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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.

June 1, 2021

Spiny waterfleas are a threat to our lake ecosystems – you can help stop the spread!

Spiny waterfleas are small aquatic predators native to Eurasia. The first report of spiny waterfleas in North America was in Lake Ontario in 1982 and was introduced to the Great Lakes in ballast water from ocean-going ships. “Spiny” is a species of zooplankton – small animals that rely on water currents and wind to move long distances. They prefer large, deep, clear lakes, but can also be found in shallower waters.

Lakesmart - Spreading Stewardship

LakeSmart is an award-winning environmental outreach program unique to the Lake of the Woods area of northwestern Ontario. A signature program of the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA), it is focused on environmental education and helping lake users “live and play green” at the lake.

State of the Basin Report Update Underway

It seems just like yesterday, but it’s been seven years since the last Rainy-Lake of the Woods State of the Basin Report (SOBR) was published. Since 2014, we have learned a lot about our lake, its watershed and the priority concerns about water quality, invasive species, nutrients and toxic algae, and much, much more. In May, we launched a major project to update the State of the Basin Report to 2021, in a multi-jurisdictional collaboration of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation with the Territorial Planning Unit of Grand Council Treaty #3, members of the International Multi-Agency Arrangement (government agencies, U.S. Tribal, non-governmental organizations), and the International Joint Commission watershed Board.
Publication of the SOBR 2021 Edition is planned for March 2022.