Delta Marsh

Delta Marsh consists of an extensive open marsh located near the south shore of Lake Manitoba, approximately 24 km north of the town of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The marsh extends for nearly 30 km along the shore of the lake, and has a breadth of up to 4 km. The marsh consists of a network of interconnected shallow bays separated from Lake Manitoba by a wooded barrier dune ridge of 300m to 600m width.

Despite its name, Delta Marsh is no longer a river delta. However, it was originally the delta of the Assiniboine River, which flowed into Lake Manitoba from the southwest until approximately 2500 years ago. (The current course of the river continues east past Lake Manitoba until it intersects the Red River in Winnipeg).

The marsh is situated in the northern part of the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie.

Delta Marsh is a wildlife breeding and migration staging area of major importance. Waterfowl and songbirds are especially abundant in the marsh, either as breeding residents or seasonal migrants. The wooded dune ridge is also migratory pathway for passerine birds.

Hunting is permitted in a portion of the marsh in the autumn by sportsmen, and by First Nations year round, under the auspices of the Delta Marsh Wildlife Management Area, which controls hunting pressure and safeguards the marsh environment. Canada geese, mallard ducks, and snow geese are the three primary bird species hunted, both in the marsh itself and in nearby grain fields, where these birds feed on autumn days. Of these, Canada geese and mallards breed in the marsh, while snow geese are strictly seasonal migrants. Hunting of waterfowl contributes in a significant way to the local economy. Other game, including white-tailed deer, are also hunted in and around the marsh, and beaver and other fur bearing mammals are commercially trapped.

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Wikipedia