Our Great Lakes

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA SUPPORTS GREAT LAKES RESTORATION

Environment Minister Stephane Dion on April 11th announced that $3.8 million from the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund has been provided over the past year to support 64 restoration projects in the Great Lakes Basin. The fund provides financial support to projects that improve the ecosystem health of Canadian Areas of Concern identified as being environmentally degraded.

“The Great Lakes are a priority and of particular importance to the Government of Canada,” said Minister Dion, “As reflected in the 2005 Budget, we renewed our commitment to the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Action Plan and will provide a further $40 million over the next five years. This funding will support projects like those announced today that work towards protecting the health of Canadians, restoring the quality of the environment and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of our country,” added Dion.

Great Lakes Sustainability Fund projects reflect diverse and dedicated partnerships with local and provincial governments, community groups, academia and industry, and focus on an extensive range of restoration activities. These include the development and implementation of innovative strategies for improving wastewater treatment, remediation of contaminated sites, restoration of fish and wildlife habitat, and public outreach activities such as elimination of the discharge of mercury into the environment.

Just one example is the success of the restoration of Cootes Paradise in Hamilton through the construction of a fishway. The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), with assistance from the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund and other partners installed the fishway in 1997 to restrict invasive and nuisance wildlife, specifically carp and goldfish from entering Cootes Paradise. Another benefit of the fishway is that it allows RBG staff to monitor the passage of migratory fish into the marsh.

Over the past five years, the RBG has seen a progressive positive change in the migratory fish population, from the invasive carp species to a more natural fish community, with an increasing presence of piscivorous, or fish-eating fish. For example, recently RBG staff identified a male and female greater redhorse on their spawning run. This is the first record of the species in this part of the lake in many decades.

For more information about the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund – John Shaw, Environment Canada, 905-336-6273,john.shaw@ec.gc.ca

HEALTH OF GREAT LAKES TOPIC OF NEW USER-FRIENDLY PUBLICATION

Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have launched “Our Great Lakes”, a public-friendly, plain language booklet which outlines the major issues about the health of the Great Lakes of concern to Canadians and Americans.

“Our Great Lakes” describes the state of the Great Lakes, what is being done to restore and protect them, and how all of us can reduce our environmental impacts. It simplifies key scientific information sources, principally the “2003 State of the Great Lakes” report from that year’s State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference.

The publication discusses the safety of water for drinking and recreational activities, the edibility of fish, the health of fish, birds and wildlife, and the impact of non-native species. The impact from non-native species is called the greatest threat to the Great Lakes in the 21st century. Readers will also find practical advice on what the public can do to keep the Great Lakes cleaner and healthier.

“Our Great Lakes” is available in both print and online at www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes/default.asp?lang=En&n=2A68CF24-1.

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION HONOURS ENVIRONMENT CANADA SCIENTIST WITH 2005 BIENNIAL AWARD FOR GREAT LAKES SCIENCE

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has awarded its Biennial Award for Great Lakes Science to Murray Charlton, a renowned Great Lakes researcher at Environment Canada’s National Water Research Institute in Burlington, Ontario.

The IJC is honouring Mr. Charlton for his lifelong and broad-ranging scientific work , including his role in conducting a 30-year continuous monitoring program of nutrients, temperature and dissolved oxygen in lakes Erie and Ontario. His accomplishments have directly contributed to progress under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, such as the development of a model used to set the loading objectives in Annex 2 of the agreement. He also is recognized for his collaborative work with a wide range of researchers, for communicating with the public frequently and effectively, and for playing an active role in community initiatives, such as the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan.

For further information, visit - www.ijc.org

MOVING GIANT – THE GREAT LAKES – ST. LAWRENCE ECOSYSTEM YOURS TO DISCOVER

The newest exhibition at Environment Canada’s Biosphere in Montreal, aptly titled “Moving Giant – The Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Ecosystem” has opened, as the Biosphere celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Located in the geodesic dome designed by visionary architect Buckminster Fuller for Expo 67, the Biosphere is the largest building of its kind in the world – the sphere alone is worth the trip!

The new “Moving Giant” exhibition, specifically designed for 9-to-14-year-olds, allows visitors to learn more about and come to appreciate the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence ecosystem, along with its biological and socioeconomic aspects, physical characteristics and key environmental issues.

Environment Canada’s Biosphere hopes to educate young people and raise their awareness of the ecosystem, to lead them to concrete action to ensure its protection. Although intended for children, its theme and format will be of interest to families and adults, also.

The Biosphere is located on St. Helen’s Island in Montreal, and can be reached from the Jacques Cartier Bridge or Jean Drapeau metro station.

For further information – 514-283-5000, or visit http://www.biosphere.ec.gc.ca

PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO RESTORE BALD EAGLES TO ONTARIO

The Ontario government is working with a wide range of partners, including Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service to restore populations of bald eagles along the shores of Lake Ontario, as part of a Canada-Ontario commitment to clean up Great Lakes ecosytems.

“The bald eagle is one of the important indicator species that we can use to track our progress in cleaning up and rehabilitating Lake Ontario and its tributaries, “ noted Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay.

Partners working to identify historical and current nesting and wintering sites for the bald eagle, and evaluate the size and reproductive success of existing bald eagle populations include Environment Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Bird Studies Canada, Parks Canada, and New York state environmental agencies.

For more information – Barbara Mabee, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 705-755-1835

SPANISH HARBOUR – AREA IN RECOVERY

Located in the Canadian Shield on the northern shore of the North Channel on Lake Huron, Spanish Harbour was designated an Area of Concern by the International Joint Commission in 1985, because of the environmental impacts of log-driving, pulp and paper, milling, mining and smelting activities of a number of companies in the area. Thanks to efforts under the Remedial Action Plan for Spanish Harbour, it has been recognized as an Area in Recovery. Many achievements have contributed to this recognition, including improved water quality allowing the recovery of the muskellunge fish, fewer emissions causing acid rain and fewer pollutants entering the waters from pulp and paper operations.

Details on the Spanish Harbour recovery and other Areas of Concern can be found in the “RAP Progress Report 2003”.