PROVEN LAKE HABITAT ACQUISITION AND WATCHABLE WILDLIFE SITE
 
 

Goals and Objectives

  • Purchase 274 acres of wetland habitat and adjacent upland cover
  • Develop a watchable wildlife site that will not interfere with existing waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Activities

  • The 274 acres acquired for the project will be added to the Proven Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
  • A parking area and interpretive trail along the existing dyke system will be developed to encourage public use of the site for educational and recreational purposes. The Tourism Secretariat of Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism will provide funds through the Watchable Wildlife Program to develop these facilities.
  • The upland area has been seeded to permanent cover through a prior lease agreement with the landowner and Ducks Unlimited Canada. The uplands will continue to be managed to provide nesting cover and habitat for other wildlife.

Specific Habitat Products/Results to be Supported by WHC’s Contributions
The acquisition of the 274 acre parcel will protect a portion of Proven Lake, a managed wetland cell, and adjoining uplands. Most of the upland area has been reseeded to grass, but there is also a small stand of black spruce and some trembling aspen on the parcel. The parcel is owned by one individual who has offered to sell the land for this purpose.

Benefits to Wildlife
In addition to a great variety of nesting and staging waterfowl, Proven Lake is also an important nesting area for black-crowned night herons.

Wildlife will benefit from the long term securement of wetland and associated upland habitat. Development of non-intrusive wildlife viewing facilities on this site will create a better awareness of the importance of wildlife habitat in this area and hopefully lead to further conservation efforts in the area.

Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management
Acquisition of this parcel of land will benefit Manitoba Conservation, the Manitoba Tourism Secretariat, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Trans Canada Trail association. This site is adjacent to the Trans-Canada Trail and development of facilities in this location should increase use of the Trans-Canada Trail by providing a focal point along the trail. Local businesses in the nearby communities of Erickson, Minnedosa and Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park will also benefit from increased economic activity associated with the use of this site by tourists.

Project Location
The Proven Lake WMA lies within the southern edge of the Boreal Plains in Manitoba’s famous Minnedosa pothole country near Riding Mountain National Park. It is within the Hudson Bay: Nelson water basin. Waterfowl that breed in the Prairie Ecoregion gather in large numbers on Proven Lake during spring and fall migration. It is recognized nationally as a Canadian Important Bird Area by Nature Studies Canada and as a Manitoba Heritage Marsh.

Please click here to view the project location/map (pdf file).

Project Contact
For more information on this project, please contact Bob Grant, Manager of Provincial Operations, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Brandon, Manitoba.