Ferguson Lake – Wetlands

The Nature Trust of British Columbia is fundraising to raise $400,000 to protect 129.2 hectares (319 acres) of wetland, riparian forest, and mixed forest ecosystems. The property, known as Ferguson Lake-Wetlands, is located in the city of Prince George and in the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. 

The land is adjacent to the Ferguson Lake Conservation Area, a 31 hectare conservation area owned by The Nature Trust of BC. With the purchase of Ferguson Lake-Wetlands, the contiguous protected land will expand to be 160 hectares. These private conservation parcels are connected to provincial Crown land parcels, forming a natural wildlife corridor and increasing connectivity within the region. Ferguson Lake – Wetlands has merchantable timber value and its purchase will ensure that its mature and old growth riparian forests and wetlands are protected in perpetuity.

Ferguson Lake-Wetlands is within an area of continental significance to waterfowl, under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and a regionally significant wetland area within the Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture program. The property’s wetlands provide habitat, including feeding and breeding grounds for waterfowl and shorebird species like the Hooded Merganser, Sandpiper, and Bufflehead. Thedense coniferous and riparian forests provides habitat for other species such as the Federally threatened Barn Swallow and of-special-concern Evening Grosbeak. Other species found in the area include Canada Goose, Common Loon, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye, the Great Blue Heron, Common and Red-breasted Merganser, the Greater Yellowlegs, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Sandhill Crane, Snow Goose, Ring-necked Duck, and Trumpeter Swan. 

Ferguson Lake-Wetlands is located within a snowy winter and moist cool summer climate called the Mossvale moist cool Sub-Boreal Spruce Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) unit – only 3.6 per cent of this BEC unit is protected. The area’s unique habitat supports a diverse range of species, including Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Moose, Elk, Deer, American Marten, American Beaver, and Canada Lynx. The area is also home to the Federally-listed of-special-concern Western Toad and the Long-toed Salamander.  Ferguson Creek, which runs through the property, historically contained Chinook Salmon, Burbot, Longnose Dace, Northern Pikeminnow, and Rainbow Trout.