This NA, located in northwestern Alberta, encompasses the 4,200-ha Kimiwan Lake and its surrounding shoreline. It is recognized internationally as a key wetland for waterfowl, shorebirds and other water birds [1].
Map of the Area
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Other Information
The NA extends beyond the lake and protects just over 5,700 ha of lake and shoreline.
Kimiwan Lake is a Large and Shallow freshwater lake without a natural outlet. It is surrounded by a mix of agricultural and forested land. The lake has a relatively small drainage basin of 161 km², and is broad and shallow.
High Evaporation Rates in the summer results in short-term water level fluctuations. Along most of the shoreline, the lakeshore is characterized by marsh and mud flat habitats often with a wide band of emergent shoreline vegetation composed of thousands of acres of cattail hemi-marsh habitat [2].
Tens of Thousands of Birds have been counted on the lake. Over 5,000 non-breeding Franklin’s Gulls (about 1% of the world’s estimated population) have been recorded at the lake during mid-summer [3].
Rain Lake is perhaps the English translation of the Cree Word given to the lake, kimowan. The Dominion Land Survey had originally called it the less original ‘Round Lake’ [4].
Site Statistics
| Site Name | Kimiwan Lake (PNT) |
| Site Type | Natural Area |
| Subtype | Protective Notation (PNT) |
| Natural Region(s) | Dry Mixedwood |
| O.C. No. (Land Ref. Manual) | N/A |
| PASite ID (Map Ref #) | 497 |
| Site # (Parks Website) | N/A |
| Total Area | 5720.39 ha. (14135.40 ac.) |
| Steward-Status | |
| Recreation Activities | |
| IUCN | |
| Operated By | |
| 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 the Government of Alberta. (All links accessed on 2022-12-11).
- Government of Alberta, Kimiwan Lake Project, Evaluating Livestock Use of Boreal Grazing Lands
- Kimiwan Lake Naturalists, Kimiwan Lake
- IBA Canada, Kimiwan Lake
- Aubrey, Merrily K., ed. Concise Place Names of Alberta. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2006; p. 177.
SAPAA 