A pleasant slice of the Beaverhills Biosphere adjoining the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreational Area.
Good Shape. Besides the Waskehagan and an ATV trail, limited human disturbances in the Wanisan Lake (PNT) Natural Area. Natural activity includes significant beaver cutting and numerous mounds, presumably caused by ants. A few downy masses were noted, likely from birds growing into their full plumage.
Inspection Report
| Question | Q## | Response |
| General Information | ||
| Date/Site/Submitter: | Q21/22/12 | 2023-10-08: Wanisan Lake (PNT); Phrank P. |
| Guest Names | Q14 | |
| SAPAA Member | Q16 | Yes |
| Over all Impression of the Site | ||
| What is the Naturalness of the Site? 4=Great, 0=Terrible | Q31 | 4 – Great |
| How Natural?: comments | Q32 | Besides the Waskahegan trail and an ATV track on the lake, limited human disturbances. |
| How was your visit to the PA? | ||
| Trip Duration | Q41 | 1-2 hours |
| Why Did you Go? | Q42 | Other (see comments) |
| Visit Details | Q43 | Add to guide book, see: https://yegville.ca/2023/11/27/wanisan-lake/. |
| What is in the Site? | ||
| Ease to Visit | Q51 | Parking lot or parking for 2 or more cars, Washroom |
| Biological Observations | Q52 | Significant beaver cutting and numerous mounds, presumably caused by ants. A few downy masses were noted, likely from birds growing into their full plumage. |
| Submissions to iNaturalist | Q53 | No, did not see anything of note |
| Geological Observations | Q54 | Table land is well secured above the riparian zone due to good vegetation and low water levels. |
| Designation as a Protected Area | Q55 | Signage, Fences, Stiles, Gates |
| Comments | Q56 | Facilities in good repair. |
| Human Activities/Disturbances | ||
| Agricultural Activities | Q61 | None noted |
| Resource extraction | Q62 | None Noted |
| Motorized disturbances (ATV or vehicle activity). | Q63 | Off Highway Vehicles (e.g. quads, motorbikes) |
| Animal or self propelled activities | Q64 | Hiking Trails |
| Gathering and Dumping Activities | Q65 | Other (see comments) |
| Infrastructure encroachment | Q66 | Other (see comments) |
| Comments | Q67 | Two abandoned duck blinds on the lake. |
| What Needs to be Done? | ||
| Remediation/Protection Activities Needed | Q71 | Nothing, all good |
| What Have you Done Recently to Help the site? | Q72 | Visit and Submitted This Report! |
| Nearby Stewards? | Q73 | |
| Comments | Q74 | Lots of nearby by acreages who could be stewards. Continued vigilance given the encroachment of urban areas. |
| Last Words | Q82 | Enjoyable site, will include in the YEGVille guide. |
Sound File
The Government of Alberta’s Chief Scientist office requests that we collect a sound recording from sites. Not much to hear, which is a good thing! Collected 2023-10-08, 1140h, coordinates provided in the sound file.
Images from Inspection
Waskahegan Trail notice at the start of the trail into Cooking Lake PRA; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Wanisan Lake Stopover hut built by the Waskahegan Trail Association initially in 1979; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Track through the bull rushes; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Down from a fledging; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Second duck blind structure on the lake; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Abandoned duck blind on the lake; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Recent beaver handy work on a birch tree; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
A well worn beaver trail from the forest area to the lake; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
One the larger of dozens of dirt mounds found along the lake; P. Potter, Wanisan Lake NA, 2023-10-08. 
Sample of the quad trail running north/south through site; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Single track trail heading roughly west towards the lake; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Abandoned building, south of NA; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Parking area at the north terminus of RR 204; ample parking for 10+ vehicles; P. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08. 
Route ProfileP. Potter Wanisan Lk NA 2023-10-08.
SAPAA 
Downy masses? If one is depicted in one of your pictures I would suggest it is a ball of seeds – from an aster family plant – that has been blown together, possibly from goatsbeard.- or Canada thistle.
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I cycled from RR204 past the shelter into the Blackfoot today. (Lake Side Trail to Detour / Don’s Way.) The trail is in decent shape and may even have had some maintenance. There was evidence of some fallen trees being cleared at the north end of the trail. Some of the boardwalks look a little rickety and one or two boards are missing, but they seemed safe enough. They are somewhat overgrown with grass and at one point there is a beaver lodge encroaching onto the boardwalk.
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