Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

invasive species

Dingell, Great Lakes Task Force, Urge President Biden to Emphasize Importance of Canadian Investment in Great Lakes

Dingell, Great Lakes Task Force, Urge President Biden to Emphasize Importance of Canadian Investment in Great Lakes

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, sent a bipartisan letter with several colleagues to President Biden this week, urging the president to highlight the importance of Canadian investment in our shared Great Lakes resources during his upcoming visit to the country later this month. “The Great Lakes contain one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water, providing drinking water for more than 30 million Americans and Canadians, supporting a $6 trillion regional economy, and providing habitat for a host of fish and wildlife,” the lawmakers wrote. “Through partnerships between the United States and Canada, sustained investments are critical to clean up toxic Areas of Concern, address the threat of invasive species, restore habitats, reduce harmful algal blooms, and mitigate other threats to the Great Lakes.

Become a volunteer monitor to protect Lakes in Canada

Become a volunteer monitor to protect Lakes in Canada

Got a favourite lake? Want to help protect it? Lakes in Canada are threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, and climate impacts like rising water temperatures. The National Lake Blitz is an annual citizen-science program that encourages the widespread monitoring of lakes using simple tools. Through monitoring, participants learn about the impacts affecting lake health and get inspired to protect them.

Invasive zebra mussels discovered in St. John River watershed in Quebec

Invasive zebra mussels discovered in St. John River watershed in Quebec

Zebra mussels have already wreaked havoc in the Great Lakes, altering ecosystems and the food chain, and damaging water pipes in municipal water systems, power plants and other industrial sites. Now the invasive species has spread — or been carried — to the east and is at the edge of New Brunswick. Zebra mussels have been discovered in the St. John River watershed, according to the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council. "We are saddened to share that an established zebra mussel population has been discovered in Lac Témiscouata, just across the border into Quebec," the council announced on its website Thursday.

How has federal protection helped Lake Superior?

How has federal protection helped Lake Superior?

The biggest of the Great Lakes and one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the world — has remained relatively pristine compared to the other four. It’s far enough away from the populated urban centres in southern Ontario, its watersheds are largely forested, there’s little industry or agriculture on its shorelines and its especially cold water (an average of 4 C year-round) has kept away invasive species.

Chemical spraying to kill invasive bass is back on for Miramichi watershed

Chemical spraying to kill invasive bass is back on for Miramichi watershed

After opponents stopped the project last year, chemical spraying to wipe out an invasive bass population in Miramichi Lake is set to take place later this summer. Last year's attempt to eradicate smallmouth bass was halted because Wolastoqey grandmothers and mothers concerned about the environmental impact of the spray took to the lake in canoes. It is unsafe to spray rotenone, the fish-killing pesticide being used, when people are on the water.

Water stewardship group, Gibson Energy team up to combat invasive purple loosestrife plant

Water stewardship group, Gibson Energy team up to combat invasive purple loosestrife plant

Just as leafy spurge looks harmless but is really an invasive species, purple loosestrife is another attractive-looking plant that can do more damage to the local environment. Purple loosestrife is a wetland invasive species that has taken over the river systems in Eastern Canada. While it looks like a beautiful flower, it is extremely aggressive and can wipe out cattails and other native flora. If its seeds spread, they can choke out wetlands. Purple loosestrife is native to Europe and Asia and was brought to North America in the early 19th century. It was likely introduced when its seeds were included in soil used as ballast in European sailing ships and discarded in North America.

Ontario's feral goldfish population is exploding and climate change may be to blame

Ontario's feral goldfish population is exploding and climate change may be to blame

For years, Andrew Murray would see the small schools of goldfish living in the storm pond near his home in suburban London, Ont. He never thought much of them until this spring, on a sunny day in April when the normally greenish pond had an unusual, if not slightly orange tinge. An avid nature photographer, he captured a few close-ups. It wasn't until he got home and looked at the pictures that he realized how many goldfish must be swimming around in there.

Great Lakes Ballast Water

Great Lakes Ballast Water

The Federal Maritime Commission is seeking more information as it investigates the potential impact of Canadian environmental regulations on U.S. shipping companies operating in the Great Lakes. Nearly two years ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association filed a complaint with the commission that Canadian rules for ballast water would harm their operations. The trade association wanted to slap a $300,000 fee on any Canadian vessel entering a U.S. port. Ballast water helps ships balance their loads. But it can also transfer invasive species between water bodies. The commission wants more information on how the finalized Canadian regulations might affect U.S. ships.

Fighting zebra mussels in the Eastern Townships

Fighting zebra mussels in the Eastern Townships

Blue Massawippi, a non-profit based in the Eastern Townships, gets its name from the lake it's been protecting since it was created in 1968. These days, the group of volunteer conservationists watching over the Massawippi, one of three major lakes between Sherbrooke, Que., and the Vermont border, is in the fight of its life. "For the first time this year, in October, we found some zebra mussels on our collectors [in Lake Massawippi]," said Philippe-David Blanchette, one of the organization's directors.

Zombie plant a threat to fish and even swimmers

Zombie plant a threat to fish and even swimmers

Prince Edward Islanders are being asked to take extra care when moving their boats around this fall. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is concerned about the spread of Eurasian water milfoil, also known as zombie plant. The invasive species has been reported at a few sites on P.E.I. "It's a challenging one to manage," said Andrew Holland, national media relations director with NCC.

Fish-killing pesticide project planned for Miramichi watershed delayed

Fish-killing pesticide project planned for Miramichi watershed delayed

A plan to begin applying the fish-killing pesticide rotenone to sections of the Miramichi watershed has been delayed by at least one day, the Atlantic Salmon Federation says. Earlier this year, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans gave the green light to eradicate smallmouth bass, an invasive species, by spraying sections of the Miramichi watershed beginning on Tuesday. The Atlantic Salmon Federation and the North Shore Micmac District Council have been pushing for the project to protect salmon for several years now, and originally hoped it would go ahead last summer. The federation has said smallmouth bass threaten salmon and trout by taking over their food and habitat.

Transport Canada ballast water regs slammed as “half baked”

Transport Canada ballast water regs slammed as “half baked”

The Ottawa, Canada, headquartered Chamber of Marine Commerce doesn’t like new ballast water regulations released by Transport Canada. In fact, Its president and CEO, Bruce Burrows, calls them “a half-baked solution.” The Chamber says the new regulations “unfairly target Canadian ship operators—who have spent billions of dollars on new fuel-efficient, eco-ships—while giving an extra six years for compliance to owners of older vessels, including those of virtually all U.S. ships operating in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence inland waterway.” The Chamber says this “creates an unlevel playing field between Canadian and U.S. domestic fleets (which operate virtually all older vessels) and discourages further investment in new, more fuel-efficient ships that produce significantly lower greenhouse gases.”

‘Incredibly destructive’: Canada’s Prairies to see devastating impact of climate change

‘Incredibly destructive’: Canada’s Prairies to see devastating impact of climate change

As the climate continues to warm at an alarming rate, experts warn if dramatic steps to mitigate global warming are not taken, the effects in Canada’s Prairie region will be devastating to the country’s agriculture sector. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the country is warming, on average, about double the global rate. Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S. recently found 2020 was earth’s second-hottest year on record, with the average land and ocean surface temperature across the globe at 0.98 of a degree C above the 20th-century average. However, the agency found the northern hemisphere saw its hottest year on record, at 1.28 degrees C above the average.

DFO considers release of toxins to control an invasive species in Miramichi Lake

DFO considers release of toxins to control an invasive species in Miramichi Lake

Officials at Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans are weighing in on a troublesome question. Should they allow a healthy lake to be poisoned — even temporarily — to avert a potential disaster for the Miramichi River's wild Atlantic salmon? That question became urgent this fall with the discovery of dozens of smallmouth bass had appeared in Miramichi's southwest branch.

Invasive zebra mussel larva found in lake that supplies Winnipeg drinking water

Invasive zebra mussel larva found in lake that supplies Winnipeg drinking water

A larval-stage zebra mussel has been found in water from Ontario's Shoal Lake, which is connected to Lake of the Woods and is the source of Winnipeg's drinking water. A single intact veliger, the microscopic larva of a zebra mussel, was found in one of six water samples taken from the lake, according to a news release issued jointly on Monday by the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario.

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