Lake Huron North

11/05/2026

Sea Lamprey decline is fantastic news for our fisheries. Each one of these invasive parasites can destroy up to 20kg of fish including salmon, trout, and walleye.

Good news for the Great Lakes!

According to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, adult sea lamprey numbers declined in four of the five Great Lakes in 2026. Control efforts are working, and you can help keep the trend going.

Found a sea lamprey? Kill it, trash it, and report it at EDDMapS.org

10/29/2026

Bald Eagles on the Mississagi River!

As the fall salmon run continues, bald eagles have gathered along the Mississagi River to take advantage of spawned-out pink salmon. It's a great time of year to spot these impressive birds along the river!

Bald eagles are also a conservation success story. Their populations declined significantly in the past due to habitat loss and pesticides like DDT, which caused eggshell thinning and reduced breeding success. After DDT restrictions, habitat protection, and conservation efforts, bald eagle populations recovered across much of North America. They have since been removed from Canada's list of species at risk.

Seeing bald eagles gathering along the river is a reminder of the importance of healthy waterways and the wildlife they support.

If you're out enjoying the fall salmon run, keep an eye out for these amazing birds and give them plenty of space to feed.
Central Algoma Land Trust Central Algoma Freshwater Coalition

10/28/2026

Phragmites Project Photo Dump!

It's been a busy summer working on invasive Phragmites across Algoma! Here's a look at some of the work our partners have been up to.

Lake Huron North held five cut-to-drown events and carried out herbicide control at more than 20 sites, including follow-up treatments at sites from previous years. In total we managed over 13,000 square meters from the shores of Lake Superior in the West, Waboos in the North, and Sagamok First Nation in the East.

We mapped around 90km of shoreline around Sand Island, Hay Marsh, St. Joseph Island, Black Creek, and the St. Marys River to help identify infestations and prioritize future control.

Sagamok First Nation worked on mapping and controlling a large stand at John's Bay, while the Town of Blind River wrapped up its community outreach to raise awareness about invasive Phragmites.

Garden River First Nation worked with us on beginning cut-to-drown management at Squirrel Island.

We've also been sharing equipment between partners, raising awareness at events, and helping everyone make the most of available resources and get more work done.

There's still more to do, but we're happy with what we've accomplished this year!

A big thank you to all our partner communities, staff, volunteers, and funders for making this work possible. Looking forward to building on this progress next year! Sault Naturalists Chev Toulouse Invasive Species Centre Central Algoma Land Trust Central Algoma Freshwater Coalition Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre - SSMIC Rural Agri-Innovation Network - RAIN Clean North

10/23/2026

This summer, Lake Huron North hosted 5 cut-to-drown events to help control invasive Phragmites and protect our freshwater ecosystems.

We worked at Lake George, Squirrel Island in Garden River First Nation, John's Bay in Sagamok First Nation, and along the Goulais shoreline.

Together, we removed an estimated 2,500 m² of invasive Phragmites using the cut-to-drown method!

Cut-to-drown involves cutting Phragmites stems below the water's surface to prevent them from getting the oxygen they need to survive. It's a hands-on way to help manage smaller stands and protect important wetland and shoreline habitats.

A big thank you to all our volunteers, staff, First Nation partners, Sault Naturalists, Invasive Species Centre, Chev Toulouse and our funders for making this work possible. We couldn't do it without your support!

10/13/2026

Support the Central Algoma Land Trust in protecting the Paswe Protected Area and preserving the natural spaces, wildlife, and habitats that make our region so special.

Your donation can go twice as far! Thanks to the Ontario Conservation Accelerator Program, your donation will be matched, helping make an even greater impact on local conservation efforts.

10/13/2026

Giant Hogweed or Cow Parsnip?

These two plants look similar, but giant hogweed is invasive and can cause serious burns and blisters when its sap gets on your skin and is exposed to sunlight.

A few things to look for:

Giant hogweed: Can grow over 4 m tall, with thick stems covered in purple blotches.
Cow parsnip: Usually smaller, with green stems and finer hairs.

⚠️ Both plants can cause skin reactions, so don’t touch either one. If you suspect giant hogweed, take a photo from a safe distance and report it to the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

Learn to spot the difference and help protect our native plants!
Invasive Species Centre

09/24/2026

Lake Huron North is thrilled to be supported by the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund. For the past 3 years, we have worked with over 20 groups across Algoma to map, monitor, and control invasive phragmites. This year, Lake Huron North, Blind River, and Sagamok First Nation all received funding to map wetlands, control phragmites stands, purchase equipment, and support staff hours. We look forward to continuing our work to stop the spread of invasive phragmites before it takes over our most diverse freshwater ecosystems. Town of Blind River Chev Toulouse Invasive Species Centre

08/21/2026

Three years ago, Lake Huron North partnered with the Invasive Species Centre and Central Algoma Land Trust to begin tackling Himalayan balsam at three sites in the region: Drake Street Park, the Echo Bay Loon Dollar Monument, and Kensington Point Road.

Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant that can quickly spread along shorelines and riparian areas, outcompeting native vegetation and degrading important habitat. Its shallow root system can also leave streambanks and shorelines more vulnerable to erosion once the plants die back.

After three years of monitoring and pulling, we are very close to eradication at all three sites! 🎉 There is still some work to do, but the progress has been fantastic and it's exciting to see what consistent, community-based invasive species control can accomplish.

A huge thank you to all of the staff members, volunteers, and partners who have come out over the years to help us tackle these sites. We couldn't do it without you!

08/17/2026

We teamed up with the Sault Naturalists, the Invasive Species Centre, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie to produce signs for city parks/natural areas to educate people about the harms of dumping yard waste. Yard waste can introduce invasive plants, spread diseases and pests, add excess nutrients to the soil, and smother the native plants that butterflies, bees, birds, and other wild creatures depend on. Even plants that look "safe" (like turfgrasses) can be a problem in natural areas. Dumping can also create headaches for city maintenance crews—recently someone dumped piles of soil in an east end park, making it more difficult to mow. How you can help keep our parks and natural areas healthy:

✅Never dump yard waste in parks, forests, or other natural areas
✅Compost yard waste or put it out for the city to collect
✅Seal invasive plant material in trash bags, solarize for 2 weeks, then put in the trash

Look for the sign in your neighbourhood park, and if you see someone dumping yard waste, point them to the sign.

08/12/2026