In the summer of 2021, the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA) was extremely busy with both long-standing and new stewardship initiatives. They launched a new citizen science program that will help to detect the presence of zebra mussels (Dreissena polyporpha) within Lake of the Woods and surrounding water bodies. Volunteers were given…
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Over 206 volunteers searched a total of 281 accesses on 222 water bodies across Minnesota on Saturday, August 21, 2021 to participate in Starry Trek. Starry Trek is a statewide search for starry stonewort and other aquatic invasive species at public water accesses. The state-wide effort is organized by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research…
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Do you live within the Rainy River Headwaters area? If so, you’ll want to check out the fact that the MPCA has put two important water quality documents on public notice – their Total Maximum Daily Load report and their Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy report. These will be on public notice through October 29th,…
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Throughout May and June 2021, there was messaging on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to help spread the word about preventing movement of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed. This was a partnership initiative of the International Multi-Agency Arrangement’s AIS subcommittee, made up of specialists from Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba. The…
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Spiny waterfleas are small aquatic predators native to Eurasia. The first report of spiny waterfleas in North America was in Lake Ontario in 1982 and was introduced to the Great Lakes in ballast water from ocean-going ships. “Spiny” is a species of zooplankton – small animals that rely on water currents and wind to move…
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This year’s annual workshop was a true testament to how we can adapt our engagement for the collective efforts on stewardship. On March 31st, 2021, 38 people came together on Zoom and worked together, with our two presenters, to discuss the most effective ways to engage citizens in science and stewardship. The lessons learned came…
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The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a non-profit organization that works to protect natural areas through securing properties and managing them for the long term, ensuring their ecological integrity. NCC is partnering with the City of Kenora, local residents, cottagers and campers to protect 82 hectares (202 acres) on Town Island, at the north…
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Early in 2021, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) held public engagements on its proposed ecosystem objectives and potential phosphorus reduction targets to tackle the algae bloom problem on Lake of the Woods. The Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation organized a series of town-hall style webinars to provide opportunities for the public to…
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Located in International Falls, MN, Koochiching Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) strives to serve the public when it comes to natural resources education. It is, in fact, in our mission statement! “The mission of the Koochiching SWCD is to conserve and protect the soil and water resources by educating and assisting land users in…
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The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), Canada’s largest private land conservation organization, has been conserving important natural spaces since 1962. NCC’s conservation work is focused in Natural Areas and is guided by what are known as Natural Area Conservation Plans (NACP). The Rainy River to Lake of the Woods NACP was recently updated and will…
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