Atlantic Salmon returning to Lake Ontario

After 150-years, Atlantic salmon from hatcheries are adapting to the wild, and once again spawning in the Credit River, Cobourg Creek and Duffins Creek, near Toronto. It's hoped the salmon will spread to other creeks around Lake Ontario. Native Atlantics died out due to overfishing, development, mills, and dams that stopped the fish from travelling upstream to spawn. A government restoration program coordinated with local fishing groups has resulted in success last fall. [mnr.gov.on.ca]

Jade Scognamillo now Youngest to Swim across Lake Ontario

On August 1, 15-year-old Jade Scognamillo became the youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario, swimming 52 km. from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto. A new Canadian citizen, Jade raised $35,000 for the Hospital For Sick Children. Last summer, she set the record as the youngest and fastest person to ever cross Lake Erie. lfpress.ca

Ontario Wind Turbines Start up near Kingston

125-metre wind towers on Wolfe Island in eastern Lake Ontario are starting operation to generate approximately 594 GWh annually. The $475 million project is the second largest wind farm in Canada. It has 86 wind turbines, each 2.3 MW, in western Wolfe Island, south of Kingston. kingstonthisweek.com/...

Fishing in Ontario

Starting in 2009, Americans who fish in Canadian waters will require the Canadian Outdoors Card (about $9, valid for three years), the same as for Canadian residents. The new regulations are is the first part of a new licensing automation system that will begin in 2010.
The card can be ordered by phoning 1-800-667-1940 using a credit card. A 2009 Ontario fishing licence can be ordered at the same time - a regular licence, a conservation licence, 8-day licence. A one-day licence does not require getting the Outdoors Card. The cards take up to six weeks to arrive by postal mail. Americans may take a state-registered boat into Canada for up to 45 consecutive days without requiring a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. (Details: mnr.gov.on.ca)

Great Lakes at Record Low Water Levels

In August, Lake Superior, the largest of the five Great Lakes, set a record for low water levels over the last century, and is heading for a record in September. Water flow out of the lake is also down 30% over averages. Lakes Michigan and Huron are at the level of Chart Datum, below their all-time average levels for this time of year. Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are below their all-time average levels for this time of year, but above Datum. The water level at Montreal Harbour is below average for this time of year and below Datum. (Kingston, Ontario levels are the lowest we've recorded in our log in 21 years - and still dropping.)

The Georgian Bay Association is advancing its 2005 theory that excessive dredging near Sarnia and gravel mining many years ago have been the equivalent of pulling a drain plug, now causing loss of 10 billion litres a day, three times more than previously thought.

The five Great Lakes form the world's largest interconnected body of fresh water, containing one-fifth of all the fresh water on Earth. 99% of the lake waters are considered a legacy of the last ice age. Only about 1% is replenished each year through precipitation, which must offset evaporation and water flowing through the St. Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean.
[ theGlobeAndMail.com | ToledoBlade.com | Water Level links ]