Larsen Lake Range Fencing Project

Awarded to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to safeguard 129.5 hectares of high-quality habitat for wildlife and low impact recreation.

PROPONENT: Nature Conservancy of Canada

DESCRIPTION: The Larsen Lake property is made up of 129.5 hectares of second growth mixed forest, wetland areas, and approximately 200 meters of Larsen Lake shoreline. The lakeshore and parcel boundaries have been fenced in the past; however, range fencing has fallen in disrepair over the last 15 years and no longer serves to prevent trespass. While not in the Agricultural Land Reserve, the property experiences cattle trespass from neighbouring lands, which has contributed to the degradation of the Larsen Lake shoreline and wetland marsh habitat throughout the property. In addition, recreational access has been unrestricted, and has contributed to the spread of invasive plants throughout the property, and further contributed to soil compaction, erosion, and wildlife disturbance. These threats negatively impact the quality of available habitat on the property both in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems present. Damage to wetland systems affects their associated ecosystem services, which in turn can negatively impact nearby infrastructure and residents. The Larsen Lake Range Fencing Project will help to mitigate these threats and allow for the restoration of their impacts throughout the property as follows.

The goal of the Larsen Lake Range Fencing Project was to safeguard 129.5 hectares of high-quality habitat for wildlife and low impact recreation. In 2024, NCC initiated this project by developing a range fencing plan for Larsen Lake. NCC then hired a local fencing contractor to install 4,000m of wildlife friendly fencing to limit cattle trespass and high impact recreation. Throughout the summer, NCC monitored the fence and the Larsen Lake Conservation Area, and will continue to monitor the area annually to note changes in the habitat health following the fence build. The area remains open to non-motorized recreational use and is accessible to wildlife by crossing the wildlife friendly fence, which is constructed specifically to make wildlife passage easier. While some of the results like habitat recovery will become more apparent years down the road, the project succeeded in preventing further damage from mass cattle trespass and motorized access, giving the land time to recover and wildlife the space to return.

OBJECTIVE: This project had the following objectives:

• Develop a fencing plan for the Larsen Lake wildlife friendly perimeter fencing.
• Using regional fencing contractors, wildlife friendly fencing will be installed to prevent cattle and high impact vehicle trespass into the Larsen Lake property.
• Enhance land management and community partnerships in RDEK Electoral Area F.

Watch this video for an excellent overview of the project.