Basin Lake (Saskatchewan)
{{Short description|Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Basin Lake
| image =
| image_size = 255px
| caption =
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = RM of Three Lakes No. 400, Saskatchewan
| pushpin_map = Saskatchewan#Canada
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Saskatchewan
| coords = {{coord|52.6334|-105.2839|region:CA-SK_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = Salt lake
| inflow =
| rivers =
| outflow = None
| part_of = Saskatchewan River drainage basin
| catchment =
| basin_countries = {{flag|Canada}}
| length =
| width =
| area = {{cvt|3782.5|ha}}
| depth = {{cvt|9|m}}
| max-depth = {{cvt|16.5|m}}
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore = {{cvt|42|km}}
| elevation = {{cvt|508|m}}
| islands =
| cities = None
}}
Basin Lake{{cite web |title=Basin Lake |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HATQK|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 April 2023}} is an endorheic salt lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lake is in the RM of Three Lakes No. 400 in the Boreal Transition ecoregion{{cite web |title=Ecoregions of Saskatchewan |url=https://biolwww.usask.ca/rareplants_sk/root/htm/en/enthusiast/4_ecoreg.php |website=usask |date=30 May 2008 |publisher=University of Saskatchewan |access-date=14 April 2023}} and is within an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada and part of the Basin and Middle Lakes Bird Sanctuary.{{cite web |title=Basin and Middle Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary – Basin Lake |url=https://www.brmbmaps.com/explore/canada/saskatchewan/three-lakes-no-400/basin-and-middle-lakes-migratory-bird-sanctuary-%E2%80%93-basin-lake/59275 |website=BRMB Maps |publisher=Mussio Ventures Ltd. |access-date=14 April 2023}}{{cite web |title=Basin and Middle Lakes Bird Sanctuary |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HAYHI|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 April 2023}} There are no communities along the lake's shore and the closest highway is Highway 20. At {{convert|40|km}} to the south, Humbolt is the closest city.
Description
Basin Lake is a salt lake within the Carrot River watershed.{{cite web |title=Carrot River Valley Watershed Association |url=http://crwatershed.ca/about-us/ |publisher=CRWatershed |access-date=16 December 2023}} It has no overland outflow and water levels are dependent upon spring run-off, intermittent creeks, the water table, and rainfall. As a result, water levels fluctuate greatly and extensive mudflats form near the lake's shoreline. Basin Lake is the end point in the terminal Lenore Lake basin, with lakes such as Lenore Lake, Frog Lake, and Middle Lake upstream.{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Elodie |title=Noah's Ark syndrome for Middle Lake |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-news/noahs-ark-syndrome-for-middle-lake-4048449 |access-date=16 December 2023 |work=SaskToday |publisher=Glacier Media Group |date=20 September 2011}}{{cite web |title=Carrot River Watershed Source Water Protection Plan |url=https://www.wsask.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/CarrotRiverWatershedPlan.pdf |website=WSask |publisher=Saskatchewan Watershed Authority |access-date=16 December 2023}} The lake is surrounded by farms and groves of aspen, willow, and white spruce. Until the 1970s, the lake supported a population of whitefish but as the lake's salinity increased, the population could not be supported.{{cite web |title=Basin Lake Fishing Map |url=https://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/ca_sk_basin_lake_sk-basin-lake-nautical-chart.html |website=GPS Nautical Charts |publisher=Bist LLC. |access-date=14 April 2023}}
The lake was formed in the 1890s after significant summer rains in 1896 soften the ground allowing a spring to rise up from an aquifer in the nearby hills. Prior to the flooding, the area was a depression with a "mixture of bushes, sloughs and hay meadows." Eventually the lake's water level rose to match the aquifer's. The aquifer has a natural underground spring that flows into the Carrot River Valley.{{cite news |last1=Loehr |first1=Philip |title=Throwback: Basin Lake origin traced to 1896 |url=https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/in-the-community/throwback-basin-lake-origin-traced-to-1896-4136504 |access-date=14 April 2023 |work=SaskToday |publisher=Humboldt Journal |date=4 August 2019}}
Basin and Middle Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Basin Lake, and neighbouring Middle Lake,{{cite web |title=Middle Lake |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HATQX|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 April 2023}} are part of the Basin and Middle Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS) and Basin and Middle Lakes (075) Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada. The MBS was established on 9 March 1925 and "is a major resting and feeding area for migratory waterfowl and swans." The lakes, at about {{cvt|1.5|km}} apart, were designated an IBA in 2001. The eastern part of Basin Lake and parts of Middle Lake are designated critical piping plover habitat and is provincially protected under the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act. While Basin Lake averages about {{cvt|9|m}} deep, Middle lake averages only about {{cvt|1|m}} deep.{{cite web |title=Basin and Middle Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/basin-middle-lakes.html |website=ECCC |date=16 March 2015 |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 April 2023}} Directly to the south-east is another migratory bird sanctuary at Lenore Lake.
Basin and Middle Lakes provide important habitats to several bird species, including the American white pelican, double-crested cormorant, pied-billed grebe, horned grebe, eared grebe, western grebe, red-necked grebe, California gull, black tern, common tern, and the black-crowned night heron.{{cite web |title=Basin and Middle Lakes |url=https://www.ibacanada.ca/site.jsp?siteID=SK075 |website=IBA Canada |publisher=Birds Canada |access-date=14 April 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Canada topic|List of lakes of}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Lakes of Saskatchewan
Category:Three Lakes No. 400, Saskatchewan
Category:Endorheic lakes of Canada