Prairies
Introduction
The Prairies area is the largest of 11 SRD management areas across the province. It contains a diversity of ecosystems, landscapes and features. Climate, topography, vegetation, and soil capability are highly varied throughout the Prairies area.
Made up of Grassland and Parkland natural regions, characteristic landforms include the following:
- large expanses of flat to gently undulating prairie,
- stable and active sand dunes,
- highly eroded badlands,
- large irrigation reservoirs,
- prairie potholes/wetlands,
- river valley cottonwood forests,
- foothills, and
- coulees.
Almost 50 per cent of Alberta's population lives in this area. The area's major urban centres include Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Camrose and Medicine Hat .
Many towns and villages are spread throughout the area, and tend to be clustered in areas where agricultural activities are most intense.
Where to find us
The area head office is in Calgary. Fishing and hunting permits and Christmas tree licenses can be purchased at SRD offices in most major towns in the area. See map for locations of area offices.
The local economy
Agricultural production is diverse, including dryland and irrigated farmland, market gardens, greenhouses, livestock operations and ranching.
Other dominant industries in the Prairies area include oil and gas development and tourism.
Area wildlife
The area also has riparian areas, which play an important role in providing habitat for some of the area's wildlife. Another significant habitat type is the largest intact block of aspen parkland in Canada . Approximately 75 per cent of species at risk in the province live in the Prairies area, including these key species:
- swift fox,
- burrowing owl, and
- loggerhead shrike.
The badlands provide nesting sites for the golden eagle, prairie falcon and rock wren. A large number of the province's pronghorn antelope also live in this area.
Tourism and recreation
There are a large number of recreational lakes in this area, including Gull Lake, Sylvan Lake and Pigeon Lake . Watercourses that run through this area include the North Saskatchewan, Battle, Red Deer, Bow, Oldman, and the South Saskatchewan rivers. The area also contains the Milk River Ridge, Cypress Hills and large tracts of productive agricultural land.
Fish and wildlife resources are also important to the area's consumptive and nonconsumptive users. The Bow River trout fishery, downstream from Calgary, is world-renowned.
Other
This website provides information to Albertans and other people from around the world about how we manage this special area's natural resources for sustainable use. Welcome to the Prairies area!
