| IBA |
Porter Lake
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Site Summary |
| SK077 |
Latitude
Longitude |
52.199° N
106.290° W |
Elevation
Size |
510 m
58.39 km² |
Habitats:
native grassland, inland saline lake, freshwater marsh, arable & cultivated lands
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Land Use:
Agriculture
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Potential or ongoing Threats:
Agricultural pollution/pesticides, Dykes/dam/barrages, Drought
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| IBA Criteria: Globally Significant: Congregatory Species |
| Conservation status: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (potential) |
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Site Description
Porter Lake is located 20 km northeast of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. With the exception of the southern end, where native prairie still grows, cropland surrounds this shallow and ephemeral lake. There are several adjoining intermittent creeks that connect Porter Lake with surrounding temporary wetlands. Similar to other shallow saline lakes in the province, this site is highly susceptible to drought, as it is largely dependent on spring run-off and seasonal rains. Shorebird habitat, such as mudflats, results from the receding shoreline during periods of lower water levels.
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Birds
During fall migration, Porter Lake often supports significant numbers of staging Hudsonian Godwits. In surveys conducted in 1997 a peak number of 997 godwits was recorded; the peak occurred after a build up of numbers during July and August. In the 1970s, greater than 800 godwits were recorded on three occasions: 847 August 1971; 1,150 August 1973; and 1,978 August 1979. All of these numbers represent about 2% of the global population of the species. It should be noted that the number of shorebirds, such as the godwits, using the site varies depending on the water conditions. During drought years, very few shorebirds are recorded.
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IBA Criteria |
| Species↓ T | A | I |
Links |
Date |
Season |
Number |
G |
C |
N |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper |
|
1995 |
SP |
25 |
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|
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| Hudsonian Godwit |
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1971 - 1997 |
FA |
847 - 1,978 |
✔ |
✔ |
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Note: species shown in bold indicate that the maximum number exceeds at least one of the IBA thresholds (sub-regional, regional or global). The site may still not qualify for that level of IBA if the maximum number reflects an exceptional or historical occurrence.
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Conservation Issues
Drought is a major problem during years with low spring runoff and little seasonal rains. Additionally, increased salinity may affect primary productivity and subsequent use of this lake by birds. This wetland has been identified as a potential Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site as a result of its large concentrations of Hudsonian Godwits.
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