36 
Weather and Water Conditions 
The waterfowl breeding season in 1953 ended with water areas generally at 
the May levels. By mid-August the rains tapered off, and following a dry fall and 
winter, March brought some excesses in snowfall. Mid-April saw the beginning of 
a record-breaking period of below freezing temperatures and considerable snow. 
This cold and stormy period did not break until early May at which time snow lay 14 
inches deep on Area III and from 4 to 6 inches on Areas I, Il and IV. Water areas 
were frozen and as the waterfowl migration had begun prior to this spring storm, 
open areas on Streams and lakes were ata premium. By May 1, no ducks had 
arrived in the Kneehills District of Area III due to the heavy snow cover, and park- 
land nesting was delayed about two weeks longer than on the prairies, where this 
same storm had caused a two week set-back in the season, 
Water levels on Area IV (northern parklands) were slightly above and on Area 
II (northern prairies) were about the same as in 1953. However, on Area III (southern 
parklands) they averaged six inches higher and on Area [ (southern prairies) six inches 
lower than in the previous Season. Reduction of water levels on Area I were 
sufficient to cause a loss of 50% of the water areas present the year before. Heavy 
rains in the Area III district spread a great deal of sheet water over the more level 
terrain and contributed to the very late plowing characteristic of this region. 
By August 4 only twelve ponds remained on Area I where 30 were found in 
May, 1954, and 62 in May, 1953, All water gauges were dry by June 3 and by way 
of further explanation, the 12 areas still present by August 4 were primarily the 
result of irrigation run-off and are very temporary in nature. For all practical 
urposes of providing breeding and brooding habitat, Area I nearly dried up by mid-June. 
As irrigation water was turned into the Brooks-Tilley district in June, sufficient 
spillage and sump areas were created to care for the limited brood production there, 
but from Tilley to Suffield a non-irrigated area, available water of a permanent 
nature could be found only by broods traveling overland at least a mile from the 
study area. 
The remaining study areas suffered water losses as well as gains with highest 
levels occurring during the June rains. By the end of the season, however, water 
levels on Area IJ averaged 10 inches below those in May, on Area III 7.5 inches below 
those in May and Area IV three inches below those at the start of the season. The 
latter area is located on the northeastern edge of the parklands where by late summer 
the effects of the near drought in eastern Alberta was being felt. Ninety-five water 
areas dried up between mid- May and August 1, a loss of 44.4 percent of those 
available at the beginning of the season. 
Table I. - Pothole Survival. 

Study Area May June July August - 
30 23 18 12 
IT 61 63 53 40 
III 191 191 186 163 
IV 196 202 188 109 
