Great Sand Hills - Saskatchewan

Synopsis

The Great Sand Hills represent about 190,000 hectares of mostly intact native prairie grassland, which is steadily being encroached on by oil and gas development. It is habitat to many rare species and is sensitive to disturbance. In 2007, the provincial government completed an environmental assessment of the area, which included a number of recommendations to protect the site.

Category Conservation

Type Land

Prov SK

Region southwest

Posted 22Mar10

Updated 30Jan12

Status Proposed

Contacts

PROVINCIAL
REGIONAL

CPAWS-Saskatchewan, www.cpaws-sask.org/prairie/great_sand_hills.html, info(at)cpaws-sask.org, 306-955-6197

Saskatchewan Environmental Society, www.environmentalsociety.ca, info(at)environmentalsociety.ca

Nature Saskatchewan, www.naturesask.ca, info(at)naturesask.ca

Saskatchewan Eco-Network, www.econet.sk.ca/issues/gsh/index.html,

GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES

Ministry of Environment: The Great Sand Hills Advisory Committee, www.environment.gov.sk.ca/2007-104GreatSandHillsEnvironmentalStudy

References

Great Sand Hills Environmental Study, Great Sand Hills Scientific Advisory Committee, May 2007

More information

Location

2007 Great Sand Hills Environment Study

Several oil and gas companies are working in the region, as illustrated in the map below. The oil and gas industry in the area of the Great Sand Hills provides a large portion of the economy and jobs in the area. Invasive plant species, habitat fragmentation, dune/sand stabilization, cumulative effects are just some of the threats to the GSH.