Water quality issues fall into three categories:
The Water 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:
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago the water level on Lakes Superior is down 1 inch, Lake Erie, St Clair and Ontario are 6, 7, and 1 inches higher, respectively, and Lake Michigan-Huron is unchanged. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 18, 16, 8 & 9 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 15, 37, 41, 32 & 19 inches, respectively above their long term January average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior, Michigan Huron and St. Clair are expected to be down by 3, 1 and 4 inches, respectively, Lake Erie is expected to be unchanged and Lake Ontario is expected to increase by 4 inches. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St
According to scientists harmful algae blooms (HAB) are on the rise and they are lasting longer and getting larger. These blooms are increasingly linked to a combination of agricultural nutrients making their way into the water and warming temperatures. This supports GBA’s position that the Ontario Government should not be increasing the risk of HAB occurrences in Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron by allowing the open net pen aquaculture industry to expand as they intend. The controls in place for farms on the release of nutrients that can cause algae outbreaks are not being applied to these fish farms. Two fish farm sites have already been closed due to pollution, at La Cloche Channel and Grassy Narrows, and a third at Lake Wolsey has caused annual toxic algae outbreaks an
An approaching winter storm will impact the region this weekend with a significant amount of precipitation expected. - Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago the water level on Lakes Superior is down 1 inch, Lake Erie and St Clair are 2 inches higher and Lakes Michigan-Huron and Ontario are unchanged. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 17, 9, 4 & 7 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 16, 37, 33, 28 & 16 inches, respectively above their long term January average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan Huron are expected to be down by 3 and 1 inches, respectively, Lake Erie is expected to be unchanged and Lakes St. Cl
Gord Walker worked tirelessly on the International Joint Commission (IJC) for four years as a Commissioner in the 90’s and more recently five years as Canadian Chair. As a long standing Cognashene cottager, Gord has a deep understanding of Georgian Bay issues and continues to be of invaluable help to GBA and others. Noting his seven year tenure as an Ontario government minister, the Member of the Order citation read: Gordon W. Walker, Toronto. For his civil service as a parliamentarian and for his commitment to protecting transboundary waters between Canada and the United States. This award is richly deserved.
Unseasonably warm temperatures have continued throughout the basin, but are expected to return to normal ranges shortly. Precipitation in the Great Lakes basin was close to average levels in December. - Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron and St Clair, are down 1- 2 inches, Lake Ontario is unchanged, and Lake Erie is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 16, 5, 3 & 9 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 15, 37, 31, 27 & 17 inches, respectively above their long term January average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan Huron are expected to be down by 3 and 1 inches, re
There have been unseasonably warm temperatures over the last week throughout the basin. - Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, are down 4 & 1, inches respectively, Lake Ontario is unchanged, and Lakes St. Clair & Erie are up 1 to 2 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 2, 16, 8, 3 & 10 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 11, 35, 30, 27 & 19 inches, respectively above their long term December average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are expected to continue their seasonal decline, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are forecast to be 1 to 2 inch
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 1, 1, 1 & 0 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 16, 8, 2 & 12 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 13, 35, 29, 25 & 19 inches, respectively above their long term December average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan Huron are predicted to be 3 and 2 inches lower, respectively, Lakes St. Clair & Erie are expected to stay at the same level, and Ontario is forecasted to be 1 inch higher. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Mich
Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. From a month ago, water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 1, 1, 4, 1 & 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 17, 6, 2 & 11 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year, and 14, 36, 28, 25 & 17 inches, respectively above their long term December average. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan Huron are predicted to be 3 and 2 inches lower, respectively, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are forecasted to be 2, 1 and 2 inches higher respectively. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow int
GBA joined Environmental Defence (ED) and the Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) in their submissions on Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act which includes legislation that will reduce environmental protections on such matters as permits to take water, exposure to toxins, pollution enforcement, groundwater quality, and risks to human health. The ED submission and the ORA submission (GBA wrote separately to add our name to this) can be viewed here: - Environmental Defence Submission on Bill 132 Nov 2019 Ontario Rivers Alliance Submission on Bill 132 Nov 2019
The microplastics problem in the Great Lakes is mirroring the problem currently seen in the oceans. According to Gail Krantzberg of McMaster University, small organisms are mistaking microplastics for plankton, allowing the plastics to work their way up the food chain. Krantzberg is hoping government action can curb consumer behaviours and reduce the microplastics in our water. Read more about the microplastics situation here. In 2018, GBA along with Environmental Defence and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) urged the federal government to move toward a ban on single-use plastics by 2025. Read more about GBA’s call for a national waste reduction strategy here.
The Great Lakes basin was relatively dry over the past month, receiving just two-thirds of its average precipitation in November. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels - in fact, the lakes are 14 to 37 inches above their monthly average December levels. From a month ago water levels on all the Lakes are down 1 to 4 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 16, 8, 2 & 12 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. In a month’s time, the levels of Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are predicted to be 2 to 3 inches lower, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are all expected to remain at the same level. Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron
Forecasts indicate a strong storm arriving this weekend in the basin. - Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels - in fact, the lakes are 18 to 33 inches above their monthly average November level. From a month ago water levels on all the Lakes are down 2 to 3 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 3, 16, 7, 2 & 13 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. In a month’s time, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are projected to be 2, 3, 1, 1 & 1 inches lower respectively. - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River and Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River are predicted to be above average for November. Lake St.
