Sucker Creek Indian Reserve Test Drilling Program

The Groundwater Division conducted a well survey in the Sucker Creek area during the summer of 1964. The results of this survey were reported in a letter to Mr. J. Wild of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Agency, dated August 11th 1964. All the chemical analyses had not been received at that time. An up-to-date map showing sampled localities and the iron content of well waters is included with this report (enclosure #1).

The particular problem at Sucker Creek is the high iron content of the water in shallow wells throughout the Reserve. This is also a problem in the general High Prairie area (where wells at all depths down to over 600 feet are high in iron) and all along the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake. The only continuing source of good potable groundwater is a spring in coarse gravel 4 miles west of Faust and approximately 15 miles east of the Sucker Creek Reserve. Water for household use is hauled from this spring to residents at Sucker Creek and to farmers in the Enilda area some 10 miles further west.

The town of High Prairie obtains its water supply from a buried channel sand at a depth of 340 to 380 feet. The water is very high in iron, from 2 to over 5 parts per million (Provincial Analyst), possesses high alkalinity, contains dissolved gases, and has a brownish colour. Considerable treatment is required, and even then, all the colour is not removed. This aquifer is present at Sucker Creek at a depth of 480 feet.

Three test holes were drilled at Sucker Creek. All encountered aquifers with high iron content. All were filled in and abandoned. The logs of the test holes and chemical analyses of waters encountered in each are included in the back of this report.