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Site Descriptions - Canadian Shield Natural
Region
Level
1 Natural History Theme Targets | Progress
on Level 1 Targets
* Denotes
a protected area established or expanded as part of the Special
Places program
Kazan Upland Sub-region
Six level 1 and 28 level 2 natural history themes describe the landscape
diversity of the Kazan Upland Sub-region. All level 1 natural history
themes are well represented in the parks and protected areas network.
Based on reconnaissance studies, level 2 themes are also well represented.
 Colin-Cornwall
Lakes Wildland Park * (704.28
km2), located east of Fort Chipewyan, is exceptionally
diverse. Along with the rugged granite outcrops and deep clear lakes
typical of the Canadian Shield, extensive sand and gravel outwash
plains and wetland complexes provide habitat for provincially rare
species. Preliminary field studies have documented rare plants on
the unique south facing grasslands. Mew gull and semipalmated plover,
provincially rare birds, nest on Colin Lake. Bald eagle and osprey
are also common.
 La
Butte Creek Wildland Park *
(181.47 km2), located north
of Fort Chipewyan, was selected to represent stream courses and
organic wetlands along the Slave River that are typical of the Canadian
Shield Natural Region. La Butte Creek is the largest stream in the
Alberta portion of the Kazan Upland Sub-region; it flows through
a diverse area of sand plains, wetland complexes and Precambrian
outcrops.
Athabasca Plain Sub-region
Seven level 1 natural history themes, along with 21 level 2 themes,
describe the landscape diversity of the Athabasca Plain. All level
1 themes are well represented in the parks and protected areas network.
Based on reconnaissance studies, level 2 themes are also well represented.
The protected areas in this sub-region contain many special features
as well.
 Athabasca
Dunes Ecological Reserve (36.7 km2) is the province's
largest. The ecological reserve contains part of Alberta's largest
active sand dune system, which is approximately 8 km from north
to south and 1.5 km wide. The active dunes, a series of sand ridges,
are slowly migrating southeast, burying jack pine forests and filling
small lakes. It has been confirmed that Arctic terns, not known
to nest elsewhere in Alberta, nest in the reserve.
Egg Island Ecological Reserve
(0.36 ha) is the smallest ecological reserve in Alberta. Established
in 1992, it is situated northeast of Burntwood Island in Lake Athabasca.
With well over 100 nesting pairs of Caspian terns, the Egg Island
colony is the largest in the province. California gulls also nest
on the island.
 Fidler-Greywillow
Wildland Park *
(65.21 km2) includes a portion of the north shore of
Lake Athabasca, as well as a number of islands. The north shore
segment includes sandstone outcrops, sandy beaches and stranded
beach ridges. Jack pine and lichen communities, active blowout dunes
and outcrops of Athabasca sandstone typify the north shore. Bustard
Island, located near the western end of the lake, with its scenic
storm beaches and driftwood, is the largest sand island in Alberta.
 Richardson
River Dunes Wildland Park *
(320.33 km2), located south
of Lake Athabasca, is part of the largest sand dune complex in Canada.
It protects the best of the paleo-longitudinal dunes. Formed soon
after de-glaciation by southeast winds, longitudinal dunes of this
type, size and development are not recorded elsewhere. The park
also contains paleo-parabolic dunes and riparian areas along the
Athabasca River.
 Maybelle
River Wildland Park * (153.09
km2) surrounds Athabasca Dunes Ecological Reserve; it
protects sand plains, dunes and kames south of Lake Athabasca. Sand
chickweed and Tyrrell's willow are examples of endemic species found
only in these dune complexes in Alberta and adjacent ones in Saskatchewan.
A few ponds in the park are home to the only Alberta populations
of northern water shield, first reported in the province in 2000.
Notably high concentrations of the pitcher plant, a carnivorous
species, are scattered around some of the small kettle lakes.
Additional Information
For information about facilities and services in the parks and protected
areas listed above, visit the Gateway
to Outdoor Adventure web site.
Parks and protected areas boundary maps, legal descriptions and
ArcView data captures are available on the Land
Reference Manual web site.
For more information about Managing the Network, contact Archie
Landals.
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