North Cooking Lake Natural Area is divided into three progressively smaller natural areas. The largest one is in good shape despite peripheral intrusions of ATV’s and an abandoned hunting blind.

Site visit occurred over two days in September, 16 & 23, 2023. 

1. Inspection Report
2. Sound File
3. Images from Inspection

Inspection Report

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2023-09-23: North Cooking Lake (OC); 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	One Natural Area divided into three smaller pieces. The larger southern portion has an extensive trail system and is relatively undisturbed. The wetlands west of Wye road protect the natural area from unauthorized ingress.
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	< half a day (e.g. < about 4 hours)
Why Did you Go?	Q42	PA Site inspection for SAPAA, Other (see comments)
Visit Details	Q43	Researching for the YEG-Ville travel guide with a secondary option of gathering information for SAPAA. Visited over two days, Sep 16 & 23, 2023.
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	Parking lot or parking for 2 or more cars
Biological Observations	Q52	Indirect observations such as animal tracks and lay downs in tall grass.
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	No, did not see anything of note
Geological Observations	Q54
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	Signage, Fencing, Fences, Stiles, Gates
Comments	Q56	Some signage could use some updating. Signage east of Wye Road in disrepair.
		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	Camping (lean-to’s, fire rings, etc.)
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	None Noted
Comments	Q67	Snowshoe Destination from the various trails heading toward Cooking Lake. Wet in September, likely well frozen in the winter. A dilapidated hunting blind was noted close to the lake and the southeast corner of this section. A loop was completed by walking across private land to the south – not recommended although otherwise a loop is not possible. In the winter, it is likely possible to stay in the natural area by overlanding across the otherwise wet areas.
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Fencing, Signs, Continued Monitoring
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Visit and Submitted This Report!
Nearby Stewards?	Q73	There is a farmer to the south on Wye Road who is potential steward.
Comments	Q74
Last Words	Q82	Generally in good shape with limited incursions into the western portion. Southeastern portion has older ATV tracks.

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 2023-09-23, approximately 1300h, coordinates provided in the sound file.

Images from Inspection