Gadsby Lake NA, located due west of Buffalo Lake and south of Red Deer, is a largely undisturbed site that has a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Map of the Area
Any maps and map views are for general information only. Do not rely on them for navigation or to determine legal boundaries.
Other Information
Gadsby Lake NA has hummocky moraine topography covered by mature upland forest of aspen, balsam poplar and birch with a rich and diverse understory. The site lies in the Parkland Natural Region, Central Parkland Subregion. (Alberta Parks website, 2012).
Gadsby Lake and environs is part of the Buffalo Lake watershed which also includes Magee Lake Natural Area [1]. The lake itself is a few kilometres north of the site. The hamlet of Gadsby is over 100 km to the southeast and may have been named after James Gadsby, an early settler in the area [2].
The following is quotation from a Nature Central report by Shaye Hill [3]:
“This natural area is gorgeous but not for the faint of heart. There are a very few trails made up by game animals such as moose or deer. Therefore, you are ultimately walking in the bush. The understory vegetation is well developed making it tricky to walk through. The natural area is made up of large mature trembling aspen and balsam poplar with white spruce intermixed.”
Site Statistics
| Site Name | Gadsby Lake |
| Site Type | Natural Area |
| Subtype | Order-in-council (OC) |
| Natural Region(s) | Central Parkland |
| O.C. No. (Land Ref. Manual) | 454/71 |
| PASite ID (Map Ref #) | 211 |
| Site # (Parks Website) | 441 |
| Total Area | 64.75 ha. (160.00 ac.) |
| Steward-Status | |
| Recreation Activities | none noted |
| IUCN | II |
| Operated By | Parks Division |
| Notes and Comments |
References
The following links are provided as a courtesy but are not verified or endorsed by SAPAA. Clicking on the link will cause you to leave the SAPAA website. Primary source of information is: Government of Alberta – Information & Facilities – Gadsby Lake Natural Area | Alberta Parks (2022-02-17).
- The Alberta Lake Management Society. Buffalo Lake Watershed Boundary. Retrieved 2022-04-16.
- Aubrey, Merrily K., ed. Concise Place Names of Alberta. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2006.
- Nature Central – Wild Alberta Parklands. Gadsby Lake Natural Area, May 2021
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