Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods (French: Lac des Bois) is a lake occupying parts of the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the state of Minnesota. It separates some land in Minnesota, the Northwest Angle, from the rest of the United States so it can be reached from the rest of Minnesota only by crossing the lake or going through Canada. The Northwest Angle is the northernmost part of the U.S. outside Alaska.

Governance

As an international body of water, the lake's water levels are regulated and controlled by the International Lake of the Woods Control Board, part of the International Joint Commission. As early as 1912 water levels were a matter of concern. The governments of Ontario and Canada formed a board of control in 1919. A treaty between Canada and the United States, known as the Lake of the Woods Convention and Protocol, was signed in 1925 and established elevation and discharge requirements for regulating Lake of the Woods based on the IJC recommendations. The joint Canada-Ontario Board of Control continued to exist and retains responsibility for regulating normal water levels (maximum 1061¼ ft or 323.47 metres, minimum 1056 ft or 321.87 metres). Only when water levels exceed these levels are they referred to the international board which consists of two engineers, one Canadian, one American.

Related Topics:
International Lake of the Woods Control Board - International Joint Commission - Ontario - Canada

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