The Importance of Prairie Potholes

            When most people hear the word “pothole” a look of horror takes over, as terrible flashbacks of our Saskatchewan highways play through their minds. However, the kind of potholes I am talking about are not found on the highway.  Big Quill Lake , Little Quill Lake and Mud Lake are all wetlands which make up part of the prairie pothole region.  The Quill Lakes were created 15,000 – 20,000 years ago by glaciers which left behind considerable potholes that helped in creating the wetlands that we see today.  The huge sheets of ice were sometimes more than one mile thick and moved across the prairies from the north.  The massive amount of ice acted like a bulldozer, grinding, crushing and eliminating anything in its path and managing to carry with it, large amounts of rock and soil debris.  As the glaciers traveled, huge blocks of ice that broke from the glacier became embedded in the soil they deposited.  When these gigantic ice cubes melted they formed potholes that today, fill with water creating a very unique ecosystem and habitat for many species of animals, plants and insects.

            Okay, so now you know how the wetlands came to be, but what exactly are they?  Ol’ Mr. Webster defines them as simply “wet land”.  The wetlands are so much more than just wet land.  With a visual backdrop of green grasses, colorful wild flowers and cattails, the wetlands are low lying areas covered by water to support the growth of aquatic plants and animals during part of their life cycle.  There are many types of wetlands including swamps, bogs, fens and marshes.  These wetlands are then divided into three additional categories; temporary, seasonal and permanent.  Each type of wetland is based on the water condition and vegetation present.  The Quill Lakes fit into the permanent category, as they are flooded year round except during extreme droughts.  The species of plants found in the wetlands have a remarkable ability to replenish and pick up growth even after intense dry spells.  

I often think of the Quill Lakes as a utopian oasis, as I watch incredible works of nature swoop, soar, and play in the sun.  Milligan Creek is a great place to drop a canoe, have a picnic, bird watch or go hiking.  Wetlands drive tourism and recreation which attracts many visitors and a good number of American hunters to the area each year. Other than being a beautiful place to visit, the wetlands play an extremely important role in today’s polluted environment.  You may not know it, but our very own Quill Lakes work towards carbon sequestration.  Carbon sequestration is the trapping of greenhouse gases which reduces global warming and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen providing us with healthy air to breathe.  Acting as a natural sponge, the wetlands not only filter harmful chemicals and other pollutants from the air and water supply but also play an important role in flood prevention acting as watersheds for lakes in the event of overflow.  The wetlands are connected to a complex network of underground water systems that often lead right into the very wells that we get our drinking water from.  Wetlands help to improve our water quality and therefore aid in lowering the cost of water treatment for our use at home.

Eleven percent of Canada ’s wetlands are found in Saskatchewan .  Since Saskatchewan was first settled there has been an estimated loss of 80% of our valuable wetlands. We are left with a measly and threatened 800 acres or less.  In a world that shouts, “save our planet” more consideration should be given to the benefits that preserving our wetlands will have on the human population in years to come.  The wetlands of the world are an important tie in the healthy renewal of air and water, our two most desirable and sometimes under valued natural resources.  For more information please visit the Wadena Museum and Nature Centre.