LOWBREWCO Charity Pints Program
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 ….
Science & Policy Converge at Forum
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.
Minnesota Scientist Mark Edlund Honoured at 2017 Forum
Congratulations to Dr. Mark Edlund, recipient of the 2017 Kallemeyn Award, recognizing his contributions to research and resource management in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin.
International research collaborations led by Mark are providing the keys to unlocking the Lake of the Woods story about what is causing the blooms of blue green algae.
Environment Canada Starts Work
Scientists from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) started work on Lake of the Woods this winter. They collected samples to characterized the water chemistry, algae community, nutrient conditions, and the role of nutrient release from the sediments under low oxygen conditions under ice cover, in contributing to the nutrient loads and summer algae blooms. The ECCC crew will be on the lake in June and September.
Unlocking Lake of the Woods
Research is beginning to provides answers to unlock the mysteries of Lake of the Woods water quality — summarized in this article republished from Field Notes, the newsletter of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station.
The Path Forward
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.
Research Update: Lake Trout
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.
Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund
To honour the memory of Deborah Battigelli, her family has established The Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund at the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation. This Fund honours Deborah’s love of life at the lake and her interest to preserve the lake area for future generations to continue to enjoy what she loved.
2017 Forum Announcement
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.
Reseach Update: Nutrients
Researchers unlock mystery of legacy phosphorus pollution on Lake of the Woods and role in algae blooms today: Update on Hisotrical Nutrient Budget Project from Mark Edlund, Senior Scientist, St. Croix Watershed Research Station