Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 202. McDermid,J.L.,S.K.Dickin,C.L.Winsborough,H.Switzman,S.Barr,J.A.Gleson,G.Krantzberg,P.A.Gray.2015.State of Climate Change Science in the Great Lakes Basin: A Focus on Climatological,Hydrological and Ecological Effects.Prepared jointly by the Ontario Climate Consortium and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to advise Annex 9 – Climate Change Impacts under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,October 2015 3. International Upper Great Lakes Study.2009.Impacts of Upper Great Lakes water levels: St.Clair River.Final report to the International Joint Commission,December 2009 4. Cheng,C.S.,G.Li,Q.Li and H.Auld.2012.Climate change and heavy rainfall-related water damage insurance claims and losses in Ontario,Canada.J.Water Resource.4:49-62. Warming water temperatures have also been observed in Ontario inland lakes and the Great Lakes, reducing the amount of suitable habitat for fish species that are typically found in lakes and streams. In the last century, surface water temperatures of the Great Lakes have increased by as much as 3.5°C.² Rainfall patterns are changing As temperature increases, we have experienced changes in rainfall patterns. Generally, conditions have become slightly wetter and lake effect precipitation is on the rise which is leading to increases in stream flows. Small increases in precipitation may not be sufficient to offset the more significant rises in temperature and may lead to overall drier conditions. Fluctuating water levels were observed in the Great Lakes between 1985 and 2005, through natural phenomena (precipitation, evaporation and transpiration) and also driven by human activities such as water withdrawals.³ Extreme weather events are more frequent Ontario is experiencing more frequent extreme rain and storm events, and more flooding and drought. During the first half of the 20th century, there were less than 10 flood disasters per decade in Ontario; however by the 1990s, the frequency of floods per decade had increased five-fold.4 Waterfront properties affected by extreme events such as wind storms, ice storms, summer heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires can take decades to recover after disturbance, and ecosystem structure and productivity may change as a result. 04 OMNRF (2014) Minimum Temperature Trend in Ontario