Blaine Lakes (11535)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Blaine Lakes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.8310, Longitude: -106.9507
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 495 to 495
Area of KBA (km2): 130.50832
Protected area coverage (%): 4.06
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Blaine Lakes are located between the towns of Krydor and Blaine Lake in central Saskatchewan at the southern edge of the Aspen Parkland ecoregion. They are shallow saline lakes that receive runoff from intermittent creeks during the spring and fall. During the summer, especially during periods of drought, the water levels fall substantially and expose large areas of mudflats. Most of the land surrounding the northern and western part of the Blaine Lakes remains in a mostly native condition, while the area surrounding the southern part has been modified by a variety of land uses such as agriculture. Redberry Lake, which has also been identified as an IBA, is located about 10 km to the southwest.
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: During the spring of 1989, almost 30,000 shorebirds were recorded at this site. This includes a peak of 10,000 Sanderlings, which were recorded on May 18. This may represent as much as 6.6% of the estimated North American population. No additional shorebird surveys have been completed at this site.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 92 | |
| Grassland | 3 |