Swan Lake (Manitoba)
Encyclopedia
Swan Lake is a lake located in the Canadian
province of Manitoba
. The lake, and several other features in the area, are named after the Trumpeter Swans found in the region.
complex along the west shore of Swan Lake, near the Swan and Woody Rivers, which is a significant area for migrating birds in the region.
The Swan Lake drainage basin
covers 3880 square miles (10,049.2 km²) and extends into the province of Saskatchewan
. It is located between the Duck Mountains
and the Porcupine Hills. Two major rivers discharge into Swan Lake from the basin, the Swan River and the Woody River. Other topographic
features include Thunder Hill, the Swan River valley and plain, the two river's many tributaries, and Swan Lake and its surrounding delta
wetland
area. In addition to Swan Lake, there are approximately 30 smaller lakes in the basin; the major ones being, Lac La Course, Madge Lake
, Sarah Lake, Wellman Lake, Whitefish Lake and the Woody Lakes. Land elevations vary from 2,600 and 2,300 feet above sea level in the Porcupine Hills and Duck Mountains respectively, to 851 feet above sea level at Swan Lake.
The Porcupine Hills and Duck mountains are forested, as was the majority of the remainder of the basin originally. Explorer Thomas Simpson
remarked when traveling through the area in 1837:
Much of the forest has since been cleared and replaced with agriculture
. The area also supports significant forestry, hunting, sport-fishing, tourism and outdoor recreational activities. Currently 42.7% of the basin is forested, 38.4% is devoted to agriculture, 15.5% is surface water, with the remaining 3.4% unclassified. Wetlands occupy 10% of the basin, mostly bog
s and shallow ponds located in the headwater areas of the Duck Mountains and Porcupine Hills, as well as the Swan Lake marsh complex.
Average annual precipitation in the basin is 19 inches. Frost free period ranges from 87 to 110 days. The basin's average annual discharge is approximately 495000 acre.foot. Of that, up to 5500 gallons (20.8 m³) of water per day are free for domestic use without a water rights license. Less than 2000 acre.foot of annual water rights licenses have been approved (2005).
Total population living in the basin is approximately 14,000, the largest component consisting of approximately half of the total being rural residents living outside of major communities. The largest community in the basin is Swan River, Manitoba
, with a population of 4,032. The remaining communities with the exception of Minitonas, have fewer than 500 residents. These communities are:
In Saskatchewan:
In Manitoba:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
. The lake, and several other features in the area, are named after the Trumpeter Swans found in the region.
Description
Swan Lake covers an area of 119 square miles (308.2 km²), with an average depth of 7.5 feet (2.3 m), giving a contained water volume of 571200 acre.foot. There is a large marshMarsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
complex along the west shore of Swan Lake, near the Swan and Woody Rivers, which is a significant area for migrating birds in the region.
The Swan Lake drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
covers 3880 square miles (10,049.2 km²) and extends into the province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. It is located between the Duck Mountains
Duck Mountain Provincial Park
Duck Mountain Provincial Park may refer to*Duck Mountain Provincial Park *Duck Mountain Provincial Park...
and the Porcupine Hills. Two major rivers discharge into Swan Lake from the basin, the Swan River and the Woody River. Other topographic
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
features include Thunder Hill, the Swan River valley and plain, the two river's many tributaries, and Swan Lake and its surrounding 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...
wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
area. In addition to Swan Lake, there are approximately 30 smaller lakes in the basin; the major ones being, Lac La Course, Madge Lake
Madge Lake
Madge Lake is located in eastern Saskatchewan, 18 km east of the town of Kamsack and just a few kilometres west of the province's eastern boundary. It is centered near coordinates 51°40′ N, 101°38′ W...
, Sarah Lake, Wellman Lake, Whitefish Lake and the Woody Lakes. Land elevations vary from 2,600 and 2,300 feet above sea level in the Porcupine Hills and Duck Mountains respectively, to 851 feet above sea level at Swan Lake.
The Porcupine Hills and Duck mountains are forested, as was the majority of the remainder of the basin originally. Explorer Thomas Simpson
Thomas Simpson (explorer)
Thomas Simpson , Hudson's Bay Company agent and personal secretary for Hudson Bay governor Sir George Simpson, and arctic explorer.-Early life:...
remarked when traveling through the area in 1837:
Much of the forest has since been cleared and replaced with agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. The area also supports significant forestry, hunting, sport-fishing, tourism and outdoor recreational activities. Currently 42.7% of the basin is forested, 38.4% is devoted to agriculture, 15.5% is surface water, with the remaining 3.4% unclassified. Wetlands occupy 10% of the basin, mostly bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s and shallow ponds located in the headwater areas of the Duck Mountains and Porcupine Hills, as well as the Swan Lake marsh complex.
Average annual precipitation in the basin is 19 inches. Frost free period ranges from 87 to 110 days. The basin's average annual discharge is approximately 495000 acre.foot. Of that, up to 5500 gallons (20.8 m³) of water per day are free for domestic use without a water rights license. Less than 2000 acre.foot of annual water rights licenses have been approved (2005).
Total population living in the basin is approximately 14,000, the largest component consisting of approximately half of the total being rural residents living outside of major communities. The largest community in the basin is Swan River, Manitoba
Swan River, Manitoba
-Economy:The economic base of the town lies in agriculture and forestry along with support industries for same.Almost fifty percent of the surrounding area is under cultivation, most of which is seeded to cereal grain, oilseeds, and other specialty crops. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, and canola...
, with a population of 4,032. The remaining communities with the exception of Minitonas, have fewer than 500 residents. These communities are:
In Saskatchewan:
- ArranArran, SaskatchewanArran is a village in eastern Saskatchewan, Canada, approximately 90 km northeast of Yorkton and 10 km west of the Manitoba border. Arran is located on Highway 49.- History :...
- Arabella
- Danbury
- NorquayNorquay, Saskatchewan-External links:********-Footnotes:...
- PellyPelly, Saskatchewan-External links:********...
- Swan PlainSwan Plain, SaskatchewanSwan Plain is a hamlet in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Listed as a designated place by Statistics Canada, the hamlet had a population of 15 in the Canada 2006 Census....
- Whitebeach
In Manitoba:
- BenitoBenito, ManitobaBenito is a village in the Canadian province of Manitoba surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Swan River. The village is situated in the Swan River Valley, 37 kilometres southwest of Swan River, 475 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg 2 kilometres east of the Saskatchewan border...
- BowsmanBowsman, ManitobaBowsman is a village of about 300 in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Swan River and the Rural Municipality of Minitonas. The village is 16 kilometres north of the town of Swan River. Bowsman was incorporated as a village in 1949.-History:J.B...
- Durban
- Kamsack Beach
- Key Reserve
- Kenville
- Lenswood
- MinitonasMinitonas, ManitobaMinitonas is a community in Manitoba. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Minitonas and the Swan Valley. It is 15 km east of Swan River. The town is close to the Duck Mountain Provincial Park. According to the 2001 census, the town had a population of 538, with an additional 1,152...
- Novra
- RenwerRenwer, ManitobaRenwer is a small hamlet in the Canadian Province of Manitoba. It is located 9 miles east of Minitonas in the RM of Minitonas. It is an unorganized hamlet. The Duck Mountains are just a couple miles south of the townsite. Renwer was originally known as Fisher Siding.- History :The railroad arrived...
- Swan Lake Reserve