Algae blooms during late summer and fall on Lake of the Woods remain a concern that was highlighted by the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board at it's meetings with IJC Commissioners in Ottawa, October 25, 2017.
The view from space is compelling with blue green algae blooms widespread across the southern basin - "the Big Traverse" beginning in early summer. By fall, blooms covered most of the lake including in the middle channel and north central basin around Kenora. Blooms persisted well into late October.
Read more: Lake of the Woods algae highlighted at IJC Watershed Board meetings in Ottawa
The IJC Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board released its annual report on water quality and aquatic ecosystem health, covering the period of 2015-2016. The primary focus is on inputs of the nutrient phosphorus to the Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River as a priority issue of concern. Other indicators of aquatic ecosystem health are covered for many of the major boundary water lakes in the watershed.
Read more: IJC watershed board releases aquatic ecosystem health report
Zebra mussels have not made it into Lake of the Woods or the Rainy River, yet. But they have invaded several headwaters upstream in the watershed. On October 30, 2017 Minnesota DNR confirmed that zebra mussels in Dora Lake and the upper reaches of the Big Fork River, downstream of Sand Lake MN where zebra mussels were first confirmed in our watershed in 2013.
On August 14th, 2017 Environment and Climate change Canada (ECCC) scientists and staff hosted a day-long public information session in Kenora. The event showcased the science underway to better understand the issue of toxic and nuisance algae in the Lake of the Woods and what actions are needed to ensure a healthy lake now and into the future.
A series of posters displays were presented, summarizing the research project underway: pdf ECCC Science Info Session Posters - August 4, 2017 Kenora (7.85 MB)
Read more: Environment Canada Science Program: Fall 2017 Update
March 7-8, 2018: Rainy River Community College, International Falls, Minnesota
Overview: Symposium for researchers and resource managers working in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed.
Themes: Climate change, nutrients & algae, invasive species, paleolimnology, fisheries, and new techniques — advances in monitoring, remote sensing, modeling, data management and visualization.
Abstract Deadline: January 12, 2018. Submisssion details, please see www.lowwsf.com/abstract-submission
More Info: at the Foundation's website www.lowwsf.com/watershed-forum.
Read more: Call for Abstracts: 2018 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum
Environment and Climate Change Canada in associaton with the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation will be holding a public information session in Kenora on the science underway to address toxic and nuicance algae blooms on Lake of the Woods.
The session will include a series of posters on the program and ECCC scientists and staff will be present to answer questions. The session will also include information and staff from our partners at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and as well as information from our partners at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Please join us Monday August 14, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Clarion Lakeside Inn, Kenora Ontario.
Read more: You're Invited to a Lake of the Woods Science Information Session in Kenora
A Growler sized thank you to the team at the Lake of the Woods Brewing Co for its generous support of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation during 2016. We are honoured to have been one of five charities supported by the LOWBREWCO Charity Pints Program.
Each month during 2016, they picked one of their craft beers and donated ....
When science and policy begin to converge, we're on the right track. In addition to research studies, this year's science Forum highlighted policy efforts underway to put a binational plan in place for the Lake of the Woods basin, with presentations from Global Affairs Canada and the Rt. Honourable Robert Nault, Member of Parliament for Kenora, and a video address by U.S. Senator Al Franken.