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.
The
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2023 Program & Abstracts
(641 KB)
for the 2023 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is now available.
A
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Speaker Schedule Quickview
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for the two day event is also available.
March 8, the Forum starts at 11:45 am CST with the kick off lunch followed by symposium sessions starting at 1:00 pm through to 4:40 pm.
Please note that the Foundation recepton and dinner 6 pm on March 8 will be at Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake.
March 9, symposium sessions start at 8:30 am and end at 4:45 pm.
Registration cutoff deadline is February 24 — this is a hard-stop as we must have catering numbers locked in by then!
If you plan to attend and have not registered already, you must register by February 24! Register Now
2023 Announcement:
Mike Hirst, Resource Conservationist with the Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District is the 2023 recipient of the Kallemeyn Award, recognizing his outstanding professional achievements and contributions to collaborative research and resource management in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin.
The Kallemeyn Award was presented to Mike by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation on behalf of the researchers and resource managers from the United States and Canada attending the 2023 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum in International Falls, MN.
The 2023 Kallemeyn Award was presented on the evening of March 8, 2023 at the Foundation Reception during the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, in International Falls, Minnesota.
Read the full 2023 Kallemeyn Award announcement
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 2023 Forum would not be possible without the support of many organizations:
- Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
- Grand Council Treaty #3
- St. Cloud State University
- International Joint Commission
- Jefferson National Parks Association in cooperation with Voyageurs National Park
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Consulate General of Canada - Minneapolis, Global Affairs Canada
- Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
- Rainy Lake Property Owners Association
- Dorset Environmental Science Centre
- Minnesota North College - Rainy River campus
- Rainy Lake Conservancy
To become a sponsor, please contact Todd Sellers, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or toll free 886-370-8891.
Kaela Natwora, PhD. candidate at the University of Minnesota Duluth Large Lakes Observatory, is a recipient of the 2023 Deborah Battigelli Memorial Award. Presented by the Foundation, on behalf of the Battigelli family, this Award provides financial assistance to graduate students to present their research at the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.
Kaela's research is improving our understanding of how nutrients, specifically atmospheric nitrogen promotes and sustains cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) and potentially fuels toxin production in the south basin of Lake of the Woods.
Kaela will deliver a presentation at the Forum titled "Nitrogen fixation may offset nitrogen demands in Lake of the Woods cHABs, and molecular techniques reveal species responsible for toxin production".
James Benjamin (Ben) Wood, MSc. candidate at Lakehead University, is a recipient of the 2023 Deborah Battigelli Memorial Award. Presented by the Foundation, on behalf of the Battigelli family, this Award provides financial assistance to graduate students to present their research at the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum.
Ben's research is improving our understanding of how the invasive spiny water flea impacts the growth of walleye and also accumulation of mercury in these important fish that we love to eat.
Ben will deliver a presentation at the Forum titled "Impacts of Invasive Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes cederstroemi) on Mercury Accumulation in Northern Ontario Walleye".
- 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
- Kelli Saunders
- Teika Newton, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation