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This remote site is only accessible on foot or from the Peace River which forms its norther boundary. It is located about 65 km slightly northwest of Fairview.

[FP, MEDIUM DUE TO REFERENCES AND EXPLAINING ITS LOCATION]

• Map of the Area
• Other Information
• Site Statistics
• References and Further Reading

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

A major portion of this Reserve consists of valley slopes of the Peace River. Maturing aspen/shrub forest with mixedwood stands covers 70% of the site. Moose, mule deer and black bear are common. Waterfowl nesting and breeding habitat is limited but the Peace River is a spring and fall staging area for ducks and geese. Six plant species occur that are beyond their normal range (drooping wood reed, turned sedge, striped coralroot, low milkweed, clustered broom-rape, alpine aster). The location is remote making access difficult.

Dunvegan West WPP [1] stretches along the south bank of the Peace River from Dunvegan to the B.C. border. This WPP adjoins the ER about half way along the WPP’s length. Dunvegan includes a unique mixture of grassland, aspen forest and steep-sided creek valleys.

Many of the plants and birds here are more typical of the Parkland Natural Region located far to the south. Dunvegan West contains hoodoos and fossil beds. Its bedrock cliffs are home to nesting bald eagles, golden eagles and falcons. Red-sided and wandering garter snakes den along the river. South-facing slopes support typical parkland vegetation, with clones of aspen, shrubs, and grassland communities. Cacti are found on some of the drier sites. The valleys are key year-round habitat for deer and elk.

The WPP is not to be confused with the Dunvegan Natural Area (PNT) which is further downstream and near the locality of Dunvegan. The intervening section of land (block 14) between the WPP and the ER is Crown Land [2].

Political Hay in 1987. 1987 was the designated Year of Wildlife Conservation in Canada by provincial and territorial wildlife ministers and their agencies. In Alberta, Wildlife ’87: Gaining Momentum was spearheaded by Cam Finlay, a well-known Alberta naturalist. More than a dozen new Natural Areas and several Ecological Reserves were designated during this period [3].

Site Statistics

Site Name	Silver Valley
Site Type	Ecological Reserve
Subtype	Order-in-council (OC)
Natural Region(s)	Dry Mixedwood
O.C. No. (Land Ref. Manual)	437/87
PASite ID (Map Ref #)	484
Site # (Parks Website)	410
Total Area	1805.06 ha. (4460.40 ac.)
Steward-Status
Recreation Activities	Hiking – backcountry
IUCN	IA
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: Information & Facilities – Silver Valley Ecological Area | Alberta Parks (All links accessed on 2023-02-10).

1. Information & Facilities – Dunvegan West Wildland Provincial Park | Alberta Parks.
2. Maps – Saddle Hills County
3. History of Natural Areas and Ecological Reserves 1977-1994, SAPAA Newsletter No. 41

Further Reading

• Peace River – Alberta Wilderness Association.
• Dunvegan West Wildland Provincial Park – Wikipedia.

Editing, Review and Silence Procedure

1. FRANK: Publish page
2. HUBERT/PATSY: Assign page for editing by update tbd in the Title (4-
3. Review for readability and alignment to SAPAA organizational reputation.
4. Best available image
5. Review for accuracy including:
   1. Correct map and site statistics
   2. Area size is correct
   3. Standards (e.g. use of hyphens, spelling, etc.)
   4. References are accessible and and notes match
6. Review for formatting, e.g.: Centered captions, No empty blocks
7. TEAM: Last walk through
   1. Any final discussion or notes
   2. Remove [name] from title
   3. Add to log book for silence procedure
   4. Delete these notes.