2021 Watershed Forum Proceedings Report – Get Your Copy!
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.
State of the Basin Report Update Underway
It seems just like yesterday, but it’s been seven years since the last Rainy-Lake of the Woods State of the Basin Report (SOBR) was published. Since 2014, we have learned a lot about our lake, its watershed and the priority concerns about water quality, invasive species, nutrients and toxic algae, and much, much more.
In June, we launched a major project to update the State of the Basin Report to 2021, in a multi-jurisdictional collaboration led by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, with the Territorial Planning Unit of Grand Council Treaty #3, members of the International Multi-Agency Arrangement (government agencies, U.S. Tribal, non-governmental organizations), and the International Joint Commission watershed Board.
Publication of the SOBR 2021 Edition is planned for March 2022.
Great news for Lake of the Woods in Canada’s Budget 2021
Great news for Lake of the Woods in Canada’s Budget 2021. The federal Budget included $1.8 million for Lake of the Woods. This is bridging funding for the current year only, but will allow Environment and Climate Change Canada to maintain research and monitoring activities and continue efforts towards developing phosphorus pollution reduction targets to address toxic algae in the lake. We anticipate that further funding will follow, likely as part of the large-lakes mandate of the Canada Water Agency, currently being established.
Lakesmart – Spreading Stewardship This Summer
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 info.lakesmart@lowdsa.com or reach to LOWDSA via social media. The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation is proud to be one of the sponsors of the LakeSmart program again this yar, along with many others including, Invading Species Awareness Program, Lake of the Woods Coffee Company, Kenora and Lake of hte Woods Community Foundation, Cabin Country Realty, Copperfin Credit Union, Q104, World of Water, EcoCanada, Nature Conservancy, Ontario Power Generation, Grand Council Treaty #3, Lake of hte Woods Mobile Marine, Lake of the Woods Septic Barge, Richard McKenzie Insurance and Talbot Marketing.
Town Island – A New Future?
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.
Sustainability – A misused concept that we need to think about
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.
Apples and Oranges in Lake of the Woods
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?
2021 Community Engagement Workshop Report Released
This year’s workshop was a true testament to how we can adapt our engagement for the collective efforts on stewardship. On March 31st, 38 people came together on Zoom and worked together, with our two presenters, to discuss the most effective ways to engage citizens in science and stewardship. The lessons learned came from all over the watershed and involved a diverse range of passionate scientists, educators, lake users, and associations.
You can download the report here!
Record Attendance at the 2021 Watershed Forum
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.
Minnesota Draft Phosphorus Plan Public Review Notice
The health of Lake of the Woods also matters to our U.S. neighbours who share this important natural resource. The State of Minnesota, through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the US EPA, under authorities in the Federal Clean Water Act, are also developing a plan for the lake’s restoration including setting reduction targets for U.S. sources of phosphorus.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s draft Lake of the Woods Nutrient TMDL study will be on public notice from February 22, 2021 through March 24, 2021. The TMDL study is available on the MPCA’s website or can be found by searching online for “Lake of the Woods TMDL”.
Two virtual public information meetings will be held via Webex on March 4 from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m CST. Information meeting attendees will need to register to obtain a link to the meeting(s). Follow the links below to register for the meetings: