DOCSLIB.ORG

Economic Impact Assessment of Leafy Spurge in Southern Manitoba. Final

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Economic Impact Assessment of Leafy Spurge in Southern Manitoba. Final ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF LEAFY SPURGE IN SOUTHERN MANITOBA FINAL REPORT October 2010 Rural Development Institute, Brandon University Brandon University established the Rural Development Institute in 1989 as an academic research centre and a leading source of information on issues affecting rural communities in Western Canada and elsewhere. RDI functions as a not-for-profit research and development organization designed to promote, facilitate, coordinate, initiate and conduct multi-disciplinary academic and applied research on rural issues. The Institute provides an interface between academic research efforts and the community by acting as a conduit of rural research information and by facilitating community involvement in rural development. RDI projects are characterized by cooperative and collaborative efforts of multi-stakeholders. The Institute has diverse research affiliations, and multiple community and government linkages related to its rural development mandate. RDI disseminates information to a variety of constituents and stakeholders and makes research information and results widely available to the public either in printed form or by means of public lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences. For more information, please visit www.brandonu.ca/rdi. ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF LEAFY SPURGE IN SOUTHERN MANITOBA FINAL REPORT Submitted to: Kim Wolfe Agricultural Sustainability Initiative Program Coordinator Agri-Environment Knowledge Centre Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Box 1240, 810 Philips Street Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3J9 Submitted by: Wm. (Bill) Ashton, Ph.D. Director Rural Development Institute Brandon University 270-18th Street Brandon, MB R7A 6A9 Prepared by: Karen Rempel, Ph.D. Research Affiliate Rural Development Institute Brandon University Brandon, MB R7A 6A9 Acknowledgements Funding for this project was provided by the Canada and Manitoba Governments through Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Project guidance and contributions were provided by the following individuals: Michele Ammeter, John Johnston, Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association Doug Cattani, Wanda McFadyen Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Leafy Spurge Stakeholders Group Initiatives Wayne Digby, Chair Sherry Punak-Murphy Leafy Spurge Stakeholders Group Canadian Forces Base Shilo Derrek Eberts Jane Thornton Brandon University Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Bill Gardiner, Dion Wiseman Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Brandon University Initiatives Cheryl Heming, Chair Invasive Species Council of Manitoba Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... i 1.0 Overview of the Report ........................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Background .......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 The 1999 Leafy Spurge Impact Assessment ........................................................................ 2 2.2 The 2010 Economic Impact Assessment of Leafy Spurge in Manitoba .............................. 2 2.3 Understanding „invasiveness‟ .............................................................................................. 4 3.0 Calculating the distribution and density of leafy spurge ..................................................... 6 3.1 Defining the study area .................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Data collection and analysis processes................................................................................. 7 3.3 Total distribution and density of leafy spurge in southern Manitoba ................................ 10 4.0 Estimating the Economic Impact of Leafy Spurge ............................................................ 12 4.1 The influence of economic factors on invasive species ..................................................... 12 4.2 Limitations to the economic impact assessment of leafy spurge ....................................... 14 4.3 Direct economic costs ........................................................................................................ 15 4.4 Indirect economic costs ...................................................................................................... 21 4.5 The economic impact of leafy spurge: Direct and indirect costs ....................................... 22 4.6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 23 References ..................................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A: Distribution and Density of Leafy Spurge in Manitoba .......................................... 28 Appendix B: Options for Economic Assessment Models of Leafy Spurge................................. 34 Appendix C: Potential Impact of Leafy Spurge on Beef Herds and Sheep Flocks in Manitoba ~ An illustration ............................................................................................................................... 37 Executive Summary In 1999, the LSSG undertook efforts to estimate the amount of leafy spurge infestation in Manitoba at that time, and its potential impact. Estimations of the amount of leafy spurge came from a survey of weed control districts, reports from southern Manitoba agricultural representatives and information from a 1981 survey. Economic impacts were calculated based on the reduced carrying capacity of the land and an estimation of the secondary economic impacts. Findings from these efforts were contained in the 1999 report, Leafy Spurge Impact Assessment prepared by the Leafy Spurge Stakeholders Group (LSSG). These findings indicated that (a) there were at least 340,000 acres of leafy spurge in Manitoba; (b) there was a total economic impact of $20 million based on the direct costs associated with a reduced carrying capacity of grazing, the impacts on public lands for recreation and reduced habitat value, and the impact of infestation on right-of-ways and the indirect or secondary economic impacts. The report cautioned that the analysis was based on data that was available at that time and that the estimated number of acres was an underestimation of the extent of infestation across Manitoba. Driven by the 1999 report‟s acknowledgement of the underestimation of acres of leafy spurge at the time, the nature of leafy spurge patch expansion and current economic values, the Rural Development Institute on behalf of the LSSG, sought and received funding support to prepare the 2010 economic impact assessment of leafy spurge in southern Manitoba. The aim of this report is to assess the economic impact of leafy spurge in the province, with a focus on southern Manitoba. The acreage of leafy spurge was based on geographic land use information, existing databases on known spurge infestation and consultation with weed supervisors and technical experts. In addition to presenting a map showing the potential distribution of leafy spurge in southern Manitoba, the report also provides a brief overview of the invasion process with a focus on identifying the economic factors which cause the spread of invasive species. Calculations for direct costs were based primarily on the value of lost grazing capacity of pastures, and indirect costs were calculated using an animal production input-output multiplier of 2.36. This 2010 economic impact assessment found that, based on available information and data, there are in excess of 1.2 million acres of leafy spurge in Manitoba. The areas most affected are pastures, natural areas, hay or forage land, and road sides, rail lines and utility corridors. This represents a 3.5 times increase of infested areas in ten years. This acreage of leafy spurge results in a total economic impact to Manitoba of $40.2 million, nearly a twofold economic impact over the 1999 assessment. This total is comprised of $10.2 million in direct costs based on the value of lost grazing capacity of pastures for livestock production, $5.8 M in costs for chemical applications specifically for leafy spurge on roadsides, and indirect costs of $24.1 M. Economic Impact Assessment of Leafy Spurge, Final Report i 1.0 Overview of the Report This report describes the economic impact of leafy spurge in southern Manitoba based on data collected and available in 2009. This data includes the best available information on the acreage of leafy spurge infestation in Manitoba and economic variables from 2009. The report also provides a brief overview of the invasion process with the identification of economic factors that contribute to the spread of invasive species such as leafy spurge. While the long-term efforts to document and to research invasive alien species in croplands have helped eradicate, manage and control these species, these extensive efforts are in stark contrast to the lack of effort for invasive alien weed species, such as leafy spurge, that invade natural vegetation. Pasture lands, natural areas and hay lands suffer from far too little documentation, research, or intensive efforts for eradication, management and control of invasive weed species (Thomas & Leeson, 2007). The report is organized into the following sections: . Section 2 provides general
Load more

Recommended publications
  • COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLAN Southwestern Manitoba Mixed
    Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-grass Prairie IBA Page 1 of 1 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PLAN for the Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-grass Prairie IMPORTANT BIRD AREA A Grassland Bird Initiative for Southwestern Manitoba's - • Poverty Plains • Lyleton-Pierson Prairies • Souris River Lowlands Prepared by: Cory Lindgren, Ken De Smet Manitoba IBA Program Species At Risk Biologist Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Branch, Manitoba Conservation Box 1160, Stonewall, Manitoba R0E 2Z0 200 Saulteaux Crescent, Winnipeg R3J 3W3 Manitoba IBA Program 10/03/01 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Southwestern Manitoba Mixed-grass Prairie IBA Page 2 of 2 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 8 1.1 The Poverty Plains.......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Souris River Lowlands ................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Lyleton-Pierson Prairies ................................................................................................................ 9 2.0 THE IBA PROGRAM........................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 IBA Manitoba ...........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • ROYAL PLAINS Join Walmart at Prominent Location in West Portage La Prairie 2352 Sissons Drive, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
    ROYAL PLAINS Join Walmart at Prominent Location in West Portage la Prairie 2352 Sissons Drive, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba Accommodate all sizes and uses Strong & Growing retail node Up to 150,000 sq. ft. in future Anchored by Walmart Supercentre development available with many national/regional tenants Excellent Access & Exposure Strong local economy Located on the Trans-Canada Investment is booming in housing Highway with 26,448 vehicles daily and agricultural development www.shindico.com ROYAL PLAINS 2352 Sissons Drive, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE - CITY OF POSSIBILITIES Portage la Prairie is a major service centre for the Central Plains region. Centrally located between two major cities (Winnipeg and Brandon) the city enjoys unparalleled access by rail, road and air to all markets across the Canada. Strategically situated in the centre of the continent astride major east-west transportation routes. Portage la Prairie is only forty-five minutes west of Winnipeg, one hour north of the international border, and one hour east of Brandon. Located within the heart of the richest agricultural belt in Manitoba, agriculture and agri-food related processing and services are the major industrial focus of the area with some of the most productive farmland in Canada. • French fry processor J. R. Simplot Company is investing $460 million to more than double production in Portage la Prairie, creating more than 100 new jobs • French-based Roquette has begun construction on a new $400 million pea processing plant in Portage la Prairie. It will be the largest plant of its kind in the world and one of the largest private-sector investments in the history of Manitoba.
    [Show full text]
  • Leconte's Sparrow Breeding in Michigan and South Dakota
    Vol.lOa7 54]I WALKINSt/AW,Leconte's S2arrow Breeding inMichigan 309 LECONTE'S SPARROW BREEDING IN MICHIGAN AND SOUTH DAKOTA BY LAWRENCE H. WAL•SHXW Plates 21, 22 LXTItXMfirst describedLeconte's Sparrow (Passerherbulus caudacutus) from the interior of Georgiain 1790 (1). On May 24, 1843, Audubon(2) collecteda specimenalong the upper Missouri,but it was nearly thirty years before another specimenwas taken (in 1872) by Dr. Linceceumin WashingtonCounty, Texas (3). The followingyear, 1873, Dr. Coues(4) took five specimenson August9, betweenthe Turtle Mountainsand the Mouseor SourisRiver in. North Dakota, and a sixth on September9, at Long CoteauRiver, North Dakota. Sincethat time many ornithologists havecovered the favoritehabitat of the species,and its breedingrange and winter distributionhave been gradually discovered. The A. O. U. Check-listof 1886gave the rangeas "From the plainseast- ward to Illinois, So. Carolina, and Florida, and from Manitoba south to Texas" (5). The 1931Check-llst (6) states:"Breeds in the Canadianand Transitionzones from Great Slave Lake, Mackenzie,southern Saskatche- wan, and Manitoba southward to North Dakota and southern Minnesota. Winters from southernKansas, southern Missouri, and westernTennessee to Texas, Florida, and the coastof South Carolina, and occasionallyto North Carolina. Casualin Ontario, Illinois and New York; accidentalin Idaho, Utah and Colorado." In Canadathe specieshas beenfound breeding in the easternpart of Alberta(7, 8, 9, 10). I foundit onJune 17, 1936,along the western shores of Buffalo Lake only a few miles from Bashawin central Alberta. On a visit to this areaon June20, an undoubtednest of the specieswas found, but heavy rains, which precededthese visits, had floodedthe entire area and destroyedall of the groundnests in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve Research Symposium
    Proceedings of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve Research Symposium Held Tuesday October 1st, 2013 at The Weston Family Tall Grass Prairie Interpretive Centre, Stuartburn, Manitoba Sugested Citation: Pearn, Melissa & Cary Hamel (Editors). 2014. Proceedings of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve Research Symposium. Nature Conservancy of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 49 pages. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................ 3 MAP OF MANITOBA TALL GRASS PRAIRIE PRESERVE PARTNER LANDS .............................................................................. 4 AGENDA........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 PARTICIPANT RESEARCH SUMMARIES .............................................................................................................................. 7 Prairie Plants and Pollinators 1. Sarah Jericho Semmler ............................................................................................................................................. 7 The Nectar Sources and Flower Preferences of the Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) in Manitoba .......... 7 2. Sarah Jericho Semmler ............................................................................................................................................. 9 The Short Term
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Geoscience in the Red River Valley
    2002 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference Winnipeg, Manitoba CPG/NGSC Field Trip Guide Book Environmental Geoscience in the Red River Valley Manitoba Manitoba Geological Survey Industry, Trade an d M ines Manitoba September 14, 2002 Geological Survey Environmental Geoscience in the Red River Valley By Erik Nielsen1, Scott St. George2, Gaywood Matile1, and Greg Keller1 1Manitoba Geological Survey 2Geological Survey of Canada CONTENTS FOREWARD ...............................................................................................................................................................3 RED RIVER FLOODS................................................................................................................................................4 FIELD TRIP STOPS...................................................................................................................................................6 STOP 1 – THE WINNIPEG FLOODWAY..............................................................................................................6 STOP 2 – THE LAKE AGASSIZ CLAY PLAIN ....................................................................................................7 Iceberg furrows....................................................................................................................................................9 STOP 3 – FORT DUFFERIN.................................................................................................................................10 Local history ......................................................................................................................................................10
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution and Biology of Anisota Manitobensis (Saturniidae) in Southern Manitoba
    Journal of the Lepidopterists' SOciety .56(1), 2002,5-8 DISTRIBUTION AND BIOLOGY OF ANISOTA MANITOBENSIS (SATURNIIDAE) IN SOUTHERN MANITOBA DONALD C. HENNE Department of Entomology, 402 Life Sciences Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA ABSTRACT. The known distribution of the satumiid moth, Anisota manitobensis is limited to southem Manitoba and northem Minnesota. To date, nothing has been reported in the literature about adult emergence times and adult mating activity. In this paper, the known clistribu­ tion of A. manitohensis in southem Manitoba is summarized, information on larval collection techniques is provided, and new information on adult emergence times and adult mating activities are given. Adults begin emerging at approximately 0600 h (CDT), with a few deJaying emer­ gence until between 2100 and 2200 h (CDT). Adult females of A. manitobensis call from 0630 to 0900 h (C DT) ami, if not mated, again from 0 100 to 0300 h (CDT). Additional key words: Anisota stigma, bur oak, calling females, larvae, oakworms. The saturniid moth Anisota manitobensis McDun­ employed in an effort to locate colonies of A. manito­ nough is known from southern Manitoba, northern bensis in and around Winnipeg. Minnesota, and may possibly occur in northeastern Anisota manitobensis larvae were maintained on fo­ North Dakota (McGugan 1958, Tuskes et al. 1996). liage of Q. macrocarpa. Pupae were placed in moist Anisota manitobensis was reported from Wisconsin by peat and overwintered at 5°C. Pupae were removed Riotte and Peigler (1981). However, these records from cold storage in early May and placed in shaded have been disputed by Tuskes et al.
    [Show full text]
  • 2.0 Native Land Use - Historical Period
    2.0 NATIVE LAND USE - HISTORICAL PERIOD The first French explorers arrived in the Red River valley during the early 1730s. Their travels and encounters with the aboriginal populations were recorded in diaries and plotted on maps, and with that, recorded history began for the region known now as the Lake Winnipeg and Red River basins. Native Movements Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye records that there were three distinct groups present in this region during the 1730s and 1740s: the Cree, the Assiniboine, and the Sioux. The Cree were largely occupying the boreal forest areas of what is now northern and central Manitoba. The Assiniboine were living and hunting along the parkland transitional zone, particularly the ‘lower’ Red River and Assiniboine River valleys. The Sioux lived on the open plains in the region of the upper Red River valley, and west of the Red River in upper reaches of the Mississippi water system. Approximately 75 years later, when the first contingent of Selkirk Settlers arrived in 1812, the Assiniboine had completely vacated eastern Manitoba and moved off to the west and southwest, allowing the Ojibwa, or Saulteaux, to move in from the Lake of the Woods and Lake Superior regions. Farther to the south in the United States, the Ojibwa or Chippewa also had migrated westward, and had settled in the Red Lake region of what is now north central Minnesota. By this time some of the Sioux had given up the wooded eastern portions of their territory and dwelt exclusively on the open prairie west of the Red and south of the Pembina River.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic Distribution and Ecology of Tall-Grass Prairie in Western Canada
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln The Prairie Naturalist Great Plains Natural Science Society 8-2014 Historic Distribution and Ecology of Tall-Grass Prairie in Western Canada Darcy C. Henderson University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, [email protected] Nicola Koper University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tpn Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Botany Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Systems Biology Commons, and the Weed Science Commons Henderson, Darcy C. and Koper, Nicola, "Historic Distribution and Ecology of Tall-Grass Prairie in Western Canada" (2014). The Prairie Naturalist. 19. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tpn/19 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Plains Natural Science Society at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Prairie Naturalist by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 40 Henderson and Koper • Distribution of Tall-Grass Prairie in Western Canada Historic Distribution and Ecology of Tall-Grass Prairie in Western Canada DARCY C. HENDERSON1 AND NICOLA KOPER Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A8 (DH) Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M6 (NK) ABSTRACT Rapid settlement and agricultural development of Western Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s nearly elimi- nated the tall-grass prairie, and pre-empted a detailed description by ecologists. A combination of literature review and historical ecological analysis of soils, climate, and composition data are applied to estimate the historic distribution, and area occupied by tall-grass prairie in southern Manitoba and south-eastern Saskatchewan, Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Let Us Introduce You to Southern Health-Santé
    To Our Health TOGETHER LEADING THE WAY FOR A HEALTHIER TOMORROW. Southern Health–Santé Sud newsletter www.southernhealth.ca Spring 2013 What’s Inside this Issue Meet the Southern Health– Santé Sud Board of Directors — page 2 French language services improve health outcomes — page 13 Let us introduce you to Mental health a priority for Southern Health-Santé Sud — page 15 Southern Health-Santé Sud a vibrant community a diverse population a good place to live The Southern Health-Santé Sud health But more impressive is that over 183,000 The region is a great place to live, which authority unites the former South people make up the population of this is probably why the Southern Health- Eastman and Central Manitoba Inc. diverse region. There are seven First Nations Santé Sud is the most populated RHA Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), communities and over sixty-six Hutterite outside of the City of Winnipeg and, but it’s about much more than its bricks colonies throughout the area. Aboriginal according to data from community Southern and mortar facilities, its many programs people in the region represent 10% of health assessments done in 2009, and its caring health professionals. the overall population, and are relatively life expectancy rates and premature Health-Santé Sud Southern Health-Santé Sud also young in comparison. Approximately 70% mortality rates were better than those brings together a vibrant collage of of rural French-speaking Manitobans live in other areas of the province based on a rich cultures and talented people with in the region representing nearly 11% of number of health status indicators.
    [Show full text]
  • Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus (Bonaparte) Yellow-Headedyellow-Headed Black-Bird Blackbird, Page 1
    yellow-headed blackbird, Page 1 Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonaparte) Yellow-headed Black-bird State Distribution Best Survey Period Copyright The Otter Side Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Status: State special concern Oaxaca and Guerrero in the interior and adjacent slope, and Nayarit on the Pacific slope (Twedt and Crawford Global and state rank: G5/S2 1995). Family: Icteridae – Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, State distribution: Granlund (1991) noted that the Blackbirds, Grackles, and Orioles yellow-headed blackbird appears to be a relatively new breeding species for Michigan. Barrows (1912) and Total range: The breeding range of the yellow-headed Wood (1951) listed the yellow-headed blackbird as a blackbird occurs in the prairie and mountain meadow rare straggler and described records from Dickinson wetlands of the western and central U.S. and Canada and Ontonagon Counties in the Upper Peninsula (UP) (Twedt and Crawford 1995). The species breeds from and Huron, Manistee, Missaukee, and Monroe Counties central British Columbia, northern Alberta, central in the Lower Peninsula (LP). Zimmerman and Van Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, and extreme Tyne (1959) listed the species as a rare visitor with a southwest Ontario south through Minnesota and nesting occurrence for Gogebic County, records for the Wisconsin to extreme northwest Indiana, northern above counties, and additional observations for Illinois, southern Iowa, extreme northwestern Missouri, Menominee, Muskegon, Saginaw, and Washtenaw central and western Kansas, western Oklahoma, Counties. Additional nesting records were later northwestern Texas, northern New Mexico, and confirmed for Cheboygan, Chippewa, Delta, Gratiot, Arizona, west to southern California, and in Oregon and Macomb, and Ottawa Counties and Saginaw Bay, and Washington largely east of the Cascade Mountains Payne (1983) considered yellow-headed blackbird an (Twedt and Crawford 1995).
    [Show full text]
  • 6.0 Existing Environment
    6.0 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 6.1 P HYSICAL E NVIRONMENT 6.1.1 CLIMATE The Disraeli Bridges Project is located in the Winnipeg Ecodistrict of the Lake Manitoba Plain Ecoregion of the Prairies Ecozone. The Winnipeg Ecodistrict belongs to the Grassland Transition Ecoclimatic Region in southern Manitoba. The mid-continental climate is characterized by four seasons with short, hot summers and long, cold winters. Baseline climate data for the regional study area were obtained from the Environment Canada (EC) meteorological station located at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in Winnipeg (49° 55.2’ N / 97° 13.8’ W). Data were assembled for the 30 year period from 1978 to 2007. Monthly averages (Table 6.1) were calculated from daily data supplied by EC. Hourly wind data were assembled for the years 2003 to 2007. Monthly averages (Table 6.2) were calculated from hourly data supplied by EC. Windrose Pro Ver 2.3.20 was used to create a windrose plot and determine prevailing wind direction for the region. Mean monthly wind speed varied little over the year, ranging from 14.8 km/hr in July to 19.9 km/hr in April, and mean annual wind speed was 17.8 km/hr. Maximum wind gusts reached 119 km/hr. The prevailing wind direction is primarily from the south and secondarily from the north and northwest in the winter and spring months (Table 6.2; Figure 6.1). In general, precipitation falls primarily as snow during the winter months, with the greatest snowfalls occurring in November, December and January. Annual average precipitation is 512.4 mm with precipitation peaking in June, July and August (Table 6.1).
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping Pre-Settlement Landscape in Southern Manitoba, Canada
    Prairie Perspectives 299 Mapping pre-settlement landscape in southern Manitoba, Canada Irene Hanuta, University of Manitoba Abstract: Original Dominion Land Survey (DLS) township maps from the 19th century provide information to characterize pre-settlement surface conditions across the Canadian Prairies. The earliest township plans of the DLS in Manitoba are available beginning in 1871. A township plan covers a six-mile by six-mile square area and depicts topographical and hydrological features, and vegetation cover. Roads, trails and existing settlement are also mapped. Township maps yield high spatial resolution environmental information and can be accurately dated. These maps were consulted to reconstruct pre-settlement landscape in part of southern Manitoba, including the mapping of locations and extent of wetlands in the 1870s. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to electronically capture, analyze and map historical landscape features from township maps. A total of 194 townships have been captured in the GIS. Landscape polygons have been classified as prairie lands, wooded areas, wetlands, scrub vegetation, or water. Streams and locations of springs have also been digitized. Township maps provide useful baseline information to assist tracking environmental changes through time and improve understanding of these natural or human-generated changes. Introduction Because instrumental measurements of natural phenomena cover a short period of Earth’s history, a record of environmental change is often obtained from various proxy sources. Ice cores, geological and biological evidence, and historical records are some examples of proxy evidence (Bradley, 1999). Past environmental conditions provide valuable baseline information that can be used 300 Prairie Perspectives for analysis of trends in natural processes, sensitivities to environmental changes and identification of extreme events.
    [Show full text]