PARRY SOUND, ON- Expect Georgian Bay to keep rising.
According to the latest report from the Georgian Bay Association, an advocacy group for cottager associations around the bay’s coastline, above average precipitation is continuing to contribute to substantially high lake levels.
The group’s report mentioned projections for Lakes Superior, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario, which are are projected to be one to three inches above their record high monthly average levels for June. Lake Michigan-Huron, on the other hand, is projected to be two inches below its record high.
Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are nine to 13 inches above their levels of a year ago, while Lake Ontario is 24 inches higher than it was at this time last year, according to the report.
Over the next 30 days, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are expected to continue their seasonal rise, climbing three and two inches, respectively.
High water levels are expected to persist for at least the next six months, so flood prone areas are expected to remain vulnerable.
According to Rupert Kindersley, the executive director for the association, the rising levels are a symptom of climate change. He stated that there is significantly more precipitation coming into the watersheds that feed into the area, due to more rainstorms in the winter months.
That rain also factors into the behaviour of the spring melt, increasing the water levels.
He believed the lake levels were going to go up until the end of this month, and residents near the water should be aware.
“Whatever it is now, it’s going to get worse, so they should look out,” said Kindersley.
The lake levels are expected to level off and start dropping after the end of the month.