Georgian Bay Forever

Wetlands

The Bay's shorelines are home to some of the highest quality, most diverse and extensive wetlands found anywhere in the Great Lakes basin. After years of low water levels, they are also the most vulnerable.

Wetlands are the most important part of the aquatic ecosystem. Until recently, most of the wetlands in Georgian Bay had never been assessed, so no government agency even knew they existed.

It wasn't until Georgian Bay Forever teamed up with McMaster University wetlands biologists did we discover that Georgian Bay has the most extensive, high quality, most diverse wetlands found anywhere in the Great Lakes. However, because they are on post-ice-age glacial deposits scattered among the 30,000 granite islands, they are very sensitive to sustained low water levels and could even suffer irreversible damage.

  • An unprecedented nine years of sustained low water levels is drying out our precious wetlands - some have already converted to grass meadows
  • 80% of Great Lakes fish species need wetlands at some point in their life cycle for nursery and/or spawning habitat
  • On Lakes Ontario and Erie, up to 70% of wetlands have been lost due to development encroachment and/or pollution
  • Some wetlands can migrate to neighbouring shorelines; in Lake Erie, for example, where ther is adjacent sediment. However, Georgian Bay wetlands are confined by the steep granite shoreline
  • Fish that cannot find suitable spawning habitat simply do not spawn
  • Northern Pike, Muskelunge and other fish species are in decline in Georgian Bay
  • To find out more, download Dr Pat Chow-Fraser's presentation, from McMaster University



For 12 weeks this past summer, our Science and Research Committee worked with McMaster biologists assessing the Bay's vulnerable wetlands. We installed a new depth sounder/GPS unit on the Georgian Baykeeper boat, which allows McMaster University to download and store data on site. Researchers are now compiling the total acreage of wetlands on the Bay's north and east coasts (estimated at 17,000 ha) -  invaluable findings for our ongoing monitoring efforts.

We are currently negotiating a renewal of our Memorandum of Understanding with the McMaster University Coastal Wetlands Research Group. It will enable the first ever wetlands assessment and mapping of the east and north coast of Georgian Bay wetlands to continue next summer. Once again, host families will get to see this hard-working team in action from sunrise to sunset.

Our Adopt a Wetland program is looking for individuals and families to volunteer next summer. We'll show you everything you need to know in our training session out on the Bay, including how to identify important plants. All you need is a canoe, kayak or other small boat. The results are submitted to McMaster University. Training sessions will be held in each local community. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mary Muter, Georgian Baykeeper, care of our office at 905-880-4945.

 

 altaltalt