2023-10-01: Bridge Lake

An OC and a PNT make up this NA. The OC shows signs of disturbances and abuse in the form of dumping.

ATV track heading north from the oil field installation, Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.

Inspection Report

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2023-10-01: Bridge Lake; Phrank P.
Guest Names	Q14	Frank Potter
SAPAA Member	Q16	Yes
		Over all Impression of the Site
What is the Naturalness of the Site? 4=Great, 0=Terrible	Q31	2
How Natural?: comments	Q32	Although reasonably remote, both portions of the NA are crisscrossed with OHV Tracks. As well, dumping was found in the OC (southern portion) further degrading the naturalness score.
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	1-2 hours
Why Did you Go?	Q42	Other (see comments)
Visit Details	Q43	YEG-Ville Research
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	Other (see comments)
Biological Observations	Q52
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	No, did not see anything of note
Geological Observations	Q54
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	None Noted
Comments	Q56	No indication that either portions are NAs. Government fencing is sporadic.
		Human Activities/Disturbances
Agricultural Activities	Q61	None noted
Resource extraction	Q62	Oil/Gas wells
Motorized disturbances (ATV or vehicle activity).	Q63	Off Highway Vehicles (e.g. quads, motorbikes)
Animal or self propelled activities	Q64	Hiking Trails, Biking Trails (e.g. mountain bikes)
Gathering and Dumping Activities	Q65	Garbage dumping
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	Pipelines
Comments	Q67	Dumping is found in the OC portion in the northwest as well as the SW corner, on top of the hill. There are a number of quad tracks throughout the OC generating radiating out from the oil field installation. The trails tend to be braided. The PNT portion has ATV incursions which make use of the pre-existing cut lines and oil field installations. Government fencing is partially maintained along the western border of the PNT.
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Fencing, Cleanup, Signs, Continued Monitoring, Fence maintenance, Educating Neighbours about Site Usage
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Visit and Submitted This Report!
Nearby Stewards?	Q73	Nil-Ray Farms could be potentially recruited to be Stewards.
Comments	Q74
Last Words	Q82	This NA has excellent adventure potential for walking, XC Skiing, snowshoeing, etc.

SAPAA Site Inspection Report: 2023-10-01: Bridge Lake; Phrank P.

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 2023-10-01, coordinates provided in the sound file.

Images from Inspection

Somewhat shot up no hunting sign along a powerline right of way, Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Looking northwest at the top of hill (SW Corner) of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Looking north along the equivalent of RR 242, western border of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Looking south towards the southwest corner of the Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Moderate to heavy ATV traffic; Y with tracks heading northeast and south east; Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Urban style street signs marking the NE corner of the NA at RR 242 and Hwy 602. P. Potter, Bridge Lake NA, October 1, 2023.
Well used track into the north section of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
ATV Track looking west and following the southern border of the Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Dumping on the north east corner of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Oil field installation, north east corner of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Oil field installation, north east corner of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Abandoned appliance, south border of Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.
Dumping, southwest corner (top of the hill) of the Bridge Lake NA, P. Potter, October 1, 2023.