A vocal and engaged audience of Foundation supporters and LOWDPOA members packed the room in Kenora on August 10, to meet with the IJC Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board and with IJC Commissioners and staff advisors. The meeting focused on an update from the Board on activities during the year on water levels, public engagement, and water quality and ecosystem health.
During a session planned for an update on the IJC Water Quality Plan of Study, representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Global Affairs Canada were invited to explain the announcement made by Canada, to assigning the $5.5 million earmarked for Lake of the Woods in the March 2016 Federal Budget to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for studies in the Canadian portion of the Lake of the Woods basin, rather than to the IJC for the IJC water quality plan of study.
Dr. Véronique P. Hiriart-Baer of ECCC presented a draft ECCC science plan -- there were numerous questions and concerns voiced by the public about this plan for governments to develop their own binational science plan, rather than through the IJC Plan of Study, that sent clear messages to the representatives of representatives from the Government of Canada who attended the meeting.
Read more: Public Concern Expressed at IJC Watershed Board Meetings
Development of a sustainability plan for Lake of the Woods is the major goal of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation. On August 4, 2017 Lake of the Woods water quality became an international priority, with Canada committing $5.5 million dollars for Environment and Climate Change Canada to participate along with the significant efforts and investments already being made by Minnesota to develop phosphorus concentration objectives and reduction targets to combat harmful algae blooms—a key pillar of the sustainability plan.
Currently, Environment and Climate Change Canada has proposed a draft plan for science studies. Governments had the opportunity to commit to more. We think they still should.
Researchers from across North America will focus on the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed at the 14th annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, March 8-9, 2017 in International Falls, Minnesota. Attendance similar to last year's record of 160 participants is expected.
Research supported in part by the Foundation, is underway aimed at understanding how multiple environmental stressors, such as nutrient enrichment and climate change, will affect habitat viability for lake trout by contributing to deepwater oxygen depletion in lakes.