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  4. International Watershed Coordination

The International Watershed Coordinator—Keeping Us Working Together.

IWC 2023 640Teika Newton is the Foundation's International Watershed Coordinator. A dedicated resource to support and coordinate research, management and civic engagement initiatives underway internationally across our watershed. She focuses on working together with four main spheres of activity in the watershed:

  • International Joint Commission (IJC) and its International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB)
  • The International Multi Agency Arrangement (IMA) research and management collaboration.'
  • Indigenous Nations
  • Local groups and agencies engaged in watershed activities throughout the bi-national basin.

Teika Newton Joins LOWWSF as International Watershed Coordinator

Published: 20 December 2022

teika logoThe Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation is pleased to introduce Teika Newton as the new International Watershed Coordinator.  

Teika is a long-time participant in regional watershed science, policy, and governance activities. She has served as a board member for the International Joint Commission’s International Rainy–Lake of the Woods Watershed Board, and co-chaired the Board’s Community Advisory Group, Engagement Committee, and currently the Adaptive Management Committee. Teika also has been helping to guide the IJC Board’s work on climate adaptation since 2016.

With Teika joining our team, the Foundation is doubling down to move projects forward that are central to a sustainability plan, including defining recommendations for international water quality objectives and a multi-nationally coordinated monitoring program, in collaboration with the IJC, Nations, and agencies in the basin.

Read more …

Love to Canoe or Kayak? You can help stop the spread of invasives too!

Published: 18 April 2022

August1 2There’s just something about getting out on the water with a canoe or kayak! For some people the draw might be exploring remote lakes, for others it’s feeling connected to the water or escaping the constant noise of everyday life, or any number of reasons. Non-motorized watercraft such as canoes and kayaks are sometimes thought to be synonymous with low-impact travel and with wilderness, but there is often a mistaken perception that they pose no risk in spreading aquatic invasive species.

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Watershed planning in progress for the Rainy River Headwaters & Vermilion River Watersheds in Minnesota

Published: 14 April 2022

RRHW VR w basemapLocal partners including the North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), St. Louis County, Lake County & SWCD, and Cook County & SWCD are embarking on the creation of a One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) for the Rainy River Headwaters and Vermilion River Watersheds in Minnesota. These watersheds encompass a large area of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, Voyageur's National Park, 1854 Treaty Ceded Territory, tribal lands of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, and the municipalities of Ely, Orr, Tower, Winton, and many townships.

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Forest Stewardship Planning Cost Share Program in Minnesota

Published: 14 April 2022

PlanAreaMapresizedLake of the Woods and Roseau Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) are teaming up to deliver a Forest Stewardship Plan Cost Share Program through the Lake of the Woods Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan.

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Rainfall Simulator Shows the Impact of Farm Land Management on Runoff

Published: 14 April 2022

Vol16 Is1 2021 SummerFallLake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) co-hosted a livestock producer’s workshop at a farm north of Williams, MN. Over 40 people came out to listen to presenters who highlighted rotational grazing, forage productivity, drought disaster assistance and available conservation programs. Staff were on hand from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, MN Ag Water Quality Certification Program, Sustainable Farming Association and UMN Extension Service.

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Agenda for Lake Association Network workshop released

Published: 26 October 2021

20180911 141234 640The agenda for the December Lake Association Network Workshop is now available. Join us on Friday, December 3 from 9:00-11:30 am cental via zoom. Keynote speakers will be: 

  • Teika Newton, IJC Watershed Board on adaptation to climate change
  • Kelli Saunders, LOWWSF on barriers to watershed restoration and protection
  • Taylor Livingston, Prairie Climate Centre on local climate change impacts

Register Now!

Read more …

Lake Vermilion Stewardship Action

Published: 27 October 2021

NSL plantingsmallThe North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District, Vermilion Lake Association, and Minnesota Lakes & River Advocates (MLR) have worked together over the last year to protect Lake Vermilion through a Lake Steward Program.

Landowners interested in the program started by taking a 10-question quiz developed by MLR to “Score Your Shore.” A volunteer from the Vermilion Lake Association then offered to visit the landowner to learn their goals for the property. If certain criteria are met, a landowner can be awarded a Lake Steward sign to show they are protecting the lake and encourage others to do so.

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North Saint Louis SWCD Aquatic Invasive Species Program - Summer 2021

Published: 27 October 2021

NSL AISsmallNorth St Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) hires two interns every summer to work with the aquatic invasive species (AIS) program. This year, Charles Greenberg and Jack Hasty were hired to work alongside Natalya Walker, the SWCD’s AIS Program Coordinator. Together, along with their team of 24 watercraft inspectors, they completed boat inspections, decontaminations, and other AIS prevention projects throughout the summer of 2021.

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LOWDSA Fills Summer 2021 with Exciting Programming to Protect our Lakes!

Published: 27 October 2021

LOWDSAphotosmallIn the summer of 2021, the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA) was extremely busy with both long-standing and new stewardship initiatives.  They launched a new citizen science program that will help to detect the presence of zebra mussels (Dreissena polyporpha) within Lake of the Woods and surrounding water bodies. Volunteers were given settlement samplers to attach below their docks, a few feet above the lakebed.  These samplers are surfaces on which zebra mussels will settle after they complete their larval (“veliger”) stage. Forty volunteers have taken part in this project and will report back to LOWDSA on the detection of any zebra mussels. More information on this program is available at https://www.lowdsa.com/articles/zebra-mussel-citizen-science-project-launch

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Minnesota volunteers search for aquatic invasive species at public water accesses as part of a state-wide event

Published: 27 October 2021

starrystonewort smallOver 206 volunteers searched a total of 281 accesses on 222 water bodies across Minnesota on Saturday, August 21, 2021 to participate in Starry Trek.  Starry Trek is a statewide search for starry stonewort and other aquatic invasive species at public water accesses.  The state-wide effort is organized by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and University of Minnesota Extension in partnership with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Read more …

  1. Storm Drain Stenciling Continues to Be a Cross-Border Project!
  2. ECCC Phosphorus Consultations - What We Heard
  3. 2021 Watershed Forum Proceedings Report - Get Your Copy!
  4. Town Island - A New Future?

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April 8, 2025

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! 

video 2025 Watershed Forum

April 22, 2024

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. 

Read more …
January 9, 2025

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.

Read more …

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