Miquelon Lake (11026)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Miquelon Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.2500, Longitude: -112.9305
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 765 to 800
Area of KBA (km2): 30.37812
Protected area coverage (%): 38.74
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Miquelon Lake is located 11 km east-northeast of the town of Hay Lakes and 20 km north of the city of Camrose. There is well developed road access, especially at the southern and eastern sides where Miquelon Lake Provincial Park is located. Collectively known as Miquelon Lake, the lake consists of three separate lake basins that are not likely to form a single large basin again in the future. The lakes are shallow and saline, with maximum depths of 6 m, extensive emergent vegetation, and exposed mudflats. The surrounding lands include upland aspen habitats, a golf course in the northeastern corner of the lake, and a correctional institution and sewage ponds in the southeastern portions. The terrain is rolling and is underlain by the Horseshoe Canyon Formation, consisting mostly of sandstone, mudstone, shale and ironstone.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Two gull species breed at Miquelon Lake in significant numbers. Almost 2,000 California Gull nests were recently counted at the lake (1% of the global population). Ring-billed Gulls breed in even larger numbers, with 9,925 nests, which is just over 1% of the national population. In 1976, both species bred in similar numbers, with 1,848 nests of California and 10,087 nests of Ring-billed being recorded. Another species of note is the Piping Plover, which is nationally endangered. Although one bird was recorded in 1996, none were recorded throughout most of the 1990s. In previous years between one and four adults were recorded. In spring and fall migration over 5,000 staging ducks congregate regularly on the lake. Shorebirds also utilize the lake during migration, with a record of over 3,000 Sanderlings and over 2,000 Red-necked Phalaropes seen in May, 1971. A pair of Great Gray Owls nested in 1972, and small numbers of Canada Geese breed here.
Delineation rationale: 2011-06-06 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from ha to 3000 ha, following GIS analysis of site polygon by Bird Studies Canada (J. Moore & S. Marquez in litt. 2009).
Habitats
Land use: rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Forest | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |