Leading water quality and fisheries scientists from the United States and Canada will present results of their research at the 6th International Lake of the Woods Water Quality Forum Wednesday and Thursday at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.  Approximately 80 scientists and natural resource managers from the United States and Canada will attend this international event, which is the primary scientific conference for researchers and resource managers studying the water quality and fisheries of the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River watershed.

This year's conference themes focus on nutrients and blue-green algae blooms, aquatic invasive species, impacts of lake level regulation, and historical changes in water quality.

A special emerging issues session will focus on international cordination for Lake of the Woods, which is a massive (3,846 sq. km; 1,485 sq. mi) lake spanning the borders of Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota. Keynote presentations will be given by Gaylen Reetz, director of pollution control with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and Franca Dignem, northern region director with the Ontario Ministry of Environment.

International attention is being focused on the lake to address concerns about nutrient over enrichment of Lake of the Woods and also Lake Winnipeg to which the waters of Lake of the Woods flow.

The State of the Basin Report for Lake of the Woods and Rainy River Basin will be released at the water quality forum on Wednesday. This 140-page report is a synthesis of what is known about the water quality and ecology of Lake of the Woods and provides the baseline for assessing future changes and the effectiveness of management efforts to sustain and improve the water quality and ecology of the lake.