Newsletter

The following article is from an archived newsletter. See our Shared Waters newsletter.

Board, Associations Focus on Rainy-Lake of the Woods

IJC staff
IJC
Water Matters - Commissioner Morgan presenting at Fort Frances public meeting

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) had a productive summer, holding three public meetings in the watershed and participating in a new Binational Lake Association Network Event. The results will help guide environmental efforts in the basin for years to come.

From Aug. 10-12, the Board and IJC commissioners held public meetings in Kenora and Fort Frances, Ontario, as well as Crane Lake, Minnesota.

The gatherings provided an excellent opportunity for the Board and commissioners to meet with residents and discuss watershed management, the IJC’s upcoming review of 2000 rule curves for Rainy and Namakan lakes, and an ongoing review of June 2014 high water levels.

Following these meetings, on Aug. 13 in International Falls, Minnesota, the IJC and Rainy-Lake of the Woods Board participated in the first-ever Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Binational Lake Association Network Event. This event brought together lake associations in the watershed from both sides of the border, along with several local, state, provincial, and federal organizations from Canada and the U.S. More than 20 organizations were represented.

The participants had a chance to learn about programs and successes and interact with local experts on water quality, aquatic invasive species, member recruitment and more. Keynote speakers included Terry Rees, executive director of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, and Marte Kitson, aquatic invasive species outreach educator for Minnesota Sea Grant.

At the conclusion, participants identified a wide set of common priorities for the watershed, from interest in water quality monitoring to improved management and outreach efforts. Participants also agreed on the importance of information sharing.

The idea for the networking event originated in 2014, during an annual meeting of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) to the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Board. The concept of developing a contact list of lake associations in the basin was discussed and evolved into the planning of an event to allow members to meet each other, learn about agency resources and share success stories.

The networking event also fell under the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation’s (LOWWSF) International Watershed Coordination Program, which encourages participation in watershed stewardship from a wide range of government, non-governmental groups, associations and individuals.

“It’s important for those who live on our waterfronts, some for generations, to have the opportunity to share their knowledge and work together protecting the lakes and rivers in this shared watershed,” said Kelli Saunders, the Foundation’s international watershed coordinator. “We believe that individuals and lake associations all play a role in the overall effort and hope this new networking event will be the start of future collaboration.”

Kelli Saunders speaks at the networking event.
Kelli Saunders speaks at the networking event.

Top priorities identified during the networking sessions included improving water quality, maintaining septic systems, understanding water levels control, preventing the spread of invasive species and monitoring and understanding impacts of mining.

Plans to address these priorities include improving monitoring, tree planting, education, youth outreach, membership drives, and coordination with government groups.  

State and local government groups agreed to improve their information sharing through encouraging access to websites, newsletters and water levels data. Lake associations agreed to share recruitment ideas, and stewardship successes and challenges.

Canadian IJC Commissioner Richard Morgan speaks at the Fort Frances, Ontario, public meeting.
Canadian IJC Commissioner Richard Morgan speaks at the Fort Frances, Ontario, public meeting.

 

IJC staff
IJC

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