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:
Removing low-lying branches from your trees is a powerful way you can help minimize the spread of wildfires--but did you know that late winter is the best time to prune? Why winter? Less Stress: with trees in a dormant state, pruning is far less taxing on the tree's health No Pests: cold weather means minimal risk of insect infestation and disease Clear View: without thick foliage in the way, it’s easier to see what needs to go The 2-Metre Rule The 2-Metre Rule is one of the most effective ways to protect your property: simply prune all live and dead branches from the ground up to a height of two metres. By removing these low-lying "ladder fuels," you prevent ground fires from climbing into the treetops where they become much harder to control. So if you’re looki
Lake Michigan-Huron is 4 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie are down 2, 0, 2 & 2 inches, respectively, while Lake Ontario levels are up 2 inches. Lakes Superior, St. Clair & Ontario levels are up 2, 1 & 4 inches, respectively, from last year, while Lakes Michigan-Huron & Erie are lower by 4 & 8 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 12, 2, 5 & 3 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lake Superior levels are predicted to fall by 1 inch. Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expect
The federal government is taking a giant step in evaluating TC Energy’s proposed $7-billion Pumped Storage Project in Meaford. The federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) will be hosting its first public information session on the proposal to be built on the grounds of the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre. This hybrid meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, from 5 - 7 p.m. in Meaford Hall and on Zoom for those unable to join in person. This session will lay out TC Energy’s technical arguments for the project, the federal impact assessment and regulatory processes, and how to participate in the upcoming public comment period. The session will include presentations by: Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) Environment and Climate Change Canad
The Great Lakes are freezing over! Over the past two weeks, ice coverage has dramatically increased, with Lake Erie reaching a whopping 95% ice cover and the combined Great Lakes at 51% coverage. This rapid growth is thanks to the recent Arctic blast of below-normal temperatures affecting the eastern U.S. and the Great Lakes region. Georgian Bay is also experiencing a significant surge in ice coverage, with levels well above the historical average. As of February 5, 2026, the bay is almost completely frozen over, but not quite at 100%. According to data from the Canadian Ice Service and NOAA, the ice coverage varies by region. Northern Georgian Bay has an estimated 90% coverage, with mostly thin and medium lake ice, while Southern Georgian Bay has around 80% coverage, with consolidated
what3words (w3w) assigns a unique three-word address to every 3m x 3m square, making it a game-changer for emergency response in Ontario. In 2025, the OPP used it in 44 occurrences, including 5 marine distress calls. - The app is available for Apple and Android devices, but you don't even need it installed to be located. As long as the dispatchers has your cell phone number, they can text a link to your phone, which will provide your three-word address instantly. When cell service is spotty and landmarks are hard to describe, what3words is your lifeline! Watch this short video to see how what3words works or read more here.
In December, Meredith Denning, GBA ED, attended the second annual Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (GLFWI) coastal symposium in Burlington, Ontario, hosted by the Canada Water Agency and the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority. Despite wintry weather, nearly 80 attendees shared a day of presentations and discussions. The event featured presentations and panels on: Coastal resilience & adaptation Restoration approaches Science & modelling Collaboration & engagement Our GBA Associations even got a shout-out from Professor Chow-Fraser’s team, which is developing an assessment system to see how Georgian Bay wetlands cope with changes in water levels. GBA members have hosted her researchers many times over the years, a
The Governments of Canada and the United States have released the State of the Great Lakes (SOGL) 2025 report, a comprehensive overview of the Great Lakes ecosystem. This binational effort assesses the health of the Great Lakes, providing insights into trends, challenges, and progress. The report highlights: Great Lakes are a reliable source of drinking water Beaches are generally safe for swimming Progress on reducing toxic chemicals and invasive species Ongoing challenges with nutrient pollution (esp. Lake Erie) and invasive species like Zebra and Quagga Mussels Georgian Bay specifics can be found on page 38 of the report. GBA Executive Director, Meredith Denning, will attend the Great Lakes Public Forum next week where
Representatives of GBA’s Water Committee met with MP Scott Aitchison at his constituency office in Huntsville to discuss the need for federal regulation of wastewater from the growing cruise ship industry on Georgian Bay. For the past three years, Transport Canada has issued one-year interim orders on this topic, but a lasting set of regulations that’s tailored to the Bay’s unique ecology is needed. MP Aitchison agreed, and GBA looks forward to working with him and other Bay MPs to raise the profile of this topic in 2026. Read more about the cruise ship issue in Georgian Bay here.
The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) is celebrating a major victory for the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act (GLFRAA) has been passed by the U.S. House and Senate, ensuring continued federal funding for the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center through 2030. This funding will support research on native and invasive fish species, habitat conditions, and biological assessments, ensuring the long-term health of the Great Lakes. The passage of GLFRAA is a testament to the power of bipartisan support for the Great Lakes. Read the press release here.
Evan Budz, a Grade 10 student from Burlington, Ontario, is revolutionizing underwater conservation with his innovative robotic turtle. Originally inspired by watching a snapping turtle swim while on a camping trip, Evan designed his bionic turtle to mimic real turtle motions while detecting underwater threats like coral bleaching and invasive species. This approach minimizes ecosystem disruption and provides timely data to help better protect aquatic ecosystems. His project has earned him first prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair and the European Union Contest for Young Scientists and was showcased at the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (GLFEI) Coastal Areas symposium in December. Evan is now working on adding new functions to detect more environmental threats with a dr
Environment and Climate Change Canada's latest global mean temperature forecast indicates that 2026 will likely be among the hottest years on record, comparable to 2023 and 2025, and approaching 2024, which remains the warmest year ever observed. The predicted global mean temperature range is 1.35°C to 1.53°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the 13th consecutive year of temperatures exceeding 1.0°C above pre-industrial levels. Looking ahead, Canada’s long-term forecasts indicate that the period from 2026 to 2030 will likely be the hottest five-year period on record. The forecast is based on a made-in-Canada climate prediction system, providing governments, industry, and communities with reliable data to plan for the impacts of a warming climate. Read mor
Researchers at McGill University have identified specific bacteria that can indicate whether a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom in a lake is likely to be toxic, providing a potential early warning system for water contamination. The study collected water samples and analyzed DNA of the bacteria present. Some of these bacteria, specifically Burkholderiales – related to those known to break down cyanotoxins – were consistently more abundant in toxic blooms, suggesting they might be responding to the presence of toxins in the water. This innovative approach offers an early warning sign and is a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to current toxin testing methods, which are expensive and need to be repeated throughout a bloom period. By lever
