[3][4] The site is an important staging and breeding area for spring and fall migration of shorebirds.

Salinity varies within the lakes and with their water levels,[8] but effectively limits the floral diversity of the region.

[7] Located directly north of Regina and east of Saskatoon,[9] it is primarily provincial Crown land administered by the Fish and Wildlife Branch of Saskatchewan Environment.

Surveys between 1989 and 1992 at Middle and Little Quill Lakes found one-day peaks of 101,900 birds.

Big Quill Resources (taken over by Sifto Canada in 2011) operates on the shore of Big Quill Lake extracts naturally occurring sulphate from the brine of the lake then combining it with potassium chloride to form sulphate of potash that is then sold as a fertilizer.