The Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum –
a meeting of all the minds in our basin.
Since 2004, the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum has been a strategic incubator for cross-border research, management collaboration, networking and communication.
The Foundation leads a partnership of agencies to organize the Forum each year. Attended each year by upwards of 160 research and resource managers, the Forum is the "hub" for all groups working to ensure the future ecological integrity of the waters of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin.
Location: Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus, International Falls, MN.
Date: March 6–7, 2024
Overview: Professional symposium for research and resource managers, policy makers and the public interested in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed.
Themes: Climate change, nutrients and algae; paeleolimnology, aquatic invasive species; sediment studies; hydrology, fisheries, emerging technologies and more...
We are also planning a focus session on water quality objectives, alerts, and core monitoring needs.
Abstract Deadline: December 15, 2023. Please submit the following to
- Presenter Information: Name, Research Organization or Agency, Mailing Address, Telephone, Email, Brief Bio.
- Submittal Information: Author(s), Presentation or Poster, Title, Abstract, Location of study (i.e., lake name, river name, or GPS coordinate etc.
Registration will open January 4, 2024 — But for now, save the date and get your abstracts in early!
Conference details: more details will be coming soon this fall at the Foundation's website www.lowwsf.com/watershed-forum.
International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum
March 6–7, 2024, Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus, International Falls, MN.
Abstract deadline: December 15, 2023 see: Abstract Submission
Where to stay: AmericInn, International Falls. Group rate: $98 USD per night plus tax (reserve by February 24). For researvation details see: Where to Stay
Registration: Registration opesn January 4, 2024. Registration details, including cost will be available later this fall.
More Info? At the Foundation's website: www.lowwsf.com/watershed-forum
Nominations are now open for the:
- 2024 Kallemeyn Award recognizing professional achievement in research or resource management
- 2024 Wilson Stewardship Award, recognizing environmental stewardship
Nominations for both awards close December 15, 2023 - please get your nominations in early! Award presentation will be at the 2024 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, March 6–7, in International Falls, MN
Registration will open January 4, 2024. Registration details, including cost will be available later this fall.
The Forum returns to the Minnesota North College (March 6-7, 2024). Please note that the Foundation reception and dinner 6 pm on March 6 will be at Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake (about 13 miles east of the College, map here
Registration cutoff deadline is February 25
This is a hard-stop as we must have catering numbers locked in by then!
The new AmericInn Inn
2500 Keenan Drive, International Falls MN MN (just 1 block west of the Community College site of the Forum)
Group rate: $98.00 USD per night plus taxes.
Group cutoff: February 4, 2024 rooms not reserved by then will fall out of the block and will no longer be available for the discounted rate
Reservations: I recommend by phone (1-218-598-8510) direct to the property and quote the group code Water Conference. (No central 800# booking for group rate).
(Web booking is possible at https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham-rewards and quote a the web-specific group code 030424WAT -- but I recommend booking by phone direct to the property 1-218-598-8510)
- Group block rooms are held for arrival on March 4th 2024, with departure on March 8th 2024. These rooms are able to be booked for one, or more nights as you wish.
Cancellation Policy for AmericInn: requires cancellation 24 hours and before 3 pm before the booked date of arrival. Any cancellations after this time will be charged for one night, room and tax charge.
The AmericInn has a limited number of rooms set aside at this rate for our Forum. So...book early to ensure you get a room!
Reservations: 1-218-598-8510 (front desk).
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,
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.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Kallemeyn Award. Nominations will be accepted until December 15, 2023.
To nominate someone, please use the online Kallemeyn Award Nomination Form
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.
The Award will be presented at the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum (March 6-7, 2024) when there’s a deserving recipient as determined by the selection committee.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Wilson Stewardship Award. Nominations will be accepted until December 15, 2023.
To nominate an individual, group, or projects, please use the online Wilson Award Nomination Form
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.
The Award will be presented at the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum (March 6-7, 2024) when there’s a deserving recipient as determined by the selection committee.
The 2024 Forum would not be possible without the support of many organizations:
- Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
- Grand Council Treaty #3
- Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Global Affairs Canada
- Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus
- St. Cloud State University
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Jefferson National Parks Association in cooperation with Voyageurs National Park
- Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
- Rainy Lake Conservancy
- Voyageurs Conservancy
To become a supporter, please contact Todd Sellers,
- 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
- Teika Newton, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
Abstract Deadline: December 15, 2023. Please get your abstracts in early!
Please submit the following to Todd Sellers,
- Presenter Information: Name, Research Organization or Agency, Mailing Address, Telephone, Email, Brief Bio.
- Submittal Information: Title, Author(s), Author(s) agency affiliaion, Abstract, Location of study (i.e., lake name, river name, or GPS coordinate etc.).