GBLT is looking for two students to represent the Georgian Bay Land Trust at community events and assist with outreach activities this summer. Applicants should be enthusiastic about protecting the Georgian Bay environment, have a friendly and outgoing attitude, and be able to work independently with daily travel around the eastern Georgian Bay region. Visit gblt.org/careers for more information. Applications are due by March 20.
Lake Michigan-Huron is 3 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron & Erie are up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, St. Clair & Ontario water levels remain the same. Lakes Superior & Ontario levels are up 4 & 3 inches, respectively, from last year, while Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie are lower by 3, 5 & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 2, 12, 5, 8 & 6 inches below their long-term March averages. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. In a month, Lake Superior levels are predicted to remain the same. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expected to rise by 2, 4, 7 & 9 inches, respectively. Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Marys River is project to be above average in March. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the Detroit River, Lake Erie’s outflow through the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario’s outflow through the St. Lawrence River are projected to be slightly below average in March. This report below shows the most recent month of precipitation and outflows published by Level News: With regard to the forecast graph below, and the more recently updated first graph in this report, the USACE is predicting that the most likely outcome is that the Lake Michigan-Huron level will start to rise in March through July. Monthly mean water levels for the previous year and the current year to date are shown as a solid line on the hydrographs. A projection for the next six months is given as a dashed line. This projection is based on the present condition of the lake basin and anticipated future weather. The shaded area shows a range of possible levels over the next six months dependent upon weather variations. Current and projected levels (solid and dashed lines) can be compared with the 1918-2021 average levels (dotted line) and extreme levels (shown as bars with their year of occurrence). The legend below further identifies the information on the hydrographs. The satellite imagery for March 8, 2026 shows diminishing ice cover for Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Hydro One is looking for feedback from community members in Simcoe, Sudbury, Parry Sound and Muskoka to define the project’s map A new infrastructure project, set to transport large amounts of electricity from Sudbury to Barrie, is moving forward. Hydro One has started the process to build a new transmission line that will run from the Hanmer Transformer Station (TS) in Sudbury to the Essa TS near Barrie. The following is a conversation with Hydro One’s Vice-President of Strategic Projects and Partnerships, Sonny Karunakaran. The North Star asked about the communities the proposed line would pass through, key project details, and other related issues. Q: What is the project about? “This specific project is a 500-kilovolt, single-circuit transmission line that comes from the Hanmer Transformer Station (TS) in Sudbury to the Essa TS near Barrie. Once built, the line would ensure the north-south transmission capacity that’s presently in place gets expanded and strengthened to unlock future generation opportunities. Ontario is growing, and so is the need for electricity right across this province, especially in Northern Ontario. That region is expected to grow rapidly over the next 25 years, as investments in new homes and businesses are being made. Infrastructure like this will support the North now and into the future.” Q: What is the line going to look like? “We are in the early stages of the project, and we are looking for feedback from stakeholders, business councils, local communities and members of the public to help inform the way we’re gonna develop the project. We use that information to help shape how we’re actually going to wrap the project, (define) the type of structure we’re using and how we’re going to develop our construction methods and techniques. If people have any feedback they want to share with us, they can email Community.Relations@HydroOne.com.” Q: What communities would the line pass through? “We know the two end locations of the line (Barrie and Sudbury), but we still have to define the study corridor to make a determination on what the potential routes are and then evaluate them. We would first get in touch with members of the public near the end locations, then develop a website to share what we heard and identify some of these study corridors … We then use that feedback to whittle down to various route options. If you were to look at a map and see what the options are around those corridors (to connect the stations in Sudbury and Barrie) … there’s a high likelihood for the line to traverse the Parry Sound-Muskoka area.” Q: Are there any other new lines like the one proposed? “There are 15 other transmission line projects in the province. Some of them are like the Sudbury-Barrie line that are just commencing, others are in the middle stage of the process, others are under construction, and we already have one energized and finished.” Q: When can people expect to see the project finished? “This project is expected to be energized and in service by the end of 2032 … if we need to have the line in service by 2032, we would need to start construction at the beginning of 2029. That gives us roughly three years to do the outreach with members of the public, perform infield studies, environmental and archeological assessments, and then get the approvals form the Ontario Energy Board and regulators.” For more information, visit the Hydro One website.
We are sharing the attached notice from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) regarding a public comment period for the proposed Ontario Pumped Storage Hydropower Project near Meaford, Ontario.
Members who wish to review the project information or provide feedback to the federal impact assessment process are invited to do so. The comment period is open until April 6, 2026.
Further details from IAAC, including how to review project materials and submit comments, are included in the notice below:
Ontario Pumped Storage Hydropower Project — Public Comments Invited
On March 6, 2026, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) posted the Initial Project Description (IPD) provided by TC Energy (the proponent) for the Ontario Pumped Storage Hydropower Project (the project) to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website (the Registry). The IPD and its summary are available on the Registry here.
A public comment period on the summary of the IPD will be held from March 6, 2026 to April 6, 2026 – 31 days in total. Comments received by April 6, 2026 will be included in a Summary of Issues prepared by IAAC, which will summarize the issues raised by Indigenous groups and other participants. IAAC will provide the Summary of Issues to the proponent and will post a copy on the Registry.
Comments on the project can be provided to the email address below or through the "Submit a Comment" function available on the project page of the Registry (Reference Number 89803) here. Users of this feature must agree to the Terms of Use for online submissions, available at: Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (iaac-aeic.gc.ca).
Important note: Comments and other documents received by IAAC during this public comment period will be added to the project file and posted on the Registry. For submissions that are not submitted directly to the Registry (such as comments and documents provided by email), IAAC will remove sensitive or confidential information, such as home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and signatures, before posting them on the Registry. If you wish to provide comments or documents containing confidential or sensitive information that you believe should not be disclosed to the public, please contact IAAC before submitting them.
If you have any questions, please contact IAAC at Nottawasaga@iaac-aeic.gc.ca.
The results of the 2050 State of the Great Lakes Report (SOGL)—the authoritative assessment of the health of our waters—classify the Lake Huron/Georgian Bay ecosystem as "Fair to Good" with an "Unchanging" trend.
According to the report, the Lake Huron basin remains a reliable source of high-quality drinking water and offers excellent opportunities for swimming and recreation. However, the report highlights several key "Fair" and "Poor" indicators that demand our attention:
Nutrients and Algae: While offshore phosphorus is stable, nearshore areas are prone to nuisance algal growth (Cladophora). Specifically, the southern end of Georgian Bay remains a focal point for these blooms.
Invasive Species: This sub-indicator remains "Poor." Filter-feeding Quagga Mussels have significantly lowered productivity in offshore waters and are the primary driver behind localized algae growth near our shores.
Fish and Wildlife: Fish-eating and colonial-nesting waterbirds are currently assessed as "Poor" due to low populations. While Lake Trout and Walleye populations are stable or improving, consumption advisories remain in effect for certain species due to lingering contaminant levels.
Coastal Wetlands: Georgian Bay and Lake Huron contain 30% of all Great Lakes wetlands. These are in Fair to Good condition, though northern regions generally show better health than southern areas, which face more stress from agricultural runoff.
Read the full "report card" here.
Innovative Remediation: Activated Carbon
Although few presentations addressed Georgian Bay directly, a recently completed project at the Thomson River reservoir on Lake Superior was of particular interest. Researchers deposited more than 20,000 tonnes of activated carbon, which will bind to contaminants in the sediment and prevent their movement up the food chain—a technique that may eventually prove vital for our own industrial harbours!
Read more about the potential effects of activated carbon here,
After a series of historically low-ice winters, the Great Lakes made a significant comeback in 2026. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirms that ice coverage across the basin peaked at 58% on February 9, marking the highest ice levels seen since 2019.
While the last few years saw the lakes struggle to freeze, 2026 surpassed long-term averages across the board. The surge was driven by an intense cold spell in late January and early February, allowing ice to build rapidly.
Where the Lakes Topped Out:
Lake Huron: A major overachiever, surging to 77% coverage (well above its 50% average). As of late February, it remains nearly half-covered at 47%.
Lake Erie: Came within four percentage points of freezing over entirely, peaking at 96% (average is 67%).
Lake Superior: Topped out at 53%, surpassing its long-term average of 48%.
Lake Ontario: More than doubled its typical coverage, reaching 42% compared to the 19% average.
Despite the strong start, the thaw has been swift. In just two weeks following the peak, the Great Lakes lost approximately 43% of their ice cover due to a shift toward warmer February temperatures.
Ice coverage plays a vital role in the Great Lake ecosystem. It protects shorelines from erosion caused by winter storms, helps regulate water temperatures for the coming spring, and supports the spawning cycles of various native fish species.
Read more here.
Listen to Meredith Denning discuss icCBC's Ontario Morning here.
Lake Michigan-Huron is 3 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lake Michigan-Huron are up 1 inch. Lake Superior water levels are the same, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 4 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior & Ontario levels are up 5 & 4 inches, respectively, from last year, while Lakes Michigan-Huron & Erie are lower by 3 & 8 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake St. Clair levels are currently the same as they were last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 11, 3, 7 & 3 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lake Superior levels are predicted to remain the same. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expected to rise by 2, 4, 7 & 5 inches, respectively. Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Marys River is project to be near average in February. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the Detroit River, Lake Erie’s outflow through the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario’s outflow through the St. Lawrence River are projected to be slightly below average in February. This report below shows the most recent month of precipitation and outflows published by Level News: With regard to the forecast graph below, and the more recently updated first graph in this report, the USACE is predicting that the most likely outcome is that the Lake Michigan-Huron level will continue to drop through January and start to level off in February. Monthly mean water levels for the previous year and the current year to date are shown as a solid line on the hydrographs. A projection for the next six months is given as a dashed line. This projection is based on the present condition of the lake basin and anticipated future weather. The shaded area shows a range of possible levels over the next six months dependent upon weather variations. Current and projected levels (solid and dashed lines) can be compared with the 1918-2021 average levels (dotted line) and extreme levels (shown as bars with their year of occurrence). The legend below further identifies the information on the hydrographs. Satellite imagery of Georgian Bay is not clear, but the graph below shows the ice coverage on Lake Huron for February 27, 2026 compared to the average ice coverage over the past 50 years.
On February 12, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) hosted a hybrid information session at Meaford Hall to clarify the federal regulatory roadmap for TC Energy's proposed Pumped Storage Project. The session drew strong community interest, with over 100 residents attending in person and more than 150 participating online.
The meeting featured presentations from several federal departments, including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Department of National Defence. These agencies outlined their roles in the upcoming impact assessment process, which will evaluate the project’s footprint on the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre lands and its potential environmental impacts.
TC Energy’s proposal includes a 374-acre reservoir located 150 metres above the Georgian Bay shoreline. The facility would pump water from the Bay into the reservoir during off-peak hours and release it through turbines to generate electricity during peak demand.
While the session focused on the process rather than the merits of the project, many residents and stakeholders attended to voice opposition. Primary concerns discussed include:
Environmental Impact: Risks to fish populations and the broader Georgian Bay ecosystem.
Safety: Potential flooding risks to nearby homeowners should the reservoir fail.
Contamination: The risk of disturbing contaminated soil on the military base during excavation.
Economic Viability: The multi-billion dollar cost of this project versus more efficient, alternative energy storage solutions like batteries.
Next Steps
The formal federal impact assessment has not yet begun, but will be triggered once TC Energy submits its Initial Project Description (IPD) to the IAAC. This filing will launch a 30-day public comment period, the first of many opportunities for GBA and our members to submit formal feedback.
The GBA will continue to monitor this file closely and notify members when the official comment period opens.
Learn more about the meeting here.
Lake Michigan-Huron is 5 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie are down 2, 1, 4 & 3 inches, respectively, while Lake Ontario levels are the same. Lakes Superior, St. Clair & Ontario levels are up 3, 4 & 3 inches, respectively, from last year, while Lakes Michigan-Huron & Erie are lower by 5 & 8 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 12, 5, 6 & 4 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lake Superior levels are predicted to fall by 1 inch. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expected to rise by 1, 4, 5 & 2 inches, respectively. Lake Superior’s outflow through the St. Marys River is project to be near average in February. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the Detroit River, Lake Erie’s outflow through the Niagara River, and Lake Ontario’s outflow through the St. Lawrence River are projected to be slightly below average in February. This report below shows the most recent month of precipitation and outflows published by Level News: With regard to the forecast graph below, and the more recently updated first graph in this report, the USACE is predicting that the most likely outcome is that the Lake Michigan-Huron level will continue to drop through January and start to level off in February. Monthly mean water levels for the previous year and the current year to date are shown as a solid line on the hydrographs. A projection for the next six months is given as a dashed line. This projection is based on the present condition of the lake basin and anticipated future weather. The shaded area shows a range of possible levels over the next six months dependent upon weather variations. Current and projected levels (solid and dashed lines) can be compared with the 1918-2021 average levels (dotted line) and extreme levels (shown as bars with their year of occurrence). The legend below further identifies the information on the hydrographs. Satellite imagery of Georgian Bay is not clear, but the map below shows the ice coverage on all the Great Lakes for February 15, 2026, and the graph below it shows how the ice cover compares to past coverage for this date. According to the graph, Lake Huron’s ice coverage currently sits at 68.8% which is the highest rate of ice coverage since 2015.