Overview
3D numerical model preliminary results for flow, circualtion and temparatureThe project aims to develop an integrated model for US and Canadian watershed inflows to Lake of the Woods, to replicate and predict water movements and quality. The model will build a connection between the land and water to better understand the cause and effect of algal blooms. It will determine the effectiveness of risk reduction strategies on the water quality in Lake of the Woods, and help predict the lake's response to climate change.
Location of Study
Lake of the Woods and its watershed tributaries, Poplar Bay for focused studies of potential effects of cottages.
Researcher Profiles
Craig McCrimmon, Systems Modeler Specialist and the acting Manager, Advanced Environment Intelligent Technologies with Environment and Climate Change Canada
I have been a watershed, river and lake modeller with Environment Climate Change Canada (ECCC) since 1999. My recent work has been on watershed modelling to provide information on nutrients for lake modelling. This includes developing land management options and climate change adaptation scenarios that could lead to improved water quality in the lakes. I am the lead on a number of watershed modelling projects, integrated with lake models.
Reza 
Valipour, Research Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada
I have been a Research Scientist at Environment Climate Change Canada (ECCC) since 2017, My work focuses on creating three-dimensional models of lakes to simulate water circulation and water quality. I received a PhD in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University in 2012. After receiving my PhD, I spent a few years in the private sector, before joining ECCC in 2014 as a visiting research fellow to work on lake hydrodynamics and nutrient modeling research projects. As part of my current research, I am working on modeling water circulation, sediment transport and water quality in the Lake of the Woods, which also includes extensive lake-wide field data collections and laboratory experiments. In addition, I am involved in other ECCC research projects on large lakes including Lake Erie, Lake Winnipeg, Lake St. Clair and Lake Ontario.
Description of Study
Watershed and lake models for Lake of the Woods will be developed and integrated to predict the amount of nutrients in the lake, and provide information on water movements and water quality conditions of the lake water. These models are improved by using field observations to ensure that they can accurately predict existing conditions. The models are used to predict water quality conditions of the lake water as well as the lake's potential response to the implementation of conservation practices and climate change adaptation strategies. In addition, models of Poplar Bay’s watershed and the bay are being developed to study the impact of cottages on the bay water quality conditions.
Key Partners include:
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- International Joint Commission
- Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
- Other stakeholders with interests related to lake and watershed modelling, land management option development and data exchange.
Preliminary Results
Next Steps
Stay tuned for more!