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What
is an Important Bird Area?
An Important Bird Area (IBA) is
a site providing essential habitat
for one or more species of breeding
or non-breeding birds. These sites
may contain threatened species,
endemic species, species representative
of a biome, or highly exceptional
concentrations of birds.
The goals of the Canadian IBA program
are to:
- identify
a network of sites that conserve
the natural diversity of Canadian
bird species; and
- ensure
the conservation of sites through
partnerships of local stakeholders
who develop and implement appropriate
on-the-ground conservation plans.
This
plan helps direct the stewardship
initiatives that are being planned
by the Nad’leh Bun Watershed Enhancement
Society.
The
Fraser Lake IBA
Fraser Lake is located near the
geographic centre of British Columbia.
It is a globally significant wintering
site for Trumpeter Swans, a continentally
important site for fall migrating
waterfowl, and a nationally significant
site for fall migrating American
Wigeon. It is also one of the key
sites for moulting ducks in BC.
Like many of the lakes in this area
and around the province, lakeshore
development has resulted in problems
pertaining to water and shoreline
quality. Fortunately, Fraser Lake
has not encountered the same amount
of development as other lakes in
the region, but local residents
have noticed changes to the lakeshore
in the recent past. Left unchecked,
it is unclear how this development
may affect the ability of this lake
to support the number of waterfowl
that presently use it in winter
and fall migration.
Current
Conservation Strategies
Presently there is a volunteer lake-monitoring
program that is being conducted
by Brian Malchow through the BC
Ministry of Water, Air, and Land
Protection. This program is being
assisted by students from Fraser
Lake Elementary Secondary School
working to earn experience and career
preparation hours required for graduation.
In addition, Ducks Unlimited has
several projects that involve landowners
in the area. Finally, there is presently
a volunteer Ecological Reserve Warden
for the Ellis Island Ecological
Reserve.
Conservation
Goals and Objectives
The main goal of this conservation
plan is to help the newly formed
Nad’leh Bun Watershed Enhancement
Society direct and shape their future
stewardship initiatives. The main
goals of this conservation plan
are as follows:
- to
promote Fraser Lake as a unique
area and encourage responsible
lakeshore living;
- to
explore the role of NWES as
lobby/advisory group; and
- The
integration/cooperation of NWES
with other communities and non-government
groups.
INTRODUCTION
Fraser Lake is located near the
geographic centre of British Columbia.
It is in this region that one
finds a larger portion of the
province’s wetlands and a number
of areas that represent important
breeding, moulting and migratory
stopover sites for various species
of waterfowl. Of these, Fraser,
Tachick, and Nulki lakes have
been identified as continentally
significant IBAs for migratory
waterfowl. Fraser Lake has the
added distinction of also being
a globally significant site for
migratory and wintering Trumpeter
Swans. The reason that Fraser
Lake site is an IBA for waterfowl
is due largely to its geographical
location, and to the presence
of extensive foraging areas, both
on the lake and in adjacent agricultural
fields. Trumpeter Swans congregate
here because available food is
present for extended periods of
time, as both the inlet and the
outlet of the lake (the Stellako
and Nautley rivers) remain ice-free
throughout most of the winter.
Development and the resultant
problems pertaining to water and
shoreline quality have had impacts
on lakes throughout the region.
Fraser Lake has not encountered
the same amount of development
as other lakes in the region,
but local residents have noticed
changes in these domains in the
recent past. The primary goal
of this conservation plan is to
help form a strategic plan for
the newly formed Nad’leh Bun Watershed
Enhancement Society (NWES). The
goals as outlined in this plan
fall primarily under the umbrella
of outreach and educational initiatives.
Included in this discussion are
potential prerequisites to the
fulfillment of these initiatives
and research needs that may not
be able to be addressed by NWES.
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