Wilson Stewardship Award Honors Achievements of the Vermilion Lake Association and the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
(International Falls, MN and Kenora, ON) March 13, 2019 – The Vermilion Lake Association and the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association were each recipients of the 2019 Wilson Stewardship Award, recognizing their outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed.
The 2019 Wilson Awards were presented to each Association by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation on behalf of the 160 researchers, resource managers and water stewards from the United States and Canada attending the 2019 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum in International Falls, MN.
“The Vermilion Lake Association and the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association both have histories of over 50 years of engaging citizens in stewardship” said Todd Sellers Foundation Executive Director “they have been very effective at raising awareness of environmental issues and actively pursuing solutions and partnerships to advance science and implement concrete stewardship actions”
“I am honored to accept the Wilson award on behalf of our Lake Association's 2500 members” commented Terry Grosshauser, President of the Vermilion Lake Association, “our hundreds of volunteers, and numerous partners work daily to protect Lake Vermilion”.
Diane Schwartz-Williams, Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association and noted “The strength and success of LOWDSA’s programs and partnerships is the desire to preserve one of the most beautiful places on earth as a high quality environment for future generations to enjoy – a commitment shared and translated into action by over 3,000 member families, directors and staff, both past and present.”
The Vermilion Lake Association was recognized for its extensive work on aquatic invasive species prevention and training of volunteers to inspect and decontaminate boats; over 40 years of water quality sampling and support of needed research alongside partners and its success in offering the longest running, single-lake count of common loons anywhere in the United States.
The Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association was recognized for its: LakeSmart program of dock to dock visits promoting “living green” at the lake; waste reduction and recycling programs; tree-seedling planting program in which association members have planted over 300,000 trees; work on invasive species prevention and control, and efforts to spark the interest and engagement of the next generation – children and youth – in water stewardship.
The selection committee for the Wilson Award consists of individuals involved in stewardship and civic engagement work from Canada and the United States. It was their unanimous recommendation to the Foundation that these two organizations both have offered outstanding contributions that were equal in impact and significance and were both equally deserving.
With the Wilson Award, the Foundation and the international research, resource management, and stewardship community at the Forum thank the Vermilion Lake Association and the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association for their efforts to foster and build partnerships to stewards the resources we all share and enjoy in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed.
For more information about the Wilson Stewardship Award: www.lowwsf.com/wilson-award or
contact Todd Sellers, Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation.
866-370-8891