2023 Announcement:

Mike Hirst, Resource Conservationist with the Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District is the 2023 recipient of the Kallemeyn Award, recognizing his outstanding professional achievements and contributions to collaborative research and resource management in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin.

The Kallemeyn Award was presented to Mike by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation on behalf of the researchers and resource managers from the United States and Canada attending the 2023 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum in International Falls, MN.

The 2023 Kallemeyn Award was presented on the evening of March 8, 2023 at the Foundation Reception during the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, in International Falls, Minnesota.  

Read the full 2023 Kallemeyn Award announcement

The Kallemeyn Award is presented annually by the Foundation to an individual who has demonstrated in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed:

• Outstanding professional achievement in scientific research or resource management.
• Significant contributions to collaborative and cooperative approaches to research or resource management internationally.

Read more: Kallemeyn Award

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

Proceedings Reports of the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum are available from 2006 onward, here:  Forum Proceedings