the past decade, 145 snowmobilers have died in OPP jurisdictions, with excessive speed, alcohol impairment, inattention, and lack of helmet use being the main causes. Frozen waterways are particularly dangerous, accounting for nearly 40% of fatalities. Riders are encouraged to avoid frozen lakes and rivers and use OFSC's trail network, supported by real-time status updates through the Interactive Trail Guide (ITG). Accessing closed trails is illegal. The OPP conducts snowmobile patrols and enforces safety through its Snowmobile, ATV, and Vessel Enforcement (S.A.V.E.) teams to reduce accidents and fatalities. O
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 4, 2, 9, 4 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 11, 16, 14 & 10 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie are 0 & 3 inches above their long-term January averages, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 7, 7 & 6 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 1 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair, Erie &
A recent study published in Nature Medicine has found microplastics in human brains, accumulating over time to the equivalent of a plastic spoon! Researchers at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have detected microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in human kidney, liver, and brain tissues. The research, which analyzed post-mortem samples, found that brain tissues harbored higher concentrations of MNPs, primarily consisting of polyethylene. The study also revealed that dementia patients had up to 10 times the amount of plastic in their brains compared to others. Alarmingly, researchers found a 50% increase in microplastic levels in brain tissue samples over the past eight years, and a significant increase in MNP concentrations in liver and brain samples from 2