Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan - Ramsar Site

Overview (Principal Characteristics):

The National Wildlife Area (NWA) and Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS) are situated at the northern end of Last Mountain Lake and are comprised of shallow marshy bays and inlets separated by points and numerous islands. The surrounding uplands contain potholes and other fresh and saline wetlands, some with water levels held artificially high by low dams.

Reasons for Ramsar Designation:

Last Mountain Lake was recognized as a key site under the International Biological Program in the 1970s. The area is an important breeding and staging area for waterfowl and large numbers of other migratory birds.

Date of Ramsar Designation:

24 May 1982

Jurisdiction:

Federal - Environment Canada

Land Tenure:

• Site:

  The area is owned by the Government of Canada.

• Surrounding Area:

  Private land and provincial Crown land.

Conservation Measures Taken:

The area was first set aside in 1887 as a federal sanctuary for birds and has been administered as a National Wildlife Area since 1994. The area is protected under the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations which stem from the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the National Wildlife Area Regulations under the Canada Wildlife Act. Last Mountain Lake was recognized as a key site under the International Biological Program in the 1970s; a Ramsar site in 1982; a National Historic Site in 1990; a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve in 1994, and most recently, designated under the Important Birds Areas Program of Canada.

Conservation Measures Proposed:

Limited land acquisition may occur in the future to increase the size of the area and complete in-filling.

Current Land Use/Activities in:

• Site:

  The area is managed for the conservation of migratory birds, their habitats, and for other wildlife species, and to help reduce crop damage of cereal grain by influencing the local distribution of waterfowl. The site serves as a refuge for waterbirds in drought years. Boating and recreational fishing are permitted with public access restricted in August and September to minimize disturbance of birds feeding on lure crops.

• Surrounding Area:

  Predominantly utilized for agricultural purposes with a mixture of cereal, oil-seed and pulse crops and cattle pasture land.

Threats to Integrity of:

• Site:

  A steady rise in public use in the surrounding area and on Last Mountain Lake is causing increasing disturbance to wildlife, particularly colonial nesting birds in summer. Breeding success of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), and perhaps other birds, has fluctuated, and American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythorhynchos) now breeds here regularly. Natural fluctuations of the lake level have been controlled, thereby reducing the return of nutrients to some marshlands.

  Several species of exotic plants (smooth bromegrass, yellow toadflax, and nodding thistle) have increased in their occurrence on the area in recent years. Carp (Cyprinus carpio), first detected in 1968, have also increased, perhaps at the expense of native fish species such as the bigmouth buffalo fish (Ictiobus cyprinellus) listed as a species of special concern in Canada. Management actions to control the spread of these exotic species are underway.
  

• Surrounding Area:

  Increasing amounts of fertilizers and toxic chemicals from surrounding agricultural land are carried into the area by runoff water.

Status of Management Plan:

A Draft Resource Management Plan for the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area and Migratory Bird Sanctuary was released for review and consultation by Environment Canada in January 1994.

Management Authority:

Canadian Wildlife Service
Prairie and Northern Region
Environment Canada
Twin Atria Bldg., Room 200
4999 - 98th Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T6B 2X3