MANITOULIN ISLAND --- Hello, from the largest fresh water island in the world. We're visiting the North Channel of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay and for the first time in almost a decade that we've been coming here, there is some good news to report on water levels.
The great concern that Islanders have expressed for the past decade or more is that the water levels have constantly been falling. No one seems to know why exactly. But there are a ton of theories.
The most likely is the significant dredging of the St. Clair River, which many believe has affected water levels in all the Great Lakes.
But other theories, which one often hears up here, are more nefarious, for example, the Americans are stealing our water with the wink-wink-nudge-nudge consent of our federal government. Why our government would permit this theft, no one's quite able to say with any authority. But the details might make a good episode of The X Files.
Others, less conspiracy minded, have suggested the levels are as much as three feet lower than a decade ago thanks to the ebb and flow of nature herself.
While no one, not even experts tasked to figure this out, have definitely determined why the levels are so much lower, this much is true: the levels are higher this year than last, and that's encouraging.
One could tell this was the case immediately upon entering Kagawong, Ontario, population about 250, and the hometown of Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown, because the bottom of the children's slide on the main public beach is now closer to the water than it was last year.
A further inspection of shore lines, cottagers' docks, etc. gives added confirmation: the levels are up.
The other thing we can confirm about the water is both comforting and concerning at the same time: it's a lot warmer than it used to be, or perhaps should be.
While the water is much more comfortable to swim in (it really did used to be bloody cold, even on the hottest summer days), one can't help but think it's not supposed to be like this, that global warming is having its way on us, and the Great Lakes are the canary in the coal mine.
Please feel free to share your stories and observations from cottage country. It would really be comforting to know that the water levels have gone up everywhere, not just in this little piece of paradise in our great province.