Spiel

....This would have been a great shot of DanC's hand if the Brookie hadn't got in the way.

Concern growing over Great Lakes water levels; Costs of lower levels include harbour dredging and waterline interference from silting for snow-making pumps Posted By Don Crosby Collingwood Enterprise Concern continues to grow over the local effects of declining water levels in the Great Lakes. In his inaugural address, Bruce County Warden Milt McIver promised to make water levels a priority during his term of office. He wants the county to be involved in discussions on Great Lakes water levels, which are beginning to affect several Bruce County municipalities. "It's having a huge impact for all of us but especially those of us on the lakefront. We see lake levels decreasing and there is certainly a lot of discussion as to why this is happening and I think we need to be involved and be a part of the process," said McIver, who is also mayor of Northern Bruce Peninsula. Blue Mountains Mayor Ellen Anderson is calling for changes in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement - a treaty negotiated in 1987 that formed the basis of efforts by Canada and the U.S. to protect the lakes from pollution. Speaking at the recent annual meeting of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in Wisconsin, Anderson noted the original agreement - which took aim at reducing the chemical loading of the lakes - has been eclipsed with more complex problems caused by climate change and regional drought and a growing number of invasive species that threaten the food chain in the lakes. "The Great Lakes have changed in the last 20 years and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement needs to change with it," said Anderson, who is calling for the governments of Canada and the U.S. to renegotiate the agreement, with an increased emphasis on protection of watershed-based sources of drinking water. Anderson is a member of the board of directors for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative - an organization of mayors and locally elected officials advocating for protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Founded in 2003 by Chicago Mayor Richard Daly, with Mayor David Miller of Toronto as the lead from Canada, U.S. and Canadian cities across the basin are working together to improve water quality, water conservation and waterfront vitality. Anderson said in an interview last month, after returning from this year's meeting, that the mayors passed a motion alerting the International Joint Commission of the urgency of the situation and asking that it speed up the study of the upper Great Lakes and St. Clair River that would form the basis of action to solve the problem of declining water levels. In February 2007, the IJC appointed the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board to examine whether the regulation of Lake Superior outflows can be improved to address the evolving needs of the upper Great Lakes. Anderson is calling for cities and towns around the Great Lakes to have a seat at the table during the renegotiation and implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. She also wants the governments of Ontario and Quebec to adopt aggressive water conservation measures. She noted that 50 members of the initiative have taken the lead by adopting a 15-per-cent water conservation target by 2015. Anderson referred to effects of declining water levels in the past five years on Nottawasaga Bay, noting that in 2007 the water levels in Thornbury harbour were two feet lower than normal levels as indicated on shipping charts. She said the harbour may have to be dredged, but that could cost as much as $40,000 a year and take more than one year to complete. The Craigleith Ski Club has had to lengthen its water intake line at Northwinds Beach due to inadequate water levels, which was causing sediments to interfere with the club's snowmaking pumps. Anderson's biggest concern is for the water intake that supplies Thornbury's Peel Street water plant, which sits in 22-to-24 feet of water in Nottawasaga Bay. That's down from the 28 feet of water when the pipe was installed in the 1970s. Levels of 30 feet or more are optimal for reducing turbidity levels, which are caused by wave action. "If the water levels dropped another two feet, the intake would have to be extended . . . at an approximate cost of $5 million," Anderson said. She said governments appear reluctant to take action when faced with the cost of dealing with the issues and call instead for more studies, but, "It isn't going to be anywhere near as expensive if we do something (now) than what it's going to cost if we don't correct the problems now."

January 09, 2008 Flood warning message GRCA Wed. Jan. 9 @ 7:15 a.m. The Grand River Conservation Authority is issuing the following flood warning (action) message. Overnight rainfall of 30 to 35 millimeters across the watershed have lead to increased flows in watershed rivers and streams. Nith River - New Hamburg Flooding is expected in the following areas 1. fairgrounds in New Hamburg 2. along Asmus Street, Jacobs Street, Milton Street and Grace Street The GRCA has requested Waterloo Region Police warn residents in the above locations using the automated dialer system. It is expected flows will reach 176 cubic meters per second (m3/s) range at 3 p.m. today. Nith River - Ayr Current flow is estimated at 160 m3/s. It is expected flows will peak through the village of Ayr at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Overnight rainfall has caused a revised peak flow estimate of 240 m3/s. This level corresponds to a level of 2.5 meters on the Ayr staff gauge. We are requesting Waterloo Region Police warn affected residents in the Village of Ayr with the automated dialer system. Residents should take appropriate precautions and avoid parking vehicles in low lying areas that typically flood. Grand River - Grand Valley High flow conditions continue in the Grand River through Grand Valley. It is expected flooding on Main Street will continue throughout the day. It is recommended that municipal crews continue to monitor conditions and maintain the road closure barriers. Grand River – Center Wellington High flows from the Irvine River have lead through high flows through the Wilsons Flats area. Township of Center Wellington is requested to monitor the site, close the road as required and warn affected residents. Grand River – City of Kitchener Low lying portions of Bingemans Park and Pioneer Sportsmen's Club are expected to be flooded throughout the day. The GRCa has asked the City of Kitchener staff to notify both organizations. Grand River – City of Cambridge Flows are forecast to reach the road level on Highway 24 (Water Street) south by the GTO station by late afternoon today. City of Cambridge is requested to monitor the site and close the road as appropriate. Grand River – City of Brantford Flooding on Gilkinson Avenue is expected later this afternoon. GRCA is requesting that City of Brantford monitor the situation and close Gilkinson Avenue as appropriate. Grand River – downstream from Brantford An update will be issued later today. Conestogo River High flows continue on the Conestogo River. Flooding is underway at the low level bridge upstream from St. Jacobs and on Glasgow Street in Conestogo. GRCA requests that Township of Woolwich continues to maintain road barriers until flood conditions subside. Speed River – City of Cambridge Flooding is expected in Riverside Park, and along the multi-use trail under Highway 401. GRCA request the City of Cambridge close access to the park and the portion of the trail subject to flooding. Flows will be elevated throughout the Grand River system for two to three days as water from rain and melting snow works its way through the system. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time and when combined with cold, fast-moving water pose a serious hazard. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from watercourses and off frozen water bodies at this time. GRCA staff will continue to monitor watershed conditions and will issue updates as required. For more information on river flows, see the River Data section of the GRCA web site. Further information: Dave Schultz, GRCA Coordinator of Communications Phone: (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 Fax: (519) 621-4844 E-mail: [email protected]

Report highlights fishing's economic, conservation impact Nation's 40 million anglers spend $45 billion on tackle, transportation, lodging American Sportfishing Association January 8, 2008 ESPN Recreational fishing is more than just a getaway for millions of Americans. As an industry, it provides a living for countless people in businesses ranging from fishing tackle and accessories manufacturing to travel and hospitality to boat manufacturing. According to a new report on fishing statistics, published by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), when expenditures are multiplied by America's nearly 40 million anglers, their dollars have a significant impact on our nation's economy. Sportfishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse highlights how fishing not only endures as an activity that permeates social and economic aspects of Americans' lives, but also plays a huge role in the country's successful conservation movement. "As an industry, we are keenly aware of the impact that sportfishing has on this nation's economy," ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman said. "Just by enjoying a day on the water, men, women and children across the United States pump billions of dollars into this country's economy." "And it's not just the economy; America's anglers are in many ways the nation's most powerful force for the environment investing hundreds of millions of dollars each year in fisheries management and conservation through taxes on fishing equipment and license sales." America's nearly 40 million anglers spend over $45 billion per year on fishing equipment, transportation, lodging and other expenses associated with their sport. With a total annual economic impact of $125 billion, fishing supports over one million jobs and generates $34 billion in wages and $16 billion in tax revenues each year. The average amount anglers spend yearly on hooks, rods, lures and other fishing tackle increased 16 percent from 2001 to 2006. A number of reports strongly indicate that fishing is identified by American families as one of the best ways to spend quality time together. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, fishing as a leisure-time activity ranks higher than playing basketball or softball, skateboarding, jogging or hiking. Substantially more than any other groups, anglers support the nation's conservation efforts through the Sport Fish Restoration Program. Special taxes on fishing gear and motorboat fuel channel hundreds of millions of anglers' dollars to state fish and wildlife conservation and recreation programs each year. The American Sportfishing Association's analysis is based on data from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, conducted every five years on behalf of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies by the Census Bureau and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sportfishing in America was produced for ASA by Southwick Associates, Fernandina Beach, Fla. Additional economic facts about sportfishing: • The nearly one million jobs supported by anglers are almost three times the number of people who work for United Parcel Service in the U.S. • The amount of federal tax revenues generated by angler spending in 2006 — $8.9 billion — is roughly equal to the entire 2006 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. • In 2006, the top 10 states with residents who fished, based on the percentage of population, are: Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho, Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi. • In 2006, the top 10 states that attract the highest number of non-resident anglers are: Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, South Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, New York and Texas. • In 2006, the total days of fishing in the U.S. equaled 1,289,300 years of fishing. • The not-so-lowly catfish is pursued by nearly seven million anglers, more than the population of Arizona, Massachusetts or Washington. • All the dollars spent by anglers, attached end to end, would reach to the moon and back — nine times!

....Lots of boat and boating related links here....The Star

Be wary of all ice conditions Bob Bruton Innisfil Examiner Friday, January 04, 2008 Updated @ 2:19:19 PM Two ice fishers wait for that elusive catch on Cooks Bay. Ice conditions are very unpredictable, despite the recent cold snap. - Photo: IAN MCINROY _________________________ On foot, in a fish hut, on a snowmobile or ATV, the message is the same. Stay off the ice on waterways like Lake Simcoe, Cook’s Bay and Kempenfelt Bay — despite the recent cold snap. Terry Goy, who runs an ice hut business on the 11th Line of Innisfil, was cutting holes Thursday morning in seven to 11 inches of ice in Cook’s Bay. “It’s good for walking or ATVs, just off Gilford Road,” he said. “But it’s unsafe at Belle Ewart. Everything is day-to-day here. “It’s good (ice conditions) on the smaller bodies of water, but out on the lake — no.” Steve Chillman of The Pines in Oro Station has been putting huts on the ice for 40 years, but not at all for the last three. “You need seven or eight inches of ice. We used to go out with five inches,” he said. “But you can’t do that anymore because the temperature could go up 10 degrees in a couple of days.” Chillman said the lake just froze over Wednesday night, but it was less than an inch thick. “And the long-range forecast is for warmer weather, so we’re not making any plans at all.” Dangerous ice conditions have already contributed to tragedy this year. Two Georgina men died when their snowmobiles went through the ice on Lake Simcoe, on New Year’s Day, about one kilometre northeast of Georgina Island. Craig Nicholson, writer of The Intrepid Snowmobiler column, said it’s the first time since 1993 there’s be adequate snow for sledders between Christmas and New Year’s Day. But there still haven’t been five or six consecutive days and nights of the very cold temperatures needed for safe ice. “Some ice looks fine, but it’s totally unsafe and unstable. It’s a very dangerous time,” he said. “It’s cold enough that ice has formed, but there’s not enough ice. “The huge dumpings of snow weaken the ice, and also insulates it (so it doesn’t freeze as well).” Nicholson said it’s the same with trails over small watercourses and swamps, and that can lead to snowmobilers getting stuck there. He said sledders must also be careful on any larger bodies of water, because they freeze from the shore out. The farther away from shore you go, the thinner the ice. Nicholson said it’s usually mid-January before there’s a deep enough freeze to make the waterways safe, although there’s never any guarantee. York Regional police, who investigated the Georgina tragedy, are telling people Lake Simcoe is not frozen over, and therefore not safe. “Conditions are dangerous and extreme caution should be used,” said Const. Marina Orlovski. “Ice seldom freezes at a uniform rate.” She says to be suspicious of gray, dark or porous spots in the ice, as these may be soft areas. Ice is generally strongest where it is hard and blue. A near-tragedy on the ice was averted earlier this week. On Monday, just before 7 p.m., Southern Georgian Bay OPP received a number of calls from Tiny Township residents - who heard a frantic call for help from a man stuck on an ice flow near Gin Island. A Canadian Coast Guard helicopter was sent from Trenton to help with the search, and a 29-year-old man was rescued from the ice flow. He had been stranded for close to five hours and was treated for suspected hypothermia. OPP had been warning snowmobilers and everyone else to stay off the ice. Weather conditions and a freighter accompanied by an icebreaker had made conditions dangerously unsafe for travel. Although there has been a cold spell, a return to milder weather — and even rain — is being forecast for the weekend. Police are discouraging travel on any ice-covered bodies of water. And snowmobilers are being reminded that if they do head onto area trails, to make sure they are open and posted as such by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, or local snowmobile associations. They’re also asked to plan their route and tell a family member, set a return time, dress appropriately and bring a cell phone in case your machine breaks down or you become stranded. January thaws not uncommon David Phillips, Environment Canada’s senior climatologist, says a January thaw in Innisfil and Barrie is not unusual. “But it’s not going to melt the snow,” he said. “There’s just too much of it.” Usually by this time in winter, the area around Barrie has received about 100 centimetres of snow. This winter, it’s about 177 cm, Phillips said. Environment Canada is calling for a high of -2 degrees Celsius on Friday, a low of -9 C, with a 60 per cent chance of snow flurries. There’s also a 60 per cent chance of flurries on Saturday, with a high of 2 C. Sunday it’s supposed to be all on the plus side, with a low of 3 C and a high of 7 C. Monday there’s a 60 per cent chance of showers, with a high of 10 C and a low of 7 C. Environment Canada says one of the warmest days on record during the last 35 years was Jan. 13, 2005, when it was 12.5 degrees Celsius in Shanty Bay just north of Barrie. The warm weather didn’t last, however. The next day it was -10 C, followed by -13.5 C. And on Jan. 18 the mercury dipped to -27.5 C

Lake Huron water levels sinking towards record low manitoulin.ca Week of January 2nd 2008 As December drew to a close, the level of the continent's second-largest lake was within a couple of inches of its all-time low, and experts fear that the lake could dip below that dubious mark as early as this month. "We have been below what the International Joint Commission considers a crisis level for six to seven years now," remarked Mary Muter, chair of the Georgian Bay Association's environment committee. "And now it looks like we'll be setting record lows in January." The lowest reading so far occurred in 1964, when the lake dwindled to 175.62 metres (as expressed in height above sea level). That was nearly a metre below its long-term average, and almost two below the record high measured in 1986. As December began, Huron was just eight centimetres above this historic ebb. As of press time, that buffer had been reduced by half, putting us just four centimetres away from an unprecedented plunge. The December issue of 'Level News,' Environment Canada's monthly bulletin on Great Lakes water levels, focussed almost entirely on the looming crisis faced by Huron and Michigan, which function as one system since the two lakes are conjoined. "Although it is too early to say just how large the 2007-'08 seasonal declines will be on each of the lakes, it is probably safe to say that anyone affected by, or interested in, water levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron is watching this year's seasonal decline very closely," the bulletin states. Conditions were dry in November, with increased evaporation and water supplied to the pair of lakes approaching record-low proportions, according to Environment Canada. "As a result, daily water levels on Lakes Huron-Michigan fell 13 centimetres during November, eight centimetres more than their (usual) decline for the month." As December began, the level of both lakes was 66 centimetres less than normal for this time of year. Barring a deluge of precipitation or sudden gift of overflow from Superior, the federal agency was anticipating that "levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron could begin 2008 as low as they were in 1965," with "new record lows (to) follow if low water-supply conditions persist." Ms. Muter said that some residents of Lake Huron are already pronouncing a record low, based on "the markers they have on their docks to track water levels." And one government gauge on Lake Huron has already registered a single-day reading that was below the all-time dip, according to a Michigan newspaper; it doesn't stand as the record, though, because to do so the same measurement (or a lower one) must be sustained over a one-month period. But even if the lake retains a bit of a technical cushion above its record low for now, riparian dwellers like Ms. Muter are feeling anything but reassured. "The US Army Corps of Engineers is saying that we'll be 15 inches lower in 2008 compared to 2007," she said. "Projecting into next summer, we could be a foot lower than last year." Low water has significant economic consequences for shipping companies, which are forced to lighten the loads of freighters, but also for cottagers and marinas, which wind up with elevated docks, exposed water lines, and shallower harbours. A few people might welcome a broader beach, but generally it's bad news, both for the environment and business. "We know already that this is leading to huge applications for blastings and dredgings," said Ms. Muter. Her organization, which represents cottagers across Georgian Bay, has pointed to the lake's outlet via the St. Clair River as one of the key factors in the lowering of Huron. A study commissioned by the group blamed scouring and dredging of the shipping channel at this passage for an increased outflow from the lake. Preliminary findings released this fall by a bi-national group conducting a multi-year study of the upper Great Lakes seemed to refute that claim, based on images recorded by underwater cameras, but Ms. Muter believes that much more analysis needs to be done before the river is ruled out as a culprit in Huron's water woes. "Our basic response has been that to try to draw conclusions from preliminary findings is inappropriate," she said. The footage taken of the riverbed "is kind of like taking a photograph when you need an MRI," she analogized.

Stay off the ice, warns MNR Sudbury Star With Environment Canada calling for eight days of warm weather beginning this weekend, the Sudbury District of the Ministry of Natural Resources is warning people to stay off the ice. In a release issued Thursday, the ministry said warmer weather and forecasted rain will lead to heavy water flow in the Sudbury area. "As a result, the ministry may need to lower the water level on Lake Panache as of Monday," the release stated. "This would affect ice conditions on several lakes throughout the Lake Panache system, including Walker, Lang and Frood lakes." Depending on conditions, similar control measures may be required in other lake systems throughout the watershed. Many of the smaller lakes throughout the district are reported to have less than six inches of good ice, while larger lakes are still open in areas where currents flow. "Until temperatures return to seasonal values, deteriorating ice conditions will be found on all lakes throughout the Sudbury District," the ministry said.

....See "Be careful! large pressure crack on Lake Nipissing" in the OFC News.

MNR returns nets seized in 2005 Metis fisherman says he’s still owed an apology By Bill Henry Owen Sound Sumn Times Southampton Metis fisherman Jim McLay on Friday finally got back gill nets that conservation officers seized more than two years ago. But neither the apology the Sanguingue Metis Council president says he is owed, nor the 54 whitefish also seized Oct. 29, 2005, came with the two boxes of nets, four marker buoys and two anchor chains that were returned to him. With Metis council members, his children and invited reporters at the loading dock at his home on the Saugeen River, just steps away from several First Nations fishing tugs, the former commercial fisherman lectured conservation officers as they delivered his gear. He said he wanted them to tell the crowd he had done nothing wrong and later asked about an apology. “I can’t give you that apology,” said Robert Gibson, Ministry of Natural Resources enforcement supervisor with the Upper Great Lakes Management Area. McLay and Gibson debated, mostly amiably, their versions of what happened. They agreed the law now gives McLay — and other Metis people registered with the Metis Nation of Ontario — the right to catch fish for social, ceremonial and personal use. They disagreed on when that law actually took effect. McLay believes it began with a July 2004 agreement between the ministry and the Ontario Metis Nation. That agreement came on the heels of a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on a Sault Ste. Marie case which effectively extended Metis rights to sustenance and ceremonial hunting. But Gibson said the agreement only affected Metis hunting rights in traditional territories north of the French River. Those rights did not extend to southern Ontario until after a judge ruled last June 1 that ministry officials should honour the agreement throughout the province. McLay said the June ruling proves he was doing nothing wrong when conservation officers seized his gear. He said he was fishing for his own consumption and for ceremonial food, which was to be served to about 30 people at the Sanguingue Metis Nations annual fall banquet. “I feel that I deserve an apology,” he said. “Those fish weren’t just for myself, they were for our citizens, children and elders.” McLay was never charged with any offence, but said he has not fished in over two years because ministry staff threatened to also seize his boat. “The main point of today is that I did nothing wrong and I want my children to know that,” McLay said before his nets were returned. “I’m not getting off on a technicality. I didn’t find a loophole, I did nothing wrong. I was acting completely within the agreement that the Metis Nation of Ontario had with the Ministry of National Resources.” Earlier Friday, Gibson said in a telephone interview the officers were responding to complaints from local First Nation commercial fishermen about illegal gill netting within their quota area. The officers seized from McLay a half-mile of gill net, enough to catch 2,000 pounds of whitefish in a day under favourable conditions. At the time the Metis’ agreement with MNR did not extend to southern Ontario and the enforcement officers also doubted McLay was fishing for his own purposes. At the time, under terms of the Fish and Wildlife Act, only licensed commercial fishermen could legally possess gill nets, Gibson said. “The ministry acted correctly in this situation. We were acting on the laws that were in place . . . If you’ve got a net set that is a quarter of a mile long, usually a guy is setting for commercial purposes. Are you going to be using 1,000 pounds of fish for personal use? “These were some of the questions that were going through some of our heads. That’s why the nets were seized at that point in time.” McLay said ministry staff “reneged” on the July 2004 agreement between the Metis Nation and the MNR “almost immediately.” Believing the agreement should cover all of Ontario, he said the Metis nation challenged three charges against Metis people for harvesting under terms of the agreement. That led to the June decision and the change in enforcement policies, Gibson said. “Our legal advice here is basically as long as they’re harvesting under the authority of a harvester’s card that is issued by the Metis Nation of Ontario, we’re supposed to take that into account when we’re doing an investigation.” Dockside Friday, McLay also wanted to know what happened to his 54 whitefish. Gibson said they were processed locally and given to a charity. McLay said he has thought about his fishing gear every day for the almost 800 days since it was seized. He also said he expects different treatment now that the law is clarified. He said he has nothing to hide and offered to let conservation officers know ahead of time if he plans to fish. “This is not an end, it’s a beginning,” he said. “And what I hope it does is convince the ministry to stop what I essentially refer to a bullying tactics.”

Be careful! large pressure crack on Lake Nipissing Ice cracks under pressure Posted By Nugget Staff North Bay Nugget City police are warning the public about a large pressure crack about 1 1/2 to two metres wide over a well-used snowmobile path on Lake Nipissing near Sunset Park. The warning comes days after the Ministry of Natural Resources issued an advisory calling on anglers to stay safe on the ice during the winter fishing season which opened Tuesday. "The key to enjoying this popular winter activity is to play it safe," Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield said in a release. "If you are not sure about ice conditions, do not go out on the ice." Reports from around Lake Nipissing indicate ice thickness ranges between 20 centimetres and 35 cm, with the most favourable conditions found in Callander Bay and the South Shore. Several ice hut operators in those areas of the lake are already open for business, while some others who operate near the Manitou Islands have yet to set up for the season. At least 20 cm of clear blue ice is required for snowmobiles and 30 cm or more is needed for most light vehicles. Double that amount is required if ice is white or opaque. Heavy snow on a frozen lake or river can insulate the ice below and slow down the freezing process. The ministry advises anglers to notify others where they plan to fish and when they plan to return. Anglers are also advised to wear and use appropriate clothing and equipment. The ministry says anglers should be aware that ice does not freeze at a uniform thickness across most lakes and rivers and that thickness should be checked regularly with a spud bar or auger. The ministry also warns that ice formed over flowing water, springs, pressure cracks, old ice holes or around the mouths of rivers and streams can be weaker than surrounding ice.

January 04, 2008 GRCA issues flood safety bulletin grandriver.ca With warm weather forecast over the weekend and continuing into next week, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has issued a Flood Safety Bulletin to watershed municipal flood coordinators. Depending on the exact weather conditions received, the warm temperatures will begin to melt the snow pack, and cause river and stream levels to rise in response. This could create typical January thaw conditions, which if combined with forecast rainfall, may lead to local flooding conditions. At present, there is more snowpack in the northern portion of the Grand River watershed north of Guelph and Kitchener, than in the southern areas. The GRCA’s main reservoirs have 70 to 90 per cent of their flood storage capacity available to handle increased runoff. However, there could be flooding situations on smaller streams, in urban areas, and along the Nith River where there are no reservoirs. There is also a potential for ice jamming due to the ice cover that exists along the southern reaches of the Grand River below Brantford, and these situations will be monitored. Depending on the actual temperatures and rainfall received, GRCA will be monitoring the situation over the weekend, and issuing further updates or formal Flood Messages as they are warranted. Parents are reminded that with kids still off school, the warmer temperatures may attract kids and pets to the river. Ice conditions on the river are definitely unstable, and river banks are icy and slippery, so the river should only be viewed from safe vantage points such as bridges and overlooks. For more information on river flows, see the River Data of the GRCA web site. Download a copy of the River Safety Rules, a river safety pamphlet for children.

Wow! A 50-pound striper on a 2-pound line Bill Cochran's Field Reports Roanke Times It can be challenging enough to land a 50-pound, 9-ounce striped bass on hefty tackle. But on 2-pound line? Unbelievable! That is what Jim Sheffield of Richmond did Sunday morning, and his catch is a pending world record for 2-pound line, according to Dr. Julie Ball, an International Game Fish Association representative from Virginia Beach. No stranger to light-tackle fishing, Sheffield, a member of the Virginia Angler’s Club, was out to break the current striper world record, which is 21 pounds, 7 ounces on 2-pound line. He didn’t just squeak by the record, “he blew it out of the water,” Ball said. Sheffield was fishing out of Kiptopeke on the southern end of the Eastern Shore, where schools of huge stripers have been enticing anglers as the Dec. 31 season’s end approached. The method Sheffield used was drifting an eel in less than 30 feet of water. He was fishing alone. “When the fish took the eel at 9 a.m., he knew it was the one he was looking for,” said Ball. The battle had its moments of high excitement. Like when a drifting Wal-Mart bag encompassed his cobweb-size line and when the line wrapped around his trim tabs and lower unit of his engine. He followed the fish for about an hour, the last 20 minutes with only two clicks on his drag, he told Ball. When the fish turned belly up from fatigue he wrestled it into his boat. Ball has begun the process of registering the catch for world-record status.

Play safe out on the ice / MNR News Release ********************* The Ministry of Natural Resources is reminding anglers to check ice conditions and review the new fishing regulations before heading out to do some ice fishing this season. Anglers should advise others where they plan to fish and when they plan to return. Appropriate clothing and equipment are vital to both safety and comfort. Many anglers wear floater suits and carry a set of ice picks. Ice conditions can be deceptive and variable. Please remember: • Ice does not freeze at a uniform thickness across most lakes and rivers. This can be particularly evident at the start of the winter season when near-shore ice is often much thicker and safer than ice further out. Check thickness regularly with a spud bar or auger as you move further out on the ice. • Not all ice is created equal. Ice that has formed over flowing water, springs, pressure cracks, old ice holes or around the mouths of rivers and streams can be weaker than surrounding ice. • Clear blue ice is the strongest. White or opaque ice is much weaker. Ice that has a honeycombed look, common during thaws or in the spring, should be avoided altogether. • Travelling on frozen lakes or rivers with snowmobiles or vehicles can be particularly dangerous and added precautions must be taken. At least 20 centimetres (eight inches) of clear blue ice is required for snowmobiles and 30 centimetres (12 inches) or more is needed for most light vehicles. Double this amount if the ice is white or opaque. • Heavy snow on a frozen lake or river can insulate the ice below and slow down the freezing process. Anglers should check with local ice hut operators before venturing out. Let others know where you’re planning to fish and when you plan to return. Appropriate clothing and equipment are critical to safety and comfort. Many anglers wear floater suits and carry a set of ice picks.

....Spectacular! There's some damn fine eating there.

....I just heard about it from a friend by phone if you can imagine. While I fear the worst I hope I'm wrong and that they're found safe.

....Thank you and welcome to the board.

....First off let me extend my best wishes to all for a happy and healthy New Year. Now some of you have already noticed that we (as in Rick) have created a new "News" section in the "General Discussion Subforums". This is a read only forum that all Mods can post in. I hope with all Mods participating we can keep this current so that OFC members can peruse fishing and outdoor related news in one convenient location. If you have anything of interest you'd like to see posted feel free to PM me or one of the other Mods. Thanks Spiel

....LOL, I agree with Wayne....

"DANG"

Ice fishing season kicking into high gear yorkregion.com Georgina Dec 27, 2007 06:36 PM Some winters can have 4,000 huts on lake By: Wil Wegman - Focus on Fishing Can you believe more people fish Lake Simcoe during the winter than all other seasons combined? Often recognized as the Ice Fishing Capital of North America, the 725-square-kilometres of a frozen Lake Simcoe can often mean as many as 4,000 huts during a good old-fashioned winter. All ice hut operators, hotels, B & B’s, resorts, tackle shops, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses that rely on revenues generated from anglers, are counting on this winter to help them have a successful 2008. If we have cold weather, good ice and the fish co-operate then the recipe will be there for all to benefit. So, as a new ice fishing season is upon us, let’s have a look at what’s in store for anglers with some of the new fishing regulations and then we’ll make some predictions for the top four winter species. For those of you who have already picked up a copy of the new 2008 recreational fishing regulations summary, you will have noticed several changes. First off is a new approach that the ministry has developed to manage the fisheries across Ontario. Part of this involves reducing the number of fishing areas to just 20 Fishery Management Zones (FMZ) for the province. In York Region we fall under FMZ 16, however we also have the Special Designated Waters of Lake Simcoe which means it may have several regulations separate from the rest of FMZ 16. Highlights of New Fishing regs for Lake Simcoe Ice Anglers - Walleye catch and possession limits are reduced to four walleye for Sport Licence holders and two for those with a Conservation Licence. Only one walleye can exceed 46 centimetres (18.1 inches). - Crappie now have a limit of 30 with a Sport Licence and 10 with a Conservation Licence. - Sunfish now have a limit of 50 with a Sport Licence and 25 with a Conservation Licence. - Lake trout, whitefish and yellow perch limits and seasons will be the same as 2007. The only exception is that anglers holding a Conservation Licence can now keep one whitefish instead of two. - Winter walleye season remains closed on March 15. - Personal possession of baitfish – whether purchased from a baitfish dealer or caught by a licensed angler cannot exceed 120. No longer will anglers be able to obtain a receipt if they wish to retain more than 120. - The 2008-2009 Fishing Summary is now available from local bait and tackle shops, Canadian Tire, Service Ontario/Government Information Centers and on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/fishing Now For the Fishing Prognostications Yellow Perch: The most popular species in the lake seem to be targeted more and more every winter on Lake Simcoe. I am not sure if this because there’s an increase in the number of anglers who are discovering the joys of winter perch fishing, or if it is more that unstable ice conditions way out on the whitefish and lake trout grounds means the pressure has been diverted from those fish to perch. Ice is ready earlier close to shore and in the shallower somewhat protected areas of the lake. Limited ice fishing for perch has already been occurring for several weeks in December. The issue this winter will not be so much a matter of anglers catching enough perch … but whether they will find the big Jumbo’s that the lake is famous for. I’m thinking we will see more big perch caught this year than last but we’ll still hear plenty of reports of anglers having to catch several perch before they find a few ‘big enough’ in that 8-11 inch category for a meal. Hopefully there will be more anglers that release those precious perch over 12 inches to perpetuate a trophy perch fishery on the lake. Northern Pike: It seems there are fewer people fishing for pike in the winter then there were a couple of decades ago, but that sure isn’t because there are fewer pike out there. Perhaps they are more difficult to catch in the gin clear waters now that we have to deal with the filtering effects of zebra mussels. However they are still a very cacheable and fun fish to target under the ice. Perhaps with the Lake Simcoe Ice Fishing Contest incentive of $100,000 for a pike over 13.39 lbs, more people will focus on these toothy critters this year. I think pike fishing will be good for those fishing the right areas, with the right baits and tackle this winter, but you’ll have to stay tuned to a future column if you need more detailed advice. Lake Trout: Anglers have been saying that it appears to be more difficult to find these prized fish during the last couple of winters but it’s hard to say if this is due primarily because of later and shorter seasons or less fish. If it’s a good winter and we can get out relatively early in January, then I think those who are willing to work hard searching for lakers will be rewarded. Still, we might hear more reports that the next species listed below dominates the deepwater haunts. Whitefish: If the banner open water whitefish season of 2007 was any indication, then the winter of 2008 should be just excellent for whitefish. The caveat of course is that we need good ice and good travel conditions to where these fish reside out on Lake Simcoe. During the winter of 2008 ice anglers have to be mindful not only to stay on top of their game, but also on top of the ice. Call local ice hut operators for the latest conditions close to where you want to access the lake, carry ice picks, test the ice frequently and if in doubt stay off. In a future Focus on Fishing column, we will devote an entire article to ice safety. Until then I’d like to wish all of you happy and safe 2008 with more days on the hard and soft water than ever before. NEW FISHING REGULATIONS • Walleye catch and possession limits are reduced to four walleye for Sport Licence holders and two for those with a conservation licence. Only one walleye can exceed 46 centimetres (18.1 inches). • Crappie now have a limit of 30 with a sport licence and 10 with a conservation licence. • Sunfish now have a limit of 50 with a sport licence and 25 with a conservation licence. • Lake trout, whitefish and yellow perch limits and seasons will be the same as 2007. The only exception is that anglers holding a conservation licence can now keep one whitefish instead of two. • Winter walleye season remains closed on March 15. • Personal possession of baitfish 4whether purchased from a baitfish dealer or caught by a licensed angler cannot exceed 120. No longer will anglers be able to obtain a receipt if they wish to retain more than 120. • The 2008-2009 Fishing Summary is now available from local bait and tackle shops, Canadian Tire, Service Ontario/Government Information Centers and on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/fishing

Trout research begins in February By LINDSAY LAFRAUGH Chronicle Journal Thunder Bay Saturday, December 29, 2007 Blair Wasylenko is the perfect fit for Trout Lake Learning center's newest research project, said JP Fraser, spokesman for the center. Starting in February, Wasylenko, a local man, will begin his one-year stint as the center's study director for the McIntyre Superior Rainbow Study. "He was the most qualified of all of the people who applied," said Fraser. "It is exciting when you have somebody who wants to come home and is really interested in what we are doing." Wasylenko said his degree in ecology with an emphasis in landscape ecology from the University of Guelph landed him the internship, along with his experience from a former summer student position at the Ministry of Natural Resources in Thunder Bay. During the Trout Lake Learning center internship, which is being funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, Wasylenko will try to uncover the mystery of why rainbow trout (steelhead) no longer run from Lake Superior to Trout Lake, the source waters of the McIntyre River. With no theories on the reasoning quite yet, Wasylenko said he has started to think about what his research might entail. "I am not entirely sure yet, but definitely we want to look at the habitat that the river can provide, get a population estimate and look at ways to improve it," he said. Wasylenko said there have been a number of studies conducted on the population of the steelhead in the McIntyre River, but that there has been little focus on the area of the river near Trout Lake something he plans to look into. "I think (the research) is important . . . because it is within the city. The pressures on (the river) are different than if it was just a creek that didn't have any industry on it or people around it," he said. Rainbow trout were first introduced to Lake Superior from the West Coast in 1883. They are resilient fish that are anadromous, meaning they are born in a river, eventually progress to a lake, but then return to the river where they were born to spawn each year. Wasylenko will begin the field work of his research during the steelhead's spring spawn in April.

Concern growing over Great Lake water levels Posted By Don Crosby Owen Sound Sun Times Concern continues to grow over the local effects of declining water levels in the Great Lakes. In his inaugural address, Bruce County Warden Milt McIver promised to make water levels a priority during his term of office. He wants the county to be involved in discussions on Great Lakes water levels, which are beginning to impact several Bruce County municipalities. "It's having a huge impact for all of us but especially those of us on the lakefront. We see lake levels decreasing and there is certainly a lot of discussion as to why this is happening and I think we need to be involved and be a part of the process," said McIver, who is also mayor of Northern Bruce Peninsula. Blue Mountains Mayor Ellen Anderson is calling for changes in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement - a treaty negotiated in 1987 that formed the basis of efforts by Canada and the U.S. to protect the lakes from pollution. Speaking at the recent annual meeting of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in Wisconsin, Anderson noted the original agreement, which took aim at reducing the chemical loading of the lakes, has been eclipsed with more complex problems caused by climate change and regional drought and a growing number of invasive species that threaten the food chain in the lakes. "The Great Lakes have changed in the last 20 years and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement needs to change with it," said Anderson, who is calling for the governments of Canada and the U.S. to renegotiate the agreement, with an increased emphasis on protection of watershed-based sources of drinking water. Anderson is a member of the board of directors for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative - an organization of mayors and locally elected officials advocating for protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Founded in 2003 by Chicago Mayor Richard Daly with Mayor David Miller of Toronto as the lead from Canada, U.S. and Canadian cities across the basin are working together to improve water quality, water conservation and waterfront vitality. Anderson said in an interview last month, after returning from this year's meeting, that the mayors passed a motion alerting the International Joint Commission of the urgency of the situation and asking that it speed up the study of the upper Great Lakes and St. Clair River that would form the basis of action to solve the problem of declining water levels. In February 2007, the IJC appointed the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board to examine whether the regulation of Lake Superior outflows can be improved to address the evolving needs of the upper Great Lakes. Anderson is calling for cities and towns around the Great Lakes to have a seat at the table during the renegotiation and implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. She also wants the governments of Ontario and Quebec to adopt aggressive water conservation measures. Advertisement She noted that 50 members of the initiative have taken the lead by adopting a 15 per cent water conservation target by 2015. Anderson referred to effects of declining water levels in the past five years on Nottawasaga Bay, noting that in 2007 the water levels in Thornbury harbour were two feet lower than normal levels as indicated on shipping charts. She said the harbour may have to be dredged, but that could cost as much as $40,000 a year and take more than one year to complete. The Craigleith Ski Club has had to lengthen its water intake line at Northwinds Beach due to inadequate water levels, which was causing sediments to interfere with the club's snowmaking pumps. Anderson's biggest concern is for the water intake that supplies Thornbury's Peel Street water plant, which sits in 22 to 24 feet of water in Nottawasaga Bay. That's down from the 28 feet of water when the pipe was installed in the 1970s. Levels of 30 feet or more are optimal for reducing turbidity levels, which are caused by wave action. "If the water levels dropped another two feet, the intake would have to be extended . . . at an approximate cost of $5 million," Anderson said. She said governments appear reluctant to take action when faced with the cost of dealing with the issues and call instead for more studies but "It isn't going to be anywhere near as expensive if we do something (now) than what it's going to cost if we don't correct the problems now."

Well-known outdoorsman dies Former Sun Times columnist kept no secrets when it came to where fish were biting Posted By JIM ALGIE One of the original steelheaders, outdoor writer and conservationist Francis Grant Ferris of Port Elgin has died. The former Royal Canadian Navy diver and a nuclear power mechanic was also a former outdoors writer with The Sun Times. He was moderator and a major contributor to the website "Grey/Bruce Outdoors with Grant Ferris." Mr. Ferris, 67, died Dec. 23 at Saugeen Memorial Hospital five years after a diagnosis of cancer. Mr. Ferris's body has been cremated and there is to be a private committal service at Woodlawn Cemetery in Guelph, his wife Gloria said in an interview Friday. "He first got cancer five years ago and it was up and down for the last five years," she said. "He still fished when he could . . . He still rode his motorcycle. He rode as long as the weather lasted this fall." Although Gloria Ferris did not share her husband's lifelong interest in angling, they did ride together and frequently made long excursions to gatherings such as Americade, the early June rally in the Lake George area of New York state. Mr. Ferris was an angler long before he and Gloria met at her sister's wedding in 1968. They married the following year. Born and raised in Guelph, he was the son of Frank Cyril Ferris and Olive Collingridge. In 1958, at the age of 18, Mr. Ferris joined the Royal Canadian Navy where he worked as a diver. He later worked in foundries in the Guelph area and was active in United Steelworkers of America locals before obtaining employment with the city of Guelph first as a pollution control operator then as an arena manager. Mr. Ferris joined Ontario Hydro in 1981 and worked as a nuclear mechanic at Deep River and at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development. The couple moved to Kincardine in 1981, then to Port Elgin where they lived for 21 years. He retired from Ontario Hydro in 1993 as a trades management supervisor. Mr. Ferris knew parts of Bruce County intimately long before moving here mainly because of weekly trips to fish the Saugeen River. Bruce Farrell of greybruceoutdoors. com described his long-time associate as a veteran river angler with deep concern for conservation and a particular interest in steelhead, or rainbow trout. "He was concerned about the fishery, definitely a conservationist," Farrell said in an interview. "He was an excellent, beyond excellent, sheelheader . . . He was one of the originators of float fishing, fishing for steelhead in rivers. . . He goes back a long time, way back when they were building their own rods and piecing together reels that would work because nobody was manufacturing anything like they do now." Mr. Ferris's feature writing revealed his deep fondness for the outdoors. Although he wrote about hunting, he confined his trips to photography. "To my knowledge the only thing he ever killed was a Canada goose once and after that he never would again," Gloria said. "He would always take pictures, that kind of thing." He was an pistol target shooter and remained active in several area outdoors groups, including the Sydenham Sportsmen's Club, Lake Huron Fishing Club, Ducks Unlimited and Friends of McGregor Point Provincial Park. After his retirement from Ontario Hydro, Mr. Ferris became increasingly active with writing, initially for the Port Elgin Beacon Times and later for The Sun Times. He went fishing most days and wrote about it, keeping no secrets about when and where the fish were biting. "Some people got a little angry with him because they'd say 'You're telling everybody where all the good fishing is and people are going to come up here and take all our good fishing.' He said it belongs to everybody," his wife said. Farrell plans to continue the website he and Mr. Ferris began in the late 1990s. An obituary posted to the site's Forum and a portrait of Mr. Ferris had received more than 70 responses by midday Thursday. One praised Mr. Ferris's "enthusiasm and love of . . . steelheading." Someone else posted a quotation from the 19th century American writer Henry David Thoreau: "Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after." "He enjoyed helping people. He enjoyed telling his stories," Farrell said. "He always told it exactly like it was." Mr. Ferris is survived by his children Russ Ferris of Milton and his wife Manie, Lara Inneo of Guelph and her husband Vito and Alyssa Ferris of Cambridge. He is also survived by two grandchildren and two sisters.

Manitoulin.ca December 19, 2007 MNR study blames cormorants, anglers equally for decline in inland lakes fishery Mindemoya Lake the worst, followed by Silver, Manitou and Tobacco Lakes Of the 11 lakes sampled by the Ministry of Natural Resources in the spring and summer of 2005, five were deemed to be overstressed from both cormorant predation and angling pressure. On Lake Mindemoya, "cormorant consumption and angler harvest each exceeded 50 percent of total fish production (the cumulative production of all fish populations in a lake)," the report notes, making it the most compromised lake on the Island. But the fish populations of Silver Lake, Lake Manitou, Lake Kagawong and Tobacco Lake were also found to be threatened by a combination of angling and cormorant activity. The ratio of cormorant impact and human influence varied from lake to lake. Cormorant consumption exceeded angler harvest in four of the lakes studied, while the opposite was true on five lakes, the report notes. Data for the study was collected via aerial surveys as well as ground surveys. The former allowed the MNR to assess cormorant densities and estimate the birds' consumption levels, while the ground surveys yielded harvest rate data from anglers towards an estimate of fishing impact. To establish fish populations, the ministry used a "model that predicts fish production from total phosphorous concentration," the study notes, as a more comprehensive measurement would require "intensive sampling off all fish species and multiple years of data." Once the data was collected, "we compared our estimates of fish extraction by cormorants and anglers to estimates of fish production to measure the stress imposed by these two types of predators," the report explains. "Then we evaluated how the stress imposed by cormorants would exacerbate angling stress if angling harvest was not reduced to accommodate cormorant presence." Cormorants were judged to consume an average of 32 percent of the potential production of medium-sized fish on Manitoulin lakes, which approaches the level documented at Oneida Lake in New York State, which serves as a benchmark for studies of this nature. But while the much-maligned birds are clearly having an impact on fish, so are anglers. The study found that "recreational fishing is a substantial stress on several lakes," with anglers harvesting 52 percent of potential large fish production. In six of 10 cases, the study notes, "angling stress exceeds cormorant stress." Put together, the two stressors are creating an insupportable situation on many of Manitoulin's lakes, the MNR concludes. Given cormorants' impact on medium-sized fish, which in turn hampers the proliferation of large fish, a continuation of the current take by fishermen would "result in a mean angling stress of 96 percent," the study states. "This increase is unlikely to be sustainable." The scientists indicate that harvesting 50 percent of potential fish production is about the limit if a healthy population of fish species is hoped to be maintained. "Harvesting almost 100 percent of production is not." The authors of the report qualify that a more thorough understanding of the interplay between cormorants and anglers would require the kind of long-term analysis conducted at Lake Oneida. "This would entail population estimates, trend-through-time patterns in abundance and vital rates such as survival, and more detail on the species and sizes of fish removed by both birds and anglers through time," they write.