There are so many ways you can get involved in and around the Bay.
Take a minute to learn about all the organizations working to protect the Bay by exploring our guide to the GB5.
Or see how you and your entire family can contribute by becoming a Guardians of the Bay.
Who Does What on Georgian Bay? Your Guide to the GB5 Organizations Working to Protect the Bay
Read More...The “Guardians of the Bay” (GOTB) is an initiative to permeate a mentality of protection and preservation across all parties that touch Georgian Bay, in any way, big or small.
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The 2019 North American Safe Boating Awareness Week ( SBAW) Campaign is ramping up for this year's boating season. Since 1995, this campaign which is organized by the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC ), has been the mainstay of boating safety outreach to the over 16 million people who recreate on Canadian waters each season. The 2019 campaign will be no exception as they continue to strive to engrain safe and responsible boating practices as second nature on the water. The purpose of Safe Boating Awareness Week is to provide boaters, as they prepare to embark on another boating season, some key reminders that will help to keep them safe on the water throughout the season. At the core of the 2019 campaign are the 5 key messages that the CSBC has been consistently delivering to the
The corridor between Lakes Huron and Erie is home to a healthy and growing population of this ancient creature, read more… https://www.sarniathisweek.com/news/local-news/celebrating-the-st-clairs-mighty-sturgeon
Cold fronts and low pressure systems moved across the Great Lakes basin last week, which brought a drop in temperatures and rain. Low temperatures in the northern portions of the basin were near the freezing mark and prompted Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories in some regions. The recent wet conditions have caused water levels to climb and currently, water levels across the basin are 8 to 12 inches above last year’s water levels at this time. In the past month, all of the Great Lakes have experienced rises in water level with Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario rising by 5, 8, 12, 11, and 20 inches, respectively. The water levels of Lakes St. Clair and Erie are currently 4 inches above their record high monthly mean level for May, while Lake Superior is 1 inc
The Archipelago has a long history of prudent financial management demonstrated by maintaining strong reserves. This decision at their April 25th council meeting to help ensure sufficient funding for future infrastructure costs should be welcomed by all residents. Read more…
Protecting the Great Lakes from climate change impacts was the key rationale for this bill, which forces Trump to ensure that the US remains in the Paris Climate Accord and produce a plan for how the U.S. will meet its commitment to reduce pollution within 120 days. Read more…
This year GBA has arranged a free supply of these signs for all GBA associations to place on dock ramps and at marinas to help stem the spread of invasive species between water bodies. This year’s campaign is styled: Be a Hero; Transport Zero - How to “Be a Hero, Transport Zero” It only takes one person to create a problem. Most boaters and anglers in Georgian Bay and Northern Lake Huron know that zebra mussels, round gobies, spiny water fleas, Eurasian milfoil and other invasive species harm the environment. But not everyone is doing something about it. Boaters and anglers ignoring the spread of invasive species threaten the local economies along Georgian Bay which rely heavily on tourism, recreation, commerce and real estate. “Be a Hero, Transport Zero” is a campai
A wet weather pattern has resulted in heavier than normal rainfall over the last week for the southern portions of the Great Lakes Basin. Rainfall forecasts for the basin call for a continuation of the wet weather pattern with the southern portions of the basin expected to receive another 1 to 2 inches of rain in the next week while the northern reaches are expected to receive less than 0.5 inches. All of the Great Lakes are above their level of a month ago. Lake Michigan-Huron is 9 inches above its level last month, around 9 inches higher than it was a year ago, and is projected to rise 3 inches over the next month. Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River, and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River, are forecasted to be above average in May. Outflo
Precipitation in the overall Great Lakes basin has been around 25% above average thus far this month. Snow showers are expected in some areas this weekend. Lake Michigan-Huron is 8 inches above its level of a month ago, 9 inches above last year’s level, and is projected to rise 4 inches over the next 30 days The most recent clear satellite image is this one from April 28th, which shows that the ice cover in the North Channel and most of Georgian Bay has now largely gone, but there is still some ice in the Bay of Islands and McGregor Bay areas, and some which has likely been blown into the south-eastern part of the Bay. Best Regards Rupert Rupert Kindersley Executive Director (416) 985-7378 rkindersley@georgianbay.ca g
This great news for Georgian Bay is a joint project between GBLT and Canada’s Nature Fund, who provided $967,000, to protect one of eastern Georgian Bay's most biodiverse and undisturbed natural areas. GBA joins GBLT in thanking Minister Catherine McKenna, of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), for this funding, and Minister Carolyn Bennett, of Crown-Indigenous Relations, for her support… - This project establishes a foundation to support ongoing scientific research and will help to fulfill Canada's commitment to protect 17% of our lands and inland waters by 2020. - Press release: Tadenac press release - Attendees at the announcement: - - View of the Tadenac Conservation area: -
From the OPP for Bracebridge (BRACEBRIDGE, ON) - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Bracebridge Detachment are issuing a warning to early season boaters. Although many of our lakes are still mostly ice covered, the recent surge of melt water will likely begin to break up the ice pack and open the waterways to navigation. OPP wish to remind boaters that the thaw, combined with recent flooding, has left a massive amount of debris floating in the lakes. Timbers from broken structures, trees, and other debris will be scattered across the lakes and may be very difficult to see when partially submerged. Striking debris poses a serious hazard and can be catastrophic to a vessel and its passengers. If you must venture out onto the water, please be on the lookout for such debris
So far this month, the entire Great Lakes Basin has received 111% of average precipitation, with Lakes Superior and Lakes Michigan Huron at 143% and 119% respectively. More precipitation occurred this weekend primarily in the eastern part of the basin. - Lake Michigan-Huron is 4 inches higher than one month ago, 7 inches above its level of last year, and is projected to continue its upward seasonal trend, climbing 4 inches over the next 30 days. - Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River, and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River, are forecasted to be above average in April. Moreover, the outflow of Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River is predicted to be above average. - The most recent clear satellite image is this one
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has just released a useful guide on how to how we can all reduce our environmental footprints. Being a Guardian of the Bay also means doing what we can to reduce our individual consumption of carbon based fuels. - Here is a very good fact sheet and here is a full presentation on this topic. -
What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Cory Kozmik, Anthony Laforge, Samantha Noganosh, Chevaun Toulouse. We are the Lands and Resource Department for Magnetawan First Nation, in Britt, Ontario. - Source: Magnetawan First Nation Our connection to the Bay is the dense biodiversity that it hosts and the role its ecology plays in our lives, including the environment. It is also where ancestors of the Anishinabek Nation walked and practiced each day what it means to live with the land in reciprocity. The connection to the land and water is sacred to the Anishinaabe culture, and held very close to the communities that inhabit the area. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? We take great pride in being “Guardians” because it is our
My name is Eileen Maynard; I am 10 years old and the eldest of the 5th generation in my family at our cottage in Cognashene, part of the Georgian Bay Archipelago. Georgian Bay is so special to me. It is where I spend my summers and any weekend we can get free of our crazy life in the city. In the summer you can go swimming and tubing or out to islands for picnics. In the fall, it is so pretty with all of the colorful leaves and trees and a great time to go for a walk on Beausoleil Island. Being a Guardian of the Bay is important to me because Georgian Bay is vital to us and the animals around us. Being a Guardian of the Bay is a responsibility that we all have for keeping it healthy for the next 5 generations. Last year, with my grandfather, I applied for and was accepted as a vo
Sticking it to Garbage Along the Shoreline What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? My name’s Chloe Drayton and I’ve been going to Georgian Bay with my family since I was born - I’m only 7! It’s a nice, peaceful place and it’s nice to go swimming, look for turtles, go exploring on the rocks along the shore and spend time with my family. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? Because I want to help all the animals and plants in nature and because it’s nicer to enjoy the cottage when there isn’t garbage lying around. I also want to enjoy Georgian Bay for a long, long time so we have to keep it nice and clean. - What’s your story that helps to show your Guardian of the Bay values? Every year we walk around the shoreline of ou
