• Boater on Lake of the Woods - Kenora, ON

    International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board to Hold August Public Meeting in Kenora, Ontario

    Read more and register
  • Boater on Lake of the Woods - Kenora, ON

    International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board to Hold August Public Meeting in Kenora, Ontario

    Read more and register
  • A photo of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin.

    Board releases 2023 Annual Report

    Please click here for the Board's 2023 Annual Report.

    2023 Annual Report
  • A photo of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin.

    Board releases 2023 Annual Report

    Please click here for the Board's 2023 Annual Report.

    2023 Annual Report
  • lake of the woods minnesota

    Water Level Notice - May 21 Storm System

    A storm system has developed to the south of the Rainy River basin and is expected to bring heavy rainfall. Rainy and Namakan Lake levels are predicted to rise above their rule curves. The Water Levels Committee is taking action to manage anticipated high inflows while considering impacts across the basin.  

    Notices

International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (the Board) was created in January 2013, from an amalgamation of the International Rainy Lake Board of Control and the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board, with added water quality responsibilities for the broader Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed. The Board was formed to assist with binational coordination of water quality efforts for the entire transboundary watershed and to ensure compliance with the Commission’s Order on the regulation of water levels on Rainy Lake and the Namakan Reservoir.
 

About the Board

Roles and responsibilities in the basin

Water levels in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed are managed binationally by multiple entities in the US and Canada.

Find out who does what

High water forecast information

Latest flood forecasts and guidance, updated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

 Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry Floods page

 U.S. National Weather Service Rainy River Basin page

Latest News Releases

News Release
Date
May 19, 2023
Higher than normal stream flow conditions continue in the headwaters of the Rainy River watershed due to the high spring snowmelt runoff in the eastern headwaters working its way through the Rainy River basin, including flows into the Namakan Chain of Lakes and Rainy Lake. The Water Levels Committee...
News Release
Date
May 5, 2022
Extremely high flow conditions have developed across the Rainy River watershed, including flows into Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, following record high precipitation in April. These high flow conditions have led to the water levels of Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake rising above their respective Rule...
News Release
Date
March 10, 2021
In accordance with the 2018 Supplementary Order, the Water Levels Committee of the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board has determined that the standard rule curve will be used this spring to direct the operation of the dam at the outlet of Rainy Lake.
News Release
Date
September 3, 2020
The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board invites you to attend a virtual meeting with the Board on October 2nd, 2020 at 12:45pm Central Time.

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