Delta Marsh
Encyclopedia
Delta Marsh consists of an extensive open marsh located near the south shore of Lake Manitoba
, approximately 24km north of the town of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
. The marsh extends for nearly 30 km along the shore of the lake, and has a breadth of up to 4km. The marsh consists of a network of interconnected shallow bays separated from Lake Manitoba
by a wooded barrier dune ridge of 300m to 600m width.
Despite its name, Delta Marsh is no longer a river delta
. However, it was originally the delta of the Assiniboine River
, which flowed into Lake Manitoba
from the southwest until approximately 2500 years ago. (The current course of the river continues east past Lake Manitoba
until it intersects the Red River
in Winnipeg
).
birds.
Hunting is permitted in a portion of the marsh in the autumn by sportsmen, and by First Nations
year round, under the auspices of the Delta Marsh Wildlife Management Area, which controls hunting pressure and safeguards the marsh environment. Canada geese, mallard ducks, and snow geese are the three primary bird species hunted, both in the marsh itself and in nearby grain fields, where these birds feed on autumn days. Of these, Canada geese and mallards breed in the marsh, while snow geese are strictly seasonal migrants. Hunting of waterfowl contributes in a significant way to the local economy. Other game, including white-tailed deer
, are also hunted in and around the marsh, and beaver
and other fur bearing mammals are commercially trapped.
A more obvious man-made disruption of the marsh is the Assiniboine River Floodway
, which crosses the marsh near its west end. This floodway diverts Assiniboine River
floodwater northwards from just upstream of the town of Portage la Prairie directly into Lake Manitoba
, thus protecting the town and the city of Winnipeg
from spring flooding. Controversy continues to surround the issue of the environmental impact of the floodway upon the marsh.
The Delta Waterfowl Research Station was established in 1938 east of Delta Beach to carry out waterfowl research. In 1966, the University of Manitoba
leased lands at the west end of the marsh from the Province of Manitoba
and developed the Delta Marsh Field Station (University of Manitoba) as a teaching and research centre. The Delta Waterfowl Foundation
is an international research and conservation organisation inspired by and named for Delta Marsh. Delta Marsh is listed as a Wetland of International Importance
under the Ramsar Convention
.
Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake...
, approximately 24km north of the town of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. The marsh extends for nearly 30 km along the shore of the lake, and has a breadth of up to 4km. The marsh consists of a network of interconnected shallow bays separated from Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake...
by a wooded barrier dune ridge of 300m to 600m width.
Despite its name, Delta Marsh is no longer a river delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
. However, it was originally the delta of the Assiniboine River
Assiniboine River
The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...
, which flowed into Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake...
from the southwest until approximately 2500 years ago. (The current course of the river continues east past Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake...
until it intersects the Red River
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
).
Flora and Fauna
Delta Marsh is a wildlife breeding and migration staging area of major importance. Waterfowl and songbirds are especially abundant in the marsh, either as breeding residents or seasonal migrants. The wooded dune ridge is also migratory pathway for passerinePasserine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
birds.
Hunting is permitted in a portion of the marsh in the autumn by sportsmen, and by First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
year round, under the auspices of the Delta Marsh Wildlife Management Area, which controls hunting pressure and safeguards the marsh environment. Canada geese, mallard ducks, and snow geese are the three primary bird species hunted, both in the marsh itself and in nearby grain fields, where these birds feed on autumn days. Of these, Canada geese and mallards breed in the marsh, while snow geese are strictly seasonal migrants. Hunting of waterfowl contributes in a significant way to the local economy. Other game, including white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, are also hunted in and around the marsh, and beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
and other fur bearing mammals are commercially trapped.
Climate
Human Use
Much of the marsh is still quite pristine. The barrier dune ridge has however been settled with cottages, and Delta Beach, on the lake-side of the ridge, is a popular swimming beach in summer. The access road to the beach does however cross the marsh along a relatively dry path, and so disruption to the marsh habitat is minimal.A more obvious man-made disruption of the marsh is the Assiniboine River Floodway
Portage Diversion
The Portage Diversion is a water control structure on the Assiniboine River in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The project was made as part of a larger attempt to prevent flooding in the Red River Valley...
, which crosses the marsh near its west end. This floodway diverts Assiniboine River
Assiniboine River
The Assiniboine River is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked within a flat, shallow valley in some places and a steep valley in...
floodwater northwards from just upstream of the town of Portage la Prairie directly into Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake...
, thus protecting the town and the city of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
from spring flooding. Controversy continues to surround the issue of the environmental impact of the floodway upon the marsh.
The Delta Waterfowl Research Station was established in 1938 east of Delta Beach to carry out waterfowl research. In 1966, the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
leased lands at the west end of the marsh from the Province of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and developed the Delta Marsh Field Station (University of Manitoba) as a teaching and research centre. The Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Delta Waterfowl Foundation is a non-profit organization operating in both Canada and in the United States whose mission is to provide knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting...
is an international research and conservation organisation inspired by and named for Delta Marsh. Delta Marsh is listed as a Wetland of International Importance
Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...
under the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
.