IISD Experimental Lakes Area

The IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is a natural laboratory in northwestern Ontario, Canada, consisting of 58 small lakes and their watersheds used for whole-ecosystem scientific research. Operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the facility conducts experiments to inform environmental policies and regulations regarding climate change, pollutants, and water management.

• The IISD-ELA provides a unique environment for whole-ecosystem experiments, which the document claims are often more accurate than smaller-scale laboratory research. The facility consists of 58 small lakes and their watersheds located in northwestern Ontario, Canada.
• Research at the IISD-ELA identified phosphorus as the primary driver of algal blooms, which led to global policy changes restricting phosphorus entry into rivers and lakes. Current research focuses on the preconditions for harmful algal blooms, their impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential role of iron.
• The facility conducts research on the impacts of various pollutants on freshwater ecosystems, including: - Oil spills: Recreating spills to study the behavior of diluted bitumen and determine cleaning methods. - Plastics: A proposed whole-lake experiment to monitor the impact of microplastics on the food web. - Pharmaceuticals: Research on synthetic estrogen showed male fish producing eggs in their testes; future studies will target cannabis and anti-psychotic drugs.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). IISD Experimental Lakes Area. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-ela-brochure.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. IISD Experimental Lakes Area. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-ela-brochure.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=IISD Experimental Lakes Area |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-ela-brochure.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndiisd, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{IISD Experimental Lakes Area}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd-ela-brochure.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }