Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park
Alberta County Point Locator.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Hubert Lake WPP
Canada location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park (Canada)
0346 Westlock County, Alberta, Detailed.svg
Red pog.svg
Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park (Westlock County)
Location Westlock County, Alberta
Nearest town Fawcett, Alberta [2]
Coordinates 54°33′N114°14′W / 54.550°N 114.233°W / 54.550; -114.233
Area9,665.46 ha (37.3185 sq mi) [2]
Established4 October 2000 [3]
Governing body Alberta Forestry, Parks and Tourism
Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park

Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in central Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 4 October 2000 and has an area of 9,665.46 hectares (23,883.87 acres; 37.32 sq mi). [3] The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework. [4]

Contents

Location

The park is located mostly in Westlock County in central Alberta, approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-northeast of Westlock. The northern sixth of the park is in Municipal District of Lesser Slave River. The park is roughly a square shape with dimensions of 36 by 36 miles (58 by 58 km). The western boundary is the Athabasca River and the eastern boundary is the Pembina River. The northern and southern boundaries are determined by the Dominion Land Survey system. The northern boundary is the northern extent of sections 2 through 6 of township 65, range 2 west of the fourth meridian (2-65-2W5). The southern boundary is the southern extent of sections 7 through 12 of township 64, range 2 west of the fourth meridian (7-64-2W5). [5] The park is only four kilometres (2.5 mi) west of the hamlet of Fawcett in a direct line but is over 17 kilometres (11 mi) via road because the park and the hamlet are on opposite sides of the Pembina River and a bridge must be crossed. [2] The park is accessed via Range Road 20A which cuts north/south near the eastern border. There is a staging area midway along this road. [5] The park has been the site of petroleum exploration and production in the past and there are still active oil and gas wells in the park. The activities for petroleum exploration and production have left behind networks of oil lease access roads, pipelines and their cutline, and seismic access lines. [5] [6] : 5, 7 

Ecology

The park protects a sample of the Central Mixedwood and Dry Mixedwood subregions of the Boreal Forest natural region of Alberta. [4] In the National Ecological Framework for Canada used by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the park is in the Hondo Plain ecodistrict of the Mid-Boreal Uplands ecoregion in the Central Boreal Plains ecoprovince of the Boreal Plains Ecozone. [7] [8] Under the OneEarth classification (previously World Wildlife Fund), the park is in the Mid-Canada Boreal Plains Forests ecoregion of the Mid-Canada Boreal Plains & Foothill Forests bioregion. [9]

Geography

The park is largely flat except for the valleys where it meets the two rivers. The elevation of the plateau is approximately 620 metres (2,030 ft) on the east to 635 metres (2,083 ft) on the west. The elevation drops to 600 metres (2,000 ft) at the Pembina River and to 580 metres (1,900 ft) at the Athabasca. [5] There are several small lakes on the east side of the park: Lakes Beyette, Birston, Reid, Crane, Emslie, Hubert, King, Nelson, Norman, Samual and Ward. [9] : 6 

Climate

The Köppen climate classification of the park is Continental, Subarctic (Dfc) characterized by long, cold winters, and short, warm to cool summers. [10] Using the data from a nearby weather station (Duck Lake AGCM), average daily temperatures exceed 10 °C (50 °F) only for June, July, and August while average daily temperatures are less than 0 °C (32 °F) for November through March. The long-run average precipitation on the plateaus for the wettest months, June and July, is 90 to 100 millimetres (3.5 to 3.9 in) per month; conversely, it is less than 40 millimetres (1.6 in) per month from September through April. [11]

Natural history themes

During the Last Glacial Period, the Laurentide Ice Sheet covered most of Alberta. When the ice retreated, meltwater rivers deposited sand over the area containing the park. Aeolian processes, the prevailing winds pushed the sand into dunes and created a dune complex within the present-day park which is part of larger dune field along the Athabasca River extending from Holmes Crossing Sandhills Ecological Reserve and Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park in the southwest. Between the sand dunes are depressions containing numerous wetlands. The dominant vegetation on the sand is Jack pine. Vegetation in the wetlands is black spruce, tamarack, and patterned fens. The park contains birds such as eagles, sandhill cranes, and great blue heron. Ungulates Mule and white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. Small mammals such as beaver, fisher, and marten. Carnivores American black bear, coyote, fox, lynx, wolverine, and wolves. The lakes and wetland are excellent habitat for amphibians. The park is part of the southern range for the Slave Lake Caribou Herd and is some of the least disturbed of the caribou range. [9] : 6 

Activities

The park has a significant trail system allowing Off-highway vehicle riding in summer and snowmobiling in winter but only on existing trails; off-trail use is prohibited. [5] [4] There are backcountry campgrounds on the western side of the park. Wildlife viewing and backcountry hiking are allowed. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boreal Shield Ecozone (CEC)</span> Largest ecozone in Canada, stretching from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland

The Boreal Shield Ecozone, as defined by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), is the largest ecozone in Canada. Covering 1.8 million square kilometres it covers almost 20% of Canada's landmass, stretching from northern Saskatchewan to Newfoundland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boreal Plains Ecozone (CEC)</span> An ecozone

The Boreal Plains Ecozone, as defined by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), is a terrestrial ecozone in the western Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. It also has minor extensions into northeastern British Columbia and south-central Northwest Territories. The region extends over 779,471 km2, of which 58,981 km2 is conserved.

Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 20 December 2000 with an area of 144,505 hectares. On 14 May 2018, the park was enlarged slightly to an area of 145,969 hectares. Thye park was created as part of Alberta's "Special Places" initiative. The park is contained in the Lower Athabasca Region Land Use Framework finalized in 2012. It contains a free roaming wood bison herd. The park is named for the Birch Mountains that are partially contained within the boundaries of the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwest Canadian Shield Forests</span> Taiga ecoregion of Canada

The Midwest Canadian Shield Forests is an ecoregion in Canada, classified as a Taiga and Boreal Forests Biome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mixedwood Plains Ecozone (Canada)</span>

The Mixedwood Plains Ecozone is the Canadian ecozone with the most southern extent, covering all of southwestern Ontario, and parts of central and northeastern Ontario and southern Quebec along the Saint Lawrence River. It was originally dominated by temperate deciduous forest growing mostly on limestone covered by glacial till. It is the smallest ecozone in Canada, but it includes the country's most productive industrial and commercial region, and is home to nearly half of Canada's population, including its two largest cities, Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. Hence, little of the original forest cover remains, making protection of the remaining forests a high conservation priority. This ecozone includes two regions described by J.S. Rowe in his classic Forest Regions of Canada: the entire Deciduous Forest Region, and the southern portions of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region. In the province of Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources maps this area as Site Regions 6E and 7E.

Kazan Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. It was established on 14 May 2018 and is a large park with an area of 659,397 hectares (2,546 sq mi). As of January 2023, Kazan is the largest park under Alberta provincial authority. The park was initiated by and is contained in the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan Land Use Framework in August 2012. Two smaller parks, La Butte Creek and Colin-Cornwall Lakes Wildland Provincial Parks, were disestablished and incorporated into Kazan.

Richardson Wildland Park is a wildland provincial park in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, northern Alberta, Canada. It was established 14 May 2018 and has an area of 312,068 hectares (1,204.90 sq mi). Two previous parks, Maybelle River Wildland Provincial Park and Richardson River Dunes Wildland Provincial Park, established in 1998, were disestablished on 14 May 2018 and the area was incorporated into Richardson Wildland Park. The park is within the Lower Athabasca Region Land Use Framework and managed within the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan.

Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. It was established on 14 May 2018 and has an area of 191,545 hectares. The Government of Alberta announced the park's creation through its approval of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan Land Use Framework in August 2012.

Castle Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in southern Alberta, Canada. The designation of the park was established on 20 January 2017, with an effective date of 16 February 2017. The designation involved the protection of 79,678 hectares of land. The park is included in the South Saskatchewan Region Land Use Framework. The park, along with Castle Provincial Park, is managed under the Castle Management Plan. The park takes its name from the region including the Castle River and Castle Peak of Windsor Mountain. Despite the name, it is not associated with Castle Mountain which is in Banff National Park.

Birch River Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. It was established on 14 May 2018 and covers 331,832 hectares (1,281.2 sq mi).The park is contained in the Lower Athabasca Region Land Use Framework finalized in 2012. The park is named for the Birch River that flows through it.

Brazeau Canyon Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in Yellowhead County, central Alberta, Canada. The park has an area of 5,039.32 hectares and was created on 20 December 2000. The park is named for the valley in which flows the Brazeau River. The park is contained in the Upper Athabasca Land Use Framework.

Marguerite River Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in Wood Buffalo, northern Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 20 December 2000 and has an area of 196,301.9 hectares (757.9 sq mi). The park is part of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan. The park was named for the Marguerite River that flows thru the park and forms a portion of the park's western boundary. The park was originally created in 1998 as Marguerite Crag and Tail Wildland Provincial Park. It was reformed and renamed in 2000.

Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in Woodlands County, Alberta, Canada. The park is 7,903 hectares in area and was established in 1997. The park is contained in the Upper Athabasca Land Use Framework. The park is managed through the Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park Management Plan. The Klondike Trail passes through the western section of the park for about five kilometres (3 mi). This trail was first established in 1824–1825 as a portage between Fort Edmonton on the North Saskatchewan River and Fort Assiniboine on the Athabasca River. The portage was part of the York Factory Express, a 19th-century fur brigade route of the Hudson's Bay Company from Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River to York Factory on Hudson Bay. The trail was revived again during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897–1899 as part of the overland route to the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City, Yukon. Today, the section of the Klondike Trail within the park extends north of the Klondike Trail Staging Area and includes the ruins of a trapper's cabin and the gravesite of a child who died during trek.

Grizzly Ridge Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 14 April 1999 and has an area of 10,706.07 hectares. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework.

La Biche River Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 6 June 2000 and had an area of 16,843.975 hectares. It was expanded on 8 August 2001 to an area of 17,545.251 hectares. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework.

Lesser Slave Lake Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in central Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 7 February 2001 and has an area of 3,581.450 hectares. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework.

Otter-Orloff Lakes Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 15 December 2000 and has an area of 6,948 hectares. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework. The park surrounds Orloff Lake and Otter Lake is named for the two lakes contained within the park.

Rock Lake–Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in west-central Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 20 December 2000 and has an area of 34,682.9 hectares. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework. The park is named for the local lake and creek within the boundaries of the park.

Whitehorse Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in west-central Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 26 August 1998 and had an area of 17,439.886 hectares. On 23 July 2002, the area was changed slightly to 17,325.54 ha. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework. The park is named for the creek within the boundaries of the park.

Winagami Wildland Provincial Park is a wildland provincial park in northern Alberta, Canada. The park was established on 26 August 1998 and has an area of 17,439.886 hectares. The park is included in the Upper Athabasca Region Land Use Framework. The park is named for Winagami Lake which is adjacent to the park.

References

  1. ↑ UNEP-WCMC (2000). "Protected Area Profile for Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park from the World Database on Protected Areas". ProtectedPlanet.net. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Plan Showing Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park" (PDF). Alberta Parks. 26 May 2000.
  3. 1 2 "O.C. 380/00". Orders in Council. Alberta King's Printer. 4 October 2000.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Information & Facilities - Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park". Alberta Parks. 10 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park (PDF) (Map). 1:22,000. Government of Alberta. 10 February 2017.
  6. ↑ Trail Plan for Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park, Northeast Region (PDF). Alberta Parks. October 2017.
  7. ↑ Terrestrial Ecozones, Ecoregions, and Ecodistricts: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, Canada (Map). 1:2 million. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment Canada. 1995.
  8. ↑ Ecological Land Classification, 2017 (PDF). Statistics Canada. 1 March 2018. pp. 4–5, 26. ISBN   978-0-660-24501-0. Catalogue no. 12-607-X.
  9. 1 2 3 "Alberta-British Columbia Foothills Forests". OneEarth.org.
  10. ↑ "Climate Zones of North America". CEC.org. Commission for Environmental Cooperation . Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Climate Normals for Alberta: (Duck Lake AGCM)". Government of Alberta. 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.