Projects funded under the Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative
Fiscal year 2024-2025
Project: Developing a Domestic Phosphorus Management Plan for Lake of the Woods
Proponent: Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation
Government of Canada Funding: $395,000 over three years
Project Description: This project will develop a collaborative phosphorus management plan for the Canadian portions of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods basins to identify phosphorus sources and actions to reduce loads.
Project: Targeting non-point sources of nutrient delivery in the Lower Rainy River basin
Proponent: Trent University
Government of Canada Funding: $380,800 over three years
Project Description: This project will assess how farming practices affect phosphorus and sediment delivery in the Lower Rainy River basin. The project will demonstrate and evaluate easy-to-deploy best management practices and study how legacy phosphorus in river sediment may be released. The project will also look at the role of nitrogen and carbon and how they might influence the development of algal blooms.
Project: Engaging the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community on Taking Action on Phosphorus in the Lake of the Woods Basin
Proponent: Métis Nation of Ontario
Government of Canada Funding: $24,150 over one year
Project Description: This project will continue engagement with the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community to foster collaboration, participation and capacity building on phosphorus reduction actions and nutrient and algae science in the Lake of the Woods Basin.
Project: Grand Council Treaty #3 Capacity Building on Lake of the Woods
Proponent: Grand Council Treaty #3
Government of Canada Funding: $450,000 over 4 years
Project Description: This project will build Grand Council Treaty #3 ability to participate in collaborative processes and actions to reduce phosphorus, as well as coordinating community engagement on nutrients and algal blooms in Lake of the Woods. It also focuses on implementing approaches and cultural practices that demonstrate local leadership in freshwater stewardship, monitoring and protection.