MN HF353

Lake of the Woods is Minnesota's largest lake and vital to the state's social and economic sustainable development.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency placed Lake of the Woods on Minnesota's section 303(d) list of impaired waters in 2008.

Lake of the Woods is a boundary water under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and regulated by the International Joint Commission under the 1925 Convention and Protocol.

International Joint Commission has monitored Rainy River water quality since 1965 and raised concerns about potentially deteriorating Lake of the Woods water quality to U.S. and Canadian governments.

Minnesota Legislature supports referring the Lake of the Woods water quality question to the International Joint Commission for examination and report, with the Secretary of State directed to transmit copies to the Governor, President, U.S. Department of State, and Minnesota's Congressional delegation.