Five members and one guest attended the late summer SAPAA field trip which included Magee Lake NA. This is a combined post with notes from Hubert T., Kate R., and photos from Phrank P.

Located southeast of Ponoka, the group gave the NA high marks for being both undisturbed and recovering from past abuses. A number of botanical surprises were in store for the group (as detailed below). A side trip to Magee Lake (Southern Chain Lake) rounded out this portion of the field trip.

1. Inspection Report
   1. 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Kate L.
   2. 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Susan (ENPC)
   3. 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Tony B.
   4. 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Patsy C.
   5. 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Hubert T.
2. Images from Inspection

Inspection Report

2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Kate L.

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Kate R.
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	3
How Natural?: comments	Q32	Beautifully natural except for off road vehicle that made ruts.
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	1-2 hours
Why Did you Go?	Q42	Visit nature, PA Site inspection for SAPAA
Visit Details	Q43	Did circular route around the site following the trail – a couple of kilometers.
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	Other (see comments)
Biological Observations	Q52	Sign by trail entrance is not readily seen. There are boundary signs however, along the fence that can be seen from the road. I actually have iNaturalist but haven’t used it in two years. Will have to start again 🙂 Saw bunch berry, white man’s footprint, hazelnut, brome, mountain rue, trembling aspen, spruce, wild rye, oat grass, twinning honeysuckle, Saskatoon, snowberry, willows, fireweed, clover, woodpecker, chickadee, hawk, squirrel, finch, horsetail, wild rose, blue jay, dragon fly, bees on the thistles
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	Not Applicable
Geological Observations	Q54	None noted.
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	Signage
Comments	Q56	I did not look closely at the sign. My impression was that it was rather old.
		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, Botanical pursuits (e.g. plant identification), Dog Walking
Gathering and Dumping Activities	Q65	None Noted
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	None Noted
Comments	Q67
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Continued Monitoring
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Visit and Submitted This Report!
Nearby Stewards?	Q73	We were told that the neighbour across the road is interested in becoming a steward 41421 RR 244, Alberta
Comments	Q74	Although the quads ruts appear to be old they are filled with water (and breeding mosquitos). Perhaps the ruts could be filled. Felled trees could be left across the path making it difficult for motorized vehicles to pass.
Last Words	Q82	I would love to return to this site in the spring 🙂

2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Susan (ENPC)

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); I am a Guest
Guest Names	Q14	Susan Neuman
SAPAA Member	Q16	No
		Over all Impression of the Site
What is the Naturalness of the Site? 4=Great, 0=Terrible	Q31	3
How Natural?: comments	Q32	We were so impressed and captivated with the naturalness of the initial portion of the site that we only advanced ~400m in from the border (along a vehicle path) and did not complete an assessment of the entire natural area. The part that we did visit was very undisturbed – for example, we counted only 4 dandelions in the forest along that stretch and saw zero creeping thistle.
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	1-2 hours
Why Did you Go?	Q42	PA Site inspection for SAPAA
Visit Details	Q43
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	None of the Above
Biological Observations	Q52	Our visit was organized by Phrank P. of SAPAA, and he arranged for us to park on private property immediately adjacent to a dirt road that leads into the natural area. It was very easy for us to access the site. We found a great many native plants, and even an extremely rare plant (status S1 in Alberta): Andersonglossum boreale (wild northern comfrey). We also found one specimen of Lilium philadelphicum (wood lily) which is no longer common in Alberta. Other uncommon plants of note were Halenia deflexa (spurred gentian), and Vaccinium cespitosum (dwarf bilberry).
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	Yes
Geological Observations	Q54
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	Fencing
Comments	Q56
		Human Activities/Disturbances
Agricultural Activities	Q61	None noted
Resource extraction	Q62	Hunting or shooting (observed, blinds, spent shell casings, etc.)
Motorized disturbances (ATV or vehicle activity).	Q63	Off Highway Vehicles (e.g. quads, motorbikes), 4×4 vehicles
Animal or self propelled activities	Q64	Dog Walking
Gathering and Dumping Activities	Q65	Bush party sites (e.g. bottles)
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	Roads
Comments	Q67	A gentleman with a dog was walking on the path and explained that he was there in search of grouse for hunting. We were told that the road that ran through the site had been created for the purposes of gaining access to the natural area for bush parties.
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Signs, Continued Monitoring
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Visit and Submitted This Report!
Nearby Stewards?	Q73
Comments	Q74
Last Words	Q82	I have uploaded photos of plants to iNaturalist for a total of three observations. My username is susanneuman.

2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Tony B.

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Tony B.
Guest Names	Q14	Tony Blake
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
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	1-2 hours
Why Did you Go?	Q42	Visit nature, Birding, Plant identification
Visit Details	Q43
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	Other (see comments, Q52)
Biological Observations	Q52	Apart from a little-used ATV trail, the site is almost pristine. The native plant community (Aspen forest) is quite complete with only a few exotics (clovers and plantain) on the trail. We assisted Patsy Cotterill in compiling an impressive list of plant species .
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	Yes
Geological Observations	Q54
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	Signage
Comments	Q56
		Human Activities/Disturbances
Agricultural Activities	Q61	Other (see comments)
Resource extraction	Q62	Hunting or shooting (observed, blinds, spent shell casings, etc.)
Motorized disturbances (ATV or vehicle activity).	Q63	None Noted
Animal or self propelled activities	Q64	Other (see comments)
Gathering and Dumping Activities	Q65	None Noted
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	None Noted
Comments	Q67	Met one hunter and his dog scouting for the fall bird season. He mentioned that moose hunting occurs on the site, however we didn’t note any moose sign.
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Continued Monitoring
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Visit and Submitted This Report!
Nearby Stewards?	Q73
Comments	Q74
Last Words	Q82

2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Patsy C.

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Patsy C.
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	Unspoiled dry, mature aspen forest with a diverse, native understory. The one trail system has largely revegetated with native species, indicating that it is little used. This site could be used as a reference site for restoration of a similar plant community elsewhere. As an ecological gem, it should probably not be widely advertised but left for access by local people and naturalists. A total of 67 vascular plant species were recorded along 400 m of trail system, including one very rare species, northern wild comfrey.
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	1-2 hours
Why Did you Go?	Q42	Visit nature, Plant identification
Visit Details	Q43	Hiked the trail for approx. 400 metres in an anti-clockwise direction, i.e., going north.
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	None of the Above
Biological Observations	Q52	Pre-arranged parking on a resident’s property across the road provided easy access to the trail loop. Great plant biodiversity – see comment above.
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	Yes
Geological Observations	Q54	Natural remnant deciduous tree stand on level, relatively well-drained soil.
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	None Noted
Comments	Q56	From government information and previous reconnoiter by Frank.
		Human Activities/Disturbances
Agricultural Activities	Q61	None noted
Resource extraction	Q62	None Noted
Motorized disturbances (ATV or vehicle activity).	Q63	None Noted
Animal or self propelled activities	Q64	Hiking Trails
Gathering and Dumping Activities	Q65	None Noted
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	None Noted
Comments	Q67	Local resident encountered with dog who hunts grouse.
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Signs, Continued Monitoring
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Visit and Submitted This Report!
Nearby Stewards?	Q73	I understand the neighbour is interested.
Comments	Q74	Site is probably of most interest for passive recreation (hiking, snowshoeing, X-country skiing) and naturalists. The status quo is just fine!
Last Words	Q82

2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Hubert T.

Question	Q##	Response
		General Information
Date/Site/Submitter:	Q21/22/12	2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Hubert T.
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	minor incursions by ATVs; mostly pristine
		How was your visit to the PA?
Trip Duration	Q41	1-2 hours
Why Did you Go?	Q42	Visit nature, Plant identification, PA Site inspection for SAPAA
Visit Details	Q43	took a 1 km loop through the southeastern corner of the NA
		What is in the Site?
Ease to Visit	Q51	Other (see comments)
Biological Observations	Q52	Extensive population of Giant Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum, on the abandoned agricultural field (1 ha); never seen such an accumulation of A. foeniculum; also noted some invasion by butter-and-eggs, Linnaria vulgaris, in the same field.
Submissions to iNaturalist	Q53	Yes
Geological Observations	Q54
Designation as a Protected Area	Q55	Signage, Fencing
Comments	Q56	well-maintained fencing in place on the southern border; GoA signposts noted on southern and eastern border.
		Human Activities/Disturbances
Agricultural Activities	Q61	Not Applicable
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	None Noted
Gathering and Dumping Activities	Q65	Not Applicable
Infrastructure encroachment	Q66	None Noted
Comments	Q67	Regenerating abandoned agricultural field at the southern border.
		What Needs to be Done?
Remediation/Protection Activities Needed	Q71	Continued Monitoring
What Have you Done Recently to Help the site?	Q72	Not Applicable
Nearby Stewards?	Q73	neighbours were approached by other SAPAA member to become stewards
Comments	Q74	ATV incursion is minimal at the moment; should be monitored to prevent excessive “mudholing”
Last Words	Q82	This NA seems to be on the GoA’s radar: several well maintained signposts; apparently they sponsored a drone overflight (see Nature Central); uncertain whether the NA has a Government designated steward.

Images from Inspection