About

We're people who love Lake of the Woods. It’s ours to protect today – for generations to explore and enjoy tomorrow.

The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainbility Foundation is working binationally to develop a sustainability plan for the Lake of the Woods Basin, based on sound science and international cooperation and collaboration. The Foundation is a registered Canadian charity based in Kenora, Ontario.

It's about the future of our lake and its watershed...

Vision: We see the Lake of the Woods basin as majestic waters with sustainable ecological integrity supporting the health, economy and beneficial use for current and future generations.

Mission: To protect the ecological integrity of the water quality of Lake of the Woods and its watershed by being a champion for the Lake. The Foundation will maintain and build a reputation as a trusted essential partner with all stakeholders.

Read more: Vision, Mission, Values

The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation is governed by a volunteer bi-national Board of Directors working with a small staff that share their passion for the Lake of the Woods basin. Tony Stephens has served as president of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation since its inception in 2005 along with Richard Sjoberg, Don Konantz, Polly Craik, Bruce Ormiston, Art McKenzie and Joan Richardson.

Read more: Board of Directors

Todd Sellers, Executive Director, and Teika Newton, International Wateshed Coordinator. Todd leads the Foundation’s activities to initiate water quality research and the development of a water quality sustainability plan for the Lake of the Woods basin. Teika leads the Foundation’s International Watershed Coordinator Program.

Read more: Our Staff

The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation ("the Foundation") is committed to protecting the privacy of the personal information of its donors, employees and other stakeholders. The Foundation values the trust of those we deal with, and of the public, and recognizes that maintaining this trust requires that we be transparent and accountable in how we treat the information that is shared with us.

Read more: Privacy Statement

February 11, 2020

Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund Awards Announcement 2023 - Student Support

To honour the memory of Deborah Battigelli, her family established The Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund at the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation. This Fund honours Deborah’s love of life at the lake and her interest to preserve the lake area for future generations to continue to enjoy what she loved. The Fund assists the up-and-coming generation of scientists with their research on our lakes with limited travel support to present their research at the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum. We are pleased to announce that two deserving graduate students will received Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund awards to present at the Forum in 2023.

Battigelli Award - 2023 Recipient Kaela Natwora

Kaela Natwora, PhD. candidate at the University of Minnesota Duluth Large Lakes Observatory, is a recipient of the 2023 Deborah Battigelli Memorial Award. Presented by the Foundation, on behalf of the Battigelli family, this Award provides financial assistance to graduate students to present their research at the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.

Kaela's research is improving our understanding of how nutrients, specifically atmospheric nitrogen promotes and sustains cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) and potentially fuels toxin production in the south basin of Lake of the Woods.

Kaela will deliver a presentation at the Forum titled "Nitrogen fixation may offset nitrogen demands in Lake of the Woods cHABs, and molecular techniques reveal species responsible for toxin production".

Read more: Battigelli Award - 2023 Recipient Kaela Natwora

Battigelli Award - 2023 Recipient Ben Wood

James Benjamin (Ben) Wood, MSc. candidate at Lakehead University, is a recipient of the 2023 Deborah Battigelli Memorial Award. Presented by the Foundation, on behalf of the Battigelli family, this Award provides financial assistance to graduate students to present their research at the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.

Ben's research is improving our understanding of how the invasive spiny water flea impacts the growth of walleye and also accumulation of mercury in these important fish that we love to eat.

Ben will deliver a presentation at the Forum titled "Impacts of Invasive Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes cederstroemi) on Mercury Accumulation in Northern Ontario Walleye".

Read more: Battigelli Award - 2023 Recipient Ben Wood

Read more ...

January 4, 2023

Registration Open for Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum

Registration cutoff deadline is February 24 — a hard-stop as we must have catering numbers locked in by then!
This is a hard-stop as we must have catering numbers locked in by then!
If you've registered for the Forum already — thank you! If not...

Register online at: https://www.lowwsf.com/register

The Forum (March 8-9, 2023) returns to an in-person event at the Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus (formerly known as the Rainy River Community College). Please note that the Foundation reception and dinner 6 pm on March 8 will be at Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake (about 13 miles east of the College, pdf map here (232 KB) ).

Registration fee $100 USD. Register and pay by January 31 to get the "Early Bird" rate of $90 USD.
Students free with valid student ID - Enter: STUDENT2023 in the coupon field ( choose "Individual Registration" button -- discount coupon is not available as part of group registrations).
Registration includes lunch on March 8, the Foundation dinner Reception on the 8th, lunch on the 9th, and refreshment breaks both days.
Major credit cards are accepted for online payment and is the preferred option. If necessary, you may choose an offline "Pay Offline" option for Mail-in cheque.
Sorry, but we are currently not able to accept Purchase Orders/Commissioners Warrants etc. but are trying to resolve this.

Register before February 24th at the Foundation's website https://www.lowwsf.com/register

The Foundation reception and dinner March 8 will be at Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake.
Conference details at the Foundation's website www.lowwsf.com/watershed-forum

Forum Registration

December 20, 2022

Teika Newton Joins LOWWSF as International Watershed Coordinator

The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation is pleased to introduce Teika Newton as the new International Watershed Coordinator.

Teika is a long-time participant in regional watershed science, policy, and governance activities. She has served as a board member for the International Joint Commission’s International Rainy–Lake of the Woods Watershed Board, and co-chaired the Board’s Community Advisory Group, Engagement Committee, and currently the Adaptive Management Committee. Teika also has been helping to guide the IJC Board’s work on climate adaptation since 2016.

With Teika joining our team, the Foundation is doubling down to move projects forward that are central to a sustainability plan, including defining recommendations for international water quality objectives and a multi-nationally coordinated monitoring program, in collaboration with the IJC, Nations, and agencies in the basin.

Read more ...