NCC Dundurn

Located just half an hour south of Saskatoon, NCC’s Dundurn property is an example of a sand dune habitat which is becoming increasingly threatened in Saskatchewan. As you walk across the property, you’ll find yourself on top of wind-sculpted sand dunes in a gently rolling landscape. These sand dunes were formed after the retreat of the glaciers thousands of years ago when meltwater deposited sandy particles along the shores of ancient rivers and lakes. After the water dried up, large areas of sand remained – the perfect base for a grassland ecosystem to develop! Over time, the sand shifted and moved with the wind to create the slopes we see today. 

Natural disturbances such as grazing by bison and periodic fire prevented trees and shrubs from taking root on the dunes. This created a haven for unique species of grasses, forbs and animals such as pincushion cactus, sand-dune wild rye, and American badger. Sand dunes are also the only habitats where several species at risk occur in our province, such as the threatened Gibson’s big sand tiger beetle and the endangered Gold-edged gem butterfly. 

Dundurn Site – Photo by Jason Bantle

A trip to this property is like taking a time machine into the past, to a time before European settlement when the grasslands were more widespread than they are today. Grasslands were the first landscapes to be converted to agricultural and residential developments, especially near urban centers such as Saskatoon. Today, it’s estimated that less than 14% of the original native grasslands remain in Saskatchewan, and only a portion of that contains this type of sand dune habitat. This property wasn’t farmed or subdivided  because the sandy soils and steep slopes don’t lend themselves nicely to growing crops or building homes. 

However, sand dune habitats face a different kind of threat: the encroachment of shrubs and trees which displace grasses, forbs and bare patches of sand. For the last few hundred years, we’ve suppressed fires and removed bison from the landscape which has allowed trees such as trembling aspen and shrubs like Western snowberry and wolf willow to become more widespread. As these trees and shrubs spread, their roots took hold in the sand and caused the dunes to become stable and more shaded. Those unique species which depend on dune habitats have been displaced, which is why so many are classified as species at risk. 

Prescribed burn – Photo by Nick Harper

Luckily, it is possible to restore the integrity of sand dune habitats in Saskatchewan by reintroducing disturbance. To do this, NCC partners with a local rancher to graze the property during the summer months to mimic the historical grazing that shaped the land. The grazing is carefully controlled with an appropriate stocking rate to ensure that the habitats are not damaged by cows. NCC also conducts prescribed fire on this site to discourage trees and shrubs from growing on the sand dunes. Over time, these intentional disturbances will help in restoring the native grassland and sand dunes to their former glory. 

The public is welcome to visit the site and if you visit over several years, you might just see the changes for yourself! Please note that the site is only accessible in the spring, summer and fall and four-wheel drive with good underbody clearance is required. 

– Sarah Bradley