• Prairie
• St. Denis
• Brightwater Creek
• West Nose Creek

8. St. Denis National Wildlife Area, SK

Aerial view of the wetlands and prairie landscape in the St. Denis National Wildlife Area, SK (photo: Mark Bidwell / Environment Canada)

• Located near the transition between Aspen parkland and moist mixed grassland ecoregions in central southern Saskatchewan; 
• Landscape characterized by large wetland areas and prairie pothole topography, with rich diversity of plant and animal species;
• A small watershed has been delineated within and covering most of the St. Denis National Wildlife Area (NWA is 361 hectares in area);
  • Intermittent flow and internal drainage characteristic of much of the prairie landscape.

History

• Established in 1968 by Environment Canada for wetland monitoring and soil surveys;
• Beginning in 1980, a number of other research initiatives have been carried out, including Investigations of waterfowl and habitat, hydrology, and soil science.

Current Science Focus and Instrumentation

• Wide range of interdisciplinary research focusing on interactions among agriculture, natural habitats, wildlife, and the physical environment;
  • Disciplines involved include biology (aquatic ecology and migratory birds), hydrology (prairie wetlands, snow accumulation/melt), soil science (soil formation, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emission), and toxicology (water quality, pesticides);
• Meteorological station measuring air temperature/humidity, precipitation, wind speed; continuous radiation measurements are missing;
• Continuous monitoring of water levels in selected wetlands, used to track runoff and estimate water balance (intermittent streamflow);
• Piezometer network, groundwater levels measured at several locations; occasional soil moisture and physical/chemical property survey campaigns.

Other Resources and Further Information

• Data catalogue for St. Denis
• Presentation on St. Denis National Wildlife Area at CCRN's Targeted Process Studies Workshop, Hamilton, ON, September 12-13, 2013

For further information contact:

or,

 Meteorological station within the St. Denis National Wildlife Area (photo: Chris DeBeer, April 2011)