We were on Sabine Island at the mouth of the French River for 2 days, and noted an interesting phenomenon. We had been window bound, and when the wind dropped enough for us go to for a paddle, we were shocked to get back to the site to find that the water had had risen and covered the take out area by a good 9". It was good for us to get out, but not great that the path along the shore was covered. Later in the day we decided to go swimming back at the same spot, and found that all the water had receded. to the original height.
We swam and sat on the rocks for about 1 hour, gathered out stuff to head back to the side, and doggone if the water had not come in again and "cut us" off. We waded through, fought our way through the thick grasses and alder to get back to the site, and then over the next 2 hours watch the water recede again?
Now, I know it was almost a full moon, but really? "hourly" tides? Storm surges (we had had full days of 50 km hour winds)?
Anyone experienced this?

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"I've never met a river I didn't like. The challenges are what we remember, and the experiences will make great memories for when I can pick up my paddle no more". Me

A seiche?

Cheryl,

I've never actually experienced one, but I agree with Brad: it was almost certainly a seiche.

It's an effect somewhat like water sloshing back and forth in a bathtub, except in this case across an entire lake -- it has continuing cycles to it. High wind can cause it, that's probably what you experienced.

Every so often a seiche can be huge. Shoreline buildings can be damaged and people can be swept into a big lake and drowned. I can remember this happening on Lake Erie, and it probably happens on all the Great Lakes once in awhile.

-JF-

ya, many waves participating toward a grander scale wave
height rises on one side of the lake
i think, that itself being the effect.
but then, it falls back down, and propagates back to opposite side
bathub was perfect analogy
i guess it's like any wave really, a swell. a massive swell.
but not corresponding to massive wind; rather, to wind over massive time. emergent wave.

Thé Seiche
Very easy to see on the Pottawatomi River in Owen Sound, Ontario. On a north wind and and a rising Seiche you can paddle a kayak (also a Canoe alone) from the Sound up stream to Henderson Bridge were you cross under
14 th St. West. Timing is everything. Family of ours lives on the “Pot” . I have never experienced Seiche in the harbour. A brief check says Seiche is caused by the wind. The effect is like how the water act when you get into the bath tub.
Cassin

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“ We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe and for that, I am extremely grateful.” Stephen Hawking. 1942 - 2018

Very interesting subject. I have witnessed at least 2 events while paddling on G Bay. We paddled thru a narrow channel into a bay with the water flowing out. I just assumed it was the outflow from a creek. When we paddled back out maybe 20 mins later the water was flowing in. On another occasion we passed w/o scraping thru a passageway on PEI to a campsite when the SW wind was blowing with loaded canoes. The next morning we needed to get out of our empty canoes and pull them thru. 
Living here in Wasaga we are fully aware of the ever changing water levels. The change in the width of the beach is quite noticeable from day to day.
The attached pic shows the change in level at a buoy just off Collingwood.

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Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

Definitely a seiche. Fifty years ago as a kid we camped at Dorcas Bay(now known as Singing Sands). It wasn’t a park back then. There was a small bridge over the creek coming out of the bog/fen and under the bridge was a small rapid. We used to stand on the bridge and watch this rapid change directions as Lake Huron flowed inland. Quite interesting for a young kid

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Outdoor dad Bowmanville,ON

thanks everyone- this is really good to know...

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"I've never met a river I didn't like. The challenges are what we remember, and the experiences will make great memories for when I can pick up my paddle no more". Me