Water quality issues fall into three categories:
The Water Levels Committee works with Georgian Bay Forever and other NGOs to voice the interests of GBA members on water levels.
Learn more about what we do, as well as get tips on what you can do in this section.
Water Satellite Imagery
View a real time satellite image of the Bay here:
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
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
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
Over the past week, temperatures have been warmer than average across the Great Lakes basin. Lake Michigan-Huron is 4 inches higher than it was a month ago, 4 inches above its level last year, and is projected to rise 3 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. - The most recent clear satellite image is this one from April 10th, which shows that the ice cover on the Bay has retreated further, but the east and north shorelines are still completely covered. All the images since then have been too cloud covered to determine more recent coverage. - Best Regards, - Rupert - Rupert Kindersley - Executive
All of the Great Lakes are currently above their levels of last year. Lake Michigan-Huron is 6 inches above last year’s levels, 3 inches higher than it was a month ago, and is projected to climb 3 to 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 from April 4th, which shows that the ice cover on the Bay has retreated further, but the east and north shorelines are still completely covered. All the images since then have been too cloud covered to determine more rece
Lake Michigan-Huron has risen 2 inches over the last month, is 6 inches above the previous year’s level, and is forecasted to rise 4 inches over the coming month. - Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River is predicted to be above average in March. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow of Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River are projected to be above average. - The most recent clear satellite image is this one from March 29th, which shows that the ice cover on the Bay has retreated further, but the east and north shorelines are still completely covered. A mainly cloudy image from yesterday appears to show that more of the ice out in the middle has broken up with some blown across to the west side of the Bay. -
Lake Michigan-Huron is 1 inch above its levels of a month ago, 4 inches above its level of a year ago, and is expected to rise 3 inches over the next month. - Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River is predicted to be above average in March. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow of Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River are projected to be above average. - The only clear satellite image is this one from March 12th, which shows that the ice cover on the Bay has retreated to about 60% coverage with the warmer temperatures. - Best Regards - Rupert Rupert KindersleyExecutive Director(416) 985-7378rkindersley@georgianbay.ca
Lake Michigan-Huron has risen 1 inch in the last month, is about 3 inches higher than last year, and is expected to begin its seasonal rise over the next month, rising by 3 inches. - Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River is predicted to be above average in March. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow of Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River are projected to be above average. - - This satellite image from March 9th shows that almost the entire Bay is now covered by ice. - Best Regards - Rupert Rupert KindersleyExecutive Director(416) 985-7378rkindersley@georgianbay.ca -
Our primary concern is that changes do not compromise the protection of Species at Risk (SARs) by relaxing regulations to favour industry and development, but instead focus on improving the Act and its regulations to assist SAR recovery, and deal with the shortfalls in implementation that have been evident since enaction in 1971. Georgian Bay is home to numerous SARs, so this matter is important to all of us. - GBA submission on 10 year review of the Endangered Species Act - Mar 4 2019Download
Lake Michigan-Huron is approximately 1 inch higher than it was a month ago, approximately 2 inches higher than it was a year ago, and is projected to rise 2 inches over the next month. - Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River is predicted to be above average in March. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow of Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River are projected to be above average. - This satellite image from March 1st shows that well over 50% of the Bay is now covered by ice. - Best Regards, - Rupert - Rupert KindersleyExecutive Director(416) 985-7378rkindersley@georgianbay.ca
Lake Michigan-Huron is approximately 2 inches higher than it was a month ago, around 5 inches above its level last year, and is projected to rise 1 inch over the next month. - Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Mary’s River is predicted to be above average in February. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow of Lake St. Clair through the Detroit River are projected to be above average. - This satellite image from Wednesday Feb 18th shows the North Channel, Bay of Islands and McGregor Bay areas still completely covered by ice,more ice coverage all along the shoreline down to Honey Harbour and a continued increase in coverage out in the Bay. I also reviewed a partly cloud-covered
