Pakowki Lake
{{Short description|Lake in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Pakowki Lake
| image = Aerial - Pakowki Lake 01 - white balanced (10433028693).jpg
| caption = Pakowki Lake, aerial photograph, August 2013
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = County of Forty Mile No. 8, Alberta
| coords = {{coord|49|18|24|N|110|54|18|W|region:CA-AB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| lake_type = Endorheic lake, slough
| inflow = Etzikom Coulee, Irrigation Creek, Erickson Coulee, Ketchum Creek, Canal Creek, Bond Coulee, Bryant Coulee
| outflow = None
| catchment =
|pushpin_map= Canada#Alberta
| basin_countries = Canada
| length = {{convert|35|km|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|123|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{convert|1.2|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|860|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| frozen =
| islands =
| cities =
| reference =
}}
Pakowki Lake is an endorheic lake in Alberta, Canada located south of Etzikom, Alberta and not far north is the former town site of Pakowki which may have received its name from the lake.
It is located in the prairies of Southern Alberta, at an elevation of {{convert|860|m|ft}}, in the County of Forty Mile No. 8. It is fed by a number of coulees and creeks, such as Etzikom Coulee, Irrigation Creek, Erickson Coulee, Ketchum Creek, Canal Creek, Bond Coulee and Bryant Coulee, and has no outflow. Reaching a maximum extent of {{cvt|123|km2}}, it is one of the largest lakes in the province.
The name means "bad water" in Blackfoot language,{{Cite web |author=Friends of Geographical Names of Alberta |title=Pakowki Lake |url=http://www.placenamesofalberta.ca/300_names_definitions/pakl.html |accessdate=2009-05-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706193812/http://www.placenamesofalberta.ca/300_names_definitions/pakl.html |archivedate=2011-07-06 }} named so for the bad smell caused by the lack of an outflow. While it is the largest water body in southern Alberta, its waters are intermittent, and it can be classified as a slough. In times of flooding, the lake overflows through a channel into the Milk River, which flows {{convert|6|km|mi}} south of the lake.
Conservation
The Pakowki Lake Provincial Bird Sanctuary is established on and around the lake, which provides congregations of waterfowl and waders, as a staging area for migration along the western flyway.{{Cite web|url=http://issues.albertawilderness.ca/PAKOWKI/Pakowki_Lake.htm|title=Pakowki Lake|author=Alberta Wilderness Association|accessdate=2009-05-08}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The lake is designated an important bird area and listed by Bird Studies Canada and Bird Life International as globally significant{{Cite web |url=http://albertawilderness.ca/pakowki-lake-features |title=Pakowki Lake - Features | Alberta Wilderness Association |access-date=2015-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927064133/http://albertawilderness.ca/pakowki-lake-features |archive-date=2015-09-27 |url-status=dead }} but none of the lake has federal or provincial protected status.{{Cite web|url=https://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/areas-of-concern/pakowki-lake/|title=Pakowki Lake}}
Species of birds observed at the lake include double-crested cormorant, black-crowned night-heron, marsh wren, cinnamon teal and American bittern.{{Cite web|url=http://www.srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/viewingguide/medicinehat/medpl.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070814023235/http://www.srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/viewingguide/medicinehat/medpl.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-08-14|title=Pakowki Lake|author=Alberta Sustainable Resources Development|accessdate=2009-05-08}}
Mammals such as pronghorns, badgers, coyotes, striped skunks and porcupines are commonly found on the shores as well.
The lake lies in a sand dune-wetland environment of the grassland biome. Flora on the lake shores consists of threatened western spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis), vulnerable smooth goosefoot (Chenopodium subglabrum), Great Basin Downingia and skeletonweed (Eriogonum deflexum).{{cite web|url=http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/site.jsp?siteID=AB064|title=Pakowki Lake, Foremost, Alberta|author=IBA Site Listing|accessdate=2009-05-08|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612103834/http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/site.jsp?siteID=AB064|archivedate=2011-06-12}}
Avian botulism
In high water years, the lake kills hundreds of thousands{{Cite web |url=http://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/pakowki-lake/history |title=History — AlbertaWilderness |access-date=2011-09-16 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714035024/http://albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/pakowki-lake/history |archive-date=2012-07-14 |url-status=dead }} of birds due to avian botulism. Government studies conclude that nothing can be done to prevent the botulism.{{Cite web | title=Nothing to be done with Pakowki | url=http://www.bowislandcommentator.com/component/content/article/792-nothing-to-be-done-with-pakowki.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911025842/http://www.bowislandcommentator.com/component/content/article/792-nothing-to-be-done-with-pakowki.html | archive-date=2011-09-11 }}{{Cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Avian+botulism+strike+Alberta/5249084/story.html|title=2011 Avian Botulism predicted}}
References
{{Commons category|Pakowki Lake}}
{{reflist}}
{{Alberta rivers and lakes}}
{{authority control}}
Category:County of Forty Mile No. 8
Category:Endorheic lakes of Canada
{{SouthernAlberta-geo-stub}}