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AUTUMN 2014 Vol 5, Issue 3 a e

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Water Leve Water Protecting your water. Georgian Bay Forever is a proud member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.

Georgian Bay Forever is a community response to the growing need for major research and education projects to sustain the Georgian Bay aquatic ecosystem and the quality of life its communities and visitors enjoy.

THE FOLLOWING Individuals We help monitor the Bay’s well being, throughout the seasons, year after year.

ARE GENEROUS PATRONS We fund the research needed to protect the environmental health of Georgian Bay and the surrounding bodies of water. Using our research findings, we inform and educate the OF GEORGIAN BAY FOREVER general public and governments about any threats to environmental health and propose possible solutions.

Through conferences, workshops and seminars we David and Shelagh Blenkarn are educating the Georgian Bay community. By teaming Philip Deck and Kimberley Bozak up with reputable institutions we enhance the credibility of our research and we strengthen our ability to protect Brian and Janey Chapman what’s at stake.

Charles and Rita Field-Marsham Georgian Bay Forever, formerly the GBA Foundation, is a registered Canadian charity (#89531 1066 RR0001). Mary Elizabeth Flynn We work with the Basin Conservancy in the United States, as well as other stakeholder groups Ruth and Doug Grant all around the Great Lakes. Jacquie and Mike Green Deeply rooted and broadly drawn, Georgian Bay Forever is Peter Hatcher and Family steered by lifelong devotees of the Bay. We are committed advocates, educators, environmentalists, realists, idealists, Robert Hay and Family and of course, residents. Donald Guloien and Irene Boychuk DIRECTORS John Honderich Derek Bowen Michael Hensel Janet Burt Rod Jones The Geoff Hyland Family Adam Chamberlain Gail Krantzberg Terry Clark Hugh McLelland Janet Turnbull-Irving and John Irving Brenda Drinkwalter, Chair Anne Randell Jennifer Ferguson Peter Singer Eric Jackman Leslie Hayes Eriwn Stuart

Rod and Joanne Jones Executive Director Wil and Judith Matthews David Sweetnam Michael McCain OUR CONTACT DETAILS PO Box 163 Jim Meekison Caledon, ON L7E 5T2 Frank and Patricia Mills tel: 905-880-4945

Anthony Munk and Amie Rocket-Munk You can reach David Sweetnam, our Executive Director, at [email protected] Robert and Robin Ogilvie or at (905) 880 4945 ext 1. Jeffrey Orr and Suzanne Legge U.S. citizens wishing to make a donation Penny and John Pepperell to support our work can do so by giving to: Conservancy Chris Pfaff PO Box 504, Gates Mills OH 44040-0504, USA David Roffey (Please add a note saying: “For Georgian Bay Forever”) William and Meredith Saunderson This newsletter is just a snapshot of our work. For the most Larry Smith up-to-date information on our projects, longer versions of newsletter articles and on breaking news about Georgian Peter and Cathie Singer Bay, please become a regular visitor to our website and Facebook page. Rob and Val Thompson GeorgianBayForever.org Cameron Wardlaw Design by Key Gordon (keygordon.com) Editor: David Sweetnam & Carole White

asdlkfasdlfkaj AUTUMN 2014 Follow us on CHAIR’S MESSAGE

looking forward to a year By Brenda of protecting our water Drinkwalter

o much has happened since last newsletter—some great, some Conversations across the nation and around the world shifted to the need not so great! The great—a much longed for rise in water levels, for infrastructure changes, not when disaster strikes, but years ahead of water sharing from and cooler temperatures impact- time to avert worst case disasters—the kind of thinking that Georgian Bay Sing evaporation. The not so good—worrisome Great Lakes algal blooms Forever and a host of others have been calling for to protect our water. and several big storms delivering both above average precipitation and at times, sewage spills into the Great Lakes. The warnings about climate What’s next on our agenda? Our focus in the coming year and beyond will change impacts, from business, governments and NGOs intensified be on adaptation strategies for protecting our water—with both structural bringing with them the beginnings of a noticeable shift in the US Great and non-structural measures. Lakes policy landscape. We will continue to work on informing the process of selecting the best Of significant importance is the new White House plan for the Great climate resilient, flexible structures and locations to manage water levels Lakes, which will require that all Great Lakes infrastructure projects —discussions are underway about forming a CGLR/GBF lead consortium after 2017 be climate resilient. And in a bid to protect the Great Lakes of cross border interests to fund some of the pre-engineering work Navigation System, the new Water Resources Reform and Development required if it would accelerate the process. Act calls for contemporary materials and construction techniques and an integrated approach to managing the system. An approach and solution Georgian Bay Forever’s Executive Director, David Sweetnam, and Wendy that Georgian Bay has always supported! Leger of Environment Canada were chosen to be on the Steering Committee of a University of Michigan study of non-structural adaptation Governments would do well to revisit the dated IJC Advice to incorporate measures—the only two Canadians. GBF can contribute our early research climate resilience, in particular, into the scope of the engineering study of on causation of Georgian Bay algal blooms, on the innovative genetic structural options. bar coding tool to measure changes in biodiversity, the work that we are beginning with NASA on wetlands and the link to water levels—these The Wynne government in appointed Canada’s first Minister of the projects and more will be part of our adaptation research that will inform Environment and Climate Change—Premier Wynne shares her thoughts on policy in the years ahead. protecting the Great Lakes in her guest article. Lastly, we are very pleased to welcome new Board Members, Jennifer And on June 26, the Council of the Great Lakes (CGLR) released Low Ferguson (Collingwood), former VP Communications at Toronto Rehab Water Blues, the Economic Impact of Declining Great Lakes Water Levels, who will Chair our Communications Committee, and our second US with an almost $20B estimate of costs if we fail to mitigate for plausible Board member, Terry Clarke (Pointe Au Baril), a lawyer who has previously lower Great Lakes water levels. Mark Fisher, CGLR’s CEO reports on the held positions as Chair of the Board of both the Pointe Au Baril Islanders study and what’s next, in his article. Association and the Ojibway Club.

In August of 2014, close to 500,000 people on the Great Lakes lost access Many thanks for your ongoing support of Georgian Bay Forever’s work to to their drinking water as a result of a climate-linked toxic algal bloom. protect the Bay for our kids’ kids’ kids!

GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG | autumn 2014 page 3 Executive Director’s Report improvements are on the horizon thanks to research By David Sweetnam and studies

ike CSI–Georgian Bay, Georgian Bay And as I write this article today, the United As a follow-up to our 2012 bacteriological Forever is continually investigating Nations has announced that for the first time testing in Church Bay at Honey Harbour, GBF state-of-the-art technologies to help since the alarm was raised the ozone layer is deployed new state-of-the-art scientific tools Lprotect our water. Genetic tools like DNA finally improving: 20 years later. using DNA amplification techniques and specific barcoding to catalogue species biodiversity genetic markers to identify the animal source for and identify organisms and food webs have Today we have our deniers and naysayers on the bacteria in the environment. The thresholds been successfully tested; studies of blue-green climate change front, but the science will prevail. of detection for this testing are at or below the algae bloom biochemistry published; satellite GBF has taken a leadership role with environmen- levels set out by the province for water quality imagery used to identify wetlands plant tal issues like water levels because climate impacts monitoring. communities; and non-chemical methods of on our aquatic ecosystems and economies require eradicating phragmites through community long term leadership and visionary thinking. The presence of bacteria in the water depends education and involvement have been success- upon a variety of factors including having a fully demonstrated. These changes can also have significant impacts contamination source, the quantity of contami- on our drinking water supplies as seen this past nated discharge, circulation of the receiving Back in the early 1990s during my time edu- summer when almost half a million people lost water, UV exposure of the bacteria, predation by cating the public on the cancerous effects of their tap water due to toxins from blue-green non-pathogenic organisms and other factors. ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the ozone hole, algae blooms in Toledo. The samples tested showed no sign of human, we had our fair share of naysayers and deniers bird or dog contamination–the three sources refusing to admit the existence of human GBF funded studies on Georgian Bay blue-green tested for. induced chemical changes in the upper algae blooms have been published by York atmosphere. University with Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Fortunately, as with all good science, the facts won out and the business of reducing ozone GBF has also reviewed and overhauled the Town- depleting gasses began in earnest. UV Indexes ship of Georgian Bay water quality monitoring in Canada, the US, and a number of program because even our pristine Georgian other countries helped make the developed Bay waters are not without risks–in the fall of world aware of this issue and allowed people to 2012 Sturgeon Bay experienced a significant take the appropriate steps to protect against sun blue-green algal bloom resulting in no-use water exposure with elevated levels of UV that didn’t warnings for the entire community. exist when I was a kid. GBF has taken a leadership Georgian Bay Forever has been focused on protecting the aquatic ecosystems of Georgian role because climate Bay—and by extension our Great Lakes—for almost 19 years now. During my time here I have seen the organization grow from a small impacts on our ecosystems regional group to a robust, scientifically focused, internationally respected, professional charity capable of fulfilling our responsibility to serve and economies require the public interest. But there are a number of significant challenges remaining before us. visionary thinking. Georgian Bay Forever will continue to investigate technologies to protect our water and make it swimmable, fishable and drinkable. pgea 4 autumn 2014 | GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG Patron profile

100 years By Debra Stuart on the island

Original cottage, William W. Smith (William H’s dad) in front

n 1910, George Smith, a Toronto pediatrician, was a tailor on Queen Street, in Toronto, and a in 1919, after World War One. along with several of his friends, purchased serial entrepreneur who founded the landmark island number 62 on the nautical chart, Dominion Coal and Wood Company. WH Smith had 3 daughters. Edna married Walter Ia thirty-acre property on Georgian Bay, in the Drinkwater. Margaret wed George Saunderson, water-based community of Cognashene. The Smith brothers’ islands were crown land, and Lillian became the wife of Harold Bolsby. and their descendants inherited the govern- The Bolsby’s sold the small island adjacent to After visiting the island and being seduced by ment deeds and retain ownership to this day. 61, which they owned until the 1970s. its splendour, George’s brother, William Henry WH and his wife, Sarah, originally stayed in the Smith, purchased nearby island 61, in 1914. WH boathouse. They built the first cottage on island

GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG | autumn 2014 page 5 Patron profile

Adam reminisced about his grandmother, This milestone event was David’s idea. Plenty Margaret Saunderson, recounting, “When she of food and beer was on hand, and wine was was a little girl, she said she could walk between brought in from Niagara-on-the-Lake, complete the islands because the water was so low. When with a keepsake custom label featuring a map georgian bay I was a kid that was not the case. You could drive of the island. any boat between island 61 and 62, however that has changed. Last year we had to get out of David said, “It was a fantastic, multigenerational our and lift them on to shore. This sum- party and it was befitting to have it at the point, forever mer, the levels are noticeably up again.” where WH’s original cottage once stood. I have spent every summer here for over sixty years. Adam continued, “Because of our long family Some things haven’t changed, such as the spec- history here, we have an emotional attachment tacular landscape, family-oriented leisurely to Georgian Bay. We have witnessed the ebb and activities, and life’s simple pleasures, like boating is dedicated to flow of the cycles, and changes in the environ- and fishing.” ment and biodiversity.” Bill said, “It was a grand occasion in a magnificent A centennial celebration was held setting. Fortunately, WH had the foresight and what matters on the August long weekend wisdom to buy this island where we have all had The weather was idyllically hot and sunny for so much enjoyment as a family.” He continued, the families’ August long weekend celebra- “This area was logged out in the late 1800s, tion. More than two hundred and fifty people before my grandfather bought the island, but attended, including immediate and extended now the trees are big, abundant and beautiful. most: family, some from as far away as Cornwall, The water levels are definitely lower, and the England. There were 32 direct descendants pattern of rising and falling has seemed to stop.” of WH. Friends showed up in droves, as did invited local cottagers. Boats were anchored Later that evening, each family hosted dinners in the sheltered bay and guests were ferried to at their respective cottages, where multiple protecting The Chamberlain, Drinkwater and the island by a crew of boys. generations reminisced, shared fond memories Saunderson families now share and began creating new ones. island 61 One hundred years after WH took possession, island 61 remains instantly identifiable by the your water painted rock on its southern most “Breezy Point,” the location of the original cottage. New flags flutter in the wind, marking the families’ recent centennial celebration.

Four cottages now stand on the island, housing three generations of relatives, ranging in ages from 82 to seven. David Drinkwater, Edna’s grandson, owns the cottage on the site where his great grandfather first built. David’s brother, Eric, also owns a cottage on the island.

Bill Saunderson, Margaret’s son, who has come to the island every summer for over eighty years, has a place here as well. Bill’s sister, Mary Chamberlain (nee Saunderson), also has a cottage on 61, along with three sleeping cabins. This communal congregating spot is a summer home away from home for the family.

Adam Chamberlain, Mary’s son, is an environ- mental lawyer and board member of Georgian Bay Forever. He, his wife Janet, their three children, and the rest of the clan spend time paddling their fleet of red cedar canoes, picnicking up the shore, kayaking and surfing on paddleboards. The water has always been the centrepiece of their activities. pgea 6 autumn 2014 | GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG georgian bay forever is dedicated to what matters most: protecting your water choose the way you want to give

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Our guarantee: You will receive a single tax receipt for monthly donations at the end of the year. You may change or cancel your monthly donation at any time by contacting Georgian Bay Forever at 905-880-4945. Please give us at least 15 days before your next scheduled donation date so that no additional donations are processed. You have certain recourse rights if any debit does not comply with the terms of this agreement. For example, you have a right to receive reimbursement for any debit not authorized or not consistent with this PAD agreement. GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG | autumn 2014 page 7 To obtain more information on your rights contact your financial institution. THESE MARINAS STEPPED UP TO HELP PROTECT THE BAY. IS YOURS ONE OF THEM?

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Georgian Bay, Canada www.southbaycove.com

Georgian Bay Forever Thanks The ABOVE Marinas For Their Steadfast Support Of OUR Waterkeepers’ Boat For Scientific Research. Without Their Help, We Wouldn’t Stay Afloat! “Thy e Ba keeper” indicates that Georgian Bay Forever is a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patroL and protect over 100,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in North And , , Australia, and . For more information go to waterkeeper.org

Would you prefer to stay in touch via email? send your email address to [email protected] pagepgea 8 FALL8 autu 2011m n | 2014 GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG | GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG government news

A message to georgian bayers By Kathleen Wynne, from the premier Premier of Ontario

Ontario is a province of breathtaking geography. everyone to do their part–that means all three Your organization and the Council of the Great Of the many natural qualities that make Ontario levels of government, business, the non-profit Lakes Region, with the sponsorship of the so wondrous, perhaps none is more central sector and citizens alike. Ontario government, took an important step than our water. Indeed, our province’s name is forward in the recent report by the Mowat likely derived from a word meaning I’m very proud that this year, Ontario became Centre outlining the estimated economic impact “beautiful water” or “beautiful lake.” the first jurisdiction in to elimi- if water levels in the Great Lakes remain low. nate coal as a source of electricity generation. I understand that extreme water levels affect Water has always been central to Ontario’s story. This is the largest single climate change initiative the economic, social and environmental well- Our towns and cities were built along rivers and in North America. It is the equivalent of taking up being of communities across the Great Lakes- lakes, natural highways for First Nations and to 7 million cars off the road, which means we St. Lawrence River Basin. early European explorers. will have cleaner air to breathe and a healthier environment. I will keep raising the health of our Great Lakes As an enthusiastic canoeist, I have enjoyed many and the economic systems they support of Ontario’s lakes and rivers for years. Nothing Our province depends on the Great Lakes for our when I attend the meetings of the Great Lakes matches the sense of peace you find paddling strength and success. We have released Ontario’s Governors. And we will continue to work with through our magnificent wilderness. first road map, called Ontario’s Great Lakes them to take action. Strategy designed to keep our lakes drink- And we mustn’t take it for granted. Georgian Bay able, fishable and swimmable. Part of this My family has a cottage in eastern Ontario and Forever’s mission to protect our water is a goal strategy is engaging with groups such as some of my happiest memories are the times I shared by our government and I appreciate the Georgian Bay Forever, to help keep our water spent there with my family. I know that many work you do on this critical issue. clean and ensure Ontario’s prosperity and families along Georgian Bay are dedicated to pre- quality of life for today and for future gene- serving the beauty of the Bay for their children. When I named my new cabinet in July, I made rations. Previously our government proposed an important change to signal how seriously we The Great Lakes Protection Act to give new Thank you for all that you do and I am confi- take the growing threat to our fragile world. The tools to help preserve and protect our Great dent that working together, we can help protect Ministry of the Environment is now the Ministry Lakes. Thank you for your support on this Georgian Bay and Ontario’s beautiful lakes of the Environment and Climate Change. This is important piece of proposed legislation. We and rivers for future generations to enjoy. I more than just a name change. It’s a deliberate will also re-introduce The Invasive Species Act. look forward to continuing to work with you in approach to confront climate change in a It will help efforts to combat non-native plants, the future. systematic way. This new Ministry will work fish and other organisms before they harm our across government to coordinate a provincial lakes, rivers and waterways. response to climate change. We will encourage

“Georgian Bay Forever’s mission to protect our water is a goal shared by our government and I appreciate the work you do on this critical issue.”

GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG | autumn 2014 page 9 Water levels report

Low Water Blues: An Economic Impact By Mark Fisher, of Future Low Water Levels in the CEO, Council of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region

his summer the Council of the Great that evaporation from the Great Lakes will out- and federal decision makers in both countries Lakes Region delivered its “Low Water pace increases in precipitation,” and that “with about the region’s long-term economic, social, Blues” report authored by the Mowat more water leaving the basin than there is and environmental goals and provide a trans- TCentre at the University of Toronto and funded returning, the result could be less water remain- border forum for its members to share their with the generous support of the Ontario ing in the Great Lakes.” collective voices. government and Georgian Bay Forever. Based on this plausible scenario, the analysis I have been out over this past summer with The report was designed to answer the question suggests the impacts could be significant as GBF speaking to cottage communities as well “What is the economic impact on the Great well as sobering: $9.61B over the period from as meeting with political leaders in Lakes St. Lawrence River region attributable the present through 2030 and $18.82B over and Washington to bring these study findings to a plausible and realistic worst-case future the period from the present through 2050 to the forefront. Over 1000 copies of the report low water levels scenario projected mostly at (Full details are available on the Georgian Bay have been circulated within the Canadian and the low end of the historic range for sustained Forever and Council of the Great Lakes Region US governments including Vice-president Joe periods?” It is an important question that websites). Biden’s office. previous studies of Upper Great Lakes water levels did not address. Given these results and the importance of Phase Two of the Council’s work in this area is the Great Lakes both economically and from already set to begin through funding received The prediction of water levels is inherently an environmental services standpoint, policy from Natural Resources Canada and will draw on difficult, and the estimation of economic makers, experts and stakeholders need to begin the findings, data analysis, and methodology of impacts necessarily contains assumptions and weighing the potential policy and engineering the “Low Water Blues” report to conduct a cost- uncertainties. The Council arrived at a plausible responses to water levels fluctuations. benefit analysis of proposed adaptations to this and realistic worst-case future water level low water reality. scenario through work completed by the Great This report is an example of the Council’s Lakes Integrated Science and Assessment mandate to collaborate with the many successful We hope the Council of the Great Lakes Region’s Center–a collaboration between Michigan State organizations already working in the region to reports will serve as a foundation for dialogue University and the University of Michigan–that highlight, enhance and support their projects. and future work on possible responses to concluded that “most climate models project The Council also looks to inform state, provincial fluctuating water levels.

In addition to our patrons and our marina sponsors Georgian Bay Forever is profoundly grateful for the generous support of our corporate donors.

pgea 10 autumn 2014 | GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG science

NASA to Investigate Georgian Bay water By David Sweetnam levels and wetlands.

eorgian Bay Forever has been invited to levels declined. This work was time consuming partner with NASA who will be conduct- and required specialized teams in the field ing research on the extent and health as well as access to expensive IKONOS satellite Gof wetlands in the Great Lakes region and how imagery. it relates to climate change. The three areas of focus for the study include Georgian Bay, St. The reporting suggested that wetland coverage Lawrence River – Lac San Pierre, and Lake would be lost as water levels fell, but even the Michigan. The goal is to create a more accurate researchers involved agreed that we really could land cover classification using Landsat and other not be sure what the net changes on wetland NASA Earth Observing Satellites (EOS). inventories would be as water levels rose and fell.

Wetlands cover in the Great Lakes region has In less complex coastal such as the Mid- changed dramatically over the centuries. Back land Bay, other techniques can be used to mea- before the fur trade began it is estimated that sure changes to wetlands. Severn Sound Environ- there were between 60 and 400 million beavers. mental Association is using a remote underwater These industrious animals maintained thou- vehicle and side scanning sonar to survey the sands of hectares of upstream wetlands feeding coastline as has been done on most of the US into Georgian Bay. With populations presently shoreline. estimated at about ten percent of historic levels, most of these important water reservoirs and But in the complex coastal archipelago of filter systems have been lost. In Georgian Bay, Georgian Bay, GBF identified the need for more coastal wetlands are also being impacted—in detailed coastal bathymetry data collection this case by prolonged low water levels. Fish through tools like LIDAR (Light Radar) that communities are dependent on the coastal wet- can scan through the water from a low flying lands for habitat, forage and refuge. Over the airplane and produce accurate maps of the past 15 years, much of the historic fish habitat coastal lake bed. LIDAR is an expensive system to highlight the changes in wetland extent over and best locations for various fish species have and the need for ongoing monitoring of wetland time by creating time series maps and determine moved away from historic locations. But where inventory changes resulting from these water if NASA EOS can monitor lake level changes in the have they gone? levels changes means that no single agency study areas mentioned to match that with the would be able to afford this tool. (Environment change in health and extent of wetlands. At last In order to better understand the consequences Canada has suggested that a consortium of GBF’s vision is about to be realized! on our native fish, we need to map coastal groups collectively invest in this project.) wetlands so that we can see the changes in wet- GBF will provide important information for NASA land coverage and plant communities impacting This data is needed to allow more accurate such as the current state of the Georgian Bay, habitat quality as water levels change. Georgian computer modelling of the region and to identify and current conservation measures in place to Bay Forever has completed a number of projects this inventory in order to ensure it is proactively protect the wetlands. GBF will also offer general on this front, including the McMaster Coastal Wet- protected and available as water levels fall due to suggestions throughout the project. GBF will be lands Inventory (MCWI). This inventory attempted plausible future climate change impacts. provided with the methodologies produced by In addition to our patrons and our marina sponsors to quantify the coverage of wetlands along the the team and the resulting maps and figures. Northern and Eastern coastline of Georgian Bay. In order to acquire this data cost-effectively we This feasibility study is designed to determine if Georgian Bay Forever is profoundly grateful for need tools that can look at the entire region NASA EOS data can supplement and fill in gaps of In addition to this work, Georgian Bay Forever and accurately determine the water levels, current in-situ data. the generous support of our corporate donors. staff collected detailed coastal bathymetry wetlands contours and plant communities. measurements (depth of water) at a number This requires satellite imagery and some state- The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative of these wetlands to determine if water level of-the-art software tools. is also partnering in this project in hopes that it fluctuations would result in changes in wet- offers a more cost-effective means of monitor- land coverage. GBF also funded research Enter NASA ing wetland extent and health. The results of this looking at the ecology of formerly coastal GBF was recently approached by NASA to help work will be reported in upcoming newsletters. wetlands impounded by beavers as water with a 10 week project. The goal of the project is

GEORGIANBAYFOREVER.ORG | autumn 2014 page 11 “we don’t want our grandchildren to say ‘What was your generation doing? Look what you let happen!’ Instead, we want them to thank us for being great stewards. That’s why we support Georgian Bay Forever.”

- Peter & Cathie Singer, GBF Patrons, Sans Souci

HELP US PROTECT GEORGIAN BAY. FOREVER. USING THE ATTACHED ENVELOPE, SEND IN YOUR DONATION TODAY! GeorgianBayForever.org | 905.880.4945

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