Frank Lake (Alberta) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frank Lake |
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Observation blind, Frank Lake wetlands.
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 Frank Lake
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Foothills County, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 50°34′01″N 113°42′29″W / 50.567°N 113.708°W |
| Type | Marsh |
| Primary inflows | Treated municipal and industrial wastewater via pipeline, agricultural runoff, Mazeppa Creek, Blackie Creek. |
| Primary outflows | Overland flow to Little Bow River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 43.74 km2 (16.89 sq mi) |
| Average depth | Basin 1 mean depth: .67 metres (2.2 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) |
Frank Lake is a special wetland (a marshy area) in Alberta, Canada. It's about 6 kilometers (4 miles) east of High River and 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Calgary. This important lake is managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada to help wildlife, especially birds. It's even called an Important Bird Area because so many birds visit it! Did you know there are actually four lakes named Frank Lake in Alberta?
Contents
Protecting Frank Lake: Conservation Efforts
Frank Lake used to have big problems with water. Sometimes it was completely dry, and other times it was flooded. The main goal now is to make sure the lake always has water. This helps create a stable home for all the wildlife.
To keep the water levels steady, people have built dikes and special water control structures. They also built a pipeline from High River. This pipeline brings treated water from the town and a local food processing plant to the lake. The water quality is checked regularly to make sure it's clean and safe.
To make the lake even better for birds, people have added nesting boxes and platforms. They also built rock islands where birds can safely lay their eggs. The Important Bird Areas program says Frank Lake is the most important wetland in southwestern Alberta for many kinds of waterfowl and other water birds.
Nature and Ecology: What Lives Here?
Frank Lake is located in an area called the foothills fescue prairie. The lake is a "hemi-marsh." This means it has about the same amount of open water as it does plants growing out of the water.
Plants of Frank Lake
Some of the common plants you'll find here include:
- Hardstem bulrush
- Sago pondweed
- Richardson's pondweed
- Northern watermilfoil
Birds and Other Animals
Many different birds love Frank Lake and the land around it. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and other birds use the lake for resting during migration. They also come here to build their nests.
Some of the amazing birds you might see include:
- Tundra swan
- Trumpeter swan
- Canada goose
- Northern pintail
- Franklin's gull
- Ring-billed gull
- California gull
- Common tern
- Short-eared owl
- Eared grebe
- Marbled godwit
- Long-billed dowitcher
- Long-billed curlew
- White-faced ibis
- Black-crowned night-heron
- Black-necked stilt
Birdwatching is a very popular activity at Frank Lake!
Invasive Species
Unfortunately, an invasive fish called the Prussian carp has made its home in the lake. Invasive species can sometimes cause problems for the native plants and animals.
History of Frank Lake
Old reports from 1883 called Frank Lake "a large lake." But early settlers had other names for it, like Begg Lake, Green Lake, and Windsor Lake. It was later named after Bishop Christopher Frank. He started a nearby settlement called Frankburg.
Early Uses of the Lake
Hunters have always used Frank Lake. A long time ago, they would ship hunted waterfowl by train car to the United States. People also trapped muskrats here. Later, places where cattle are fed (called feedlots) were set up nearby. One big feedlot was on the east side of Frank Lake. The cattle from there were sent to Britain.
Water Level Changes Over Time
The lake's water levels changed a lot. In the early 1900s, there was so much water that it was hard to travel to High River. But then, the lake dried up completely in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1980s. In 1945, people said the lake was just "a flat area of alkali dust." Then, it flooded again in the 1950s and mid-1970s.
Stabilizing the Lake
After a big flood in 1952, Ducks Unlimited built a drainage ditch. More work to keep the water level steady started in 1975. A weir (a small dam) was built at the lake's south end. But even with this, the lake dried up in the 1980s. To make sure the lake always has water, a pipeline was built. This pipeline brings treated water from High River and the nearby Cargill meat packing plant to the lake.
During World War II, when the lake was dry, a part of the lake bed was used as a landing field for planes from RCAF Station High River.
