This is an interim report of Site Inspections for the SAPAA Annual General Meeting. It will be updated and finalized in January, 2025 and represents cumulative inspections conducted since June 2023.
- 2024 – the PoC Continues!
- 2024 – Ministers Report
- Who, Why, and How Long Are the Inspections?
- What Was Found?
- Annex – List of Inspections
2024 – the PoC Continues!
A site inspection form was introduced in June 2023 and revised and updated in 2024. Both of these were considered proof of concepts (PoC) to better understand the Time, Talent, and Treasure to create, operate and use the results.
Interim 2024 results are both positive and highlight the challenges attempting to collect this information. But first, the (interim) results to date (June 2023 to November 25, 2024).
It should be noted that other than the field trips, SAPAA specifically DOES NOT ask its members or the public to volunteer to inspect areas. However, if someone is in a NA, they are encouraged to submit a report. Current Government Stewards can choose to use the Site Inspection Form.
2024 – Ministers Report
The first ever Minister’s Report was submitted in April 2024 (and reported to the members as part of the #50 – July 2024 newsletter). The 2024 report is planned for January 2024.
Who, Why, and How Long Are the Inspections?
2023+2024: Inspection Totals
Frank conducted more than half of the inspections to date and has another 2-6 as of yet unreported. He is followed closely by Patsy, Hubert, and then Tony. Susan N is with the Edmonton Native Plant Society has joined a few field trips run by SAPAA.
| Q12: Steward’s Name | # Inspect. |
| Phrank P. | 39 |
| Patsy C. | 10 |
| Hubert T. | 8 |
| Tony B. | 6 |
| Susan N | 5 |
| Kate R. | 2 |
| Ryan A. | 1 |
| Richard/Vera D. | 1 |
| Kate R. | 1 |
| Guest (Claudia) | 1 |
| Dave M | 1 |
| Grand Total | 75 |
Why They Went
Most of the Site Inspections were done to support field research of the YEGVille.ca trail guide (being written by Phrank P.). Visiting nature and being part of a field trip rounds out the top three reasons.
| Reason | #Reason Visit |
| Other (see comments) | 40 |
| Visit nature | 33 |
| PA Site inspection for SAPAA | 31 |
| Plant identification | 18 |
| Hiking | 15 |
| Birding | 7 |
| Historical/Cultural (e.g. signed nature trail) | 2 |
| Mushrooming | 1 |
| Grand Total | 147 |
How Long Does an Inspection Take?
An inspection has two parts, field work and submitting the report. Most individuals spent 1-2 hours in a site. On a few occasions the time was longer (9 visits of half a day) or much shorter (8 visits did not enter the site).
The primary reason for not entering a site is not having permission to cross the adjoining private land. This is the case for Hoadley (NA), Sundance (NA), and Burtonsville Island (NA).
Beyond the time in the field, it takes about 2-3 hours to consolidate material to complete the inspection report. Often, the bulk of this time is spent providing context and captions for photos. This effort might be reduced through better technology.
What Was Found?
Which Sites Were Visited
51 distinct sites have been visited and reported on to date (see the annex below for the full list) with 11 sites having multiple visits/reports. More than one report may be the result of a SAPAA field trip (e.g. Magee Lake Natural Area) or the site being too large to be properly covered in a single visit (e.g. Coyote Lake Natural Area).
| Site Name | # Inspect. |
| Magee Lake (NA) | 6 |
| Riverlot 56 | 5 |
| Tawatinaw (NA | 4 |
| J.J. Collett (NA) | 4 |
| Wagner | 3 |
| Lloyd Creek (NA) | 3 |
| Wabamun Lake (PNT) | 2 |
| Snakes Head (PNT) (NA) | 2 |
| Matthews Crossing | 2 |
| Dussault Lake | 2 |
| Coyote Lake (PNT) (NA) | 2 |
Naturalness – A Pleasant Surprise
A pleasant surprise is that 80% of the site visits yield a subjective-Naturalness score of 3 or higher. One site was rated 0, Redwater River Natural Area.
Typical Disturbances
Where disturbances were noted, OHV predominate. Dumping is a problem in a few sites closer urban areas (Bridge Lake Natural Area, Crippsdale Natural Area, Nestow (PNT) Natural Area, Opal Natural Area, and Redwater River Natural Area).
Annex – List of Inspections
| Site Inspection | Naturalness |
| 2024-11-06: Coyote Lake (OC) (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-11-04: Innisfail (NA); Tony B. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-10-29: Coyote Lake (PNT) (NA); Phrank P. | 2 |
| 2024-10-29: Coyote Lake (PNT) (NA); Phrank P. | 2 |
| 2024-10-16: Red Rock Coulee (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-10-16: Eagle Nest (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-10-15: Milk River (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-10-14: Snakes Head (PNT) (NA); Tony B. | 3 |
| 2024-10-07: Tawatinaw (NA; Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-10-07: Tawatinaw (NA; Patsy C. | 3 |
| 2024-10-07: Tawatinaw (NA; Susan N | 2 |
| 2024-10-07: Tawatinaw (NA; Hubert T. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-10-07: Nestow (NA); Susan N | 3 |
| 2024-10-03: Snakes Head (PNT) (NA); Tony B. | 2 |
| 2024-09-30: Lloyd Creek (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-09-30: Lloyd Creek (NA); Patsy C. | 3 |
| 2024-09-30: Lloyd Creek (NA); Susan N | 3 |
| 2024-09-25: Hoadley (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-09-25: Battle Lake (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-09-24: Town Creek (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-09-21: Threepoint Creek (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-09-21: Bragg Creek (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-09-18: Sundance (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-09-18: Modeste Saskatchewan (NA); Phrank P. | Cannot Answer |
| 2024-09-18: Burtonsville Island (NA); Phrank P. | Cannot Answer |
| 2024-08-30: Victoria Settlement (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-30: Ukalta Dunes (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Tony B. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Patsy C. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Kate R. | 3 |
| 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Susan N | 3 |
| 2024-08-24: Magee Lake (NA); Hubert T. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-24: J.J. Collett (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-08-24: J.J. Collett (NA); Patsy C. | 3 |
| 2024-08-24: J.J. Collett (NA); Kate R. | 3 |
| 2024-08-24: J.J. Collett (NA); Susan N | 2 |
| 2024-08-16: Sylvan Lake (NA); Tony B. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-14: Medicine Lodge Hills (NA); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-14: Magee Lake (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-08-06: Gadsby Lake (NA); Tony B. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-08-02: Poplar Creek (PNT) (NA); Ryan A. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-07-13: Riverlot 56; Richard/Vera D. | 4 – Great |
| 2024-07-13: Riverlot 56; Patsy C. | 2 |
| 2024-07-13: Riverlot 56; Hubert T. | 3 |
| 2024-07-13: Riverlot 56; Guest (Claudia) | 3 |
| 2024-06-24: Sheep Creek; Kate R. | 3 |
| 2024-05-05: Eagle Hill (NA); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-03-29: Redwater River; Phrank P. | 0 – Terrible |
| 2024-03-29: Crippsdale; Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-03-09: Opal; Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2024-01-28: Riverlot 56; Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2023-10-20: Wagner; Patsy C. | 3 |
| 2023-10-09: Kilini Creek (PNT); Hubert T. | 3 |
| 2023-10-08: Wanisan Lake (PNT); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2023-10-08: Parkland; Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2023-10-01: Nestow (PNT); Phrank P. | 2 |
| 2023-10-01: Bridge Lake; Phrank P. | 2 |
| 2023-09-27: Telfordville (PNT); Dave M | 3 |
| 2023-09-23: Wagner; Patsy C. | 2 |
| 2023-09-23: North Cooking Lake (OC); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2023-09-16: Sherwood Park; Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2023-09-01: Bellis North; Patsy C. | 3 |
| 2023-08-20: Pigeon Lake (PNT); Phrank P. | 2 |
| 2023-08-20: Mount Butte (PNT); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2023-08-20: Battle Lake South (PNT); Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2023-08-09: Welch Creek; Hubert T. | 3 |
| 2023-08-09: Open Creek; Hubert T. | 3 |
| 2023-07-28: Wagner; Phrank P. | 4 – Great |
| 2023-07-28: Wabamun Lake (PNT); Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2023-07-28: Wabamun Lake (PNT); Patsy C. | 4 – Great |
| 2023-07-28: Matthews Crossing; Phrank P. | 3 |
| 2023-07-28: Matthews Crossing; Hubert T. | 3 |
| 2023-07-28: Dussault Lake; Phrank P. | 2 |
| 2023-07-28: Dussault Lake; Hubert T. | 2 |
| 2023-06-08: Strawberry Creek (PNT); Patsy C. | 4 – Great |
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