For the first time since it began in 1974, the Chi Cheemaun ferry season is delayed.
The ferry travels across Lake Huron from the town of Tobermory on tip of the Bruce Peninsula, to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island and has always been a big hit with tourists and the tourism industry in the region. The season has always begun like clockwork as well, starting on the first Friday in May, and running every day throughout the summer until October.
This year the unusually low water level means the season won’t start on time and there’s no idea of when it may start.
Tourism operators on Manitoulin are extremely worried saying the ferry brings in thousands of tourists to the region which depends upon the economic boost they bring.
The Chi-Cheemaun car and passenger ferry service has a direct and indirect economic benefit to the region of about $25 million per year, according to a study done for the Owen Sound Transportation Company which runs the ferry
The company says now however, the ship floats too low to be able to dock without damage at the wharves operated by the federal government. A spokesperson says the water level is 25 cm below the absolute minimum needed for the fenders that protect the ship and the dock.
The Great Lakes have been struggling for years with low water levels affected by global warming and a changed climate. The warmer temperatures have meant greater evaporation in summer, and also in winter as there has been less average ice cover since the 1970s leaving more of the surface exposed to wind. That has been combined with a lesser amount of precipitation winter and summer to make up for the evaporation.
RCI archive interview on low water levels in Great Lakes/Lake Huron
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