Bigstick Lake Plain (11511)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Bigstick Lake Plain
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.1910, Longitude: -109.2307
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 690 to 775
Area of KBA (km2): 783.73501
Protected area coverage (%): 6.82
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bigstick Lake Plain encompasses a large part of the southern slopes of the Great Sand Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan. The closest towns are Fox Valley to the northwest and Tompkins to the southeast. This semi-arid plain includes the large saline lakes, Bigstick (4,300 ha), Crane (2,500 ha) and Ingebright (390 ha), as well as extensive grasslands. Much of this grassland is native mixed-grass prairie. Mason Lake, a reservoir that forms the west section of Ingebrigt Lake, has more stable water levels and is less saline than the rest of the lake. Ducks Unlimited has two projects in the area; one lies just to the northwest of Ingebright Lake, and the other is on the west shore of Bigstick Lake. The latter project consists of a restriction dam that was built in 1974 and produces a 100-200 ha marsh.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: This lake plain area is a significant site because several types of waterbirds congregate at the lakes in abundance. About 16,000 waterfowl have used Bigstick and Crane lakes during their fall migration. Also, over 7,000 Franklins Gull also stage here - this is over 1% of the global population. Several other bird species make use of these lakes and grasslands during the breeding season. Of particular note are small numbers of: Ferruginous Hawks (Special Concern species), Piping Plovers and Burrowing Owls (both nationally endangered). The most recent Piping Plovers (two in 1991) were found at Ingebrigt Lake, but in the past this species was also found at the other two lakes. At Ingebrigt Lake, up to 1,717 staging Wilsons Phalarope have been seen. Also, Eared Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron (25-30 pairs, early 1980s), California Gull, Ring-billed Gull and Lark Bunting breed in the Bigstick Lake area. Crane Lake used to support colonies of American White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, California Gulls and Common Terns.
Delineation rationale: 2011-06-06 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 29900 ha to 78000 ha, following GIS analysis of site polygon by Bird Studies Canada (J. Moore & S. Marquez in litt. 2009).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 60 | |
| Grassland | 30 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 |