Lake of the Woods overview
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Overview
Lake of the Woods is a large lake shared between Canada and the United States that spans the borders of Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba within the Lake Winnipeg drainage basin. The lake is an important natural and economic resource and supports a significant sport fishery and tourism sector in northwestern Ontario. The Lake of the Woods region is also culturally significant to the many Indigenous Peoples living in the basin who depend on its resources.
Map highlighting the Canadian portion of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods drainage basin
An inset map shows the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed’s location along the Canada-United States border, spanning parts of Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota. In Canada, the labelled sub-watersheds are Shoal Lake, Lake of the Woods, Rainy River, Lower Rainy, Rainy Lake, Big Turtle River and Rainy Headwaters. The communities of Kenora, Emo, Fort Frances, Atikokan and Sioux Narrows are also marked.
Key issues
Since the 1980s, the lake has experienced a sharp increase in harmful algae blooms (HABs), which can cover much of the lake’s surface. HABs threaten drinking water quality, negatively impact recreational activities and degrade fish and wildlife habitat. These blooms are primarily caused by excess phosphorus, which enters Lake of the Woods from a number of sources, including the Rainy River.
Goals and priorities
Through the Freshwater Action Plan, we are working with partners to take action to address harmful algal blooms in the Lake of the Woods through continued monitoring and reduction of nutrient pollution to protect aquatic ecosystem health.
Funding opportunities
The application submission period is now closed.
The Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (Lake of the Woods FEI) is focused on the most pressing challenge affecting water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in this basin: preventing toxic and nuisance algae.
To assist in achieving this goal, Canada Water Agency (CWA) made Funding for protecting Lake of the Woods available to support action by others to prevent toxic and nuisance algae:
- by increasing participation in the application of phosphorus load reduction measures
- promoting broad uptake and application
- demonstrating new and innovative approaches
- developing collaborative plans to support targeted action, and
- filling knowledge and data gaps.