The Fourth Annual International Lake of the Woods Water Quality Forum last week offered a place for researchers from Canada and the United States involved in projects on the watershed to share information. That's what Todd J. Sellers, executive director of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, of Kenora, sees as one of the values of the annual forum conducted Wednesday and Thursday at Rainy River Community College. About 90 researchers with federal, state and provincial agencies from Canada and the U.S. attended the conference.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," a Chinese proverb advises.
Kenora and area residents concerned about Lake of the Woods water quality and ecology took their first steps towards developing a comprehensive sustainability plan for the lake during the Think Green Forum in Kenora on Saturday.  Participants identified the need to develop better communications and partnership strategies to help concerned individuals and groups work together to achieve their common goals of water quality, healthy fisheries and quality of life persists on the lake. Future education and promotion initiatives will direct the group's sustainability message to involve students, residents, environmentalists, politicians, First Nations and stakeholders committed to the long-term health of the watershed.

"We're not in a crisis situation but it's critically important we sustain the high quality of the lake so that the qualities we enjoy today can be sustained into the future," said Todd Sellers, executive director of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation.