Soils, Geology & Climate

The majority of the STC Project watershed is located on the upper reaches of the Pembina Escarpment and to a lesser extent on the immediate area below the eastern toe of the Escarpment extending as far cast as Miami, Manitoba. There is an elevation difference of approximately 183 metres (600 ft) in 1 1.3 kilometres (7 miles). The Pembina Escarpment is characterized by glacial moraine deposits of moderate to strong slopes and associated sloughs. The surface soil is a dark gray loam to clay loam. The underlying mixed till of shale, limestone and granite varies in depth from 1 m (3 ft) to 10 m (32 ft). Below the till is a bedrock formation of shale.

In general, the average annual temperature varies from 2.20C in the area above the escarpment (to the west) to 3.30C in the area below the escarpment (to the east). The average frost free period for the escarpment is approximately 122 days. The annual precipitation varies from 586.8 mm (23.1 in) on the escarpment to 498.9 mm (19.6 in ) below the escarpment. Approximately 75% of the annual precipitation faIls as rain between the months of April and October. The remaining 25% of annual precipitation falls as snow during 5 months of winter from November through March.