

ND 6. Rush Lake. Acreage: 6000. O 



Location: Cavalier County; approximately 6 miles from the international border ZJ 



and 15 miles NW of Langdon; reached via Rt. 5 and Rt. 20. 



> 

 Description: Rush Lake lies at the headwaters of the Snowflake and West Snow- 7\ 



flake creeks, which flow north and join in Canada to intersect the Pembina 

 River. A considerable and extensive shallow marsh area exists adjacent to Rush > 



Lake. The lake is approximately 700 acres in size, but together with the ad- 

 jacent marshland has a size of over 6000 acres. Most of the lake is 3.5 ft deep. 

 The surrounding marshes have a depth of approximately 2.5-3 ft. A layer of soft 

 organic muck blankets the bottom of the lake to a depth of 6-8 inches. The 

 water of the lake is clear and alkaline. Submerged vegetation includes 

 Potamogeton strictifolius and P. pectinatus, with lesser amounts of P. Richard- 

 sonii and Utricularia. Emergents include hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus), cat- 

 tail, Phragmites, Rumex persicaroides, Sagittaria, and Sparganium. The deeper 

 vegetated portions are dominated by bulrush; the shallow, sometimes dried sec- 

 tions, especially to the northwest, by white top grass (Flumminea). Within 2 

 miles of the lake and its marshes are over 4000 small potholes and over 500 

 small type 4 water areas. In 1960, 8695 ducks and 18,417 coots were observed 

 on the lake during a breeding season count. Duck production was estimated 

 between 12,000 and 15,000; coot, at 36,000. 



Encroachments: Major drainage projects proposed; one already constructed. 



Ownership: Private; 20 to 30 owners. 



Data source: Philip B. Aus, Devils Lake Wetlands Office, P.O. Box 159D, 

 Devils Lake, N.D. 58301; Biological Reconnaissance Report: Rush Lake, Cavali- 

 er County, North Dakota, 1 960. 



