The tall limestone cliffs and turquoise water of the Bruce Peninsula provide a variety of recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Credit: Scott Parker
Sharing information on Best Management Practices is an important part of collaboration between the individuals, communities, watershed groups and governmental agencies at work for Lake Huron. Credit: BPBA
Exposed limestone bluffs at Cave Point, Bruce Peninsula.
Rocky islands of eastern Georgian Bay. Photo credit: Ellen Perschbacher
Southern Ontario agriculture along Lake Huron’s southeast shore. Credit: Daniel Holm Photography
Sand beach and dune complexes are found along the southeastern shores, such as those pictured here near Pinery Provincial Park. Credit: Daniel Holm Photography
Lake Huron waters support a thriving agricultural sector, particularly in the southeastern portion of the watershed. Credit: Daniel Holm Photography
Volunteers engaged in stream restoration efforts in a Lake Huron tributary. Photo credit: MSIA
Rocky islands of eastern Georgian Bay. Photo credit: Ellen Perschbacher
The St. Marys River flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron, contributing 8 billion liters/hour to the receiving basin in Lake Huron. Photo credit: Mark Chambers

Resources & Links

First Nations

The Blackfly Times 2010: The Ontario Parks Newsletter

Protecting our Waters: Voices of our Elders

Voices of Today’s Elders

Teachers Forum

2011 Teachers Forum Final Report

LH Teacher Workshop Final Report and Work Plan

Fish and Wildlife

The Lake Huron watershed supports a diverse collection of native fish and wildlife. Learn more about Lake Huron fish and wildlife via the following links:

  • Bird Studies Canada
    Birds are fabulous environmental indicators and are important to people in many ways. Learn how Bird Studies Canada is advancing the understanding, appreciation and conservation of Canada’s wild birds and their habitats.
  • Environmental Objectives for Lake Huron
    This 2007 report to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission details environmental objectives for fisheries management in Lake Huron, including information on accountability, implementation and draft environmental objectives for fish habitat, shoreline processes and water quality.
  • Ontario Trees and Shrubs
    Access this site to identify and learn the diversity of species present in the Lake Ontario watershed, including trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns and mosses.

Mapping Sources

Follow the links below to access maps and resources for generating maps.

Source Water Protection and Environmental Farm Plans

Source Water Protection is a function of the Government of Ontario’s Clean Water Act, which seeks to ensure clean, safe and sustainable drinking water for Ontarians through the protection of municipal drinking water sources. Under this legislation, regions of surface or ground water that supply municipal drinking water systems are identified and methodically protected through the creation of Source Protection Plans. This represents only one aspect of a multi-barrier approach to ensure that Ontario drinking water is among the best protected in the world.

Visit Conservation Ontario to learn more about Source Water Protection in the Lake Huron watershed.

Lake Huron Watershed Source Water Protection Plans

The Source Protection Plans below explain source protection procedures for the following Lake Huron basin Source Protection Regions (SPRs) and Source Protection Areas (SPAs):

  • Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley SPR
    • Ausable Bayfield Source Protection Plan
    • Maitland Valley Source Protection Plan
  • Saugeen, Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula SPR (includes the Saugeen Valley SPA, Grey Sauble SPA, and Northern Bruce Peninsula SPA)
  • Sault Ste. Marie SPR
  • South Georgian Bay – Lake Simco SPR (includes the Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching/Black River SPA, Nottawasaga Valley SPA, and Severn Sound SPA)
  • Sudbury SPA
  • Thames-Sydenham and St. Clair Region SPR (includes the Lower Thames Valley SPA, St. Clair Region SPA, and Upper Thames River SPA)

Water Levels

Changing water levels are of particular interest to those living along the shoreline. Depending on one’s location within the watershed, high water levels can bring greater access to nearshore areas, revive coastal wetlands and enhance various recreational activities. Contrastingly, high water levels can be a cause of concern when associated other factors, such as storms, due to potential flooding and erosion problems.

The same variation is true for lower lake levels. In some areas of the watershed, lower lake levels might pose safety concerns for boaters, increased costs for commercial ships carrying lighter loads, wetland loss, and generate water quality concerns. Other shoreline users might relish lower water levels for reduced shoreline erosion and safety from storms and wave action.

Access the following resources to learn more about past, present and possible future water levels.

  • Georgian Bay Association
    The Georgian Bay Association provides information on Lake Huron water levels including two videos from CBC and CNN.
  • Great Lakes Information Network
    Access current water level information from 11 real-time water level gauging stations spread throughout Lake Huron.
  • Great Lakes Water Level Dashboard
    Consult NOAA’s historic record of Great Lakes water dating back nearly 100 years.
  • 2012 Upper Great Lakes Water Levels Study
    • Summary Report
    • Technical Report
  • Water Levels and Related Great Lakes Data
    Learn about historical, recent and current Great Lakes water levels and associated causes that are influencing water level changes.

Watershed Report Cards

Many watersheds within the greater Lake Huron watershed develop and publish watershed report cards. The reports provide a general description of the health of the watershed’s lakes, watercourses and forests using a letter grade ranging from A to F. This establishes effective and transparent communication of waterbed-based environmental monitoring and public reporting.

Access the links below to view the various watershed reports cards generated by Lake Huron conservation authorities and environmental organizations:

Conservation Authorities

Not sure who to contact? Visit Conservation Ontario to see a map of Ontario Conservation Authorities.

Past Conferences & Webinars

LH-GB Nearshore Webinar 2023

Presentations from the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Nearshore Webinar held on March 30, 2023.

LH-GB Fisheries Management & Habitat Protection Webinar 2022

Presentations from the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Fisheries Management & Habitat Protection Mini-Summit held on November 23, 2022.

LH-GB Innovative Community Actions Webinar 2021

Presentations from the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Innovative Community Actions Mini-Summit held on November 24, 2021.

LH-GB Community Engagement Webinar 2021

Presentations from the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Community Engagement Mini-Summit held on June 22, 2021.

Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Virtual Summit 2020

Presentations from the Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Virtual Summit held on October 27 and November 3, 2020.

Presentations from Day 1

Presentations from Day 2

Lake Huron Summit – October 2017

Proceedings and presentations from the Lake Huron Summit held in Collingwood, Ontario in October 2017.

Summit Synthesis, 2017

Presentations from Day 1

State of Lake Huron Conference November 2015

Proceedings and Presentations of a binational conference on Lake Huron’s environment held in Alpena, Michigan.

Presentations from the conference are linked through the agenda.

Meeting Agenda – NOTE:  Individual presentations from the conference can be accessed by hyperlink through the Meeting Agenda.

State of Lake Huron Conference Proceedings

Draft Lake Huron Partnership Science and Monitoring Synthesis

Lake Huron-Georgian Bay Watershed Framework for Community Action Summit

Here you will find a summary of the Lake Huron- Georgian Bay Summit held in 2014. The full summary is below as well as each chapter.

Introduction & Summit Summary

Chapters:

Introduction & Summit Summary

The Summit provided an opportunity to showcase the talents and achievements of some of the community-based organizations within our watershed and provide practical ideas and approaches to help turn community interest into environmental action.

Building Awareness & Capacity

Provides opportunities to increase knowledge, integrate scientific based, traditional and local knowledge, and by providing tools to improve skills and capacity.

Supporting Community Involvement

Engaging the community in a collaborative process so that networks are formed and strengthened over time. Similar to other emerging philosophies and charters, we encourage people and groups to sign the Framework Charter.

Taking Action to Restore & Protect

Using scientific research and information, local and traditional knowledge to better understand local issues and to take action to protect unique and vulnerable ecosystems and restore degraded areas around Lake Huron.

Measuring Success & Adapting

Identifying performance indicators, measuring the success of projects and programs, and reporting the results and achievements in a public friendly manner to learn and improve future approaches.