The flood and erosion safety co-ordinator with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority says the water level in the Great Lakes has rebounded from the record lows in 2013 much faster than anticipated.
In fact, Stephen Jackson says if we get another year like the last one, we could be looking at a record high very soon. And one of the consequences of that will be increased erosion along the shoreline.
Jackson explains the water level in the Great Lakes always rises and falls in a cycle. But he points out that climate change has accelerated that process, so the high and low cycles happen much quicker.
Jackson adds that will mean more shoreline erosion and that will dictate where development can occur and what type of development will be acceptable.
The forecast for next spring and summer is that the level will continue to rise, and that would put the level well above the long-term average.