515 Acres Added to Buffalo Pound Lake Conservation Area

More than 500 acres of native grassland have been added to a conservation area surrounding Buffalo Pound Lake, helping protect a key drinking water source for communities across southern Saskatchewan.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), in partnership with K+S Potash Canada, announced the addition of 515 acres of native grassland north of Moose Jaw. The expansion brings NCC's total conserved land around Buffalo Pound Lake to 2,655 acres.

Buffalo Pound Lake serves as an important source of drinking water for Regina, Moose Jaw, and several surrounding communities, providing water to approximately one-quarter of Saskatchewan's population.

According to NCC, the native grasslands surrounding the lake play a critical role in maintaining water quality by filtering runoff, reducing flood impacts, and helping protect the overall health of the watershed.

Beyond water protection, the conserved land supports a variety of wildlife and ecological functions. The grasslands provide habitat for species at risk, native grassland birds, and American badgers, while also helping store carbon and preserve biodiversity.

The project is part of a long-standing partnership between NCC, K+S Potash Canada, and the Government of Saskatchewan. NCC says funding from the partnership has helped protect and manage more than 1,600 acres of habitat in the region to date.

"Our partnership with NCC demonstrates how industry and conservation organizations can work together to achieve meaningful, measurable results through offset agreements that benefit both the environment and local communities."

• Gisela Gips, Chief Operating Officer, K+S Potash Canada

NCC notes that the Buffalo Pound Lake area continues to face pressure from shoreline development and changing land-use patterns. The organization says protecting native grasslands is becoming increasingly important to maintaining healthy ecosystems while supporting recreation, agriculture, and long-term water quality.

Buffalo Pound Lake remains one of Saskatchewan's most important water bodies, serving both recreational users and municipal water systems throughout the region.

Why It Matters

• Native grasslands help filter runoff before it reaches the lake.
• Healthy watersheds can reduce erosion and flooding impacts.
• Conservation areas provide habitat for wildlife, including species at risk.
• Buffalo Pound Lake supplies drinking water to approximately one-quarter of Saskatchewan's population.
• Protecting shoreline and watershed ecosystems helps support long-term water quality for communities and lake users.