Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats Ecological Reserve

Designation Ecological Reserve

Landscape Description The Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats Ecological Reserve protects the only known example of a long inland saline shoreline in boreal North America. This 4,725 hectare ecological reserve is located approximately 84 kilometres south of The Pas, east of Highway 10 on Lake Winnipegosis. It is an expansion of the original 572 hectare Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats Ecological Reserve designated in 1992.

The ecological reserve captures the low-lying area along the edge of the lake and extends into the lake. Through natural springs, upwellings of water heavy in salts and minerals replenish the salt flats as they flow toward Lake Winnipegosis.

Outstanding Features The interesting mix of plant life found in this unique habitat changes noticeably from boreal forest on the gravel ridges and prairie meadows on the uplands, to halophytic (salt-loving) plants on the salt flats and coastal marine plants in the lake. These distinct changes in vegetation mark the gradient from non-saline to saline soils in the ecological reserve.

Among the variety of halophytic plants found here are red swampfire, Nuttall’s alkali grass, cosmopolitan bulrush, and seaside plantain. The only other known occurrence of seaside plantain in Manitoba is along Hudson Bay. Other provincially rare salt-tolerant species found in the ecological reserve include saltmarsh sand spurry, marsh alkali aster, Mistassini primrose, and shooting star.

The large, open, un-vegetated parts of the salt flats extending into Overflow Bay provide important habitat for the piping plover which is listed as Endangered under both The Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act of Manitoba and the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). The yellow rail, listed as a species of Special Concern under SARA, is a small secretive bird which uses the dense sedge coastal wetlands extending into Overflow Bay. Other birds found in the area include the American white pelican, northern harrier, dabbling duck species, sandhill crane, and small sandpipers. Other wildlife such as deer, moose, and bear also use the area.

This area has been used by generations of Indigenous people and continues to be important for hunting, trapping, fishing, and traditional activities. The rights of Indigenous people will be respected and will continue within the Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats Ecologicial Reserve expansion.

Ecological reserves play a key role in Manitoba’s protected areas network by preserving unique, rare, and representative examples of plants, animals, geologic features, and ecosystems. They are the most protected of the provincially designated sites within Manitoba’s network of protected areas. The Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats Ecological Reserve will be maintained for the preservation and protection of the lake salt flats and associated halophytic vegetation. Passive non-consumptive recreation on foot, and landing a boat to access the site is permitted. All other activities require prior ministerial approval.

The Lake Winnipegosis Salt Flats Ecological Reserve is categorized as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected area management category Ia – protected area managed for strict nature protection, available primarily for scientific research and/or environmental monitoring. These protected lands are free from logging, mining, hydroelectric development, oil and gas exploration and development, exploring for and harvesting peat, and any other activities that could significantly and adversely affect habitat.

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November 2015