Ecological land classification of Police Outpost Provincial Park and Outpost Wetlands natural area

122 Pages·2001·6.7 MB·English

by  Cornish, Beth

AL. 300I-IOO
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ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION
OF
POLICE OUTPOST PROVINCIAL PARK
AND OUTPOST WETLANDS NATURAL AREA
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ENVIRONMENT
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016
https://archive.org/details/ecologicallandcl00corn_0
ECOLOGICAL LAND CLASSIFICATION OF
POLICE OUTPOST PROVINCIAL PARK
AND
OUTPOST WETLANDS NATURAL AREA
Prepared by:
Beth Cornish
for
Resource Data Division
Alberta Environmental Protection
Edmonton, Alberta
January, 2001
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ISBN No. 0-7785-1463-3
Publication Number T/583
For copies, please contact:
Alberta Environment Library
6*'' F loor
9920-108 Street
Edmonton AB T5K2M4
(780) 422-7360

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Police Outpost Provincial Park and Outpost Wetlands Natural Area are situated about 30 km
southwest of Cardston, Alberta, within the Foothills Parkland Natural Subregion (Achuff 1994).
The Provincial Park consists of 223 ha of gently rolling land bordering Outpost Lake, and the
Natural Area encompasses about 65 ha of land adjacent to Outpost Wetlands. The southern
boundary of both protected areas is the Canada - U nited States international border.
Many important natural features exist within the study area, including native fescue grasslands,
an extensive wetland area, a d iverse assemblage of plant species, and several rare plants. In order
to provide background data for management plans to help protect these resources, the Resource
Data Division was requested to conduct a b iophysical inventory and ecological land
classification in the study area. The specific objectives of the study were:
1 . To provide an ecological land classification and biophysical map of the study area,
showing vegetation types matched to physical land units;
2. To classify and describe vegetation community types within the study area;
3. To identify and describe significant natural features in the study area.
Based on vegetative composition and associated environmental (landscape, soil) conditions,
sixteen vegetation community types were identified, including deciduous forest types,
shrublands, native grasslands, disturbance communities, and wetlands. Deciduous forests consist
of aspen {Populus tremuloides) or balsam poplar {P. balsamiferd), with a s hrub layer of varied
composition, depending on soil moisture characteristics. The native grasslands are dominated by
rough fescue {Festuca campestris), although Kentucky bluegrass {Poa pratensis) also forms a
substantial proportion of the grass cover. Outpost Wetland represents a l arge expanse of
emergent vegetation, supporting an interesting assemblage of wildlife. This is a d iverse and
extensive marsh system, and a v ery valuable natural resource.
The study area is noted for its rich flora, including a s ubstantial number of significant plant
species. However, a n on-native species, smooth brome {Bromus inermis), which was historically
planted as a f orage species, appears to be spreading. Smooth brome invasion appears to be most
significant in the Natural Area.
Several landscape complexes or major ecosystems of importance in the province’s protected
areas planning system (Achuff 1994) are found in the study area. Important features include
exposed and protected slopes associated with the rolling glacial till, the glaciofluvial outwash
channel occupied by Outpost Wetland, several springs and intermittent streams, wet meadows,
marshes and Outpost Lake.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I w ould like to thank Keith Ainsley, Resource Data Division, Alberta Environmental Protection,
Edmonton, for assistance with the fieldwork.
Thanks are also due to the following people who helped in various aspects of the project:
Ian Sutherland and Steve Gaylor, Resource Data Division, Calgary, co-ordinated the project;
From Resource Data Division, Edmonton: Bob Skoye created an initial digital orthophoto base
map. Bob Sleep prepared the final digital orthophoto base map, Alan Benner completed the final
cartography on this base, and Lucy Faferek digitized the final maps.
John Rintoul, Alberta Natural Heritage information Centre, Parks and Protected Areas,
Edmonton, provided significant features database records.
DISCLAIMER
Evaluation of the status of flora and fauna in the study area is based on 1996 definitions and
categorized lists of species of concern (ANHIC 1996, COSEWIC 1996 and Alberta
Environmental Protection 1996). However, these lists are periodically updated, based on new
information or a c hange in species status. For example, some species which were considered
relatively secure may now be included in more recent lists of species of concern. The information
collected during this study was recorded on field plot forms which are stored at the Alberta
Resource Data Division office in Edmonton. These data need to be reviewed and re-evaluated in
light of possible changes in the recognized status of species.
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