2025 Wilson Stewardship Award – Doug Franchot
Doug Franchot was awarded the 2025 Wilson Stewardship Award.
The Wilson Stewardship Award is presented by the Foundation to individuals, groups, or projects that have made significant contributions to environmental stewardship in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed through:
- Education, outreach, civic engagement and participation in stewardship initiatives or program development.
- Projects or programs focused on protection, restoration, preservation or reduction of environmental impact and development of sustainable practices.
2024 Wilson Stewardship Award – Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson is the 2024 recipient of the Gerry Wilson Stewardship Award. Paul was honored with this international award in recognition of his lifetime of environmental advocacy work on behalf of the Rainy Lake Conservancy, Voyageurs National Park and Voyageurs Conservancy and his service on the Community Advisory Group of the IJC International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board.
The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation presented the award to Paul on behalf of the community of scientists, resource managers and water stewards from the United States and Canada at the 2024 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum in International Falls, Minnesota.
Paul personifies the best of citizen engagement in conservation and protection. A life-long lover of Rainy Lake and the Rainy Lake watershed, Paul has been an active leader and contributor to initiatives to protect the watershed, including participating in oversight of hydropower and mining projects, advocating for emergency preparedness and response planning, reviewing the past two State of the Basin Reports, and advocating for improved land use and development planning.
Congratulations to Paul on this well-deserved recognition of his volunteer contributions to our waters!
The Foundation presents the Wilson Stewardship Award annually to recognize individuals, groups, or projects that are making significant contributions to environmental stewardship in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed. For more information about the Wilson Stewardship Award see: www.lowwsf.com/wilson-award.
2025 Kallemeyn Award – Kayla and Shane Bowe
Shane and Kayla Bowe from the Red Lake Department of Natural Resources were recipients of the 2025 Larry Kallemeyn Award, presented the award on behalf of the community of scientists and resource managers from the United States and Canada working in our watershed. The Kallemeyn Award recognizes outstanding scientific contributions to the watershed.
2026 Kallemeyn Award – Cary Hernandez
Cary Hernandez, a watershed project manager and long-time employee of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, received the 2026 Larry Kallemeyn Award, presented the award on behalf of the community of scientists and resource managers from the United States and Canada working in our watershed.
The Kallemeyn Award recognizes outstanding scientific contributions to the watershed.
For more information on the Kallemeyn Award:www.lowwsf.com/kallemeyn-award
2024 Kallemeyn Award – Caren Binding
Dr. Caren Binding, research scientist in aquatic optics and remote sensing at Environment and Climate Change Canada, is the 2024 recipient of the Larry Kallemeyn Award. The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation presented the award on behalf of the community of scientists and resource managers from the United States and Canada working in our watershed.
Massive algae bloom covers nearly 70% of Lake of the Woods, September 30, 2023. Panels (left to right) show sentinel satellite image, derived chlorophyll-a, and derived annual Bloom Severity index, Environment and Climate Change Canada (2023). EOLakeWatch 2023 Algal Bloom Report – Lake of the WoodsThe Kallemeyn Award recognizes Dr. Bindings outstanding scientific contributions to the watershed, including leading her team that developed the EOLakeWatch tool that uses satellite imagery to track algae blooms in Lake of the Woods (and other “Great Lakes”) and derives indices of bloom extent, intensity and severity that will likely be foundational to long term monitoring for progress assessment as plans are implemented to cut phosphorus loads to the lake.
A heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Caren from the Foundation and the researchers gathered at the Forum for a well-deserved accolade!