Spiny waterfleas are small aquatic predators native to Eurasia. The first report of spiny waterfleas in North America was in Lake Ontario in 1982 and was introduced to the Great Lakes in ballast water from ocean-going ships. “Spiny” is a species of zooplankton – small animals that rely on water currents and wind to move long distances. They prefer large, deep, clear lakes, but can also be found in shallower waters.
LakeSmart is an award-winning environmental outreach program unique to the Lake of the Woods area of northwestern Ontario. A signature program of the our sister organization, the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA), it is focused on environmental education and helping lake users “live and play green” at the lake. The LakeSmart Boat is now launched and the team looks forward to visiting you.
To contact the LakeSmart team or to book a visit: email
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a non-profit organization that works to protect natural areas through securing properties and managing them for the long term, ensuring their ecological integrity. NCC is partnering with the City of Kenora, local residents, cottagers, and campers to protect 82 hectares (202 acres) on Town Island.
The Proceedings Report of the 2021 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is available for download at the Foundation’s website: lowwsf.com/forum-proceedings .Held March 10-11, via Zoom due to Covid-19, over 180 researchers, resource managers, policy makers and members of the public put Lake of the Woods and its watershed under the microscope. The report covers a wide range of subjects: including: watershed governance, aquatic invasive species, nutrients and algae, water regulation and monitoring.
Most presentations were recorded and are available for viewing for a limited time at lowwsf.com/forum-presentations.
Please download a copy of the report or go to the website to view any presentation recordings that are of interest to you.
All eyes focused “virtually” on our watershed and lakes at the 18th annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, held on March 10 and 11. Over 180 participated – a record attendance, with 21 presentations and Q&A sessions organized into theme groups of Water Governance, Aquatic Invasive Species, Nutrients, Canadian Phosphorus Options, Regulation, and Monitoring.
Priscilla Simard and Mona Gordon, Knowledge Keepers with the Women’s Council of Grand Council Treaty #3 opened the Forum with a prayer and ceremony honouring Nibi (water). Their thoughtful words, reflecting on the need to work together to respect and protect Nibi in our watershed, got our meetings and discussions started in a good way. Welcome addresses focusing on the strong binational collaboration in our watershed were provided by Consul General Ariel Delouya, from the Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis and Consul Brian Koontz, from the U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg.
By Bev Clark for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
For many years now there has been a focus on determining the causes of nuisance algal blooms in Lake of the Woods. We know, based on a volume of scientific evidence, that too much phosphorus is the culprit, and this fact steers the question towards how much phosphorus is too much phosphorus? In order to answer this question, we need to determine:
- How is phosphorus getting into the lake? and then,
- What are the effects of that phosphorus on the algal community?
By Bev Clark for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
I recently heard an ad for a major bank that claimed its products were the key to a sustainable future. I also remember when a patch of cattails in the corner of a parking lot was passed off as sustainable development. That was, at best, an effort towards lower impact development. Is there even such a thing as sustainable development? I tend to doubt it. Still, we need to think about sustainability with each management decision that we make and especially as it relates to ecosystem integrity.
By Bev Clark for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation.
In my career as an Environmental Officer and later as a Scientist I have attended many public meetings where water levels were the primary issue. It is nearly impossible to make any gains at such a meeting because there are always exactly half of the people who want the water levels higher and exactly half that want them lower. Its all about the docks…right? OK so here’s the thing, although the regulatory agencies do consider multiple uses, the finer details are almost never about your dock.