AIS Risk Assessment for Rainy – Lake of the Woods Watershed: Phase I, Coarse Filter

The Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin is a popular tourist destination, close to several large water systems, and there is a lack of consistent aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention efforts across jurisdictions, which leaves it vulnerable to introduction of non-native aquatic biota and range spread of those already introduced. This project initiates a broad-scale qualitative assessment of the relative AIS to the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Basin (the Basin) and results in a binational list of AIS of concern to local waters, identify gaps in knowledge, and highlight areas in need of risk-prevention focus. The project approach supports consistent, multi-jurisdictional and binational efforts on AIS for the entire watershed, with federal, state, and provincial involvement to provide an appropriate foundation for watershed scale AIS prevention efforts.