Foam Lake (SK065)

Foam Lake (SK065)

Foam Lake, Saskatchewan

Description du site

Foam Lake Marsh is located seven kilometers northwest of the Town of Foam Lake, in the Aspen Parkland Ecoregion of Saskatchewan. Most of the area surrounding the lake has been cultivated for cereal grain agriculture. Aspen bluffs are plentiful in the area, especially along the northeast shore of the lake. The Foam Lake Marsh itself is a 4,000 acre wetland complex that has been protected through the co-operative efforts of Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, and local landowners. Water levels at the lake and sub basins are controlled by a total of 9 dams and the lands adjacent to the marsh purchased by DUC and managed for nesting cover. It is dedicated as a Saskatchewan Heritage Marsh and is recognized as one of the finest waterfowl marshes in western Canada and one of the five most important wetlands in Saskatchewan. Prior to 1980, several attempts were made by agricultural producers to drain the marsh to improve hay crops and increase cultivation. Following years of negotiations the marsh was restored and DUC reseeded 1,300 acres of cultivated agricultural lands back to nesting cover. A condition of the marsh restoration was the development of lure crops and a feeding station to prevent waterfowl damage to unharvested croplands in the fall. These sites are operated by Saskatchewan Crop Insurance. The private lands surrounding the lake, while dotted with small potholes, are primarily cultivated for cereal grain production. The upland vegetation is dominated by native wheatgrasses and fescues with scattered bluffs of snowberry, willow, and trembling aspen. Aquatic vegetation consists of cattail, hardstem bulrush, water milfoil and pondweed. Ducks number in the tens of thousands, while Canad Geese and Sandhill Cranes number in the thousands, and Snow Geese number in the hundreds of thousands. Other noteworthy birds include migrating endangered species such as Peregrine Falcon. Other wetland birds include American Coot, Black-crowned Night-heron, American Bittern, Sora, American White Pelican, Black Tern, Common Tern, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Blue Heron, and Franklin's Gull.

Oiseaux

In fall, Foam Lake is a site of national importance for staging Sandhill Cranes and waterfowl. In 1994, a one-day count found 2,445 Sandhill Cranes and a total of 14,190 waterfowl. The waterfowl count included 4,150 Snow Geese, 1,290 Canada Geese and 8,750 ducks. Additionally, older records note that over 20,000 waterfowl have been seen here. Surveys in the early 1970s found over 140 bird species at the lake in summer. Of these, ducks, coots, Eared Grebes, terns and blackbirds were most numerous. During low water years, such as 1999 and 2000, peep (Calidris sandpipers) use the marsh during spring and fall migration. As many as 5,000 peeps have been observed at Foam Lake in a single day.

Enjeux de conservation

The Foam Lake Marsh's main supply of water is via Milligan Creek, which flows in from the south and exits from the north to the Quill Lakes. While the lake itself and the surrounding uplands are protected and managed by DUC, threats to the lake include the contamination from agricultural pesticides and fertilizers. Threats to the lands surrounding the lake include over-grazing, contamination from agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, and clearing and cultivation of native upland vegetation. The main threat to the lake and surrounding area is agricultural drainage and flooding due to wetland drainage. Increasing land values and high agricultural commodity prices in recent years have provided a great deal of incentive to private landowners to drain wetlands and cultivate them. Drainage of wetlands into Milligan Creek causes widespread flooding and high water levels on the lake itself which may take several months to receed. High water levels at the Lake reduce emergent vegetation and thus reduce nesting areas, especially for colonial waterbirds.

Catégories ZICO Habitats Usages Menaces Potencielles ou Existantes Status de Protection

• Bécassin à long bec1 380 (max.)
• Mouette de Franklin8 000 (max.)