Saline Lake Resources of the Canadian Prairies

Saline lakes are the most common lakes where semi-arid to subhumid conditions prevail on prairies and parklands of the southern Prairie Provinces and in south central British Columbia. Saskatchewan has the greatest areas and volumes of saline waters. Saline waters, however, constitute only a small portion of the total Canadian inland waters.Saline lakes are an important source of sodium sulphate but other minerals present are potentially valuable. The number of species decreases with increasing salinity so that relatively few species flourish in lakes which exceed 50 g L−1 salt but they may then be very abundant. Only brine shrimp and their eggs have been harvested commercially but many species, particularly in lower salinities, are probably important as food for bird and fish populations. Fish have been widely stocked in less saline waters for both commercial (whitefish) and sport (walleye) fishing. Waterfowl populations frequent saline lakes.Some saline lakes lend themselves to recreational activities such as fishing, boating, water skiing, sailing, swimming and beach activities. Saline lakes were probably more intensively used for these activities 50 years ago than today. Many lakes have associated regional and provincial parks, particularly in Saskatchewan and Alberta.