Vegetation inventory and rare plant survey of Devonshire Beach-Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park /

During the spring and summer of 2004 Geowest Environmental Consultants (Geowest) completed a biophysical inventory of the Devonshire Beach area for Alberta Community Development, Parks and Protected Areas Division (Client).The study was designed to collect field data and review existing literature on the Devonshire Beach study area in order to provide background materials in support of the development of a management plan for Devonshire Beach.The community of Slave Lake, the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River #124, and other stakeholders were consulted during this process.This biophysical study has been structured into two components, the Beach Ridge Significance Study, and the Vegetation Inventory and Rare Plant Survey.Both components are closely linked, as the vegetation growing in the area is influenced by the presence of the beach ridge, and the development of the sand dune is influenced by the vegetation.The main objectives of the vegetation inventory and rare plant survey include:• Completing an inventory of plant species in the study area including vascular plants, mosses and liverworts:• Conducting a survey for the presence of rare and unusual species on Devonshire Beach; and• Evaluating the vegetation reclamation plots along the beach ridge.This report details the findings of the vegetation inventory and rare plant study.The identification of Sitka willow {Salix sitchensis) on Devonshire Beach by Dr. George Argus and Joyce Gould in 2003 indicated the need for a rare plant survey of this unique habitat.Sitka willow is rare in Alberta and is ranked SI by the Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC)(Vujnovic and Gould 2002).The population on Devonshire Beach represents one of only two known locations in Alberta for this species; the other record being from the Whitecourt area in 1968 (ANHIC files 2004).A literature search was completed to locate references relating to Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park and sand dune communities in northern Alberta.Field surveys were conducted three times during the months of May through August 2004.Field crews performed a reconnaissance survey of the study area and defined three main habitat types; (1) forested partially stabilized dune and slope, (2) lower slope active sand, and (3) beach habitats.The vegetation inventory and rare plant surveys were conducting by using a random meander walk within each habitat type and compiling a species list until no new species were found.A total of 193 vascular plant, moss and liverwort species were encountered during the three site visits to Devonshire Beach.Three rare species were observed, including a likely observation of the Sitka willow {Salix sitchensis) ranked SI by ANHIC, a confirmed population of fox sedge {Carex vulpinoidea) along the shoreline of Lesser Slave Lake (ranked S2) and a patch of Campylium hispidulum (false willow moss) ranked S3.A number of invasive species were found including three noxious weeds (under the Alberta Weed Act), five nuisance weed species, six non-native species considered by the Alberta Native Plant Council to be invasive and five non-native species likely introduced through past reclamation efforts.One unusual grass species was encountered, however the identification is not entirely certain.During the early 1970's, it became evident that Devonshire Beach and the associated beach ridge in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park were extensively disturbed by recreational over-use and sand excavation for highway construction.Consequently, portions of the beach ridge system were completely denuded of native vegetation, causing sand to shift eastward from Lesser Slave Lake (Lesko 1974).A major reclamation program was initiated in 1973, which attempted to mechanically stabilize sand on the beach ridge and re-establish vegetation to ensure that sand Geowest Environmental Consultants Ltd i

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