due to Chinooks and percolation Into the 
soil as a result of a poor frost seal. 
This combination of circumstances pro¬ 
duced the very poor surface water con¬ 
ditions in the grassland region of the 
Province in 1964. Summer precipitation 
did nothing to alleviate the situation as 
total moisture for the period April 1 to 
October 31 ranged from 71 percent to 
104 percent of normal with the heaviest 
rains occurring in the fall. Water con¬ 
ditions in both grassland and parkland 
regions deteriorated by freezeup in 1964 
to the lowest point since Ducks Unlimited 
studies began in 1962. Heavy rains in 
September 1964 coupled with a hard frost 
before the first snowfall produced a good 
frost seal in most areas for the winter of 
1964-65. Precipitation during this pe¬ 
riod varied from 130 percent of normal 
at Swift Current to only 76 percent of 
normal at Ft. Qu T Appelle. Maximum 
effectiveness of this moisture was ob¬ 
tained in most areas however, as this 
was one of the coldest winters on record 
with no thaws of any consequence from 
November 1964 to mid-March of 1965. 
Stratum A East (northwest corner) 
Highway 6 - Raymore south to Southey. 
Water conditions were highly variable. 
Most basins were in poor condition but 
some cattail ponds were well filled. 
Sheet water was spotty. 
Highway 22 - Southeast to Lipton. 
Water conditions were poor though there 
was fair sheet water in spots. 
Highway 35 - Lipton to Qu f Appelle 
Valley and south to Highway 1. Water 
conditions were poor. Type 2 basins 
were very low and some were dry. 
Ft. Qu T Appelle area (south of the 
valley). The effects of prolonged sub¬ 
normal precipitation were very evident 
and spring water conditions were the 
worst observed in this area. Slough 
levels were more than six inches below 
those of 1964 in spite of equal runoff this 
spring. Sloughs which were considered 
in 1962 to be semipermanent will be dry 
this year before mid-July. This area 
can be writtenoff as far as waterfowl 
production is concerned. 
Highway 1 - Qu f Appelle to Regina. 
Water conditions were generally poor 
but improved to the west. 
Stratum A West 
Highway 11 - Saskatoon south to 
Chamberlain. Slough conditions were 
quite good. Most type 2 areas were 
filled but some larger basins were below 
capacity. Sheet water was good. 
Highway 2 - Chamberlain south to 
Moose Jaw. Small sloughs were well 
filled, larger flats were below capacity 
and sheet water was excellent. 
Moose Jaw - Coteau area. Water 
conditions were highly variable but much 
improved over 1964. In spite of sub¬ 
normal (91%) winter precipitation most 
small type 2 basins were in excellent 
condition. Larger basins, however, 
have shown a rather modest recovery 
and most semipermanent sloughs which 
went dry in 1964 will not survive the 
season without heavy summer rains. 
Highway 1 - Regina to Moose Jaw. 
Dugouts on the Regina Plains were filled 
to capacity and there was a good deal of 
sheet water. 
Highway 1 - Moose Jaw to Ernfold. 
Water conditions in the Missouri Coteau 
were generally disappointing. Some 
sloughs were in good condition but most 
were well below capacity. West of Em- 
fold conditions tend to improve and the 
Rush Lake flats were completely flooded. 
Highway 39 - Moose Jaw to Corinne 
(Regina plains). Little slough develop¬ 
ment but dugouts were well filled. 
Highway 6 - Corinne to Pangman. 
Little slough development but basins 
were in good condition. 
Pangman area (Missouri Coteau). 
Conditions parallel those of Moose Jaw 
area. Small basins were in good shape 
but many of the larger semipermanent 
sloughs were in poor condition and a few 
were almost dry at this time. Successful 
waterfowl production will depend to a 
great extent on summer rains. 
11 
