Feds announce funding to protect Lake of the Woods water quality

Lake of the Woods in an undated photo uploaded on Feb. 24, 2025. (Canada Water Agency)

The federal government is providing multi-year funding to help protect the water quality in Lake of the Woods.

On Monday, PrairiesCan Minister Terry Duguid announced more than $1.2 million will be split between four projects through the Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. The money will be used to help reduce phosphorus levels, study algae blooms and nutrient interactions, and improve community engagement in and around the freshwater lake.

“We’re making important investments to protect Lake of the Woods, tackle harmful algae, and preserve this essential ecosystem,” Duguid said in a release. “By working with Indigenous leaders and local communities, we’re safeguarding a lake that is vital to tourism, the local economy, and the people who rely on it.”

The freshwater lake stretches across parts of southeastern Manitoba, as well as northwestern Ontario and northern Minnesota.

The four projects receiving funding are the Grand Council Treaty #3, the Lake of the Woods Sustainability Foundation, the Metis Nation of Ontario, and Trent University.

Monday’s funding announcement is part of Ottawa’s Freshwater Action Plan to protect and restore freshwater bodies across the country.