GENERAL INFORMATION
Site Name: Big Lake Natural Area
Stewards Names: Miles Constable (BLESS)
Email:
Date: May 3, 2003
Inspection Number: 6
Hours: unknown
Phone: 458-5617
Changes: Yes

DISTURBANCES
- Vegetation/Animals:
- Soil:
- Vandalism:
- New Trails/Cleared Lines: All Terrain Vehicles,
- Comments On Disturbances: On the south side at 251 St (Edmonton) there is wood stockpiled and evidence of bonfires along the shore. On the steep slope at Winterburn Road and the south side of the lake there is a deep track made by ATVs accessing the Natural Area. The entire south side of the lake has ATV tracks in the emergent reeds and sedges.

USES
- Recreation: ATVing, Bird Watching, X Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Snowmobiling, canoeing/kayaking
- Other:
- Comments On Uses: Snowmobiling along the south side in winter occurs, especially in the narrows area where there are housing developments. Tires put out for a track are now beached in the emergent vegetation along the shore. Canoeing and kayaking has started now that the ice is off of the lake. Water craft are typically launched from around the observation platform on the east side. Hiking and bird watching occurs largely from the BLESS platform on the east side, and on the north side of the lake along the Ducks Unlimited road down to the lake. ATV'ing occurs all along the east and south shore, occasionally on the north side.

BIOLOGICAL NOTES (optional)
The ice is off the lake as of last week. Many large flocks of ducks, geese, swans, gulls, are present or have already moved through. Some of the more unusual species spotted so far are: Eurasian Wigeon, a flock of Black-crowned Night Herons, common cormorants, Tundra Swans, and Franklin's Gulls. It is expected that shorebirds will start arriving in large numbers by next week. Last report in the early winter large round bales were noticed on the north east part of the natural area. These bales are now flooded with roughly 1 meter of water, and three of the bales have Canada geese resident on them, they may be nesting.

ACTION RECOMMENDED
- Reclamation: None
- Materials & Supplies: Signs, Posts

SUMMARY
- Change In Condition Since Last Inspecton: Improved
- Summary Comments:
The water levels are quite abit higher than the previous year, much of the north side of the natural area is flooded under roughly 1 meter of water. This will have a positive impact on the soil moisture conditions and vegetation of these areas. We have enough signs to mark most of the high traffic/access points to the Natural Area this summer.