mffff i

Uanishing tcosystem Andllwindling Hesource

By:

Andrew HammermeisterNative Plant Society of Saskatchewan Inc.P.O. Box 21099Saskatoon SK S7H 5N9Ph: (306) 668-3940wwwnpss.sk.ca

David Gauthier and Katherine McGovernCanadian Plains Research CenterUniversity of Regina3737 Wascana ParkwayRegina SK S4S 0A2Ph: (306) 585-4758www.cprc.ca

Funding and In-kind support provided by:

Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture and Food

Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management

Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration

Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation

Action Plan Committee

Canadian Plains Research Center

Tappit Resources Limited

Ducks Unlimited CanadaBP Canada Energy Company

2001

Published by:Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Inc., 200 l. Thecontents of this publication may not be reproducedwithout the expressed permission of the Native PlantSociety of Saskatchewan Inc.

Acknowledgements:The authors gratefully acknowledge the editorial sup-port and input provided by Shelley Ross, DeanNernberg, Renny Grilz, Katherine Gerein, Greg Riemer,Sue Michalsky and Laura Herman and the mappingsupport provided by Lorena Patino (CPRC).

Imagery:Photographs provided by Andrew Hammermeisterunless otherwise noted.

Cover:The Prairie Lily and Sharp-tailed Grouse wereprovided by Keith Barr. Other pictures were supplied byA. Hammermeister unless otherwise noted.

Layout and Printingby:Houghton Boston Printers and Lithographers

This publication may be cited as:Hammermeister, A.M., D. Gauthier and K. McGovern.2001. Saskatchewan's Native Prairie: Statistics Of AVanishing Ecosystem And Dwindling Resource. NativePlant Society of Saskatchewan Inc., Saskatoon SK.

Wisconsin Claciation (or Wisconsin glacial stage) - is the namegiven to the period of time ranging from approximately 75,000years ago to 17,000 years ago when most ofCanada (east oftherockies) and part of the northern U.S.A. were covered by theLaurentide lce Sheet. The ice was more than 1,000 m thick in someplaces! Because of their high elevation compared with thesurrounding prairie, the Cypress Hills were never glaciatedmaking them a unique land area in Saskatchewan.

With a change in climate the ice sheet started to melt faster thanit could advance. This is called glacial retreat because the edge ofthe glacier melted fastest making it seem like it was movingbackwards to the north. Deglaciation of Saskatchewan tookseveral thousand years starting about 10,000 years ago in thesouthern end ofthe province.

The glacier left behind many features of the landscape we seetoday. For example, large flat areas with clayey soil, like theRegina Plains, were once a glacial lake. Much of the province'ssoil formed on glacial till. This is a mix of stones, gravel, sand, siltand clay that was deposited by the glacier as it melted but withoutany sorting by water or wind.

As the glacier retreated, plants and animals occupied the newlydeposited earth. While some plants and animals moved northfrom the now southern U.S.A' others spread south and east fromAsia, across the Bearing Straight northwest of Alaska. This gaverise to two major groups of plants. Cool-season plants, comingfrom the north, tolerate cooler climates and dominated most ofSaskatchewan's native prairie. Warm-season plants, coming fromthe south, are less dominant in Saskatchewan but replace thecool-season plants as you go south into the U.S.A.

lntroduction

cold winters and short, often dry summers challenges allcreatures. Early indigenous people relied on a wide varietyof plants and animals for their survival. European explorersfound a vast landscape. Some saw a barren land with littlepotential and others described a land of opportunity. It wasa land settled by only the most determined people from avariety of cultures. The prairies, once scoured by ice, werescoured again by iron. Today it is a land that has becomeglobally recognized for production of high quality grainsand meat. In the short history of European settlement, wehave had a wide and profound impact on the land, animpact that many believe is irreversible.

This booklet is intended to provide an appreciation forthe impact that settlement has had on Saskatchewan's prairielandscape. It is not intended to cast blame toward any sectorof the population. Rathet it is to recognize that the prairie isan endangered ecosystem and as a part of our heritage itshould be conserved.

What is llatiue Prairie?The Saskatchewan prairies began to form 17,000 years

ago as the last of the ice from the Wisconsin Glaciationmelted. The soil types and landforms left in the wake ofthe glaciers, along with a harsh climate and disturbancesresulting from periodic fires and grazing animals, created aunique environment. Over thousands of years, the prairielandscape evolved to include a wide variety of plant andanimal species adapted to these environmental conditions.The open grassland interspersed with lakes, ponds, creeks,river valleys, shrubs and trees supported indigenouspeoples and wildlife including, huge herds of grazinganimals and a myriad of birds and insects. These age-oldplant communities dominated by grasses are what we referIo as natxve praxrxe.

The southern half of Saskatchewan, previously coveredby native prairie, is part ofthe Prairie Ecozone in Canada.Based on climate and landforms, the Prairie Ecozone issplit into four ecoregions; Parkland, Moist MixecGrassland, Mixed Grassland and Cypress Upland. Theecoregions are further subdivided into landscape areasbased on distinct groupings of different physical featureson the land, surface geology, soil, vegetation, water bodiesand dominant land uses.

Grasses dominate native prairie, but a close look at theprairie uncovers hundreds of different species of grassesand wildflowers. It is incredibly diverse! In addition toopen grassland, we see wetlands, saline land, shrubs, bluffsand even forested tracts. Each of these communitiescontains different plant communities, each providingunique habitat for wildlife.

Our beliefs, habits, arts and lifestyle are stronglyinfluenced by the environment we live in. Living on nativeprairie influenced the culture ofFirst Nations and Metis people.Native plants and animals wereused for food, medicine,ceremonies, art, tools andweapons. For Europeau settlers,the native prairie provided fertilesoil and offered a meaus ofproviding shelter (e.g., sodhouses), a source of food and thefoundation for an agriculturallifestyle. The ranching lifestyle isintimately connected with theopen rangeland found only on theprairie. In the future, we will belooking to this land as a source offood. rnedic ine, recrcat ion. gcrtct icresource, habitat for wildlife andas tr benchmarl< of our pastenvlronment.

Native prairic is part of ourl'reritage, something thaL a personhas as a rexilt oJ'having been bornln a. ccrtal.ntime or place.We arc quicklyfcrrgetting our"connectlolrwith tl're land.Old-timef:rnnersrernlnlsceabout thecrocllses that grew on the hill clown bythe creek, the wild onions they ate toirritate the refined r-rose of their schoolteacher and the times they spentwatching the burrowing owl seeminglyturn its head in complete circles. It israre now to find a piece of unbrokenprairie large enough to show noevider.rce of European settlement. Howcan present aud future gcnerat iot tsappreciate the character of endlessrolling grasslands and the challengesfaced by First Nations people and settlerswhen this environment no longer exists? Will their nativeprairie experience be restricted to books herbaria, parks,zoos or their imaqination?

Native prair ieis a parl ofour culture

and heri lage.

In the last 150 years, the majority of native prairie rnNorth America has disappeared. In Saskatchewan, it isestimated that almost 80% of the prairie has been lost. Inlocal areas of prime cropland, less than 2o/o of the originalprairie remains. What little prairie remains exists underquite different conditions than it had for thousands ofyears,The most obvious changes are the fragmentation of nativehabitat caused by road building, resource extraction,residential development and cultivation. Less obviouschanges that threaten the prairie are the disappearance ofprairie fires and the once massive herds of bison, the arrivalofnew and aggressive introduced (i.e., exotic) plants thatdisplace native species, long-term overgrazingby cattle insome areas, and in others, a total lack of grazing. Periodicfire and grazingfollowed by rest rejuvenated the land andresulted in a landscape diverse in native plants. Now, lack ofgrazing and fire or continuous grazingwithout rest haslowered the diversity of plant communities and life theysupport. Invasive exoticplants include SmoothBrome, KentuckyBluegrass, Quack Grass,Crested Wheatgrass, LeafrSpurge and PurpleLoosestrife. Even nativeshrubs and trees pose athreat when they expandinto grasslands beyondtheir historical extent.

Wild lires and vasl herds of bison were once a nalural pad oflhe prairie ecosystem.

llefinitionsFragmentation

Native plants

Exotic or introducedplants

Biodiversity

Saline land

ldling

Overgrazing

Litter

The breaking of native prairie into smaller pieces, leaving islands of native prairie surrounded bycultivated land or seeded pastures.

Plants found naturally in a region before European settlement.

Plants (and other organisms) brought to Saskatchewan during or following European seftlement.Some of these plants are of particular concern because they are 'aggressive', they tend to invadenative prairie easily and replace native plants.

Best described as the "variety of life" including i) different patches on the landscape that host differentplants and animals, ii) the number of different plants and animals living in a patch and iii) thedifferent genetic varieties of the same plant or animal that allows it to grow in different environments.

There are different kinds of salt naturally present in the soil. Some of these salts dissolve very easilyin water, are washed into the groundwater and collect in low-lying areas such as saline lakes.Too much salt makes it difficult for most plants to absorb water from the soil, leaving only a few thatcan survive these harsh conditions.

Leaving the land idle and in many cases unmanaged. Aside from grazing by wildlife, the land is notgrazed, mowed, burned, cultivated, etc.

Crazing land often or continuously during the growing season each year does not provide time forplants to recover. As a result roots become shorter, plants become less productivg weeds are morelikely to invade and the plants become more susceptible to drought.

Dead leaves and stems accumulating on grassland that is not overgrazed or burned. An even but notthick cover of lifter helps keep the soil moist however, too much litter, such as that found onidled land, can prevent some plants from establishing and reduce biodiversity.

ffiry'1]. :

The prairie region of Saskatchewan is one of the mostwidely disturbed areas of the world. The disappearance ofnative prairie means the disappearance of thousands ofyears of evolutionary history. This ecosystem can neverbe replaced. The prairie vegetation is vital to the survivalof countless wildlife species, many of which have alreadydropped significantly in number or disappeared.

Native prairie is also a part of our culture andheritage, providing many benefits to its humaninhabitants. These benefits include clean water, rangelandfor livestock, aesthetic and recreational opportunities, soilprotection and a gene pool available for future medical,agricultural and industrial uses. Native prairie is home tohundreds of plants and ar.rimals. This biodiversity or the"variety oflife" is not only beautiful but can be used asan indicator of how healthy the ecosystem is.

Until recently, the extent of disturbance had not beenmeasured. To help land r.nanagers develop better plar.rsfor its wise use, it is important to know how rnuchprairie remains ar-rd where it is located.

Expanding urban cenlresand resource extracl ion

conlinue to lhrealennalive prair ie.

In lhe absence of f i re af ld wellmanaged grazing, trees and

shrubs spread into grassland,grass l i t ter bui lds up reducing

diversi ly and exol ic plants, suchas smooth brome grass, invade.

In many areas, lush native prair ie can only be lound on ruggedvalley slopes and rocky uplands above cultivaled llood plains.

Sett lement andcu l t ival i on

have been lheprincipal lorms

ol prair iedisturbance inthe past and

c0nlinueto this day.

llatiue Prairie: Benelits ard [lportunitiesCulture and Heritage

Biodiversity

Recreation

Future Resource

Ranching

A Benchmark

Educational Resource

Aesthetic Value

Native prairie has shaped our l ives. lt hasprovided food, tools, construction materials,recreation, inspiration and a way of life. To losethe native prairie would be to lose a vital part ofthe history of our province.

Native prairie is home to hundreds of plants andanimals. A diverse ecosystem is more effective incapturing energy from the sun and cyclingnutrients in the soil. lt is also less susceptible todisturbances and stresses such as drought diseaseand grazing. A diverse plant community becomeshome to a much more diverse group animals thana community where only a few plants grow Bylosing this diversity we threaten the integrity ofthe ecosystem we live in.

Native prairie offers many recreationalopportunities ranging from hunting to artwork.The wide-open spaces of native prairie aftracttourists from around the world.

As it has in the past native prairie offers bountifulopportunities for economical development Wildlifeincluding native plants, will become an importantgenetic resource for developing new foods,medicines and fuels.

Healthy native prairie is the foundation for theranching lifestyle. Healthy grasslands producelivestock that are the envy of producers aroundthe world.

Representative areas of native prairie can be usedto measure how we are changing our environment.

Native prairie helps us learn about theenvironment we live in and the other organismsthat we share it with.

The beauty of the prairie is unrivalled. The opengrassland, l iving sky and hidden valleys commanda sense of place like no other.

different shades on a picture. These differences inreflectance are recorded on satellite images.Researchers used satellite images to estimate the areaof different 26 land cover classes in the 4 ecoregions ofthe Prairie Ecozone. This method is much faster andeasier than driving across the whole province andchecking every piece of land.

The 26 cover classes were grouped to form sixcover types: Native Dominant Grassland, Cropland &Seeded Pasture, Trees & Shrubs, Water & Wetlands andOther (Table 2).Here we are most interested in NativeDominant Grassland (i.e., native grassland), grasslanddominated by native plants but possibly including sometame grasses and forbs (e.g., Smooth Brome and Alfalfa).

Determining land uses from satellite imagery is not anexact science. In some cases, different land uses may have avery similar reflectance. Thme pastures and hay crops, forexample, are sometimes confused with native grassland.Using satellite imagery, some researchershave estimated that approximately 2Io/o ofthe Prairie Ecozone remains as nativegrassland. Other researchers have suggestedthat as little as l7o/o of native grasslandremains. This implies a considerable amountof error in using the satellite data. Anotherproblem is that the data is onlyrepresentative of the time the images weretaken. Despite a variety of conservationefforts, we know that more and more nativegrassland is being disturbed.

Despite its limitations, satellite imagery stilloffers a good but general picture of land coverclasses in the province. The informationpresented in this fact sheet is based onSouthern Digital Land Cover (SDLC) 1994Digital Data Files (cover class data wasprovided by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration).The maps provided here are very general. Much more site-specific maps can be produced from this information.

Aside lrom lheir contribulion lo the ec0system, most nalive plants haveunknown potential. However lhe potential ol some, such as Purple Cone

Flower (Echinacea), have become widely recognized and developed.

Naliveprarne rshome lo a

diverse rangeol planls

andanimals.

include nearly24I,000 km' of land. OnIy 2lo/o of Prairie Ecozone isclassified as Native Dominant Grassland as comparedwith 680lo classified as Cropland (Map 1, Table 1).

Approximately 20o/o of Saskatchewan's native grasslandoccurs in the Aspen Parkland ecoregion. Within thisecoregion, however, nativegrassland occupies only l3o/o ofthe landscape; over 7lo/o of hasbeen cultivated (Table 2.1).Because of the favourableclimate, trees and shrubs occupyover 9o/o of the land area. TheAspen Parkland contains morewetlands than any other prairieecoregion. Native grasslandremaining in the 22 landscapeareas of this ecoregion rangesfrom 60/o in the Quill Lake Plain(north of the Quill Lakes) to37o/o in the Lower Battle RiverPlain and the Ribstone Plain in the western part of theecoregion (Map 2, Table 2.1). Invasion of woody andexotic plants is an important threat to the remaining nativegrassland in this ecoregion, especially in the absence ofgrazing and fire. These few invasive plants replace thediverse communities of grasses and wildflowers thatprovide habitat for many grassland animals. The highproductivity of this area leads to a tendency forpastures to be overgrazed. Overgrazing weakens theplant roots, allows only the most adapted to surviveand opens space for invasion of exotic plants. Althoughthis is the most productive grassland ecoregion in theprovince, it is also the most fragmented (broken intosmall pieces, Table 3), overused and threatened byexotic species.

Like the Aspen Parkland,20o/o of the remaining nativegrassland in the province occurs in the Moist MixedGrassland ecoregion. Over 760/o of the land base has beencultivated leaving only 160/o ofthe ecoregion as nativegrassland (Table 2.2).In its 20 landscape areas, remainingnative grassland ranges ftom 460/o of the land area in theNeutral Hills (the most westerly area of the ecoregion) to60lo in the Griffin Plain (the Estevan/Weyburn area) (Map2,Table 2.2).

Over 507o of remaining native grassland inSaskatchewan occurs in the Mixed Grassland ecoregion.Overall, 3lo/o of the land area is occupied by nativegrassland and620/o is cultivated. There are 25 landscapeareas in this ecoregion (Map 2, Table 2.3). Native grasslandcover ranges ftom78o/o in the Great Sandhills to l4o/o inthe Lake Alma Upland in the southeast corner of theecoregion. Large areas of this region are uneconomical forcrop production due to poor soils and a hot, dry climate.This climate also reduces the establishment and spread ofinvasive woody and exotic plants. Producers areveryconscious of how this grassland is managed because of itslower productivity and high sensitivity to overgrazing.

Overall, native prairie occurs in the largest parcels (Thble3), is in best condition and is least threatened in thisecoregion.

With its long slopes and rolling hills, the CypressUpland ecoregion is a unique and picturesque feature inthe prairie landscape. Only 7o/o percent of all native

grassland in the provinceoccurs in this relatively smallecoregion. Due to soillimitations and a ranchingtradition, however, this areahas been least disturbed bycultivation (22o/o) with over70o/o of the land arearemaining as native grassland(Table2.4\.

Annual crop produc-l ion now dominales

the Moist MixedGrassland landscape.

% Nat ive GrasslandAspen Parkland

aRadisson

Ecozone Total

81,69367,83286,4225,019

'13'16

3171

+';il

240.966 21

*o*"nr IBA'tl[0toRD

Native Dom inant Grassland

Prairie Ecoregions

Aspen Parl<lancl

Moist Mixcd Grasslands

Mixed Grasslancls

Cypress Uplancls

Map Ctedit. GIS Division, CPBCSources Ecoregions ofSaskttcllewan SouthenDi0ital Ldnd Cover.

4., .

i!oam lrakc

a lturtrl

o

a^ipflngsl(e

r YORKTON

I

MELVILLtr

I

li$tcrhazy

Mapic CreclI

I SWIF'rcuRtruN't

I

Pr

a

Gnl,elbourg

Broadvicw

Moist MixedGrass la nd

aCarlyle

Native PIant Society ofSaskatchewan, Inc,

Aspen ParklandMoist Mixed GrasslandMrxed GrasslandCVpress Upland

0 50 Krn

-!

}IUMBOLDTa

Land Area

' lotal Native Dominanat Crasslands lbr the PrairieEcozone 51.612 km}

nErr

Mixed Grassland

Cypress Upland

G

Landscape LandscapeArea Code

Natlve CloDl.nd & Trss & Wator & Othel

H2H3H4H5H6H7H8H9H10H11H12H13H14H15H16H17H18H19H20H21

183737231219

12

61130

30

141211'13I28

643115

75

61

7974

4177

7781198462

1040'111

0304

'105

643

4182

27342517

55410216

23I473

50555

Cropland & SeededPasture (71 7o)Lloydminsler Plain

Lower Battle River Pl6inRibstone PlainProrcst Plainlraymont PlainWhfrewood HillsHafford PlainWaldheim PlainCudworth PlainOuill Lake Plain

73921,4411,145342

2,4983,453727

4,1352,U710,537

Touchwood Hills Upland 10,301Whitesnd Plains 1,634YorKon Plain 6,2MSt Lzane Plain 623Melville Plain 7,961lndian H€ad Plain 3,394Kipl ing Plain 5,4Ulroose Moudain Upland 2,740Moos€ Mountain 1,174Gainsborough Plain 5,935Moos lv lountain Cr6€k Plaln 1,385 o4

1

Cropland & Se€dedPasture (76%)

Other (1%)

Water &Wetlands (6010)

Trees &Shrubs (9%)

Other (1%)Water &Wetlands (5%)

Trees &Shrubs (3%)

Other (1%)

Water &Wetlands (5%)

Trees &Shrubs (2%)

NativeGrassland (71%)

Other (0 2%)Water &Wetlands (2%)

Trees &Shrubs (5%)

Cropland & SeededPastue (22'/o)

oak Lake Plain

Landscap€ Landscepe LandArea Native CroPlandt Treos& Wator& Othor

Area Codo Area Name Tot.l (km') Grassland S.eded Pasture shrubs Wolland

Kl Neutral HillsK2 TEmping Lako PlainK3 Senlac Hi l lsK4 Biggar PlainK5 Bear Hi l l6K6 Rosetown PlalnK7 Goose Lake PlainKE Saskatoon Plain

1,246 466,776 16603 32572 37

1,201 304,232 105,105 181,076 14

979 184,AM 111,184 197 444 11

75 18154 4 10 1

I 6 0347

47

8670663472807383

84

888672

04

041

101

021

01I1I

o4321

878

14

'103

034

21

022

o2

K9Kl0Kl1K12K13K14K15K15K17K18K19

Moose Wood Sand Hills 2,131 39Minichinas UplandElstow PlainAl lan Hi l lsAm Riv6r PlainLast l\4ountain Lek€ Plain 2,124 20

4,353 102,709 249,090 76,405 64047 19

StEsbou.g PlainEyebrow PlainRogina Plaincritfln PlainTrossachs Plain

l\,12 Sibbald Plainl\il3 Oyen UplandM4 Eston PlainM5 Bad Hi l lsM6 A€dia Valley PlainM7 Bindloss PlainM8 Hazlet PlainMg Schul€r PlainM10 Maple Cre€k PlainM11 Great Sand HillsM12 Antelopo Craek PlainM13 Gul l Lake Pl6inM14 Be€chy Hl l lsM15 Coteau Hi lsM16 Chapl in PlainM17 Swift Cuilent PlateauM18 Wood River PlainM19 Did Hi l ls

1,147 181,499 449,126 181,614 35136 26767 37

2,2M 171,750 372,661 731,243 782,674 191,520 422,A57 40'1,498 166,713 227,588 1910,076 ' ,153,349 33

76527761724979612013765352

627881

587339

3125

02 5 0402 3 0,41411 3 02

01 I 0412 2 021 3 031 2 012 5 028 1 01

02 4 12312 6 036 3 02312 1121

04 4 I11 31271482241

03 3 103 1 102 2 1

M2o coteau LakEs Upland 6,729 31

M21 Lake Alma Upland 2,139 14

M22 W@d Mounlain Plateau 8,884 55M23 Climax Plain

Cropland & SeededPasture (62%)

3,611 29

M24 Old tvlan on his Baok Plateau 1,373 67M25 Wild Ho6e Plain 2 601 73ilfvrd crr.ef.6d T6t5l AG.422 31% 62'h 2% 5% 1%

Landscape

Area Nam€

Covor TYPoI%l

LandArea --Tlii-

cropland& Trees& w.ter& other

Total ftm'?) Grassland Seeded Shrubs Wotland

cypre$ Slope 947 66 29 3 2 0 3

cvnress Hills 4073 72 20 6 2 0 2N1N2

s.020 7'1./. z2v. s'/. 2"L 0'2%

landsuape Areas Within lhe Prairie lcozone ol $aslatchewan

050

-

EErE

Landscape areas

Prairie EcoregionsAspen Parkland

Moist Mixed Grasslands

Mixed GrasslandsCypress Uplands

Map Crcdit: GIS Division, CPBCSo u rces : Ecoreg ions ol Saskatchewa n

Ecoregion <10 ha(<25 ac)

11-100 ha(25-250 ac)

101-1,000 ha(250-2500 ac)

> 1,000 ha(>2,500 ac)

Aspen Parkland (n=29)Moist Mixed Grassland (n=18)Mixed Grassland (n=88)

24,34623,44430,339

8881,0422,017

144 (0.60/0)192 (0.8o/o)372 (1.1%)

16 (0.1o/")43 (0.2o/")80 (0.2o/"\

Overall 116,912 5,637 980 (0.8%) 192 (0.2yo)

*Reference: James, PC., K.M. Murphy, F Beekand R. Sequin 1999. The biodiversitvcrisis in southern Saskatchewan:a landscaoe persoective. Pages 13 to 16 in J. Thorpe, T.A. Steeves and M. Gallop (eds.) Proceedings of the Fifth PrairieConservation and Endangered Species Conference. Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton. Natural HistoryOccasional Paoer No.24

Note: 250 hectares (625 acres) is considered the minimum required to support representative levels of native speciesdiversity. Reference: P.C. James 2000 Presentation at Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Annual General Meeting.

tr

statistics described above, it is clear thatmost native grassland has been lost to agriculturalcultivation. We should be proud of our agriculturalheritage for it is the foundation on which this provincehas been built. However, fertile soils and a favourableclimate are the foundation of western Canadianagriculture. Our fertile soils formed under nativegrasslands over almost 10,000 years since the lastglaciation. Organic matter, made up of plants andanimals decaying over centuries, is the source of thefertility and rich dark colour of topsoil. Therefore, theremaining native grassland is a part of our heritagethat must be conserved.

Soil capability for agriculture has beenmapped for the entire prairie region ofSaskatchewan. This map shows where we canfind good and poor soils for crop production.Approximately 75o/o of remaining nativegrassland occurs on land that is severelylimited or unsuitable for crop production(Map 3, Table 4). Most of these areas areunsuitable for cultivation due to soil moisturelimitations, stones, steep slopes, erosion,salinity, soil structure or flooding. Over 24o/oof native grassland is still at medium or highrisk of being broken (Soil classes I to 3). Withadvances in crop development, crop varietiesthat can grow under drier conditions and oninfertile soil may soon become available.While these advancements may be verybeneficial to producers, it may also increasethe threat of further cultivation of native prairie on pooragricultural Iand.

Some plants grow best on fertile clay soils while othersare well adapted to infertile sandy soils. Some animalsdepend on specific plants to provide food and shelter. Inorder to keep the diversity of plants and animalsacross the prairies, we need to conserve nativegrassland onboth fertile andinfertile soils.Only l0olo ofthe remainingnative grasslandoccurs onhighlyproductive soil(i.e., Soil Classlor 2). Theseareas are athighest risk ofcultivation.They need to besaved as abenchmark forthe future and areserve ofbiodiversity.

A diverse range ol decomposing native plantsand animals bui l t today's agricultural soi ls.

Approximately 75% of remainingnative grassland occurs on land thalis severely limited or unsuilable for

annual crop produclion.

l latiue llominant rasslands Belative I0Agriuulture lllithin lhe Prairie lcozone

$oil Gapa[il i ty ]orol $askatchewan

050

-

Soil Capability Class - Limitations for Agriculture

nr-NotSigni f icant

2 - Moderate

[-f 3 - Moderately Severe

WA4 -s"o"r"5 - Serious/Forage Crops Improvement Practices Feasible

ffi e - Serious/Forage Crops Improvement Practices Not Feasible

Urban Area

ffi wut".

I Native Dominant Grasslands

Map Credit: GIS Division, CPBCSources: Ecoregions of Saskatchewan,CANSIS: Atlas of Saskatchewan

Prairie Ecozone NDG

Soif Cfass Soil Class Description Land Area (km2) % of Ecoizone Land Area % NDG o/o ol Ecozone

No Significant Limitations 2,696 12311 0.1ModerateLimitations/ModerateConservationPractices 70'025 29 5,072 10 2

11

3

56urban

Moderately Severe LimitationsSevere LimitationsForage Crops lmprovement Practices FeasibleForage Crops lmprovement Practices Not Feasible

Urban Area

65,901 27 7,229 14 355,012 23 14,758 29 6

8 11,125 2212,609 24

0249 01 I

23,94419,441

10

0.02

or agricultural classification derived from the of Saskatchewan Digital Data Set, 1999

Over 30%o of the remaining native grassland is ownedor managed by government agencies or conservationorganizations (Table 5). Almost 45o/o of this native'conservation land' (or 13o/o of all native grassland) ismanaged as Provincial or PFRA (Prairie FarmRehabilitation Administration) pasture. These lands areeither leased to farmers and ranchers or are managed ascommunlty pastures.

An estimated 460lo of conservation land (Table 5) isprotected under the provincial Wildlife Habitat ProtectionAct. Although restricted development may be permitted,this legislation protects 13,600 km' (3.4 rnil l ion acres) ofuplands and wetlands in its natural state. Other publiclyowned conservation areas include parks. Once fullyestablished, Grasslands National Park will encompass 906square kilometres (226,500 acres) of land,82o/o of which isnative grassland.

In response to the need to conserve more areas in theirnatural state, the Province is also in the process ofestablishing a system of special sites to be called theRepresentative Areas Network. The network will consist ofexisting and new wildlife lands, riparian areas, wetlands,protected areas, bird sanctuaries, ecological reserves andprairie rangelands. A Biodiversity Action Plar-r is also beingdeveloped to ensure that our biological resources areconserved.

A number of non-governmental agencies own andlease land to conserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity.Some of these agencies also offer stewardship programsdesigned to promote voluntary habitat conservation bylandowners. These conservation agencies include DucksUnlimited Canada, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation,Nature Conservancy of Canada and Nature Saskatchewan.

The Prairie Conservation Action Plan was developed tofurther the interests of prairie conservation. Thecommittee implementing this plan brings togetherrepresentatives frorn government agencies, industry,conservation organizations, special interest groups andlandowners to discuss issues related to prairieconservation. Chaired by the Saskatchewan Stock Growers'Association, it provides a forum for information exchange,coordinated conservation efforts and development ofuseful education and stewardship programs.

Landowners can use conservation easements to protectland from being broken. A conservation easement is avoluntary legal agreement between a landowner and aqualified conservation agency. Under this agreement, thelandowner continues to own and manage the land withbenefits to both the landowner and the environment.

Prairie onsBruation Initiatiues

M Prair ie conservation has become an issue in urban centres as well as in lhe country.

Native DominantGrasslands (NDG)K..,q

Ramsar SiteWetlands of international importance consisting of marshes, swamps and other wetlandsof value forflood control, nutrient production, wildlife habitat and other related purposes.

Migratory Bird SanctuaryDesignated to protect migratory bird, their nests, eggs and habitat.

National Historic ParkFederally owned lands designated to: a) commemorate a historic event; or b) preserve ahistoric landmark or object of historic, prehistoric or scientific interest ofnational significance.National ParkRelatively large tracts of land and/or water designated and managed by the federalgovernment to protect representative natural areas or ecosystems of Canadian orinternational signifl cance.

National Wildlife AreaDesignated to protect and maintain important or unique federally owned lands formigratory birds and other wildlife.

PFRA Community PastureMarginal agricultural lands established to accommodate sustainable grazing practicesand other compatible land uses, such as wildlife habitat, recreation and mineral extraction

Ecological ReserveProvincial lands sustaining or associated with unique or representative parts of thenatural environmentProvincial Historic SiteSmall parcels of crown land containing prehistoric or historic resources ofprovincial significance.Protected AreaDesignated crown lands which serve to protect and preserve site-specific cultural andnatural resources of provincial significance.

Provincial Community PastureLarge blocks of provincial crown land assembled to provide supplementary grazing forlivestock producers and to maintain marginal lands in permanent cover. They aremanaged to accommodate multiple uses, such as wildlife habitat, recreation, heritageinterests and mineral activities

Provincial Heritage PropertyHeritage property is any property, whether a work of nature or of man, that is of interestfor its architectural, historical, cultural, environmental, aesthetic or scientific value.

Provincial ParksNatural Environment - Large natural tracts of land protecting representative and uniquelandscapes; offer public recreational opportunities. Wilderness - Large & remote tracts ofundisturbed crown land in a natural state; allow the pursuit of low intensity &non-mechanized wilderness recreation.

Provincial Recreation SiteSmall areas of crown land developed to take advantage of padicular recreation activitiesor facilities (e.9., campground, picnic area or lake access).

Wildlife Development Fund Land a

Land designated to conserve and improve critical habitat primarily for whitetailed deer,as well as other imporlant game and endangered species,

Wildlife Habitat Protection Act a

Lands critical to wildlife survival including rare and endangered species. They protectremaining "critical" areas on crown land without affecting existing compatibletraditional uses.

Wildlife RefugeThese lands are constituted as areas for the protection, propagation, perpetuation,management, control, regulation and/or enhancement of wildlife and its habitat

Nature Gonservancy of CanadaNCC is Canada's only national charity dedicated to preserving ecologically signiflcant

Area(km')

o/o of % of NDGCA in ecozone3

122 20.6 0.2

17 3.5 <0.1

5 43j <0.1

748 81.8 1.4

110 56.7 0.2

5,477 83.1 10.6

2 26.3 <0.1

1 69.6 <0.1

31 58.6 0 1

1,849 79.8 3.6

<1 100,0 <0.' l

243 28.8 0.5

13 44.3 <0.1

89 31.2 0.2

7,575 77.8 14.7

13 35.6 <0.1

78 43.6 0.2donations and conservation easements

Total in Conservation Areas5 16,373 73.5 31.7

Reference: Gauthier, D.A and E. Wiken (in press) Monitoring the conservation of grassland habitat, Prairie Ecozone, Canada Proceedings of the 7th

National Science Meeting of the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, May 2-5,2001, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.'

Land area data were calculated from giographical information systems maps and may not equal values published by agencies managing the CAs

Percentage of all NDG in Prairie Ecozone accounted for in CAThese CA types are referenced by quarter section centroids, i.e., they are not available as polygons. Therefore, the CA types can't be intersected with cover

types to deiermine the extent of each land cover type relative to CAs. Therefore, reliable area totals by cover type cannot be obtained

Some ar"as are designated by more than one CA type. Thus when summing across CA types, cases of double counting may occur' g34

5

ConservationAreas

Area2 o/o of(km') ecozone

Droiight stress and disturbancei such as fireand grazingby huge herds of bison were commonon the prairies. With time, prairie plantcommunities became well adapted to thesedisturbances. In fact, researchers have shown thatmoderate levels of disturbance produce the mostdiverse plant communities. The disturbances,however, were not continuous. Prairie fires couldnot burn the same piece of Iand year after yearbecause it took time for litter to build up to fuelthe fire. Bison migrated through the rangeland,grazingheavily for a short time but thensometimes not returning for years. Theprairie had time to recover betweendisturbance events. In a sense, nature'sbalance managed the prairie.

Now that the land has been settled, ithas become our responsibility to managethe prairie. The roaming herds of bison aregone and prairie fires are few and farbetween. Some land has been idled whileother parcels have been heavily overgrazed.Poor management allows trees, shrubs,weeds and tame grasses to invade the nativegrassland. The plant community also becomes less diverse and lessproductive. Some land managers and researchers have estimatedthat less than 20o/o of the remaining prairie is in'good' condition(i.e., a healthy state).

It is clear then, that the future of native prairie is in the hands ofits stewards. By keeping the best interests of the land a priority, goodstewards reap the benefit ofhealthy, diverse and productive prairie.However, the cost of conserving an endangered habitat can be very

high for an individuallandowner. Theselandowners must becommended for keepingthe land in its healthy,natural state. Since all ofsociety benefits, we mustencourage and supportthe stewardship efforts offarmers and ranchers.

The lutureol native

prarne rs Inthe hands

of itsstewards.

Prescribed burning and well-managedgrazing are keys lo maintaining

diversity and control l ing invasion 0fexol ic and woody planls.

E

ion has been n as the major source ofprairie disturbance in the past. In the future, however, otherthreats to native grassland may be equally as important.The impact of industrial development, expanding townsand cities, acreages, summer cottages and roads are just afew examples. Many of these disturbances fragment thelandscape allowing exotic plants to spread into the prairie.Prairie disturbances such as these are inevitable as ourpopulation grows. We may reduce our impact byminimizing and restoring disturbance areas. We must alsoidenti$r areas that are important for conservation wheredevelopment is restricted or excluded. Detailed assessmentsof quality and health are needed to ensure our remainingnative prairie is managed appropriately in the future.Assessmentsof our ownvalues andchoices arealso neededto ensurethat, in theIong term,we will stillhave what wevalue most.

Selected Publications

GeneralActon, D.F., Padbury, G.A., Stushnofl C.T., Gallagher, L.,

Gauthier, D.A., Kelly, L., Radenbaugh, T., and Thorpe,l. 1998. Ecoregions of Saskatchewan. SaskatchewanEnvironment and Resource Management andCanadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina,Regina, Saskatchewan.

Ecological Land Classification Committee'.l994. Ecoregionsof Saskatchewan.Poster map compiled by G. Padburyand D. Acton. SaskGeomatics, Regina, Saskatchewan.

Gauthiet D.A. and Patino, L. 1998. Saskatchewan's NaturalHeritage: Provincial and Federal Lands Classified byInternational Conservation Management Categories.Poster map. CPRC Press, University of Regina,Saskatchewan.

Gauthier, D.A., K. McGovern and L. Patino.200l. Map

folio: grassland habitats and conservation areas, PrairieEcozon e of Ca n a d a. http://wlr,r.v.cprc.ca.

Gauthiet D., L. Patino and L. Langford. 1998. Mappingconservation lands in Saskatchewan In: LinkingProtected Areas with Working Landscapes ConservingBiodiversity, Proceedings of the Third InternationalConference on Science and Management of ProtectedAreas, 12- 16 May 1997, edited by N.W.P. Munro andJ.H.M Willison, Science and Management of ProtectedAreas Association, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, pp.724-741.

Prairie Conservation Action Plan Committee. 1998.Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan. Regina:Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina,Saskatchewan.

Field GuidesPlants

fohnson, D., L. Kershaw, A. MacKinnon and J. Pojar. 1995.Plants of the Western Boreal Forest and Aspen Parkland.Lone Pine Publishing and the Canadian Forest Service.

Looman, f. and Agriculture Canada. 1982. Prairie Grasses.Ottawa, Ontario: Minister of Supply and ServicesCanada. (Copies available from the LethbridgeCommunity College Bookstore, (403) 320-3i41)

Royer, F. and R. Dickinson. 1999. Weeds of Canada and theNorthern United States. University of Alberta Press andLone Pine Publishing, Edmonton.

Saskatchewan Agricultural and Food. 1993. Field Guide:Identification of Common Range Plants of SouthernSaskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Agricultural and Food. 1994. Field Guide:Identification of Common Range Plants of NorthernSaskatchewan.

Vance. F.R., f.R Jowsey, f.S. Mclean and F.A. Switzer. 1999.WildJlowers Across the Prairies. Second edition.Greystone Books.

Animals

Burt, W. H. 1980. A Field Guide to the Mammals of NorthAmerica North of Mexico. Third Edition. HoughtonMifflin Company. (Peterson Field Guide)

Farrand, I. (lr.). 1988. Eastern Birds.McGraw Hill BookCompany. (Note: this book covers prairie birds also.)

Fulure prairie stewards discover lheweb-of- l i fe on tf ie prair ie.

Edmonton.ishing,

Rangeland Management1995. Managing Saskatchewan Rangeland, Revised Edition.

Ducks Unlimited, Prairie Farm RehabilitationAdministration, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food,Grazing and Pasture Technology Program.

Abougendia, Z. 1990. Range Plan Development: A PracticalGuide to Planning for Management and Improvement ofSaskatchewan Rangeland. Saskatchewan AgricultureDevelopment Fund.

Huel, D. 1998. Streambank Stewardship: Your Guide toCaring for Riparian Areas in Saskatchewan.Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation.

Huel, D. 2000. Managing SaskatchewanWetlands: ALandowner's Guide. Regina, Saskatchewan:Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation.

Kowalenko, B. andZ. Abougendia (eds.). 1999. Ranching

for Conservation and Profit: Producer Experience.Grazing and Pasture Technology Program. Regina.

Seed Pro duction, Restoration, Landscapingand ConservationHammermeister, A.M. 2000. Native Seed Harvesting and

Marketing. Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan.Saskatoon, SK.

Hammermeister, A.M., T. Klassen, L. Hall, C. Nykoluk, L.Oliphant and K. Scalise. 2001. Acreage Living AConservation Guide For Owners And Developers ofNatural Habitats. Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan.Saskatoon, SK.

Moen, f. 1998. ManagingYour Native Prairie Parcels: YourGuide to Caring for Native Prairie in Saskatchewan.Regina, Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan WetlandConservation Corporation.

Morgan,l.R D.R. Collicutt and J.D. Thompson. 1995.Restoring Canada's Native Prairies. Argyle, Manitoba:Prairie Habitats Inc.

Native Plant Materials Committee. Revegetating WithNative Grasses. Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Nernberg, D. 1995. Native Species Mixtures for Restorationin the Prairie and Parkland Ecoregions of Saskatchewan.Mixed-Grass Prairie Habitat Restoration Proiect,Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada.

Pearman, M. and T. Pike. 2000. NatureScape Alberta:Creating and Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home.RedDeer River Naturalists. (Copies available from the BIuefay Bookshop, see contact below)

Regina Prairie Garden Project. 1996. Growing a NativePrairie Garden. Regina Prairie Garden Project.

Scalise, K. 1996. Wildhfe Gardening in Saskatchewan:Building Bacleyard Biodiversity. Wildlife Branch,Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management.

Smith, S.R. Jr. and S. Smith (eds.). Native Grass SeedProduction Manual. Plant Materials Program, U.S. Dept.of Agriculture; Ducks Unlimited Canada; ManitobaForage Seed Association and University of Manitoba.

Trottier, G.C. 1992. Conservation of Canadian PrairieGrasslands: a Landowner's Guide. Minister of Supplyand Services Canada. (Copies available fromEnvironment Canada, see contact below)

Blue fay Bookshop, Nature Saskatchewan206 - 1860 Lorne StreetRegina SK S4P 2L7Ph: (306) 780-9273

. Wide range of field guides for plants,animals and insects

Canadian Plains Research CenterUniversity of Regina3737 Wascana ParkwayRegina SK S4S 0A2Ph: (306) 585-4758Website: www.cprc.u regina.ca

Ducks Unlimited Canada603-45th Street WestSaskatoon SK S7L 5W5Ph: (306) 665-7356orBox 4465Regina SK S4P 3W7Ph: (306) 569-0424Website: www.ducks.ca

. Prairie stewardship programs

. Wetland conservation and development

. Wildlife habitat conservation and development

. Conservation easements

Bnvironment CanadaCanadian Wildlife Service, Prairie and Northern Region115 Perimeter RoadSaskatoon SK S7N 0X4Ph: (306) 97s-429rWebsite: wwwec. gc.calcws-scf/cwshome_e.html

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian NationsAsimakaniseekan Askiy ReserveSuite 200-103 A Packham AvenueSaskatoon SK S7N 4K4Ph: (306) 665-1215Website: wwwfsin.com

George F. Ledingham Herbariumc/o Biology DepartmentUniversity of ReginaRegina SK S4S 0A2Ph: (306) 585-4254

. Plant collections

. Plant identification

Grasslands National ParkBox 150Val Marie SK SON 2T0Ph: (306) 298-2166Website: http://parkscanada.pch. gc. calparks/saskatchewan/ grasslands/grasslands_e.htm

Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Inc.P.O. Box 21099Saskatoon SK S7H 5N9Ph: (306) 668-3940Web site : ur,l'w. npss. sk. ca

. Source list of native plant suppliers

. Workshops, meetings, field tours

. Restoration and education projects

. General plant identification inquiries

r

Nature#l

Website: www.natureconservancy.ca. Conservation easements. Conservation programs

Nature SaskatchewanRoom 206 - 1860 Lorne StreetRegina SK S4P 2L7Website: www.unibase.com/-nature/Ph: (306) 780-9273

. Conservation easements

. Environmental education

PFRA Shelterbelt CentreBox 940Indian Head SK SOG 2K0Ph: (306) 695-2284Website: www. agr. calpfra

. Source for trees and shrubs

. Information resources for establishing shelterbelts

Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration1800 Hamilton St.Regina SK S4P 4L2Ph: (306) 780-5121Website: www.agr.cal pfr al

. Grazing and water management

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food3085 Albert StreetRegina SK S4S 0BlPh: (306) 787-sr40Website: www.agr. gov.sk.ca

. Grazing and water management

. Noxious weed list

Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centrec/o Moose Jaw Exhibition Company Ltd.250 Thatcher Drive EastMoose Iaw SK 36l lL7Ph: (306) 692-176s

Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre321 I Albert St.Regina SK S4S 5W6Ph: (306) 787-502rWebsite: www.biodiversity.sk.ca

. Rare plants and animals information

. Plant and animal inventory and distribution

Saskatchewan Envirorunent and Resource Management321 I Albert St.Regina SK S4S 5W6Ph: (306) 787-2314Website: www. gov.sk.calserm/

. Wildlife and habitat management for wildlife

. Parks and recreation

. Conservation easements

Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centrel03B - 205 Packham AvenueSaskatoon SK S7N 4K4Ph: (306) 373-990rWebsite: www.sicc.sk.ca

""t.t 1"*"o Pratrte ConservationAction Plan

Box 4752Regina SK S4P 3Y4

' Ph: (306) 352-0472Website: www.pcap-sk.org

. Multi-stakeholder group addressing issues related toprairie conservation

. Field tours, prairie management, educational events

. Key contact for conservation issues

Saskatchewan Purple Loosestrife Eradication ProjectI l5 Perimeter RoadSaskatoon SK S7N 0X4Ph: (306) 975-4r0r

Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation# l0l -2022 Cornwall StreetRegina SK S4P 2K5Ph: (306) 787-0782Website: www.wetland.sk.ca

. Native Prairie Stewardship Program

. Streambank Stewardship Program

. Grazing and water management

. Plant identification

Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation444 River St. WMoose faw SK. S6H 616Ph: (306) 692-7772

Saskatchewan Stock Growers' AssociationBox 4752Regina SK S4P 3Y4Ph: (306) 757-8523

Semiarid Prairie Agriculture Research Centre(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Box 1030Swift Current SK S9H 3X2Ph: (306) 778-7200Website: www. res.agr.calswift/welcome.htm

Society for Range Management3085 Albert Street,Regina SK S4S 0BlPh: (306) 787-7712

Tourism Saskatchewan1922 Park StreetRegina SK S4P 3V7Ph: (306) 787-2300Website: wwwsasktourism.com

University of SaskatchewanDepartment of Plant Sciences5l Campus DriveSaskatoon SK S7N 5A8Ph: (306) 966-49ssWebsite: www.usask.calagriculture/plantsci/

W.P. Fraser llerbariumUniversity of Saskatchewan51 Campus DriveSaskatoon SK S7N 5A8Ph: (306) 966-4968

. Plant collections

. Plant identification