8. The Gerald W. Malaher Wildlife Management Area
by Ken McPhail / Melita History

The Gerald W. Malaher W.M.A. is located one and one half miles west of Melita and is 148 acres in size. The area was declared an upland game preserve in 1948, after purchase by the crown. The intent of the former director of the Game Branch, Mr. Gerald Malaher, was to determine what types of food and cover plants could be grown on poor quality land that would be of benefit to pheasants during the winter. It was under his direction that this land, much of which had been severely eroded, was revegetated over a 15 year period. The area became known as the Melita Cover Plot and in 1974 was designated the Gerald W. Malaher W.M.A.



The land is essentially flat with relatively little relief. A small ravine bisects the area, running west to east. In the early 1950's a dam was constructed across the ravine to collect runoff water and form a permanent pond. The soils are primarily Souris fine sandy loam and are susceptible to surface drought and soil drifting due to their light texture.



Very little native tree cover exists on the area except for a few patches of willow along the ravine and two or three small groups of aspen and maple. Approximately 50% of the area was planted, in the early 1950's, to a wide variety of indigenous and exotic tree and shrub species, in both shelterbelt and block plantings. Many fruit bearing species were planted in an effort to provide food for pheasants. Complete records of species and numbers planted were not kept or have been lost, but many thousands of "stems" were planted, including the following species.

Photos by Ken Storie

http://www.gov.mb.ca/watchablewildlife/geraldmalaher.html