South Charlie Lake Wetlands - Charlie Lake, British Columbia
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T0SHEA
N 56° 16.717 W 120° 57.374
10V E 626536 N 6238967
Charlie Lake Wetland and trails is Mile 52 on the Alaska Highway, near the Rotary RV Park.
Waymark Code: WM14PFV
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/06/2021
Views: 11
Ducks Unlimited Canada built its first habitat project in British Columbia in 1969.
This marsh is one of dozens of projects developed in the B.C. Peace River Country by Ducks Unlimited in partnership with the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international effort to conserve wildlife habitat.
Ducks Unlimited Canada enhanced this marsh in 1998 with its partners (B.C. Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, and the City of Fort St. John).
Our projects often involve managing water levels for wildlife, but we also consider their habitat needs on land.
At various times of the year, Charlie Lake is home to over 30 species of waterfowl and over 60 species of other water associated birds.
Some ducks, such as Buffleheads, prefer to nest in tree cavities, so we put up nest boxes to simulate this critical habitat when it is no longer available naturally.
Charlie Lake is in Peace Country and is a small community with less than 2,000 residents. The lake itself is only 23 feet deep and about 9.5 miles long. On May 14, 1942, a US Corp of Engineers Pontoon Barge overturned at Charlie Lake, a memorial was placed in honor of the 12 soldiers who tragically lost their lives. This memorial is just a short distance from the wetlands.
Charlie Lake is Mile 52 of the Alaska Highway completed in 1943. Charlies Lake was a major distribution point for workers and building materials. Now it is a recreational haven offering Provincial Parks, campgrounds, hiking trails, bird and wildlife viewing and great fishing.