Cactus Lake
Saskatchewan
Cactus Lake is situated in the northern section of the Rural Municipality of Heart's Hill No. 352 (approximately 52 N. latitude and 110 longiude). The area around Cactus Lake was probably first named by the surveyors after a 7 mile long narrow lake stretching from east to west. We find this name on the earliest maps. Several varieties of cacti grew and still grow on the pasture lands bordering this shallow body of water. The surrounding country was real rolling prairie with no trees at all at the time of the first settlers' arrival. Since then bluffs of poplars and clumps of willows have grown around sloughs. All other trees found here were planted around farmsteads by hand or behind a walking plough. Although trees are slow to start growing here, after about ten years they progress rapidly and make a good windbreak against the stiff breezes that sweep across the land.
The lake itself has never been a major source of recreation. However, even in early days some adventurous young men paddled canoes over it and hunted ducks and geese. Not so long ago some district residents have tried boating on it and barbecuing on its shores. However, this is rarely done as the water is usually quite shallow. During the dirty thirties the lake had dried up and the grass which grew there was cut for feed.
During the occasional winter when the conditions have been right to form smooth ice surface, children have skated on it. And if rocks could talk, they would tell you of the odd snowmobile or two that has chased a coyote or fox across its frozen surface.
Cactus Lake is a refuge for migrating game birds. The lake is posted, restricted to no hunting with 500 yards of the shoreline until very late in the fall. Prior to the arrival of the white settlers, Indians used the lake as a meeting place in summer because of the ducks and geese which abounded there.
The wild geese have a fly way over this part of Saskatchewan. The sight of the V formation in the sky and the sound of their honking are a sure sign of spring's coming. In the fall thousands of geese rest on the lake here and feed on the swathed grain and stubble fields on their way south for the winter. We see both species of Canada Goose, the Ross Goose and the white Snow Goose. Small flocks of swans are also seen resting on the lake in early spring or in the fall. Flocks of the sand hill crane and many kinds of ducks nest along the numerous small sloughs, potholes and coulees in the area.
Many hunters from various parts of western Canada and the United States come here to hunt waterfowl. They stay at vacant farm homes in the area and at the homes of acquaintances. Some fellows are busy in the fall acting as guides and digging pits for the goose hunt.
Grosswerder Historical Society
Page 151
Last Updated: Sunday, February 10, 2002
