The growth of the Forum reflects the heightened interest in solving the problems of Lake of the Woods including: nutrient pollution and toxic blooms of blue green algae, invasive species, monitoring gaps and impacts of climate change.
Increased research into Lake of the Woods water quality is expected following from the announcement of last August of $5.5 million dollars for Environment and Climate Change Canada for scientific studies of Lake of the Woods and Rainy River. Research planning is underway and studies are expected to focus on nutrient enrichment and algae blooms, nutrient loading budgets and modeling to develop water quality objectives, satelight remote sensing to track and identify blue green algae bloom outbreaks, and enhanced monitoring.
The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is organized each year by a volunteer committee led by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation. The 2017 committee consists of:
- Todd Sellers, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
- Nolan Baratono, Watershed Ecology
- Andrew Paterson, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
- Matt Julius, Minnesota St. Cloud State University
- Kelli Saunders, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
- Ryan Maki, Voyageurs National Park
- Tim Pascoe, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Jesse Anderson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Kelly Sjerven, Rainy River Community College
- Anna DeSellas, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change