Protecting Your Water

VOL 7, ISSUE 2 7,VOL ISSUE 2016 SPRING

Protecting your water.

WATER LEVELS, WATER QUALITY AND ECOSYSTEMS ARE WE NEXT? THE ASIAN CARP IN OUR BACKYARD

ALSO INSIDE:

STOPPING ASIAN UPDATE ON NATIVE DONOR PROFILE: GBF USES DNA CARP IN THE FISH: WALLEYE, GEORGIAN BAY — PROFILING — GREAT LAKES LAKE STURGEON, & MAKING LASTING WHO’S WHO IN THE PAGE 4 SUCKER FISH MEMORIES WATER? PAGE 8 PAGE 9 PAGE 10 WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN'S Georgian Bay Forever is a community response to WATER DIVERSION APPLICATION the growing need for major research and education to sustain the Georgian Bay aquatic ecosystem and the quality of life its communities and visitors enjoy.

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

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 general public and governments about threats to environmental health and propose possible solutions. Lake Michigan Through workshops and seminars we Waukesha are educating the Georgian Bay community. By teaming up with reputable institutions, we enhance the credibility of our research and we strengthen our ability to protect what’s at stake.

Georgian Bay Forever, formerly the GBA Foundation, is a registered Canadian charity (#89531 1066 RR0001). We work with the Great Lakes Basin Conservancy in ow do you balance people's expand- encouraging local communities to request the United States, as well as other stakeholder groups ing needs for safe drinking water water from the Great Lakes, instead of caring all around the Great Lakes. while protecting the Great Lakes? The for and sustaining their local water supply? HCity Of Waukesha is looking for an answer as The Ontario government, which does not Deeply rooted and broadly drawn, Georgian Bay Forever is steered by lifelong devotees of the Bay. We are committed they await a decision on their Lake Michigan have voting authority under the Agreement4 advocates, educators, environmentalists, realists, ideal- Water Diversion application. but whose views will be considered, is particu- ists, and of course, residents. larly concerned about the way in which the Some background wast water will be returned and the standards DIRECTORS

Waukesha is a community of 71,000 whose Derek Bowen Neil Hutchinson of water quality discharge. The government Janet Burt Rod Jones deep groundwater supply is contaminated also noted that it is not apparent that some Adam Chamberlain Anne Randell with increasing levels of radium which will, communities included in the Waukesha diver- Terry Clark Peter Singer, Chair Jennifer Ferguson Erwin Stuart eventually, make it unsafe for drinking. The sion currently have the same supply issues as town sits on the border of the Great Lakes Waukesha does. Futhermore, the government Executive Director watershed making it a straddling community, acknowledged that this application is prec- David Sweetnam which, by provision of the Great Lakes Agree- edent setting and is likely to spur many other ment1 allows it to apply to divert Lake Michigan diversion applications for similar reasons that OUR CONTACT DETAILS water. Of course, their application must meet could affect water quantity.5 Georgian Bay Forever strict criteria. PO Box 163, Caledon, ON At GBF, we believe this application is an L7E 5T2 opportunity to discuss limits on what percent- tel: 905-880-4945 The application age of the renewable waters of the Great Lakes Waukesha is working to comply with all the should be made available sustainably to humans, You can reach David Sweetnam, our Executive Director, requirements for maintaining environmental while ensuring the ecosystems of the Great at [email protected] or at 905-880-4945, ext 1. integrity through the extensive application Lakes are protected. Canadian citizens may send their donations process, painstakingly arrived at by the Great to the Caledon address above. Lakes Compact.2 The proposed diversion rep- Stay tuned … resents only about 0.0118%3 of the renewable An official decision is expected in May, follow- U.S. citizens wishing to make a donation Lake Michigan Huron resource, i.e., the 1% ing the publication of this article. Please check to support our work can do so by giving to: Great Lakes Basin Conservancy annual renewed water; its impact to the Lake our website at GBF.org for an update. PO Box 504, Gates Mills, OH levels is negligible. In addition, Waukesha 44040-0504, USA plans to return 100% of the volume of the water diverted, back to Lake Michigan. 1Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement, signed 2005. This newsletter is just a snapshot of our work. For the most 2The Great Lakes compact, effective 2008 up-to-date information on our projects, longer versions of Opening the floodgates? 3David Sweetnam, comment submitted to the City of Waukesha Diver- newsletter articles and breaking news about Georgian Bay, The Great Lakes Compact was created to sion application, http://www.waukeshadiversion.org/media/1691/ please become a regular visitor to our website comment-form-submissions.pdf, (March 14, 2016) and Facebook page. prevent large-scale water diversions from 4Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources GBF.ORG consumers like California or Asia. It is difficult Agreement, signed 2005. 5Mehta, Diana. (2016, April 1). Ontario takes issue with Wisconsin to know where to draw the line as water needs Design by Key Gordon (keygordon.com) city’s Great Lakes water diversion plan. Thestar.com. Retrieved from Editor: Helen Bryce become more challenging in the future. Could http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/04/01/ontario-takes- this application, in effect open the floodgates, issue-with-wisconsin-citys-great-lakes-water-diversion-plan.html Follow us on CHAIR’S MESSAGE

HELP US IDENTIFY THE TOP 10

THREATS TO THE BAY By Peter Singer

How do you tune out the irritations and still more intense focus of resources while attaining focus on what’s important in order to complete broader comprehension in the Georgian Bay the task? It would be much easier to escape community for potential remedial research and inside to more comfortable distractions … project work. The top 10 list will be widely To cut through the tsunami of information, distributed when the process is complete. Georgian Bay Forever is working on the development of a top 10 list of threats to the Bay. This How can you participate? list will be developed in consultation with: the As a valued stakeholder to GBF, your opinion Science Advisory Group and Science Commit- is important to us. To ensure that the Top 10 tee, other experts and organizations and people reflects your thoughts on the Bay, please like you, who care about Georgian Bay. participate by visiting our website at http:// georgianbayforever.org/survey. ur information sources, whether they A critical mass of 10 We also encourage you to sign up for our are digital devices or printed articles, We think it is important to have a process that email and other social media outlets, as GBF is seem to be filled with thousands of bad accumulates as much input as possible on the always considering more environmental and Onews stories — so much to worry about. threats to Georgian Bay, digests that information efficient ways of communicating with you. It can be overwhelming — like attempting meaningfully and refines those threats down to Enjoy summer 2016 from all of us at outdoor cottage work in a tsunami of black flies! a critical mass of 10. This process will allow for a Georgian Bay Forever!

OUR DONORS AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL TO OUR WORK AT GBF By David Sweetnam

THERE ARE MANY ISSUES 6 Availability of basic information such Our partnerships THAT CONFRONT US DAILY as high-resolution coastal bathymetry GBF is one of a handful of groups hard at work images. around the Bay and one of hundreds of groups HERE AT GEORGIAN BAY working to protect the Great Lakes. Working There is a long list of priorities that must be FOREVER: with other groups that all have a specific focus reviewed so we can identify the most critical may sometimes be confusing to the public, but challenges that need to be addressed, efficiently these partnerships allow all of us to share 1 Thirsty communities with an eye on the and effectively. expertise, equipment and staff to get the many Great Lakes; jobs done. 2 Asian carp knocking at our door and Our donors These partnerships are critical to threatening our ecosystems in swarms Thankfully, we have donors like you who protecting our water and bringing Georgian you have seen in countless internet support our unique role working in partner- Bay Forever’s voice to the table. Whether we’re videos leaping 10 feet out of the water; ships with others around the Bay, initiating working with NASA, the University of Guelph, 3 Eurasian water milfoil and Phragmites research and other special projects and often the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, choking out native biodiversity in our providing the critical funding needed to gain the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve or others, coastal wetlands; matching support from other sources. GBF’s focus on water is important to every Without your support, we would not be project and person around the Bay. 4 Nutrients in effluent from agriculture and able to focus on issues that include education sewage treatment continuing to flow into about threats to the Bay, community-based Our work the Lakes resulting in toxic algae blooms, invasive Phragmites control to protect coastal We are proud to share the results of our work, degraded water quality and ecosystems wetlands, DNA barcording to help gage human here, in our newsletters, on our website, and in in closed embayments that threaten our impacts on the Bay’s ecosystems, supporting person at GBF events. Rest assured that GBF, drinking water; fish habitat assessment, standardizing water and our many colleagues and friends, are work- 5 The effects of climate change on the eco- quality protocols, working on Great Lakes water ing constantly to protect the Bay…forever. systems and economies of the Great Lakes; level management and more.

GBF.ORG | SPRING 2016 | 3 FEATURE ARTICLE STOPPING ASIAN CARP IN THE GREAT LAKES

Asian Carp & Common animal Carp

Lacks More details at http://georgianbayforever.org/asiancarp- species/

1.This information is largely extracted from www.asiancarp.ca . Further information, pictures and representations can be found there. 2. A source for purpose and finds was Becky Cudmore, from Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Pches et Ocans Canada. 3. Wikkipedia.Common Carp.4. www.great-lakes.net. Invasive High reproductive rate. Foraging method creates murky cloudiness leading to disturbing and carp.5. A source for findings: demolishing underwater vegetation. They expel significant undigested material which can lead www.asiancarp.us to increased nutrient levels, which are linked to excessive algae development. Images © Joseph Tomelleri They eat other fish eggs and can ruin their nests.

THERE IS NO DOUBT Asian carp out-compete native fish for The United States Army Corps food, eating plankton and other food THAT ASIAN CARP ARE of Engineers’ (USACE) Great Lakes sources and grow quickly to large sizes. A REAL AND GENUINE and Mississippi River Interbasin Study With no natural predators, they consume (GLMRIS) looked at various ways THREAT TO THE GREAT more food leaving less for other to prevent the two-way, interba- LAKES, INCLUDING organisms whose numbers begin to dwindle. sin transfer of “aquatic nuisance GEORGIAN BAY. species”(ANS) or aquatic invasive They compete with native fish for inding and implementing effective mea- habitat, which changes once they’re species (AIS). The study focused on sures to prevent this species from established. preventing 13 of some 254 ANS. Re- invading these waters will be especially They prey upon native fish and could be sults of the study suggest that three Fcomplex and challenging given the many carriers of diseases or parasites that can Mississippi based species of carp, jurisdictions involved. spread to native fish further decimating including the Scud, Silver carp, and Understanding the state and complexities existing fish stock. Bighead carp, could transfer to the of the struggle and recognizing the different species and their dangers are critical if we are What are the potential economic impacts? Great Lakes, and that 10 species to prevent Asian carp from establishing them- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) currently in the Great Lakes pose a selves in the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay. Canada estimates that the socio-economic risk for the Mississippi River Basin.

4 | SPRING 2016 | GBF.ORG FEATURE ARTICLE STOPPING ASIAN CARP IN THE GREAT LAKES

Asian Carp & Common animal Carp

Lacks More details at http://georgianbayforever.org/asiancarp- species/

impact for Canada over 50 years would be $390 B1 with the biggest impact being to recreational Only 20 Asian carp boating. From a cross-border perspective, the industries most likely to be effected by are needed to establish the invasion of Bighead and Silver carp are: a population in the recreational, sport and commercial fishing, shipping and tourism and recreation. Great Lakes.3

Asian carp in nearby watersheds — it only takes While there have been sightings of Asian carp in a few to wreak havoc the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario, there Evidence of the destructive nature of Asian is currently no evidence of a breeding or estab- carp in the Mississippi and Ohio River basins lished population of the high risk Bighead or Sil- have heightened concern with their expanded ver carp. However, Asian carp are close so entry numbers and increasing range. Havana, a small points to the Great Lakes need to be priori- city along the Illinois River, has experienced the tized and protected. effect of Asian Carp on their environment. The

first Asian carp was caught in the area in the 1 Socio-economic Impact. The Threat of Aquatic Invasives to the Great early 90s. They now comprise 60% of all fish — Lakes. Asiancarp.ca. Re-trieved from http://asiancarp.azurewebsites. severely limiting recreational activities2. net/WHAT-IS-AT-RISK/Socio-economic-Impact#

GBF.ORG | SPRING 2016 | 5 FEATURE ARTICLE

THE CAWS

MAP © GREAT LAKES COMMISSION

Lake Michigan

KEY Prevention In its 2015 Framework, the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) said that the PREVENTATIVE In use now - electrical barriers: The primary following steps will be taken to control migration: defense structures currently being used ACTIONS in the Illinois River to prevent Asian carp a new engineered channel in the approach from entering Lake Michigan are electro- to the Brandon Road Lock; magnetic fields. Located north of Lock- the deployment of control technologies 1. THE CHICAGO port Lock and Dam in the CAWS, the bar- in the approach channel and lock stru- riers are used in conjunction with other ture and research into options, such AREA WATERWAYS monitoring activities. as high pressure water (sound cannons), SYSTEM (CAWS) Many view these electrical barriers as pheromones, and CO2 bubble screens, insufficient to prevent Asian carp from for reinforcing the lock to control ANS.6 Entry to Lake Michigan via the CAWS and the entering Lake Michigan. If a one-way control point is established — and Illinois River pose the greatest risk to a Great In progress: USACE Feasibility Study detail- that will take time — it would be very effective Lakes invasion. In 2012, Congress modified the ing ANS control strategies and establish- in stopping Asian carp from entering Lake focus of the GLMRIS study to 5 pathways in the ing a one-way control point at Brandon Michigan via the CAWS. CAWS, as they were determined to be the most Lock and Dam. likely entry point for ANS. Long-term solutions in the CAWS: The Brandon Road Study began in April USACE’s GLMRIS report on the prevention of 2015 and will take almost four years to Asian carp in the CAWS, Lake Michigan and the two-way transfer of ANS between basins, complete at a cost of $8.2 M (USD). One- Illinois River included four options involving complete way means that ANS would be controlled hydrological separation of the basins. Here are Within the CAWS, “…the adult popula- going into the Great Lakes but not from a few key issues associated with these options: tion front of Bighead and Silver carp is the Great Lakes into the Mississippi. 55 miles and two lock structures away The cost could be as high as $18 B (USD), from Lake Michigan,” according to officials take 25 years to implement and radically

in 2014.4 alter the CAWS — the only navigable con- WHAT IS THE CAWS? This “…overall leading edge…”5 has not nection between the Great Lakes and the changed since 2006 and does not include The CAWS is a 128-mile system of Mississippi Basin. spawning activity that happens further mostly man-made canals and river The biggest opponent is the commercial downstream in the Illinois River. Keeping channels in northeastern Illinois and shipping industry, which sends about 15 this edge contained has required the on- northwestern Indiana and the only million tonnes of commodities through going poisoning of the waterway. permanent and navigable hydrological the waterways annually. link between the Mississippi River and Officials remain vigilant for Silver carp the Great Lakes basins. Hydrological separation could cost the larvae, mapped further north then ever commercial cargo industry between $210 before on the Illinois River in June 2015. and $250 M (USD) annually.7

6 | SPRING 2016 | GBF.ORG FEATURE ARTICLE

plankton, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are sell, or possess live Asian carps.”10 Ontario less likely to support larger volumes of Asian strengthened its ability to prevent aquatic carp. Alarmingly, officials have found evidence invasive species with the passing of Bill 37, ...the adult of Grass carp reproduction9 in Lake Erie. While the Invasive Species Act 2015, last October. population front this type of Asian carp is thought to be less destructive than Bighead or Silver carp 4. ASIAN CARP of Bighead and (because they eat plants instead of plankton), they are still voracious eaters that can harm REGIONAL Silver carp is 55 wetlands and alter the environment for other fish. Currently, there is a bi-national risk as- COORDINATING miles and two sessment being conducted on Grass carp. COMMITTEE lock structures Prevention Credit is due to the many organizations that away from Lake Earthen Berm — the Eagle Marsh project 2015: are at the frontline of prevention. Established In Indiana, a two-mile earthen berm was in 2009, ACRCC oversees the many efforts of Michigan. erected across a floodway near Fort Wayne to numerous stakeholders from federal, state/ prevent the connection of the Great Lakes and provincial governments, local agencies and the Mississippi watershed during times of high private organizations. The Committee devel- GBF talked to David A. Ullrich, the Executive precipitation or spring melt. ops progressive approaches to Asian carp Director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence prevention in the Great Lakes beyond exclusive Cities Initiative for his update on this issue from PREVENTING reliance on electrical barriers. Canada joined the CAWS Advisory Committee which he also 3. in 2013. In June 2015, it published the “Asian sits on. The Committee includes representation PEOPLE FROM Carp Strategy Framework,”11 a comprehen- from 30 public and private stakeholders as well sive summary of all major work being done as regional stakeholder groups. The Com- BRINGING ASIAN to control Asian carp, including Bighead and mittee sent a letter to President Obama in Silver carp as well as Grass and Black carp. January 2016 urging expedited work on an CARP TO THE We hope this article provides some ANS lock or system that would provide pro- insight into the complicated issues and strat- tection comparable to physical separation GREAT LAKES. egies to prevent Asian carp from entering the in order to prevent two-way ANS transfer in Great Lakes. For more Asian Carp prevention the long-term. “All of the Great Lakes-U.S. states and the Prov- efforts and details, please visit gbf.org/stop- According to Ullrich, many stakeholders ince of Ontario have made it illegal to buy, ping-asian-carp-great-lakes/. maintain that full physical separation is the most effective way to stop the movement of invasive species in both directions. Others argue that this approach would interfere too much with transportation. The Advisory Committee, which has examined this issue since 2014, will continue meeting in the coming year. To read a full update on the CAWS Advisory Committee’s work, including its 2015 and 2016 letters to President Obama, please visit gbf.org/2016/03/24/asian-carp- caws-advisory-update/.

2. LAKE ERIE A recent study suggests Lake Erie8 is the most threatened ecosystem due to its higher variety of fish species compared to the Created by: other Great Lakes. Some argue that with less US Army Corps of Engineers

2Loo, Nancy and Grimes, Pam. (2014, October 13). This Illinois town has more Asian carp than any place else on earth [video file]. WGNtv article and video. Retrieved from http://wgntv.com/2014/10/13/ground-zero-for- asian-carp/; 3Tiny Number of Asian Carp Could Be Big Problem for the Great Lakes. (2013). University of Waterloo. Retrieved from https://uwaterloo.ca/science/news/tiny-number-asian-carp-could-be-big-problem- great-lakes; 4Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. (June 2015). Page 6. Retrieved from http://asiancarp.us/documents/2015Framework.pdf; 5Ibid. Page 7.; 6Ibid. Page 21; 7Aulakh, Raveena. “Meet Canada’s Asian Carp Detective.” Thestar.com. Sept 28, 2015.; 8Asian Carp Could Forge Threat. LeaderCall.com (2016). Retrieved from http://leadercall.com/2016/01/asian-carp-could-forge-threat/; 9 Asian Carp Have Reproduced in Great Lakes Watershed. Associated Press (2013). Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/asian-carp-have-reproduced-in-great-lakes-watershed-1.2286554; 10Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Govern- ment of Canada. Retrieved from http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/coe-cde/ceara/AIS-EAE/asian_carp-carpe_asiatique-eng.htm#whatdfoisdoing; 11Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework. (June 2015). Retrieved from http://asiancarp.us/documents/2015Framework.pdf

GBF.ORG | SPRING 2016 | 7 IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE ON NATIVE FISH WALLEYE, LAKE STURGEON & SUCKER FISH

hanks to our donors, Georgian Bay vey 8 to 10 tributaries within the Parry Sound More work to come by March 21, 2018 Forever (GBF) continues to work on District to help Walleye, Lake Sturgeon and Other tributaries to be assessed before the tar- protecting wetlands, essential habitat Sucker Fish.These tributaries provide impor- geted project end of March 31, 2018, include Tfor so many native fish, from invasive tant spawning habitat for all species and Naiscoot River, Magnetawan River, Key River, Phragmites and extreme water levels brought critical refuge for juveniles. Pickerel River, French River and Sucker’s Creek. on by climate change. We also must do what Work began in 2015 on four Georgian One spawning bed restoration will be designed we can to rehabilitate native fish populations Bay tributaries: Blackstone River, Seguin Riv- and completed as the project comes to a close. in Georgian Bay. We need to understand the er, Shebeshekong River and Shawanaga River. To read more on this EGBSC project, quality of these species’ spawning areas for Where conditions allowed, field work included how GBF is helping, other partners and fund- safe egg deposit so that informed decisions taking spawning measurements, bathymetry ing contributors, visit gbf.org/2016/03/21/fish- can be made by authorities on how to prioritize mapping, aerial photos and fish sampling. tributaries-help/. these areas for remedial action. Why is this project important? Contributors: Last fall Julia Sutton, EGBSC and Heather Sargeant, GBF Last fall, GBF reported that the Eastern Georgian 1 Walleye populations are dwindling. Left:Shebeshekong – aerial photos help identify Bay Stewardship Council (EGBSC) is working with 2 Lake Sturgeon are listed as threatened potential fish habitat. a number of partners1 including GBF to sur- by the Committee on the Status of Below: Photographing spawning substrate Endangered Wildlife in Canada. 3 Sucker fish, although less desirable from a fishing standpoint, are declining for reasons that are less clear. Destruction of habitat, climate change and over-fishing in the mid-1900s are some of the main reasons for the reported declines. Work needs to be done to support increasing these fish populations.

1 Partners: Led by the Eastern Georgian Bay Stewardship Council, the group also includes Georgian Bay Forever, Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Upper Great Lakes Management Unit. This project is being funded through the Environmental Damages Fund for Parry Sound District and EGBSC. In-kind contributions for the project are being provided by GBF, GBBR, Upper Great Lakes Management Unit (UPGLMU) of Ontario Natural Resources and Forestry, and EGBSC.

GEORGIAN BAY FOREVER IS PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROSITY OF THESE SUPPORTERS. DONOR PROFILE

GEORGIAN BAY – MAKING LASTING MEMORIES

Helen and Doug call The Chapel on Flatrock with her family and she feels immensely their family gathering place. Originally built as grateful to be watching the sixth generation — a functioning chapel by the previous owners — her three grandchildren — begin their lives on My most treasured memories two Ministers — it was beautifully redesigned the Bay.“This magical place, which means so were made, and continue to by her mother-in-law as the gathering place much to all of us, must be protected so future be made, in this place where I hosting two weddings and holding years of generations can fall in love with it as we have, memories for the entire family. rather than just reading about how beautiful feel the most alive. This history is important to Helen, but it once was.” Helen continues to support the it’s the awesome power of nature, the clean research sponsored by Georgian Bay Forever elen Roby Bryce has a passionate cool air and water, the timeless granite and is committed to helping to keep the wa- connection to the Bay as a fourth highway and sharing the natural beauty of ters of Georgian Bay drinkable, swimmable generation cottager. Her parents met Georgian Bay with her loved ones that reignites and fishable for many generations to come! Hat the cottage as did she and her husband! It a passion and deep appreciation for life each all began at the turn of the 19th Century when spring. “My most treasured memories were Thank you. the first Roby came to Pointe au Baril from made, and continue to be made, in this place Georgian Bay Forever is truly grateful to Helen Cleveland, Ohio, where Helen was born. where I feel the most alive.” Bryce, her family and families like yours for Helen’s great grandfather and his friends Helen is a tireless volunteer and gives the exceptional support of Georgian Bay purchased an island that they named Camp back to her cottage community in many ways. Forever, enabling important projects and Cleveland and established one of the original Being a strong supporter of the Ojibway Club, research that help protect the Bay. To learn camps that included cooks and servants she wants to help ensure its viability as a his- more about how you can help, please visit our brought up from Ohio. Helen’s father told great torical landmark and unique gathering place website at gbf.org. stories about camp life, the system of bells, for generations to come. She is currently the meal fines for late arrivals to the table and Secretary to the Ojibway Board of Directors, the great joy he took in tormenting the cooks Director and Secretary to the Ojibway Histori- with stories of prowling bears and poisonous cal Preservation Society, Coordinator of the snakes. When Helen’s parents married, they annual Ojibway Art Show, Marketing Chair for summered at her mother’s cottage, where she the Pointe au Baril Islander’s Association and grew up water-skiing behind her father’s a volunteer with Georgian Bay Forever’s Com- Century speedboat with her friends and munications Committee — but there is always watching tranquil sunsets from the huge porch time for tennis, entertaining and enjoying the overlooking Matthew’s Bay. timeless gifts of Georgian Bay! Helen met her husband, Doug, at sailing classes at the Ojibway Club. When Doug and Committed to protecting Georgian Bay for the Helen married, they moved to Flatrock, his fam- next generations. ily’s island, purchased in the early 60s. Today, One of Helen’s greatest joys is being together

GBF.ORG | SPRING 2016 | 9 IMPORTANT NEWS GBF USES DNA PROFILING — WHO’S WHO IN THE WATER?

eorgian Bay is becoming an iconic ex- we can monitor the impact of ecosystem chang- we are improving our ability both to monitor ample for Canada, and the globe, for es on diversity and even document hotspots in the biodiversity of the ecosystem and to map its the development of a rigorous scientific biodiversity that need protection as possible food web. It is this latter application of DNA bar- Gplatform that will be able to measure human candidates for aquatic habitat preserves. coding that researchers like Dr. McCann can then impacts on the ecosystem. Over the use with other empirical inputs to pro- past five years, Georgian Bay Forever duce ecosystem models. Those models has been supporting research that DNA barcoding helps will then be able to predict responses creates a library of aquatic biodiver- to major environmental impacts or sity using a DNA barcoding tool that us understand our management actions (e.g., Phoslock, can help us understand our complex climate change, development, invasive ecosystem. complex ecosystem. species or future aquatic preserves). The huge number of species inter- Our ongoing work in Georgian Bay acting in an ecosystem makes it tricky and the Great Lakes is combining nu- to understand or predict the human impacts Since 2012, GBF has been working with Dr. Kevin merous biotracers (stable isotopes, fatty on that system or area. DNA barcoding can both McCann from the University of Guelph to create acids, etc.) and DNA techniques to monitor identify organisms and aid in uncovering full a DNA barcode catalogue for the Georgian Bay and inform the development of biodiversity food webs. Once an ecosystem is catalogued, Archipelago food web. Through this partnership, policy both in Canada and globally.

THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES STEPPED UP TO HELP PROTECT THE BAY.

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OTHER BUSINESSES INCLUDE: PARRY SOUND MARINE

“THE BAYKEEPER” 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 SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, ASIA AND AFRICA. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WATERKEEPER.ORG PAGE10 10| SPRING FALL 2011 2016 | |GBF.ORG GBF.ORG IMPORTANT NEWS

IS THIS WHERE GEORGIAN BAY IS HEADING?

NOT IF WE CAN HELP IT. Invasive Phragmites—a rapacious, invasive reed from Europe—has no natural controls. It spreads with spectacular speed and density, destroying shorelines, wetlands and whatever is in its path. Last summer, Georgian Bay Forever worked with more than 16 communities to control the growth of this pernicious invader. This year, we need your support to do even more. Find out how your donation will help safeguard Georgian Bay for future generations. Visit GBF.org or call us at 905–880–4945.

GBF.ORG | GBF is pleased to recognize the members of the Georgian Bay Forever Circle

PROTECTOR | $250,000+ Great Lakes Basin Conservancy, Inc. RBC Foundation

DEFENDER | $100,000 - $249,999 The CSL Group Inc. Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. The McLean Foundation Doug and Ruth Grant Jackman Foundation The Schad Foundation

GUARDIAN | $50,000 - $99,999 Echo Foundation The Judy and Wilmot Matthews Foundation Robin and Robert Ogilvie The Geoff Hyland Family Marye McCaig The W. Garfield Weston Foundation The Langar Foundation Anthony Munk and Amie Rocket Munk Bruce Power

HERO | $25,000 - $49,999 Brian and Janey Chapman The Harold A. Kopas Family Foundation The Ruby Family The Catherine and Fredrik Eaton Foundation Lloyd’s Register Canada Ltd. William and Meredith Saunderson Peter Hatcher and Family Ruth Mandel –WHO GIVES Fund Peter and Cathie Singer Robert Hay and Family Mason Family Foundation Larry Smith Michael and Jacquie Green The McDonald Family Sterling Marine Fuels John Honderich Michael McCain Philip and Eli Taylor Ernest Howard Hugh and Sylvia McLelland Jan Ruby and Mary Thomson Roger Jones and Joanne Muther-Jones Jeffrey Orr and Suzanne Legge John and Josie Watson Peter and Margie Kelk Francie and John Pepper The Michael Young Family Foundation John and Penny Pepperell

PATRON | $15,000 - $24,999 Algoma Central Corporation Mary-Elizabeth Flynn Bill and Carol Prior David and Shelagh Blenkarn Donald Guloien and Irene Boychuk Gail and Tim Regan Derek and Nancy Bowen Renata Humphries Margot Roberts and David Wlliamson Tony and Janet Burt John Irving and Janet Turnbull-Irving David Roffey and Karen Walsh The Carrick Family Robert and Patricia Lord Jennifer Rogers James and Erica Curtis Paul and Martha McLean Robert and Valerie Thompson Philip Deck and Kimberley Bozak James Meekison and Carolyn Keystone Cameron Wardlaw Fednav Limited Frank and Patricia Mills Michael Wenben and Virginia Froman The Charles and Rita Field-Marsham Hugh and Ada Morris Sandy Wood and Don Darroch Foundation Christopher Pfaff

HELP US PROTECT GEORGIAN BAY. FOREVER. USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, SEND IN YOUR DONATION TODAY! GBF.org | 905–880–4945 Would you prefer to stay in touch via email? Send an email to [email protected]