Peace-Athabasca Delta

Quick Facts

Area: 705,200 ha

Province: Alberta

Ecozone: Boreal plains

One of the largest inland deltas in the world, the Peace Athabasca Delta (PAD) is also a Ramsar wetland complex of international importance. The delta, located in the southeast corner of Wood Buffalo National Park, hosts exceptional numbers of staging waterbirds from all four North American flyways.

Status

1998
The waterbird inventory was initiated at the request of and in consultation with BC Hydro staff. The objectives were to evaluate the response of waterbirds to the re-flooding of the PAD in 1996 and 1997. The results from surveys documented waterfowl use at a very high level for breeding, moulting and staging birds.

1999-2001
Staging waterfowl showed a dramatic decline from 1999 to 2001, while breeding waterfowl estimates did not decline until 2001. Brood production declined from 1998 through 2000 but increased in 2001, although the increase was less than that recorded for 1999. Why the different components of the life cycle of waterfowl on the delta show different population changes over the three years is not known at this time.

While the response of waterbirds to the flood of 1996/1997 and subsequent decline in water levels (as indicated by the number of dry basins) support the hypothesis that flood events are crucial to waterfowl use of the delta. The delta continues to host substantial numbers of molting and staging waterbirds from all four North American migratory flyways, exceeding numbers reported from other reputable staging areas.

We recommend that continued monitoring of the PAD is required to fully understand the effects of drying on a system reliant on flooding. We also recommend that a pilot study be conducted to evaluate the function and hydrology of key perched wetlands within the PAD to determine if waterbird use and productivity will increase with increased water levels. Increased water levels will potentially increase use by fish and muskrats and subsequent traditional use by First Nations. Our proposed approach is to select a perched basin complex in the PAD and flood the complex with water from either the core delta area or the Peace River. This program would follow an adaptive management approach with monitering and evaluationanana.

Peace-Athabasca Delta Project Partners

BC Hydro
Parks Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Ducks Unlimited Inc.
Ducks Unlimited Canada