2026 Kallemeyn Award – Cary Hernandez
Cary Hernandez, a watershed project manager and long-time employee of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, received the 2026 Larry Kallemeyn Award, presented the award on behalf of the community of scientists and resource managers from the United States and Canada working in our watershed.
The Kallemeyn Award recognizes outstanding scientific contributions to the watershed.
For more information on the Kallemeyn Award:www.lowwsf.com/kallemeyn-award
Welcome Julianna Wanke, Communications & Information Management Specialist!
We are very happy to announce a new member of the LOWWSF team!
Julianna Wanke joined the Foundation in January 2026 as the first Communications and Information Management Specialist.
Julianna looks forward to bringing her creativity towards collaboratively working with the team to develop communications materials for the Foundation and ultimately, increase the environmental network within the watershed. Julianna can be reached at juliannawanke@lowwsf.com.
Teika Newton Receives 2026 Clean50 Honour
LOWWSF is pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Teika Newton, has been named as one of the 2026 Clean50 Honourees, joining an esteemed cohort of Canada’s environmental and clean economy leaders. Teika received the award as an Environmental NGO Advocate, alongside five other peers, during a ceremony in Toronto in mid-October.
2025 Ask An Expert Full Series Lineup
The 2025 series of free “Ask An Expert” webinars returns this fall! Please register for sessions of your choice using the links below.
2025 Watershed Forum Proceedings Report – Get Your Copy Now!
The Proceedings Report of the 2025 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is available for download at the Foundation’s website: lowwsf.com/forum-proceedings. Held March 12-13 in International Falls Minnesota, 100 researchers, resource managers, policy makers, and members of the public put Lake of the Woods and its watershed under the microscope.
2025 Forum Presentation Recordings Available Now!
Over the two days of the 2025 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, we heard from nearly two dozen presenters. Missed the event or want to refresh your memory on these presentations? Now you can take in most of the talks as video recordings, available on our website at the link below!
2025 Wilson Stewardship Award – Doug Franchot
Doug Franchot was awarded the 2025 Wilson Stewardship Award.
The Wilson Stewardship Award is presented by the Foundation to individuals, groups, or projects that have made significant contributions to environmental stewardship in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed through:
- Education, outreach, civic engagement and participation in stewardship initiatives or program development.
- Projects or programs focused on protection, restoration, preservation or reduction of environmental impact and development of sustainable practices.
2025 Kallemeyn Award – Kayla and Shane Bowe
Shane and Kayla Bowe from the Red Lake Department of Natural Resources were recipients of the 2025 Larry Kallemeyn Award, presented the award on behalf of the community of scientists and resource managers from the United States and Canada working in our watershed. The Kallemeyn Award recognizes outstanding scientific contributions to the watershed.
Big Announcements to Start 2025: New Faces, Same Priorities
For 20 years the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation has brought together citizens, dozens of municipalities and Indigenous nations and state, provincial and federal governments in Canada and the USA to amass the scientific, technical and community knowledge needed to inform an international water quality plan while building the trust and capacity to implement it.
With the arrival of the new year, the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation has some important announcements to share in our endeavour.
Welcome, Meghan Mills as the International Watershed Coordinator!
Meghan Mills (she/her) joined the team to take over the International Watershed Coordinator role in January 2025.
Meg lives on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and cherishes time spent off-grid at Pelicanpouch Lake, located on Treaty 3 Territory near Minaki, Ontario. She is thrilled to step into the role, joining others dedicated to protecting our shared waters.