FRANK LAKE — IT’S MORE THAN DUCKS

TOM SADLER, 201E Pine Road, Strathmore, AB. TIP 1C1, CLIFF WALLIS, 615 Deercroft Way SE, , AB. T2J 5V4 and CLEVE WERSHLER, 70 Deerpath Rd. SE, Calgary, AB. T2J 6K8

Wetlands are among the most pro¬ ing landscape have been extensively ductive ecosystems on the planet, modified for decades by human ac¬ and are the most biologically diverse tivities. The Frank Lake area is a of the temperate zone ecosystems. DU/ Prairie Care project site Canadian support over 300 that has recently been restored and species of birds and 70 species of that has been selected for the imple¬ mammals as well as several species mentation of several projects under of reptiles. Wetlands are also essen¬ the More Than Ducks program. tial for the survival of all our amphibi¬ ans and contain a myriad of inverte¬ History of Frank Lake brates, micro-organisms and native plant life. Because of the importance Frank Lake has had a history of of wetlands and the myriad of threats widely fluctuating water levels that facing them, Ducks Unlimited Can¬ have severely diminished its produc¬ ada’s (DU) projects have focused on tivity. In recent decades, the lake has development and protection. varied in size from over 3,800 acres Many DU projects also incorporate in the 1950s to being completely dry areas of productive upland habitat. In in the 1930s, mid-1940s, and from addition to their importance for wa¬ 1983 to 1989. DU first looked at the terfowl production, both wetland and possibility of diverting water to Frank upland sites are very important for Lake from the Highwood River in conserving a broader range of bio¬ 1946 but the scale of such a project diversity. was beyond its scope at the time.

In 1994 DU established a “More In 1952, the Frank Lake basin ex¬ Than Ducks” national committee and perienced flooding during a record directed it to incorporate native plant runoff. The local municipal district materials into Prairie Care projects and the Alberta Government began a and optimize the benefits for a multi¬ drainage program that would have tude of plants and animals that occur drained the entire lake. However, DU in DU and North American Waterfowl stepped in and only the south basin Management Plan wetland and up¬ was partially drained. Flooding oc¬ land developments. curred again in 1975 and a sheet steel weir was constructed to stabi¬ Located near in south¬ lize the remaining marsh. A water li¬ western Alberta, the Frank Lake ba¬ cense was issued to Ducks Unlim¬ sin is a provincially significant wet¬ ited. After 1975, water levels in the land.8 When it has had water, it has remaining lake receded owing to a been the most important wetland in lack of runoff and, in 1983, Frank southwestern Alberta for nesting and Lake went dry. staging waterfowl, marsh birds, and shorebirds. The basin and surround¬ In 1988, DU took advantage of an

134 Blue Jay Yellow lavauxia (Oenothers flavaj C. Wallis opportunity to secure a water supply purchased. This allows for the back- for the lake. Cargill Ltd. proposed to flooding of portions of the original build a large meat packing plant near marsh that had been drained and High River. The firm’s plan to con¬ provides for the restoration of upland struct a pipeline northeast to the Bow areas to native grassland species to River to facilitate disposal of the produce cover for wildlife. Seven plant’s tertiary treated waste water hundred acres of back-flood wet¬ met with strong opposition. In May of lands have been added to the 1988 DU was approached by Alberta roughly 2,500 acres of the main Environment to use Frank Lake for Frank Lake basin. Almost 2,000 the disposal of Cargill’s waste water. acres of upland cover are being re¬ DU agreed to this provided they stored. could get additional water to restore the marsh and make the Frank Lake In 1994 DU funded a habitat map¬ complex a viable wetland. Alberta ping program as well as spring, sum¬ Environment agreed to DU’s pro¬ mer and fall surveys of wildlife in¬ posal and additional water supplies cluding vascular plants, amphibians, for Frank Lake were secured from reptiles, birds and mammals. A the Town of High River’s tertiary ef¬ Breeding Bird Survey route and sev¬ fluent and from natural flows in the eral breeding bird transects were es¬ Highwood River. Diversion sched¬ tablished to provide a basis for future ules were designed to eliminate con¬ monitoring, particularly in upland flicts with the Highwood fisheries. habitats. Field studies are continuing in 1995. In 1989, a pipeline was con¬ structed to Frank Lake and DU un¬ Description of the dertook the construction of additional Frank Lake Basin diking as well as water controls to regulate the marsh. Flood-prone The major habitat types of the lands and adjacent uplands were Frank Lake Study Area have been

53(3). September 1995 135 White-faced Ibis C. Wallis broadly classed into four categories: shallow open water in the bays and upland native mixed grasslands; along the shores of the larger basins. meadows and shorelines; wetlands; and human-modified habitats. Grass¬ Associated with these significant lands occur only as small remnants habitats are regionally significant on the surrounding uplands. Lower- concentrations of migrant shorebirds, lying meadows and shorelines occur nesting and migrating waterfowl, and around temporary wetlands and the rare or endangered species. The di¬ permanent water of the larger ba¬ versity of shorebirds is great. Shore- sins. The wetlands include expanses bird species include species that are of open water and extensive bulrush rare in Alberta such as Sharp-tailed marsh and unvegetated shores. Hu¬ Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Red man-modified habitats include crop¬ Phalarope and Dunlin. Black-necked land, planted cover and previously Stilts have nested in recent years. cultivated wetlands. To date, 177 Frank Lake provides an important vascular plant species (147 of which staging area in spring and fall for are native), two amphibian species, Trumpeter Swans — as many as 70 168 bird species, and 13 species of have been noted during migration. mammals have been recorded in the Up to 20 White-faced Ibis have been Frank Lake project area. The most observed and the species may nest. environmentally significant habitats Some rare plant species have also have been identified and mapped. been recorded. These include: all remnant patches of upland native mixed grassland; a The most significant plant and ani¬ productive shoreline complex on the mal species are: largest peninsula in the largest lake basin; an extensive bulrush marsh in • 9 prairie bird species considered the largest lake basin; and diverse to be of high priority for the North wetland vegetation, shorelines and American Waterfowl Management

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Figure 1. Frank Lake basin, southwestern Alberta.

Plan; 4 vulnerable, 5 threatened these, Piping Plover, Loggerhead and 1 endangered species as de¬ Shrike and Burrowing Owl have fined by COSEWIC; and 8 species not been sighted in recent years. (5 Red-listed and 3 Blue-listed) of concern in Alberta (Piping Plover, 19 regionally or provincial^ rare Baird’s Sparrow, Trumpeter Swan, bird species.6,7 Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Upland Sandpiper, Loggerhead 1 provincially and 3 nationally rare Shrike, Ferruginous Hawk, Short¬ plants, including a COSEWIC threat¬ eared Owl, Long-billed Curlew, ened species (western blue flag American White Pelican, Bald (Iris missouriensis), yellow lavauxia Eagle, Prairie Falcon).1,2,5 Of (Oenothera flava), blunt-fruited

53(3). September 1995 137 yellow cress (Rorippa truncata) Franklin’s Gulls that has reestab¬ and slender yellow cress (Rorippa lished itself there. Protection of tem¬ tenerrima))2' 4 porary wetlands and gradual draw¬ downs of some basins will be used Management to maintain the full range of marsh vegetation, rare plants and feeding Although regional populations of habitats for water birds, marsh birds, many native plants and animals have and shorebirds. Portions of the wet¬ been significantly reduced or elimi¬ lands will be shallowly back-flooded nated, DU’s Frank Lake project pro¬ to provide habitat for waterfowl and vides high quality habitat for a variety migrant shorebirds. of native wildlife. It also offers an op¬ portunity to restore several degraded Grasslands will be managed and habitats. In the past, many wildlife restored to provide suitable condi¬ enhancement projects have focused tions for native grassland plants, on one or a few species or species’ birds and mammals. Waterfowl pro¬ groups. The challenge at Frank Lake duction will be maximized through is to institute an ecologically based maintenance of lush upland nest management plan that will maintain cover, particularly in important nest¬ the range of natural habitat variabil¬ ing areas adjacent to wetlands. This ity. Management must not only pro¬ dense cover will also support spe¬ cies like Baird’s Sparrow. Con¬ vide habitat for the target waterfowl versely, cover removal through graz¬ species of traditional wetland pro¬ ing or fire is essential for upland spe¬ jects but also for the full range of bio¬ cies like the Richardson’s Ground diversity that has historically and re¬ Squirrel and Chestnut-collared Long- cently occurred at the site. spur. In grassland ecosystems, the Richardson’s Ground Squirrel is a Grazing, fire, and natural water keystone species that directly or indi¬ level fluctuations were historical fac¬ rectly is important to the survival of tors in grassland and wetland ecol¬ many prairie species.8 This includes ogy in the Northern Great Plains in¬ several predators like American cluding the area at Frank Lake. A Badger and Ferruginous Hawk that variety of techniques, including recla¬ are now rare in the region. Currently, mation of cultivated lands, grazing, grazing is being used on a limited burning, and water level manage¬ basis to test its effectiveness in cre¬ ment, have been implemented or are ating habitat diversity in tall dense being considered for maintaining and planted cover. restoring productive habitats at Frank Lake. The results of inventory Late summer and fall burning and monitoring programs will be fac¬ would most closely mimic the natural tored into future management and fire regime. However, spring burning development decisions. may have a role to play in controlling some non-native species, for exam¬ The main intent of the manage¬ ple, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa praten- ment plan for Frank Lake is to rees¬ sis).8 There is no controlled burning tablish the marsh on a permanent being undertaken at the present basis. The maintenance of healthy time. marsh conditions is essential, not only to waterfowl but for a wide vari¬ Artificial structures have been con¬ ety of marsh species. This includes a structed for a limited number of spe¬ colony of several thousand nesting cies. Examples include shallow scrapes for breeding amphibians; nest

138 Blue Jay boxes for Burrowing Owls and Moun¬ cess and viewing sites will provide tain Bluebirds; nest platforms for public enjoyment and education Canada Geese and hawks; rock while maintaining the productivity of piles for garter snakes; and rock is¬ this important wildlife area. lands for nesting waterfowl and shorebirds. Plantings of native shrubs 1. ALBERTA FISH AND WILDLIFE. will increase the use of the area by 1991. The status of Alberta wildlife. migrant songbirds and may attract Fish and Wildlife Division, Edmonton. nesting Loggerhead Shrikes. 2. Committee on the Status of Endan¬ gered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The effects of bird-watchers, hunt¬ 1994. Endangered species in Canada ers, researchers and management (and other wildlife at risk). World Wild¬ life Fund Canada, Toronto. activities during critical biological events are being accounted for in de¬ 3. HARMS, V., J. HUDSON and G. velopment and management plans. LEDINGHAM. 1986. Rorippa trun- cata, the blunt-fruited yellow cress, Measures that have been taken or new for Canada, and R. tenerrima, are being considered to reduce the slender yellow cress, in southern these impacts include setting up Saskatchewan and Alberta. Can. viewing blinds, limiting access and Field-Nat. 100:45-51. developing the area to redirect visi¬ 4. PACKER, J. and C. BRADLEY. 1984. tors away from sensitive areas. One A checklist of the rare vascular plants of the simplest management pre¬ of Alberta with maps. Natural History scriptions is to avoid extensive Occasional Paper No. 5, Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton. placement of trails through produc¬ tive shoreline habitats. The location 5. SADLER, T.S. 1994. Incorporating of trails will be varied so that they are multi-species programs into main¬ stream North American Waterfowl not running the length of productive Management Plan Habitat Projects or rare linear habitat or along an in¬ (draft). Ducks Unlimited, Strathmore. terface between two habitats. 6. SALT, W.R. and J.R. SALT. 1976. Birds of Alberta, with their ranges in Conclusion Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton.

Nowhere in southwestern Alberta 7. SMITH, W.W., D.M. COLLISTER, is there a better opportunity for the H.W. PINEL, C.R. WERSHLER and More than Ducks program to add R.M. WERSHLER. 1986. Check-list of value to wetland and upland conser¬ the birds of the Calgary region, fifth edition. Calgary Field Naturalists’ So¬ vation programs than at Frank Lake. ciety, Calgary. It is benefiting many wildlife species and habitats and helping to restore 8. WALLIS, C., C. WERSHLER, D. OL¬ SON, W. SMITH and R. WERSHLER. some of the biodiversity that has 1995. A multi-species wildlife assess¬ been lost owing to impacts from hu¬ ment, Frank Lake, Alberta. Prepared man activities over the last century. by Cottonwood Consultants Ltd. for Carefully planned and controlled ac¬ Ducks Unlimited Canada, Edmonton.

53(3). September 1995 139