Muskeg Lake Cree Nation #102 Source Water Protection Pilot Project Background Report Compiled by Denise Benfield, AAg First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan March 2008 Executive Summary The purpose of this Background Report is to provide stakeholders in Muskeg Lake Cree Nation with relevant information to assist in the development of a Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) to protect both surface and ground waters that exist on and around Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Reserve No. 102. This report provides a wide range of information to help build awareness of the many factors which affect the First Nation, the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, and ultimately, water quality and quantity. The First Nation is described in terms of its physical characteristics, ecology, land use, climate and population demographics. The major economic activity on the Reserve is agriculture. Water resources are related in terms of quantity, quality, allocation and use. Current Reserve and watershed management interests include hydrological concerns, agricultural impacts, urban impacts, recreational use, groundwater well decommissioning and water borne pathogens. Different land cover functions are described for upland, riparian and wetland habitats. Watershed and land stewardship activities and funding are important for watershed management. The focus of this Source Water Protection Pilot Project is to protect source waters with an emphasis on drinking water sources. The people of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation are dependent on groundwater specifically for their drinking water sources. Once the Background Report has been brought to the public for review and approved, the process of developing the SWPP will begin. This plan will assemble pertinent information, analyze threats and opportunities, and build commitments to protect water, as well as summarize the committees’ discussions and technical analysis in a number of recommendations. Finally, key actions will be formulated as to what recommendations will be implemented. i Acknowledgements The development of the background report would not have been possible without the hard work and participation of those involved in the SWPPP from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, especially the committee members – Pat Lafond, Dan Lafond, Deanna Greyeyes, Dennis Greyeyes, Vern Horner, Brian Greyeyes and Roy Bearinhole. A big thank you also to those from SWA, EC, STC, and everyone else who contributed time and resources to this project. Last, but definitely not least, thank you to Richard Greyeyes and Ben Weenie, elders who contributed to the First Nations People and the Environment section. General information about the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, ecoregions, soil, water, agricultural practices, riparian areas and wetlands, stewardship activities, programs and funding, as well as other general information was derived from the Preliminary Background Report of the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, provided by the SWA. ii Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ...................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ....................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................ vii List of Appendices ............................................................................................... viii 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose of Developing the Source Water Protection Pilot Project .............. 1 1.2 Process of Developing the SWPPP ............................................................. 1 1.3 First Nations People and the Environment .................................................. 2 2.0 Reserve Land Characteristics ......................................................................... 3 2.1 Physical Characteristics .............................................................................. 3 2.2 Ecology ..................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Land Use ................................................................................................... 21 2.4 Climate ...................................................................................................... 23 2.5 Demographics ........................................................................................... 24 3.0 Economic Activities and Opportunities .......................................................... 24 3.1 Agriculture ................................................................................................. 24 3.2 Tourism and Recreation ............................................................................ 27 3.3 Industry ..................................................................................................... 28 4.0 Water Resources .......................................................................................... 29 4.1 Surface Water Resources ......................................................................... 29 4.2 Surface Water Quality ............................................................................... 32 4.3 Surface Water Allocation ........................................................................... 32 4.4 Ground Water Resources .......................................................................... 34 4.5 Ground Water Allocation ........................................................................... 36 5.0 Current Watershed Management Interests ................................................... 40 5.1 Hydrological Concerns .............................................................................. 40 5.2 Oil and Gas Industry .................................................................................. 42 5.3 Agricultural Concerns ................................................................................ 43 5.4 Community Impacts ................................................................................... 50 5.5 Recreational Developments ...................................................................... 55 5.6 Road Maintenance and Road Salts ........................................................... 55 5.7 Ground Water Well Decommissioning ....................................................... 55 5.7 Water Borne Pathogens ............................................................................ 57 6.0 Upland and Wetland Conservation ............................................................... 58 6.1 Upland Areas ............................................................................................. 58 6.2 Riparian Areas ........................................................................................... 58 6.3 Wetland Areas ........................................................................................... 59 7.0 Current Watershed Management .................................................................. 61 7.1 Stewardship Activities, Programs and Funding ......................................... 61 8.0 Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................... 65 9.0 References.................................................................................................... 71 iii List of Figures Figure 1. First Nations located in the Province of Saskatchewan. Muskeg Lake Cree Nation is the red/black dot on this map. ....................................................... 4 Figure 2. Satellite imagery of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, including surrounding area, Reserve boundaries and well locations. ...................................................... 5 Figure 3. Major watersheds and basins of the Prairie Provinces. Muskeg Lake Cree Nation is located in the North Saskatchewan River Watershed. .................. 7 Figure 4. Rural Municipalities in the North Saskatchewan River Watershed (Source: Preliminary Background Report of the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, SWA 2005). ....................................................................................... 8 Figure 5. First Nations within the North Saskatchewan River Watershed (Source: Preliminary Background Report of the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, SWA 2005). .......................................................................................................... 9 Figure 6. Soil textures of the Muskeg Lake IR area, with Reserve boundaries and water well locations. ............................................................................................ 11 Figure 7. Elevation model of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation area, with Reserve boundaries and water well locations. .................................................................. 15 Figure 8. Contour map of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation area, with Reserve boundaries and water well locations. .................................................................. 16 Figure 9. Endangered and threatened species, as well as species of special concern located in the Muskeg Lake area. ........................................................