The  pdf 2023 Program & Abstracts (641 KB)  for the 2023 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is now available.

A  pdf Speaker Schedule Quickview (295 KB)  for the two day event is also available.

March 8, the Forum starts at 11:45 am CST with the kick off lunch followed by symposium sessions starting at 1:00 pm through to 4:40 pm.

Please note that the Foundation recepton and dinner 6 pm on March 8 will be at Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake.

March 9, symposium sessions start at 8:30 am and end at 4:45 pm.

Registration cutoff deadline is February 24 — this is a hard-stop as we must have catering numbers locked in by then!

If you plan to attend and have not registered already, you must register by February 24! Register Now 

The new AmericInn Inn, International Falls MN.
2500 Keenan Drive, International Falls MN MN  (just 1 block west of the Community College site of the Forum)

There a still a few rooms left - If you haven't booked your room, call the front desk asap.

The conference block and rate of $95 USD per night plus taxes technically closed Feb 7, but front desk manager Kayla might be able to extend the block price to you!

• you must make your reservation by phone (1-218-598-8510) direct to the property and quote the group code "Water Conference". (No web booking or central 800# booking)

The 2023 Forum would not be possible without the support of many organizations:

• Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
• Grand Council Treaty #3
• St. Cloud State University
• International Joint Commission
• Jefferson National Parks Association in cooperation with Voyageurs National Park
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Consulate General of Canada - Minneapolis, Global Affairs Canada
• Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
• Rainy Lake Property Owners Association
• Dorset Environmental Science Centre
• Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus
• Rainy Lake Conservancy

To become a sponsor, please contact Todd Sellers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or toll free 886-370-8891.

Kaela Natwora, PhD. candidate at the University of Minnesota Duluth Large Lakes Observatory, is a recipient of the 2023 Deborah Battigelli Memorial Award. Presented by the Foundation, on behalf of the Battigelli family, this Award provides financial assistance to graduate students to present their research at the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.

Kaela's research is improving our understanding of how nutrients, specifically atmospheric nitrogen promotes and sustains cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) and potentially fuels toxin production in the south basin of Lake of the Woods.

Kaela will deliver a presentation at the Forum titled "Nitrogen fixation may offset nitrogen demands in Lake of the Woods cHABs, and molecular techniques reveal species responsible for toxin production".

Read more: Battigelli Award - 2023 Recipient Kaela Natwora

James Benjamin (Ben) Wood, MSc. candidate at Lakehead University, is a recipient of the 2023 Deborah Battigelli Memorial Award. Presented by the Foundation, on behalf of the Battigelli family, this Award provides financial assistance to graduate students to present their research at the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.

Ben's research is improving our understanding of how the invasive spiny water flea impacts the growth of walleye and also accumulation of mercury in these important fish that we love to eat.  

Ben will deliver a presentation at the Forum titled "Impacts of Invasive Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes cederstroemi) on Mercury Accumulation in Northern Ontario Walleye".

Read more: Battigelli Award - 2023 Recipient Ben Wood

• Todd Sellers, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
• Jesse Anderson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Mike Kennedy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Andrew Paterson, Ontario Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks
• Lucas King, Territorial Planning Unit, Grand Council Treaty 3
• Kayla Bowe, Red Lake Department of Natural Resources
• Ryan Maki, Voyageurs National Park
• Kelly Sjerven, Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus
• Diana Fred, Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Matt Julius, Minnesota St. Cloud State University
• Kelli Saunders
• Teika Newton, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Limited travel support may be available to assist postgraduate students to present their research at the Forum, from the Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund at the Foundation.  Support is typically offered for up to one student per year.  To receive support through the fund, a candidate's research abstracts must be accepted for presentation at the Forum.  To apply, contact Todd Sellers, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Battigelli family established the Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund at LOWWSF to honour Deborah’s love of life at the lake and her interest to preserve the lake area for future generations to continue to enjoy what she loved.  The Fund assists the up-and-coming generation of scientists with their research on our lakes with limited travel support to present their research at the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.

Read more: Deborah Battigelli Memorial Fund - Student Support