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Utikuma Lake

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Lake name:
Utikuma Lake
Location:
Alberta
HydroLAKE ID:
494
Latitude:
55.925215
Longitude:
-115.390625
Surface area (km2):
253
Basin type:
non-reservoir
Primary vegetation for nesting:
Schoenoplectus
Management agency:
Province of Alberta; Alberta Environment; Alberta Parks
Lake use:
recreation fisheries
Region associations:
Lesser Slave Lake; Athabasca Plain
Comments:
A remote large, shallow lake with major vegetation growth. Significant for waterfowl, this area experiences oil and gas activity.

Summary of Surveys (9)

Survey Citation:
COSEWIC. 2014. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 55 pp. www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm

  • Type
    shore; boat; air
  • Time period
    1970, 2011
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1680 1991-2011
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 ? 2011
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

From Table A.2, maximum counts of breeding Western grebes from surveys mostly conducted during nesting season from June and July (sourced from Wilson, A. and Smith, P.A. 2013. Distribution and population status of Western Grebes in Canada. Unpublished report for the Canadian Wildlife Service). Stated as 20 year chunks: 1970 - 1990 and 1991 - 2011 without breaking those down into years or other details.

Survey Citation:
Erickson, M. E. 2010. Persistence and abundance of the western grebe in Alberta. Dissertation. University of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Same lakes and abundance estimated were checked against Erickson, M. E., C. Found-Jackson, and M. S. Boyce. 2017. Habitat associations with counts of declining western grebes in Alberta, Canada. Avian Conservation and Ecology. 12(1):12. Appendix to Erickson et al 2014 is unavailable but presumed to be the same list of lakes and abundance estimates.

  • Time period
    12 August 2008, 27 August 2008
  • Source
    Dissertation
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1680 2000
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 6 2008
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

From Table B.1 and Table C.1, survey methods and dates for 2008 field season, and latest abundance estimate from 2008, compared to maximum abundance estimate. Source of maximum abundance estimate is from 2000 sourced from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Species at Risk (SAR) #7. The 2008 surveys are data sourced from ASRD. I didn't include maximum abundance estimate as part of the survey date for Erickson's surveys.

Survey Citation:
Prescott, D. R. C., J. Unruh, S. Morris-Yasinski, and M. Wells. 2018. Distribution and abundance of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta: an update. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 160, Edmonton, AB. 23 pp.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    1982, 2015
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 4568 2000
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence 2015
Max Nests 1 to 100 presence 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008-2011, 2015
Most Recent Nests 1 to 100 presence 2015
Max Chicks 1 to 100 presence? 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008-2011, 2015
Most Recent Chicks 1 to 100 presence? 2015

Comments:

Sources are AESRD and ACA (2013), FWMIS (Accessed Nov 2015 including field surveys from 2015 and 2016), Hanneman and Heckbert 2001, Kemper et al. 2008, Wollis and Stratmoen 2010, Erickson 2010, Hanus 2002, and Gendron et al. 2001. This report is an update of Western grebe distribution in Alberta based on previous provincial status reports, additional breeding records (between May 1 to August 31) through end of 2014 from new sources. Lakes were visited in 2015 and 2016 for occupancy and habitat conditions. In a given year, if there are multiple sources of data, the highest count was given. From the Appendix, I entered only lakes (67) with evidence of breeding (either chicks or nests, but doesn't specify which and no nest nor chick numbers provided). Otherwise, 318 lakes supported adult grebe populations. This report compiled a list of 35 priority lakes for grebe surveys and management actions through the provincial recovery plan based on high population and habitat scores. New lakes with breeding reveal a changing system of lake occupancy and possibly higher populations than previously thought in Alberta.

Survey Citation:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 2006. Status of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 60, Edmonston, AB. 29 pp.

  • Time period
    2000
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1700+ 2000
Most Recent Adults >1000 1700+ 2000
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Data from Table 1 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta supporting western grebe colonies of over 500 breeding birds, adapted from Hanus 2002), Table 2 ("Summary of the most recently published western grebe population data for the province of Alberta"), and Table 3 ("Summary of historical and current information on breeding populations of western grebe on lakes in northwestern Alberta"). Table 1 is divided into categories of lakes with 1000+ birds and lakes with 500 to 999 birds and not specific count numbers. The 2000 data is the same for both categories. Utikuma Lake is in the Boreal natural region. Data from Table 2 is sourced from Hanneman and Heckbert 2001. Number of grebes is determined by nest count X2 in Table 3 and is sourced from Hanneman and Heckbert 2001.

Survey Citation:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 2013. Status of the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta: Update 2012. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 60 (Update 2012). Edmonston, AB. 48 pp.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    2000, 2009
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 1702 2000
Most Recent Adults >1000 1220 2009
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

Data from Table 1 ("Summary of lakes in Alberta supporting western grebe colonies of over 200 breeding birds, adapted from Hanus 2002) and Table 2 ("Most recent abundance estimates from known western grebe breeding lakes in Alberta based on structured surveys; at some lakes, more recent observations have been made but these were not complete counts"). Table 1 is divided into categories of lakes with 1000+ birds and lakes with 200 to 999 birds and not specific count numbers. Table 2 data is from Wollis and Stratmoen 2010. Estimates of western grebe numbers are a minimum estimate for that year derived from nest counts (x2 for breeding adult numbers) or boat surveys of adult grebes, using highest estimate. According to Table 4, the 2009 count is 13% of estimated proportion of provincial population. They are subject to winterkill (H. Wollis, pers. comm.). This lake is considered a nationally important designation for breeding grebes and has a low amount of recreational activity.

Survey Citation:
Wollis, H., and C. Stratmoen. 2010. Population study of western grebes in Alberta 2001-2009: Implications for management and status designation. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 138. Edmonton, AB. 18 pp.

  • Time period
    2000, 2009
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 2200 2000
Most Recent Adults >1000 1220 2009
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This report builds upon a western grebe monitoring project started in 2001 to survey colonies in Alberta and assess population trends and distribution. Known and new colonies were searched for each year through 2009. This entry is from Table 1 and Table 2 comparing most recent estimate of # adults (2009) with highest estimate year.

Survey Citation:
Beyersbergen, G. W., W. A. Calvert, R. C. Bazin, S. J. Barry, and B. A. Gingras. 2009. Spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of the Franklin’s gull in the Canadian Prairie Provinces: 2005–2007. Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report Series Number 504, Prairie and Northern Region. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • Type
    shore; boat
  • Time period
    May 2007, June 2007
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults 1 to 100 9 2007
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 9 2007
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This report was focused on Franklin's gull colonies but other waterbirds, such as western grebes, were counted as nesting in association with them. These are minimum counts of western grebes and not the target species so uncertain if this entry should be included.

Survey Citation:
Hanneman, M., and M. Heckbert. 2001. Colonial nesting waterbird survey in the northwest boreal region – 2000. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 7, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • Type
    boat
  • Time period
    1990s, 17 July 2000
  • Source
    Report
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 presumably >1000 2000
Most Recent Adults >1000 presumably >1000 2000
Max Nests 501 to 1000 851 2000
Most Recent Nests 501 to 1000 851 2000
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

This was a survey of colonial waterbirds based on historical records of colony locations. Western grebes were not the target species but were counted as well. Table 6 compares the 2000 survey with historical data (if available) and is entered here. These are partial surveys of the lake so may be difficult to compare as grebe colonies might move around year to year. This lake in particular is surveyed in different locations but not in all years.

Survey Citation:
Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2021. Management Plan for the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 5 iv + 52 pp.

  • Time period
    2000, 2015
  • Source
    Management plan
  • Both Western and Clarks?
    N
Count Type Range Max Year
Max Adults >1000 4568 2000
Most Recent Adults 1 to 100 presence 2015
Max Nests N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Nests N/A N/A N/A
Max Chicks N/A N/A N/A
Most Recent Chicks N/A N/A N/A

Comments:

From Appendix B, data columns are historical high count, high count since 2000, and most recent count. Since minimum count was not stated, I entered the minimum from these columns though it might not be the actual minimum across the span of years reported. Also, there is no detail on years that were excluded from surveying so range of survey years may be inaccurate. Footnote for this lake indicates that for 2015 to 2016, breeding was confirmed, potential habitat was available and lake was occupied by Western grebes. Sources are Prescott et al., 2018 and Alberta Environment and Parks, 2018.

Sources of Information

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