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Welcome to Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Our Vision for the Lake of the Woods basin: majestic waters with sustainable ecological integrity supporting health, economies and beneficial uses for current and future generations. Our Mission: To ensure the ecological integrity of Lake of the Woods and its watershed by being a champion for the Lake and a trusted essential partner with all stakeholders.

October 6, 2021

Fall Algae Bloom Continues to Develop

The seasonal algae bloom on Lake of the Woods is underway and has progressed up into the north end of the lake, as shown in the collage of derived chlorophyll-a data for Sept 26 through Oct 5 (data imaged courtesy of EOLakeWatch, Dr. Caren Binding ECCC). The bloom has now developed in the northern part of the lake through to the Kenora area, and as can seen in the Chl-a data for Oct 4 & 5, the bloom is even present in the Ptarmigan channel / bay area of the "Clearwater" complex of bays. However, the blooms in these lower nutrient isolated bays may be a result of the strong shift...

2021 Ask An Expert Series

Join us this fall for a series of free “Ask An Expert” lunchtime webinars, as we study our watershed and learn how to protect our natural resource assets. Our lineup of experts have a wealth of knowledge and this is your chance to connect directly with them.

Seminars will consist of an expert’s presentation followed by a Q&A opportunity.  Pre-registration is required. More details and registration for the seminars at the links below.

Space is already filling up so please Register Now!

October 12 @ 12:00 p.m. CST:  Dr. Cathy Eimers, Trent University,"Nutrient Export in the Canadian Tributaries"

October 19 @ 12:00 p.m. CST: Jesse Anderson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency "Minnesota’s Plan to Identify and Address Excess Phosphorus Pollution in Lake of the Woods and its Watershed, 1999-2021"

October 26 @ 12:00 p.m. CST: Dr. Caren Binding, Environment and Climate Change Canada, "Lake of the Woods from Space: Satellite Observations for Algal Bloom Monitoring"

November 2 @ 12:00 p.m. CST: Dr. Adam Heathcote, Science Museum of Minnesota, "Lake of the Woods: A Story of Pollution, Recovery, and the Road Ahead"

November 9 @ 12:00 p.m. CST:  Dr. Scott Higgins, IISD - Experimental Lakes Area, "Climate Change and it’s Effects on Lake Ecosystems in Northwestern Ontario"

A framework for a phosphorus management plan - First steps underway

The Foundation has launched a project to develop a framework for a future phosphorus management plan for the Canadian portion of the binational Rainy-River-Lake of the Woods, with the support of a Contribution Agreement from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

This project will scope and outline the key elements that would be required to develop a domestic phosphorus management plan collaboratively with relevant parties in the basin, once phosphorus targets are set by Canada domestically or as shared binational targets with Minnesota.

This work is timely now, to prepare for moving from research to action. In late June, the US EPA approved Minnesota’s phosphorus plan that sets phosphorus targets for each source to the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. In Canada, ECCC completed public engagements last spring on potential phosphorus reduction scenarios based on its four-year science program (see the LOWWSF “What We Heard Report”).