Getting to know your Great Lakes: Lake Huron and Georgian Bay
Photo provided by Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (2012)
Every summer, thousands of Ontarians flock to the cottage country and sandy beaches along the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Here are a few facts about this popular destination and important freshwater resource.
Lake Huron, which includes Georgian Bay, is the third largest of the Great Lakes by volume. It's also the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world.
It contains more than 30,000 islands, including Manitoulin Island - the largest freshwater island in the world.
Lake Huron was the first of the Great Lakes to be discovered by European explorers. These explorers listed Georgian Bay as a separate lake because it is nearly separated from the rest of Lake Huron by the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island.
The eight kilometre-wide Straits of Mackinac separate Lake Huron from Lake Michigan; geologically and hydrologically, the two Great Lakes are the same body of water.
The rugged natural beauty of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay has long captured the imagination of visitors. The area was a popular subject and source of inspiration for artists like Tom Thomson (Pine Island, Georgian Bay) and the Group of Seven (Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay).
Challenges:
Lake Huron:
Intensive scientific study over the past eight years has documented systemic changes in the lake as a whole that seem to be connected to invasive species such as quagga mussels and gobies. There is evidence that algae is now growing in locations and water depths where it has not been observed before. This leads to unsightly algae-covered beaches. Adding to this problem is greater algae growth in shallow water near the mouths of tributaries and drains.
Actions such as monitoring septic systems, keeping livestock away from streams and tributaries, not using fertilizers on property that is close to the water can reduce phosphorus in the near shore and help reduce the growth of nuisance algae.
In addition, since 2007, the province has committed $653-million to the improvement of municipal wastewater infrastructure upgrades in the Great Lakes Basin.
Georgian Bay:
Georgian Bay boasts a large number of pristine wetlands, with high biodiversity of plants and animals. While most of the Georgian Bay wetlands are currently in good condition, a few with heavy cottage development are showing signs of reduced water quality, similar to what you might see in populated areas of the lower Great Lakes. Collaboration by all levels of governments, along with property owners, boaters and visitors is necessary to ensure that high quality wetlands are protected from the effects of increased cottage and residential development along the shoreline.
Protecting these precious resources is the mission of the Healthy Lake Huron – Clean Water, Clean Beaches campaign. Last year, Ontario provided $700,000 in funding through the Showcasing Water Innovation program for the development of a rural stormwater management model and its implementation in the five priority areas of the Healthy Lake Huron project.
