boreal forestlesser scaup

Related Links

 

Utikuma Lake

Utikuma Lake
Quick Facts

Area: 3,347,251.203 ha

Province: Alberta

Ecozone: Boreal Plains

The Utikuma project area located in north central Alberta is centered near Utikuma Lake (55° 54’ N, 115° 02’ W). Within the project area are the towns of Slave Lake, Red Earth and Wabasca. The Atikamisis Lake Settlement, Peavine Metis Settlement, and Gift Lake Metis Settlement are present within the area in addition to the Utikoomak Lake, Woodland Cree, Sucker Creek, Drift Pile River, Swan River, Sawridge, and Wabasca Indian Reserves. Large features on the landscape within the project area include Lesser Slave Lake and the Marten Hills.

Status

2000-2002
Aerial water bird surveys were conducted to look at bird use in the Utikuma Lake area during breeding, brood rearing, and staging periods.

Over the three years of surveys at Utikuma, 19 species of breeding ducks were observed. Mallard, blue-winged teal, bufflehead, ring-necked duck, and American wigeon accounted for more than 75% of all breeding pairs each year. Other species including northern shoveler, white-winged scoter, redhead, and ruddy duck have increased since the onset of the project.

Broods were observed from 16 species of ducks. Of these species, mallard, bufflehead, ring-necked duck, and American wigeon produced the most broods each year. Since 2000, noticeable increases in production have been observed for American wigeon, gadwall, northern shoveler, canvasback, and redhead.

Important water bodies for fall migrating water birds included Lubicon, Loon, Muskwa, Teepee, and Bat Lakes. These lakes, along with other unnamed lakes, were observed to host in excess of 10,000 birds on at least one survey each year. In 2001, Lubicon and Loon Lakes combined, hosted more than half of all water birds observed out of 150 wetlands surveyed.

2001
Intensive water bird ground surveys were initiated, as part of the "Hydrology, Ecology & Disturbance of Western Boreal Wetlands" research. Also, using satellite imagery, a detailed habitat-mapping project was completed for the entire study area. These projects were designed to assess the relative importance of various wetland types to water bird communities.
Earth Cover Mapping

A thematic mapping (TM) image, taken in late summer of 1999, was obtained for the Utikuma project area. This image was classified into various earth cover classes using a combination of Ducks Unlimited standardized earth cover methods and a modified Alberta ground cover classification.

In total, over 3.2 million hectares were classified, representing 25 different earth cover classes. Wetland classes including wet herbaceous, emergent vegetation, aquatic bed, turbid water, and clear water can be used to associate habitat use by water birds.

Utikuma Lake Project Partners

 
BACK TO TOPBack to Top