Ask An Expert Series

Ask an Expert is a series of free webinars providing opportunities to learn from and share knowledge with those who study the watershed and work to protect the well-being of our waters and lands.

Join us to learn and ask questions about Lake of the Woods and its Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed including topics of watershed governance, science, traditional knowledge, resource management and much more.

November 13 @ 12:00 p.m. CST: "Nutrient Studies in Rainy River & Lake of the Woods"
Dr. Catherine Eimers (Trent University), Jesse Anderson (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)

November 18 @ 1 p.m. CST: "Exploring the Murky Depths: Bathymetry Studies in Rainy - Lake of the Woods"
Zac Morris & Jordan Vargas (AMI Engineers), Marianne Bachand & Olivier Champoux (Environment and Climate Change Canada)

December 3 @ 1 p.m. CST: "How Rule Curves for Water Levels Management Work"
Megan Garner and Alexandra Lavictoire (Environment & Climate Change Canada), Abby Moore (US Army Corps of Engineers), Phil Talmage (MN Department of Natural Resources), Ryan Maki (Voyageurs National Park)

December 5 @ 1 p.m. CST: "Fish Studies on Rainy Lake"
Benjamin Erb and Dr. Andrew Hafs (Bemidji State University), Dr. Marianne Bachand (ECCC), Phil Talmage (MN Department of Natural Resources), Ryan Maki (Voyageurs National Park)

Ask an Expert is a series of free webinars offering viewers a chance to learn from those who study the watershed and work to protect the well-being of our waters and lands. Join us to learn and ask questions about watershed governance, science, traditional knowledge, resource management and more.

Join us for the final session of 2023 as we look back on the International Watershed Coordination program with Teika Newton, the International Watershed Coordinator and guests!

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September 29, 2025

2025 Ask An Expert Full Series Lineup

The 2025 series of free “Ask An Expert” webinars returns this fall! Please register for sessions of your choice using the links below.

If you have ideas for future topics or speakers, please email us with your suggestions!

October 16 @ 1:00 pm CST: "Understanding Bitumen’s Impact on Freshwater"

Dr. Vince Palace (IISD - Experimental Lakes Area)

October 28 @ 1:00 pm CST: "Microplastics and Freshwater Health: Insights from the pELAstic Project"

Dr.Chelsea Rochman (University of Toronto)

November 4 @ 12:00 pm CST: "Microplastics and Freshwater Health: Lessons from the Great Lakes"

Dr. Karen Kidd (McMaster University), Dr. Eden Hataley (Royal Canadian Military College), Dr. Rebecca Rooney (University of Waterloo)

November 21 @ 1:00 pm CST: "Updates on Aqatic Invasive Species (AIS): Zebra Mussels and Decontamination Practices"

Brendan Spearin (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada), Chris Herc & Michaela Novak (Grand Council Treaty #3 Territorial Planning Unit)

November 25 @ 1:00 pm CST: "A Compelling Story of Successes in Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention"

Doug Jensen (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)

December 2 @ 1:00 pm CST: "Algae and Ice: Exploring the Science and Story"

Dr. Andrew Bramburger (Environment and Climate Change Canada) and Andrew Budziak (Royal Canadian Geographical Society / National Geographic Society Explorer)

Read more …

April 8, 2025

2025 Forum Presentation Recordings Available Now!

Over the two days of the 2025 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, we heard from nearly two dozen presenters. Missed the event or want to refresh your memory on these presentations? Now you can take in most of the talks as video recordings, available on our website at the link below!

video 2025 Watershed Forum

March 7, 2024

2025 Wilson Stewardship Award - Doug Franchot

Doug Franchot was awarded the 2025 Wilson Stewardship Award.

The Wilson Stewardship Award is presented by the Foundation to individuals, groups, or projects that have made significant contributions to environmental stewardship in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed through:

Education, outreach, civic engagement and participation in stewardship initiatives or program development.
Projects or programs focused on protection, restoration, preservation or reduction of environmental impact and development of sustainable practices.

This award is named in honour of its first recipient, Gerry Wilson, in recognition of her contributions to lake stewardship including development of volunteer monitoring programs, civic engagement and education and cooperative approaches between the public, universities and government agencies.

Doug was honoured with this international award in recognition of his exceptional legacy of volunteerism, stewardship, and education across the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed as a founding member of the Heart of the Continent Partnership, the former Chair University of Minnesota / Northeast Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (RSDP) and the Chair of the Koochiching Extension Committee/Koochiching County Board.

Doug has contributed in support of Voyageurs National Park, provided service as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Voyageurs Conservancy and has been a member on the Voyageurs Conservancy Science and Policy Committee.

More recently, Doug’s service and support has been extended to the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board where he serves as a member, a committee member, and the Community Advisory Group co-chair. Doug was commended for his broad knowledge of the issues facing our watershed, as a valuable resource for stewardship, governance, and public education in our watershed, and for his excellence in connecting partners, advocates, visitors, and volunteers throughout the Rainy-LOW watershed to make our region a better place.

For more information about the Wilson Stewardship Award see: www.lowwsf.com/wilson-award.