Algae blooms during late summer and fall on Lake of the Woods remain a concern that was highlighted by the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board at it’s meetings with IJC Commissioners in Ottawa, October 25, 2017.
The view from space is compelling with blue green algae blooms widespread across the southern basin – “the Big Traverse” beginning in early summer. By fall, blooms covered
The IJC Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board released its annual report on water quality and aquatic ecosystem health, covering the period of 2015-2016. The primary focus is on inputs of the nutrient phosphorus to the Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River as a priority issue of concern. Other indicators of aquatic ecosystem health are covered for many of the major boundary water lakes in the watershed.
Zebra mussels have not made it into Lake of the Woods or the Rainy River, yet. But they have invaded several headwaters upstream in the watershed. On October 30, 2017 Minnesota DNR confirmed that zebra mussels in Dora Lake and the upper reaches of the Big Fork River, downstream of Sand Lake MN where zebra mussels were first confirmed in our watershed in
The local governments within the Minnesota portion of the Lake of the Woods Watershed are collaborating together on a watershed-based plan known as the One Watershed, One Plan. Those governments include Lake of the Woods County, Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Warroad River Watershed District, Roseau County and Roseau SWCD. The ultimate goal of the
Only Rain Down the Drain! That’s the message behind a binational storm drain stenciling project this past summer. Our Foundation’s Watershed Coordination Program engaged youth and the communities of Fort Frances and Kenora, Ontario and International Falls, Minnesota to paint messages beside storm drains next to Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. The messages are reminders to take care of what goes
March 7-8, 2018: Rainy River Community College, International Falls, Minnesota
Overview: Symposium for researchers and resource managers working in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed.
Themes: Climate change, nutrients & algae, invasive species, paleolimnology, fisheries, and new techniques — advances in monitoring, remote sensing, modeling, data management and visualization.
Abstract Deadline: January 12, 2018. Submisssion details, please see www.lowwsf.com/abstract-submission
More Info: at the Foundation’s website www.lowwsf.com/watershed-forum.
On August 14th, 2017 Environment and Climate change Canada (ECCC) scientists and staff hosted a day-long public information session in Kenora. The event showcased the science underway to better understand the issue of toxic and nuisance algae in the Lake of the Woods and what actions are needed to ensure a healthy lake now and into the future.
A series of posters
Environment and Climate Change Canada in associaton with the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation will be holding a public information session in Kenora on the science underway to address toxic and nuicance algae blooms on Lake of the Woods.
The session will include a series of posters on the program and ECCC scientists and staff will be present to answer questions.
A Growler sized thank you to the team at the Lake of the Woods Brewing Co for its generous support of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation during 2016. We are honoured to have been one of five charities supported by the LOWBREWCO Charity Pints Program.
Each month during 2016, they picked one of their
Your donation supports our work to protect the
Lake’s water quality for future generations.
