Facilities

While the research lakes and their watersheds are the true laboratories of the IISD Experimental Lakes Area, the field station provides on-site living and working facilities and support for researchers.

It is an essential nerve centre for IISD-ELA operations. Consisting of laboratories, a workshop, kitchen and dining hall, dormitories and living quarters, it is a self-contained community for up to 60 research personnel. The following information outlines how IISD-ELA is built to generate scientifically defensible data used to effect policy change.

Food Services

Meals are provided in Hungry Hall by the food services team from Monday-Friday throughout the open water season. The kitchen facility is a 3,000 square foot dining room and lounge area that seats up to 60 diners. Visitors who stay through the weekend or in winter must prepare their own meals with available food and leftovers provided in Hungry Hall. Dietary requirements and food allergies must be provided to the Operations Manager in advance of arriving at the IISD-ELA facility. Food preferences are not considered to be dietary requirements. The food services team undertakes great effort in the planning and preparation of wholesome, healthy and diverse food styles that will appeal to the various interests of staff, students and researchers at the IISD-ELA facility.

Meal times

1. Breakfast 7:00-8:00
2. Lunch 12:00-1:00
3. Dinner 5:30-6:30

Chemistry Lab

The chemistry laboratory offers 6,800 square feet of lab space with a centrally distributed purified water system piped to dedicated faucets in each lab. A Millipore Elix 20 was installed in 2015 to deliver RO Type 2 ultra pure water for general lab use at each sink. Further polishing is performed for delivery of Milli-Q ultra pure Type 1 reagent grade water at a single station. Compressed air and vacuum pump fittings are delivered to all benchtops for cleaning and filtration purposes.

Lab space is assigned to visiting researchers according to research needs and availability. Visiting researchers are encouraged to use the services of the onsite lab.

Fish Lab

The IISD-ELA fish lab is the newest building on site. Built in 2010 and opened in 2011, the fish research team had significant input into the design and features of the lab; the result of this collaboration is a large building perfectly suited to fisheries research. The lab houses the core IISD-ELA fish research team (two biologists, plus research assistants), and has desk space to accommodate up to six additional researchers/graduate students. A very large steel table takes up the middle of the lab and is ideal for dissections and other bench work. It includes two built-in sinks and a snorkel fume hood system. A large mud room area with a floor drain keeps the mess from field equipment and clothing in one location. Outside, the lab features a covered, wrap-around deck with a steel table and sink with running water, a long garden hose and hooks for hanging up wet gear/nets. A certain amount of storage space is available for use by external researchers on large shelves in the lab storage room, which also features a garage-style door for transfer of large items. Although some of the equipment in the fish lab is for IISD-ELA use only, some of the basic items used in fisheries research may be available for use by external researchers. These include measuring boards, scales (up to 12 kg), tubs/buckets, rain suits, PFDs/life jackets and tools. Visiting researchers should inquire about equipment availability prior to arriving at IISD-ELA.

Transportation

All active research lakes are equipped with motorboats and boat landings. Users must possess a Pleasure Craft Operators Card to drive motorboats.

ATVs are available for use to access remote research lakes. Users must possess a valid ATV training certificate to use the camp ATVs. An ATV training course is available at the IISD-ELA facility. Please contact the Operations Manager for available time and pricing.

Shuttle vans for transport of supplies and staff are available on weekly basis from Winnipeg and Kenora to IISD-ELA. Please contact the Roger Mollot, Operations Manager at [email protected] or 204-229-4755 for current schedule.

Seminar Series

Hungry Hall currently serves as the conference and seminar room at IISD-ELA. Throughout the open water season, a weekly seminar series is organized with presentations from IISD-ELA scientists, graduate students and visiting researchers. All visitors to the facility are encouraged to prepare a seminar for presentation to the research community on site.

Power Generation

The IISD-ELA research facility is located in a remote and pristine area of Northwestern Ontario, at the end of a private-access 30 km gravel road. There is no connection to the main power grid of Ontario. All energy needs of the camp are provided by a set of diesel generators and propane storage. It is part of the strategic plan for future facility upgrades to include the use of renewable energy technologies that will allow a shift in power generation away from reliance on diesel and propane.

Machine Shop

A 3,500 square foot workshop is available for year-round maintenance of trucks, outboard motors, ATVs, snowmobiles and road maintenance equipment. The workshop is heated using waste heat from the diesel generators that power the facility. In addition to vehicle maintenance, the shop has welding and carpentry tools for the maintenance and design of field equipment.

Laundry

Laundry facilities are included in the per diem cost for all researchers visiting the facility. The laundry room includes four washers and three dryers. All visitors are encouraged to save propane by making use of the multiple clothes lines in various locations throughout camp.