Track: Ecology, Conservation, and Archaeology
Prairie Potholes, Local-Scale Studies, and Regional-Scale Applications: A GIS Application for Southwestern Manitoba and Southeastern Saskatchewan
Kim HodgePrairie potholes (sloughs/wetlands/kettle holes/marshes, etc.) are important economic and environmental components of the prairie landscape. They provide habitat for wildlife, reduce potential flooding, and maintain local and regional water table levels. Despite this, they have not been subject to quantitative regional analysis. Traditionally, potholes have been examined at a local rather than regional scale. As environmental and agricultural issues come to the forefront of public concerns, decisions about potholes will need to be made at both the local and regional scale. This project examines whether information, such as pothole-groundwater relationships, topography, and surficial geology derived at local scale can be applied to a region to facilitate decision making with the use of a GIS. Surficial geology and topography showed a strong correlation with the distribution of potholes. Till deposits, and specifically hummocky moraine and till plains, have the largest number of potholes. It was expected that irregular slopes and gleysolic soils would display a strong correlation with potholes. However, slope and soil tests, with the exception of soil water storage capacity, did not show expected results, although the results were impacted by data quality and availability.
Kim Hodge
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
603-1800 Hamilton St.
Regina, S4N 2S2
SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
Telephone: (306) 780-7342
Fax:
E-mail: pf10390@em.agr.ca