Aerial view of the Institute for International Sustainable Development...READ ON
Aerial view of the Institute for International Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), known as the world's largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility of its kind. Kenora Canada
Small lakes, big studies: what Ontario’s experimental lakes area teaches the world about water
For over half a century, 58 small, self-contained lakes in Treaty 3 territory have allowed scientists to replicate — and clean up — the effects of oil spills, microplastics and other threats to fresh water
The ability to conduct controlled experiments by lake manipulation and...READ ON
The ability to conduct controlled experiments by lake manipulation and observation has drawn interest from researchers worldwide. The abundance of lakes in this area allows scientists to observe what happens after the introduction of contaminants on lakes at an ecosystem-wide level – measuring effects on everything from surface clarity to the sandy floor – while having a control in the form of a “sister lake” that matches the qualities of the first lake. Kenora Canada
Aerial view of the Institute for International Sustainable Development...READ ON
Aerial view of the Institute for International Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), known as the world's largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility of its kind. Kenora Canada
Aerial view of a wild rice research project to establish sustainable...READ ON
Aerial view of a wild rice research project to establish sustainable practices for co-cultivating fish and wild rice, in partnership with Metis-led biotech company Myera Group, Lakehead University, Eagle Lake First Nation, and two additional First Nations from the Treaty 3 area. Kenora Canada
Solving the problem of algae blooms requires an understanding of how the...READ ON
Solving the problem of algae blooms requires an understanding of how the physical environment links to geochemistry and bloom ecology, and this understanding must exist on the timescale upon which blooms develop and collapse – minutes to hours to weeks. The FORMBLOOM project, led by Dr. Helen Baulch and Dr. Jason Venkiteswaran, looks at what drives bloom onset, duration, and cessation while also looking at the impact blooms have on ecosystem services, in order to understand how to prevent blooms and manage risks. Kenora Canada
A researchers points a finger of the “ELA Field Station” on a map...READ ON
A researchers points a finger of the “ELA Field Station” on a map of the Institute for International Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), known as the world's largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility of its kind. Kenora Canada
Researchers from the long-term monitoring team collecting data for one of the...READ ON
Researchers from the long-term monitoring team collecting data for one of the longest-term freshwater monitoring projects in the world. In the future, the ELA is also exploring how automatic data collection through technology such as artificial intelligence could be incorporated to paint an even more detailed picture of these lakes, with minute-to-minute updates a possibility. Kenora Canada
The top of a bottle filtering algae at the on-site chemistry lab of the...READ ON
The top of a bottle filtering algae at the on-site chemistry lab of the Institute for International Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), known as the world's largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility of its kind. Kenora Canada
Filters from Lake 227, a long-term eutrophication experiment, at the...READ ON
Filters from Lake 227, a long-term eutrophication experiment, at the Institute for International Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), known as the world's largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility of its kind. Lake 227 hosts the longest-running experiment at IISD-ELA in its 53-year history. Kenora Canada
Following the project’s initial study to examine the ecological impacts...READ ON
Following the project’s initial study to examine the ecological impacts of diluted bitumen, a form of petroleum that oil travels through many pipelines, ongoing companion studies led by Dr. Vince Palace are also being conducted to compare the effectiveness of different methods for cleaning up crude oil spills from shorelines. Kenora Canada
In considering alternatives, they’ve also been testing floating...READ ON
In considering alternatives, they’ve also been testing floating treatment wetlands and monitored natural recoveries as a non-invasive method of clean-up, with physical removal of surface oil through manual labour and monitoring a natural increase of oil-degrading bacteria. In testing out controlled burning of an oil slick, they also found that it increased pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), a toxic and environmentally persistent contaminant of concern in crude oil. Kenora Canada
When cleaning up oil from shorelines, sometimes the removal can be just as...READ ON
When cleaning up oil from shorelines, sometimes the removal can be just as damaging as the impact of the oil on the shoreline itself, with soil removal, compaction and moving heavy equipment into remote areas. “When an oil spill happens, when a pipeline ruptures, it happens in an area that likely hasn't been well studied, the system isn't well understood. They go in and they clean it up as best they can. But how can they be positive that they're bringing it back to normal if they don't know what normal was to begin with?” researcher Lauren Timlick poses for a portrait. Kenora Canada
In one of their studies, a surface washing agent (SWA) – Corexit...READ ON
In one of their studies, a surface washing agent (SWA) – Corexit EC9580A – was used to test its effectiveness with sorbent pads and rinsing was deployed 72 hours after contamination to simulate a real oil spill. The pads were then collected in bags and hung overnight to allow trapped water to drain, which were then weighed the next day to calculate the amount of oil recovered from each enclosure. Kenora Canada
“A lot of times in science, we try to simplify things and ask questions...READ ON
“A lot of times in science, we try to simplify things and ask questions in a beaker in a lab — which is very valuable and it provides a lot of information, but there's always that question of what happens in the real world when everything is working together… All the pieces, all the elements, all the living organisms working together,” Institute for International Sustainable Development researcher Jose Luis Rodriguez Gil said. Kenora Canada
Deep in northwestern Ontario is a collection of 58 small, pristine lakes where, for the past half-century, scientists worried about water have gathered to take their laboratory outside. This is the world’s largest outdoor experimental freshwater research facility, allowing scientists to develop invaluable long-term data about the effects of pollutants, clean-up processes, and climate change on a finite resource.
Known as the Institute for International Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area, the 27,000-hectare area is covered in thousands of little lakes set in bedrock and bordered by thick spruce and pine forests. It’s in Treaty 3 territory, and visitors who aren’t from an Indigenous community require a permit to use the lone gravel road that leads up to the water bodies. Together, the experimental lakes tell a story of the challenges facing Canada’s fresh water and provide a glimpse into what solutions might be possible.
Small lakes, big studies: what Ontario’s experimental lakes area teaches the world about water
For over half a century, 58 small, self-contained lakes in Treaty 3 territory have allowed scientists to replicate — and clean up — the effects of oil spills, microplastics and other threats to fresh water
Katherine Cheng is a documentary photographer and videojournalist based between Toronto and Hong Kong, covering breaking news, daily events, and feature stories.