Beaverhill Lake, Alberta - Ramsar Site

Overview (Principal Characteristics): The site comprises 6,070 ha of land and 11,980 ha of water. The lake is located in central Alberta, at the northern edge of the aspen parkland zone.

Reasons for Ramsar Designation: The lake has provincial, national and international importance as a staging, production and migratory area for waterfowl and shorebirds. The number of ducks, geese and swans staging on the lake during spring and fall migration can exceed 200 thousand birds.

Date of Ramsar Designation: 27 May 1987.

Jurisdiction: Provincial - Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

Land Tenure:

• Site: Exposed areas of the lake bed are owned and controlled by the Government of Alberta.

• Surrounding Area: Mainly private land holdings.

Conservation Measures Taken: Designated in 1996 as a Regional Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site. Designated as an IBA (Important Bird Area) by the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada.

Conservation Measures Proposed: None currently.

Current Land Use/Activities in:

• Site: Since the 1930s, much of this Crown land has been leased under a form of agricultural disposition to farmers owning adjacent patented lands. At present, over 90% (5,463 ha) of the land used is under agricultural dispositions, primarily for grazing with haying and cropping and cultivation secondary. The remaining land is essentially disposed to resource development reservations (wildlife habitat, a recreation lease, and natural gas well sites). Habitat enhancement projects were initiated in 1972 by Ducks Unlimited Canada and Alberta Fish and Wildlife. A dam was constructed to provide optimum water levels for resident waterfowl, and nesting islands were constructed.

  In 1973, the lake became a habitat improvement project under the Alberta Fish and Wildlife "Buck for Wildlife" Program. During 1973 meetings were held with local groups and landowners to determine their response to potential habitat protection activities. From 1975 to 1981 a variety of habitat development activities were completed. These included tree planting, food and nest cover plots, pothole blasting, further construction of nesting islands, and fencing to control cattle grazing.

• Surrounding Area: Provincial Crown land.

Threats to Integrity of:

• Site: Drought conditions drastically influence amount of water runoff into the lake and changes in lake level affect the size of the lake. Consequently there is potential for major die-off of waterfowl and other bird species from avian botulism as a result of reduced water levels in hot summer months. Agricultural runoff may affect water quality; and there is limited impact by oil and gas wells activities.

• Surrounding Area: Agricultural activity.

Status of Management Plan: In 1981, the Beaverhill Lake Integrated Resource Plan was prepared by the province. It provides a policy that will guide the preparation and implementation of the local development plan on a disposition unit basis.

Management Authority:

Fish and Wildlife Services
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
South Tower, Petroleum Plaza
9915 - 108th Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5K 2G6