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The Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario received $4 million in federal funding to continue research at the one-of-a-kind outdoor laboratory.
The funding is coming out of the federal budget commitment of $197.1 million for ocean and freshwater science. Kenora MP Bob Nault made the announcement on Aug. 1.
Officially known as the International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), the freshwater facility, located between Kenora and Dryden, consists of 58 lakes that are set aside for scientific research.
Scientists can undertake real-world experiments on small lakes to improve the understanding of human impacts on the environment.
The funding is specifically earmarked for the Long-Term Ecological Research program, which monitors a range of indicators that help to identify long-term trends and ecological changes of fisheries health and productivity in Canadian boreal lakes.
"This is the fiftieth year of IISD Experimental Lakes Area—Canada's incredible gift to the world's freshwater research," said Experimental Lakes executive director Matthew McCandless in a news release.
"Now that we have an unparalleled half-a-century of data on a wide range of indicators of freshwater health, we are dedicated to sharing that data openly, to ensure it makes the greatest possible impact."
"We are lucky to have this world-renowned facility in our own backyard, here in the Kenora riding," said Nault.
"The research coming out of the IISD-ELA is used to develop and shape freshwater policies both here at home and abroad."
