International Multi-Agency Agreement

The IMA — The Engine for Research & Management Collaboration

We are proud of helping to form the International Multi-Agency Arrangement (IMA). The IMA has erased the borders and barriers to collaboration among agencies of both countries sharing Lake of the Woods. The IMA is an international arrangement for cooperation on research and management, among ten government agencies, indigenous groups and the Foundation. In addition to its own work, it provides technical advice and support to the IJC Watershed Board. The IMA is the implementation mechanism for both research and management components of a sustainability plan for our lake. Signatory agencies include:

US Environmental Protection Agency
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Ontario Ministry of the Environment & Climate Change
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development
Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District,
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

Others, including members from Grand Council Treaty #3 and First Nation communities have participated over time.

Since inception in 2009, IMA has evolved into a powerhouse for collaborative research and management. It is a key technical resource to the IJC Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed board and to the IJC team working on the Lake of the Woods basin water quality study plans. Key achievements of the IMA include:

Inter-agency data sharing and laboratory proficiency comparisons
A hydrologic model for the watershed
A historical nutrient budget for Lake of the Woods
A lake thermal modeling study to assess climatic impacts on algae
Studies of phosphorus release from the lake sediments
Funding of a critical measurement gauge in international waters
Crucial roles in developing the Lake of the Woods Basin Water Quality Plan of Study, providing technical advice to the IJC study team

Currently the IMA is working on a joint project with the IJC watershed board, to develop a basin-wide risk assessment for aquatic invasive species (AIS).

September 21, 2023

2024 Watershed Forum Announcement and Call for Abstracts

Announcement and Call for Abstracts

2024 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum - Save the date and call for abstracts

Location: Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus, International Falls, MN.

Date: March 6–7, 2024

Overview: Professional symposium for research and resource managers, policy makers and the public interested in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed

Abstract Deadline: December 15, 2023. Please submit the following to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Presenter Information: Name, Research Organization or Agency, Mailing Address, Telephone, Email, Brief Bio.
Submittal Information: Author(s), Presentation or Poster, Title, Abstract, Location of study (i.e., lake name, river name, or GPS coordinate etc.)

August 28, 2023

Algae Bloom 2023 is on its way

After a hot June but cool and sometimes smoky July, the algae bloom on Lake of the Woods started to develop in late July and early August as usual. Blooms began in the southern Big Traverse Bay and in the Morson-Sabaskong area to the south-east. By late August, the bloom covered 34% of the lake and has progressed northward through middle channel to Oak Point. Satellite-derrived measures of chlorophyll-a (a pigment in the algae) ranged above 40 µg/L (red in the satellite image) indicating severe bloom formation in a few locations (anything above 10 µg/L is considered a bloom).

Algal blooms in Lake of the Woods typically peak in the late fall, and progress into the north-central area of the lake. Thus, more extensive blooms are expected to come later, expanding in extent and severity into the fall. Last year, peak severity occurred on October 13, 2022. We’ll have a complete report on the annual bloom conditions later in the fall, once the satellite tracking is complete for the season.

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August 28, 2023

IJC Watershed Board Public Meetings Report

The IJC’s International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board held its annual meetings with the public in Baudette, Minnesota on August 16 and Kenora, Ontario on August 17.

The IJC watershed board presented an update on its activities during the past year and key priorities for the coming year. The board's Aquatic Ecosystem Health Committee is leading several projects this year, including: focus on international water quality objectives and core monitoring design, studies of erosion at the south shore of Lake of the Woods, and reporting of exceedances of water quality criteria.

The board hosted guest updates from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada on these agencies’ work to address the phosphorus loading that feeds the excessive algae blooms on Lake of the Woods.

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