Press Release
More than 150 researchers and resource managers will attend the 13th-annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, which will be held March 9-10 at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.
This record attendance flows from heightened interest in solving the problems of Lake of the Woods, including nutrient pollution and toxic blooms of blue-green algae, invasive species, monitoring gaps, and impacts of climate change.
A keynote session on climate change impacts on our lake—past and future—will be led by Dr. Brian Cumming of Queen’s University and Drs. Richard Kiesling and Erik Smith of the U.S. Geological Survey.
In addition, this year’s forum will focus on priority issues of the IJC’s Lake of the Woods Basin Water Quality Plan of Study, as well as the review of water level regulation for Rainy and Namakan Lakes by the International Rainy and Namakan Lakes Study Board.
The latter released its study strategy on Feb. 25.
Thirty-four oral and poster presentations will be featured during the day-and-a-half event.
Highlighted at the forum program will be results from studies:
•assessing climate change impacts on lakes, including on thermoclines, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient availability in Lake of the Woods;
•aimed at understanding blue-green algae blooms and toxins;
•investigating the role of habitat and water levels on wild rice production;
•updating progress of Minnesota’s phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load Study for Lake of the Woods; and
•assessing impacts and best strategies for water level regulation on Rainy and Namakan Lakes.
The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation also will present the Larry Kallemeyn Award and the Gerry Wilson Stewardship Award on March 9.
The Kallemeyn Award recognizes outstanding professional achievement of a scientist or resource manager.
The Wilson Stewardship Award, meanwhile, recognizes outstanding achievements of individuals, groups, or projects that have made a significant contribution to environmental stewardship.
The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is hosted by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, in partnership with natural resource agencies around the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed.
