KCP working with RDCK to expand Local Conservation Fund Service to Electoral Area F

Alternative Approval Process open until September 5, 2023

KCP worked with the RDCK to support the Local Conservation Fund expansion process in RDCK Electoral Area H (Slocan Valley) through information sharing and public outreach. The service passed by 66% via referendum in October 2022, expanding the service to the Slocan Valley. Building on this momentum, the RDCK is now utilizing the Alternative Approval Process to determine public assent in expanding the service to Electoral Area F (Beasley, Bonnington, and North Shore of Kootenay Lake). If adopted, property owners in Electoral Area F will contribute $15 per parcel per year to the Local Conservation Fund service bylaw which provides funding for local conservation projects throughout the service area. 

Visit the KCP website for more information on Local Conservation Funds.

Visit the RDCK website for more information on the Alternative Approval process. 

Also see this recent local article for more background regarding expansion of the service into RDCK Electoral Area F.

KCP Conservation Leadership Awards

Open for nominations for 2023

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized for their conservation work in the Kootenays? The annual KCP Conservation Leadership Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and dedication to conservation in our region. Nominees must be affiliated with a KCP partner organization and they must show a demonstrated commitment toward the KCP vision. Award winners will be announced at the KCP Fall Gathering in October. Nominations close September 15 - get your nominations in soon!

Click here to download the nomination form.

Columbia Valley and RDCK Local Conservation Fund projects

2023 Projects underway 

Thank you to all the Columbia Valley and RDCK Local Conservation Fund project leads that are sharing updates and photographs of their 2023 projects. Check out the KCP Facebook page for posts shared by the BC Wildlife Federation for their Wetland Restoration and Environmental Training for Indigenous Youth project (supported by the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund) and Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society for their Expansion of Harrop Wetland Restoration project (supported by the RDCK Local Conservation Fund). Click here for information on all of the CVLCF projects.

Click here for information on all of the RDCK LCF projects.

2023 KCP Fall Gathering 'Kootenay Connect Summit' - Save the Date!

October 13 - 14, Cranbrook

The focus of this year's Fall Gathering is the 'Kootenay Connect Summit' which will feature results from wildlife and habitat restoration projects achieved over the last four years. KCP's Fall Gathering and the Summit will be a full-day affair from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm MT on Friday followed by a delicious banquet dinner and conservation leadership awards ceremony. We will be meeting at the Prestige Inn in Cranbrook. The Saturday field tour will be a full day outing to see on-the-ground work for species at risk in the Wycliffe Region. Early registration is now available to KCP partner organizations. Keep an eye on the September newsletter for more information. 

Conservation Ambassador Training

Modules 1 to 3 available on KCP website

More Conservation Ambassador Training (CAT) sessions will be coming up later this fall. In the meantime, be sure to check out the first three informative CAT modules on the KCP website. We encourage everyone to review these modules at any time to learn more about native plants and pollinators, bird nesting and roosting habitat, and water and healthy wetland/riparian habitats, as well as what to look for, how to open up a conversation with a landowner on these topics, and tips for providing more holistic advice.

Click here to access Modules 1 to 3.

Province of BC

Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework Public Engagement, until August 18

Grizzly bears have special significance to the people of B.C. culturally and symbolically. Additionally, in western Canada, grizzly bears are designated federally as a species of special concern. The Province has prepared the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework in order to ensure grizzly bears do not become threatened or endangered, and to identify conservation activities, goals, and land-use measures. Success in the conservation of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different partners. The Framework is intended to provide guidance for the consideration of grizzly bear values for participants on initiatives related to land and resource planning to inform local decisions. It also enables amendments to policy, legislation, and programs related to grizzly bears. During this engagement, we invite you to learn more about BC’s bears and to join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on the draft Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework. Feedback will be accepted until August 18.

Click here to view the draft Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework and share your feedback. 

Province of BC

Feedback on the draft commercial bear-viewing strategy, until August 18

BC is looking into new ways to work with First Nations on wildlife and habitat protection. The Province prepared a draft Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy in collaboration with stewardship staff, advisors, knowledge holders, and hereditary chiefs and councillours. The Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy summarizes Indigenous and Western scientific information, including how to assess potential bear viewing locations, considerations for guide training, viewing recommendations (group size), when and where to view bears, how to monitor and assess impacts of bear viewing programs, and how to provide advice for agencies managing bear viewing. There are three goals to this public engagement process: (1) Educate and inform the public on the importance of bear viewing to the economy of BC including First Nation communities, and the cumulative knowledge of the effects of viewing activities on bears and measures available to mitigate any potential impacts. (2) Seek feedback, interests, opinions, and views from the public on the draft Strategy. (3) Identify if there are knowledge gaps or deficiencies within the Strategy. Your feedback will inform the final version of the Commercial Bear-Viewing Strategy.

Click here to view the draft Bear-Viewing Strategy document and share your feedback.

Elk Root Conservation Farm Society

Kate Mizenka: 2023 Recipient of Suzy Hamilton Legacy Award

Congratulations to Kate Mizenka of Elk Root Conservation Farm Society (ERC), the 2023 recipient of the Suzy Hamilton Legacy Award. As an advocate for wild pollinators and native plant conservation, Kate has created the Sustainable Apiary Model and designed the Pollinator and Native Plant Educational Demonstration Gardens at ERC, which is located at the confluence of the Slocan and Little Slocan Rivers. She is regularly invited to speak at engagements to promote the protection of wild bees and planting native plants. We would also like to acknowledge Lorna Visser of the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology, who is being honoured with an extension of the Suzy Hamilton Legacy Award this year, to recognize her enduring dedication as a champion of the environment, as well as Sally Hammond from the Slocan Lake Stewardship Society who was also nominated.

Click here to read all about it.

Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology

Seeking presenters for Annual Researcher’s Forum

The call for presentations for the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI)’s 2023 Researchers’ Forum in Nelson is open! The Forum is an annual event where CMI gathers members of the scientific community, Indigenous community members and representatives, stewardship groups, and interested individuals to provide updates on ecological projects taking place in southeastern BC. These updates cover a wide range of topics and species, including everything from field trials, new restoration projects and their associated community initiatives, to ecosystem monitoring and research, etc. This year, CMI will host a session that highlights aquatics work in the region, alongside a variety of other ecological projects. The presentations will occur on Oct 26, and we will venture out for a morning of field trips on Oct 27. For anyone interested in offering a 5, 10 or 15 minute presentation, bringing a poster, or leading a local field trip, please check out the submission guidelines. Please submit all proposals to office@cmiae.org by September 8.

Click here for more information on the Forum and how to submit proposals.

Grasslands Conservation Council of BC

National Grasslands Inventory

The Grasslands Conservation Council of BC (GCC) is collaborating with the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association on the National Grasslands Inventory. This project will identify and describe all existing grasslands inventories in Canada and determine how various inventories can be harmonized to develop a cohesive national grassland inventory. The ultimate aim is to construct a national grassland inventory, including all major grassland types and ecoregions. This would update and inform grassland policy, decision-making and risk assessment across Canada going forward. The inventory will also allow the Canadian grassland sector and stakeholders to more accurately assess carbon stores in grassland soils and to predict real or expected loss of grasslands over time. Approximately 80 to 85 % of Canada’s native grasslands have already disappeared.

Click here to find out more about the National Grasslands Inventory and to access a questionnaire.

Habitat Conservation Trust Fund

Community Grant Projects Receive Funding

The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF)’s Community Grants (formerly PCAF) will be providing funding to 18 different projects across the province that are working to complete volunteer-based conservation projects. The Foundation approved $149,656 in grants this year for projects ranging from creek restoration to bat protection and monitoring. Projects in the East and West Kootenays include a kokanee spawning habitat project in Mill Creek located at Harrop, restoring riparian and floodplain forests on conservation properties in the Elk Valley, stewardship initiatives for invasive species management across the East Kootenays, fish habitat and riparian restoration stewardship workshops in Invermere, and the Lois Creek stream and wetland enhancement project in Kimberley.

Click here for more details about these projects. 

Kootenay Community Bat Project

Bats are on the move in mid-summer

It’s mid-summer and bats are on the move, says the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP). And it’s not unusual at this time of year for a bat to get into your house. “In July and August, pups are learning to fly, and their early efforts may land them in locations where they are more likely to come in contact with humans”, says Elodie Kuhnert, Kootenay coordinator with the Got Bats? BC Community Bat Program. She also noted that in the last two years, heat and smoke may cause bats to use unusual roost sites. It is illegal under the BC Wildlife Act to exterminate or directly harm bats. The advice from the KCBP is to just let the bat be and it will likely move on, either the same day or in a few days. For more advice on how to move a bat, please visit the BC Community Bat Program.

Click here for a recent local article with more information.

Columbia Basin Trust

Headwaters Podcast

The Headwaters podcast is a collaboration between two unique entities in Canada’s Columbia River Basin: Columbia Basin Trust and Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine. Episode #18, called “Changing Landscapes” is about our impact on the local environment, featuring interviews with mountain caribou biologist Erin MacLeod, BC Hydro fish biologist James Crossman, Wildsight founder John Bergenske, and wildlife biologist Jakob Dulisse. Although the Basin is blessed with thousands of square km of wilderness, our human impact on the land has been profound: we are changing the landscape and significantly affecting many animal species in both the East and West Kootenays. In this episode, we head into the woods and the water to meet the people who are working to save keystone animals, like the sturgeon, the mountain caribou, and big-horn sheep. We’ll also find out why stink bugs are taking over!

Click here to listen to the Changing Landscapes episode of the Headwaters podcast.

Wildsight

The Journey of a Bank Swallow

In late July, a fledgling bank swallow emerges from its burrow in a steep cliff alongside the Columbia Wetlands. Shortly after it first takes flight, likely within days or weeks, this young swallow will begin a journey that could take it as far south as Chile for the winter. But exactly where bank swallows from the Columbia Valley spend their winters - and which route they follow for roughly 10,000 km's - is a mystery for scientists who study the birds. Answers to those questions could help us understand why populations of bank swallows in Canada have plunged by 98% over the last four decades. That's why Wildsight Golden’s biologist Rachel Darvill fitted 100 adult bank swallows with tiny tracking devices over the past two years.

Click here to read more.

Living Lakes Canada

Shoreline survey results available for Trout, Arrow and St. Mary Lakes

In 2022, Living Lakes Canada studied the foreshores of Trout and Arrow Lakes in the West Kootenay, and St. Mary Lake in the East Kootenay, using a federal monitoring protocol called Foreshore Integrated Management Planning, or FIMP (watch this film to learn about this program). The 2022 FIMP findings for all three lakes can now be found in reports, including Foreshore Development Guidelines, housed on the Columbia Basin Water Hub database. Living Lakes Canada entered a four-year Contribution Agreement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2019 to review and revise the FIMP methodology and map or re-map priority lakes in the Canadian Columbia Basin. To date, four lakes have been surveyed for the first time and six lakes have been re-surveyed through the program. 

Click here for the reports.

Living Lakes Canada

Kootenay community water concerns documented in new reports

Earlier in 2023, Living Lakes Canada held a series of in-person public meetings in six different communities, two virtual meetings, and numerous one-on-one consultations in the East and West Kootenays to collect and document local residents’ water concerns and priorities. All the feedback received is supporting the selection of new monitoring sites as part of the Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework. The summary of community feedback is available in two reports: the Lower Columbia-Kootenay region, including the communities of Nelson, Rossland, Trail, Castegar, Salmo, Creston, and Yaqan Nuʔkiy; and the Upper Kootenay region, including the communities of Cranbrook, Wasa, Jaffary, Yaq̓ it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it, and ʔaq'am.

Click here for the Lower Columbia-Kootenay report and here for the Upper Kootenay report.

Living Lakes Canada

Equipment fund empowers a network of water stewards

Over the past 18 years, the Columbia Basin Watershed Network (CBWN) has connected a constellation of stewardship groups throughout the transboundary Columbia Basin. When the CBWN dissolved in 2022, Living Lakes Canada adopted the remaining programs including the Water Monitoring Equipment Fund. The Fund supports water stewardship groups by providing, maintaining or fixing monitoring equipment. In 2023, the Fund supported 11 water stewardship groups in their monitoring efforts.

Click here to read what was funded. 

Living Lakes Canada

A high elevation partnership with Talus Lodge 

Earlier snowpack melt and lake ice-off, increased glacial melt, and warmer temperatures are changing alpine landscapes. Monitoring these spaces is increasingly important. This year, Living Lakes Canada’s High Elevation Monitoring Program is expanding throughout the East and West Kootenays, with six stream and nine lake monitoring sites, including the Talus Lakes. On a recent fieldwork trip to Talus Lodge, the High Elevation team witnessed the local impact of climate change. 

Click here to learn more about this program.

Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society

Reporting Priority Invasive and Migratory Insects

The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society is encouraging anyone who spends time monitoring, photographing or observing insects to watch for and report invasive and migratory insect pests. This initiative is a collaborative project developed by the Insect Surveillance Community of Practice of the Canadian Plant Health Council, a multi-partner body that coordinates action for the protection of plant health in Canada. These invasive and migratory insect pests may harm plants, cause damage to Canada’s environment, farmlands, forests, parks and other natural areas. Early detection is critical for slowing the spread of these insect pests.

Click here for more information and to report sightings on the iNaturalist project page, or

click here to report observations to the Insect Surveillance Community of Practice.

Canadian Wildlife Federation

Canadian Aquatic Barriers Database – looking for stream crossing data

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), with help from partners including the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), is building the Canadian Aquatic Barriers Database (CABD) - a national repository of aquatic barriers to freshwater connectivity that will support a variety of work from large-scale policy and reporting, restoration planning and prioritization, infrastructure asset management, and more. The database currently contains data for over 22,000 waterfalls, 36,000 dams, and 400 fishways that you can explore by visiting aquaticbarriers.ca. The next phase of project development will focus on the incorporation of stream crossings along roads, railways, and trails, and the Columbia River Basin is a pilot region in this project. If your organization has or maintains an inventory of stream crossing assessment data, and is interested in contributing to the project, please contact us at cabd@cwf-fcf.org. For more information on the project and how to navigate the web-mapping tool, please visit the CABD Documentation site. 

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network

4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning

Registration is open for the upcoming 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning! This initiative encourages and empowers educators to deepen their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives while strengthening connections with the local land. We have confirmed an incredible line-up of Indigenous presenters and learning content as part of this initiative running from October 2023 - June 2024. And for those who just want to take in the presentations, resources & support (not the modules) you can now register for this part of the learning. This learning opportunity is open to EVERYONE. We are partnering to offer this as an acknowledgement that authentically undertaking a personal learning journey takes more than just a day or month each year, but should be across all four seasons. 

Click here for more information and to register.

BC Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship

Tree Frog Study

Ian Adams, Wildlife Biologist, and Leigh Anne Isaac, BC Small Mammal and Herpetofauna Specialist with BC Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship, are working on a project to determine if there are two species of treefrog, Pseudacris sp., in southern British Columbia. Currently only one species, the Northern Pacific Treefrog, Pseudacris regilla is recognized to occur from the coast to the Rocky Mountains. However, recent evidence suggests that treefrogs in at least the Kootenay region belong to Sierra Treefrog, Pseudacris sierra. Ian and Leigh Anne are looking to collect treefrog tissue samples from the Southern Interior for genetic testing to determine if there are two species and, if so, where that change might occur. See this photo of a Pseudacris sp. tree frog. If you know of a site where treefrogs breed in British Columbia that is east of the Cascade and Coast Mountains, please get in touch with Ian and Leigh Anne via email at: larixecol@gmail.com.

Canadian Council on Invasive Species 

Seeking research papers with linkages between invasive species and climate change

The Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) is working with partners across Canada to develop a National Invasive Species and Climate Change (NISCC) Network, which leverages the approach of the successful Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Network in the USA. Like the RISCC management network, NISCC will work to reduce the joint effects of climate change and invasive species by synthesizing relevant science, sharing the needs and knowledge of managers, and building stronger scientist-manager communities. We are seeking Canadian-based research papers that have linkages between invasive species and climate change. With approval from the authors, submitted research will be summarized into one page, highlighting key findings, and shared online to support invasive species management. Submit research papers to programs@canadainvasives.ca. Please include “NISCC Research Submission” in the subject line.

Click here for more information. 

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Rancher Partnership Program 

BC ranches are hotspots for biodiversity and play a critical role in our overall landscape resiliency and the health of our rural communities. Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) launched the Rancher Partnership Pilot in 2022. The multiyear pilot is a partnership-based program focused on the conservation, restoration, and stewardship of wetlands, riparian areas, and grasslands of BC’s interior. Through the pilot program, DUC is working directly with ranchers to steward and protect species at risk habitat, enhance biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration. On-the-ground conservation activities take many forms, but in terms of the Rancher Partnership Pilot they include infrastructure needs such as fencing and water developments or wetland and grassland enhancement and restoration. The Cariboo-Chilcotin region is a priority area for the 2023 Rancher Partnership Pilot, but Ducks Unlimited is happy to discuss potential projects on ranchlands across interior British Columbia. Interested? Let’s talk. Contact Matthew Christensen at m_christensen@ducks.ca, or by phone at 604-341-0672.

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Three species of bats assessed as endangered by COSEWIC

Three bat species: Eastern Red, Hoary, and Silver-haired, have declined dramatically in recent years and COSEWIC, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, recently assessed each of them as Endangered. Because they fly at night and don’t roost in large groups, Eastern Red, Hoary, and Silver-haired bats are elusive. These bats have faced losses in both habitat and food, as their roosting trees have been logged and their insect prey reduced by pesticides. And collisions with wind turbines on the bats’ migratory flight south in the autumn pose a substantial threat – hundreds of thousands of bats are estimated to be killed this way every year. The good news is that mitigation can allow renewable energy and bats to coexist on the landscape.

Click here to read an update from COSEWIC.

Voting open for the 3rd Annual Lake Biodiversity Photo Challenge

August 1 - 31, Online

Hundreds of entries have poured in from coast to coast (including many from the Kootenays!) for Living lakes Canada’s 3rd annual Lake Biodiversity Photo Challenge — 526 impactful photos now fill the online gallery, breaking last year’s record of 245 entries. From August 1 to August 31, help choose a Public Favourite in four different categories: Lake Landscapes, Lake Biodiversity, Lake Impacts, and Kids 12&U. Visit the 2023 online photo gallery and follow the instructions to cast your votes. All the winners will receive prize packs thanks to the generosity of partners Lush Cosmetics, Kicking Horse Coffee, Teadore, Earth Rangers, Laykhaus and Float-Eh.

Click here to view the 2023 photo gallery and cast your votes.

Big Backyard Bioblitz

August 3 - 7, your backyard

The Nature Conservancy of Canada's Big Backyard BioBlitz unites thousands of people across Canada in a collective community effort to celebrate and document the diverse species across our beautiful country. Our collective observations can grow our knowledge of native species’ distributions and help conservationists target areas to eradicate invasive species. These efforts may help conservation efforts to restore the balance and health of our local ecosystems. This August long weekend, you can be a part of the BioBlitz by documenting native species you see in your own backyard and region.

Click here for more information and to sign up. 

FWCP Notice of Intent Information Session

August 9, Online

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) is hosting this online information session about the Notice of Intent (NOI), a mandatory first step for all grant applicants in the Columbia Region. The NOI is new this year in our region. Find out how the NOI supports First Nations engagement in your project and allows the FWCP to provide you with additional guidance ahead of submitting your grant application. If you are a grant applicant, your notice of intent is due September 11 through our online grant management system. This session will begin at 10 am PT / 11 am MT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Toadfest 2023

August 16 & 17, Summit Lake near Nakusp

We look forward to welcoming you to Toadfest at Summit Lake Provincial Park near Nakusp this summer! Bring the family and learn more about Western toads and other species that call the region home. Toadfest is organized by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), BC Parks, Ministry of Forests, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. Thanks also to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Toadfest is on August 16 from 4 to 7 pm PT and August 17 from 9 am to 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Ktunaxa Language Course – Connecting to the Land Through Local Language

September 18 - December 11, Online

Due to high demand, a third course has been added! Join Alfred Joseph and Mara Nelson for 12 weeks of Foundational Ktunaxa Language Learning this fall. Learn the sounds, words, and some history of the Ktunaxa Language. This course is designed for you to garner skills that will enable you to carry Ktunaxa Language forward to your classrooms, in schools, and on the land. From 6 to 7:30 pm PT / 7 to 8:30 pm MT online.

Click here for more information. 

Webinar: Trees, Grass, and Fire

September 19, Online

Hosted by the Society for Ecological Restoration, Western Canada Chapter, this webinar with consulting ecologist and writer, Don Gayton, is about the fascinating trinity of trees, grass and fire from the perspective of BC's southern interior. These three elements have a complex, longstanding and competitive relationship in many ecosystems locally and around the world.

Don has a lifelong passion for grasslands and dry forests, and he will explore the current relationship between trees, grass, and fire, and speculate on how we can bring them into a more sustainable balance, At 6 pm PT / 7 pm MT.

Click here for more information.

Introduction to Camera Trap Data Management and Analysis in R

September 20 - 22, Revelstoke

This course aims to guide participants in effective ways to store, manipulate and analyze camera trap data within the R statistical environment. It will cover data storage and exploration of best practices, introductions to the major methods used to analyze camera trap data, all using real world camera data. The course will give participants the tools to manage, analyze and share camera trap data in an approachable and practical way! 

Click here for more information and to register. 

Wild Bear Festival: Keeping Bears Wild

September 23, Golden

Join Wildsight Golden for the first annual Golden Wild Bear Festival! In the fall, bears are foraging for all types of high calorie foods to get them through their winter denning. They often get in trouble around people, eating garbage, robbing fruit trees and generally getting in the way in our urban environment. We want to help educate everyone on how to keep our bear-human interactions as safe as possible and have fun while doing this. Activities for this event include a storywalk around Kinsmen Park, a discussion with the Conservation officer about bear relocation, an exhibit of our bear bins and the bylaws around them, presentations from Wildsafe BC about the safe use of bear spray, and from the Golden Food Bank tool shed about the apple press and food dehydrator, as well as activities for children including face painting. The festival starts at 11 am MT at Kinsmen Park.

Click here for more details on this event.

FWCP Grant Intake Information Session

September 26, Online

Find out what grants are offered by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) and how to align your project idea with FWCP’s regional action plans. Get answers to your questions and tips to help you succeed! The session begins at 1 pm PT / 2 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Pines & People: Human Impacts on Five-Needle Pine

October 12 - 13, Revelstoke

The time has come to register for the annual Whitebark Pine Science and Management Conference. This year's theme: Pines & People: Human Impacts on Five-Needle Pine. This year’s conference will be in Revelstoke, BC, with two optional field trips: a pre-conference trip on Oct 11 to tour the Kalamalka Research Center & seedling inoculation facility in Vernon; and a post-conference trip on the 14 to visit 5-needle pine stands near Golden. Co-hosted by Parks Canada, this year's theme covers the myriad ways that the activities of people intersect with the welfare of five-needle pine. Over the two-day conference, there will be current technical talks, a public talk, a poster session, silent auction, networking events, and more. This conference has something for everyone: skiers, students, members, researchers, land managers, and other 5-needle pine enthusiasts! Click here to access Conference details and Registration.

2023 KCP Fall Gathering 'Kootenay Connect Summit' – Save the Date!

October 13 - 14, Cranbrook

The focus of this year's Fall Gathering is the 'Kootenay Connect Summit' which will feature results from wildlife and habitat restoration projects achieved over the last four years. KCP's Fall Gathering and the Summit will be a full-day affair from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm MT on Friday followed by a delicious banquet dinner and conservation leadership awards ceremony. We will be meeting at the Prestige Inn in Cranbrook. The Saturday field tour will be a full day outing to see on-the-ground work for species at risk in the Wycliffe Region. Early registration is now available to KCP partner organizations. Keep an eye on future newsletters for more information. 

Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology Annual Researcher’s Forum

October 26 & 27, Nelson – presentation proposals accepted until Sept. 8

The Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI) hosts an annual event that gathers members of the scientific community, Indigenous community members and representatives, stewardship groups, and interested individuals to provide updates on ecological projects taking place in southeastern BC. Everything from field trials, new restoration projects and their associated community initiatives, to ecosystem monitoring and research, and much more, are featured at this forum. These updates cover a wide range of topics and species. This is an informal atmosphere, and everyone is invited to attend, mix, and mingle! This event travels around the Columbia Mountains area, and this year CMI’s Researchers’ Forum will take place in Nelson. CMI will host a session highlighting aquatic work in the region, alongside a variety of other ecological projects, as well as hosting presentations and a social on Thursday Oct 26, and we will venture out for a morning of field trips on Friday Oct 27.

Click here for more information on this event.

Map our Marshes Course

November 4, Online (Register now)

The BC Wildlife Federation's Wetlands Education Program presents Map our Marshes, a free 1-day virtual workshop, open to the public. Wetlands can filter water, mitigate flooding, and provide critical habitat to hundreds of species. Unfortunately, wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate and need our protection. Come join us to learn about the different types of wetlands and how to protect them. This entry-level workshop will introduce you to the basics of wetlands and mapping, using free software and your smartphone. Using Zoom and other online applications, the Wetlands Education Team will guide you through a workshop that is fun and engaging. Participants can explore and learn more about wetlands and mapping through interactive activities. This workshop is best experienced using a desktop or laptop computer. A stable internet connection is strongly recommended. A secondary device (smartphone, tablet) is required to fully participate in this workshop. For more information, you may contact Alana Higginson, Wetlands Education Program Coordinator at wep@bcwf.bc.ca.

Click here for more information and to register.

Introduction to `R` Software

November 6 – 9, Online

The Columbia Mountains Institute for Applied Ecology (CMI) is offering this online course as an introduction to the programming language R. This course will provide tips and tricks to programming in R, installation of R packages and libraries, introduction to base R objects and data types, assign a value to a name, identify functions, for loops, and conditional statements, read in data from common file types (csv/xlsx), and perform mathematical operations and linear regression. This course spans four half-days. Students are not expected to have any previous experience in R or any other programming languages, this is a true intro level course.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Beneficial Management Practices Program, Investment Agriculture Foundation

Deadline: August 24

The Beneficial Management Practices Program (BMP) is an on-farm cost-share incentive program to assist farm and ranch operations to mitigate some of the risks identified in their associated Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). The Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF) will deliver funding to farmers and ranchers for completing two types of projects: planning/design projects and on-farm equipment/infrastructure projects. Planning/design projects facilitate the on-farm adoption of practices or technologies, and the latter type should facilitate the sustained adoption (ongoing implementation) of practice or technology. The farm must have an EFP that is less than 5 years old and reflects the current farm or ranch operation. Upon submission of an application, all BMP applications will be reviewed under the first-come, first-serve model for 2023/24 intakes. The applications for funding for Riparian and Grazing projects, and for Water Infrastructure projects are both due by August 24.

Click here for more information.



StellerImpact Grants from StellerVista

Deadline: September 15

The StellerImpact Grant application will be open from July 15 to September 15 this year, and we hope to hear from as many great initiatives as possible. No project is too big or too small for this one – so please, if you are part of moving something forward, let us know what you are up to, and how much of a difference it will make. The StellerImpact program has been built to fund projects and initiatives in the range of $1,000 to $5,000.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Fish and Wildlife Grants from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program

Deadline: October 30

To apply for a fish or wildlife grant for 2024-2025, start by reviewing the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP)'s regional guidance documents. The next step is to develop a project idea that meets a priority in FWCP's action plans. In the Columbia region, all applicants must submit a mandatory notice of intent by September 11.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Small-scale Ecosystem Grants from the Columbia Basin Trust

Deadline: November 23

Do you have a small-scale project that helps improve ecological health and native biodiversity in the Basin? If so, the Trust wants to hear from you. Does your new project enhance a terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystem, such as wetlands, fish habitat, forests or grasslands? Implement on-the-ground action? Have a small local scale? Take less than two years to implement? If your project meets these criteria, email Natasha Barisoff, Delivery of Benefits Manager, at nbarisoff@ourtrust.org to discuss your project further.

Click here for more information. 

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program

Deadline: Ongoing

If you have an idea that will maintain or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environment and recreation objectives, this program could help support it. This program is delivered by the Kootenay Livestock Association.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Community Engagement Grants

Deadline: Ongoing

Community Engagement Grants are typically $500 to $1000 and help stewardship groups and others take action to benefit local fish and wildlife.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program

Deadline: First-come, first-served basis

The Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program provides eligible employers with up to 50 per cent of an intern’s salary (up to $25,000 over a seven to 12 month term) for full-time, career-focused positions that lead to permanent employment. Eligible employers are businesses, registered non-profits, municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous organizations within the Columbia Basin Trust region.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada)

Key Biodiversity Areas Research Intern, remote

WCS Canada’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) program is seeking a diligent KBA Research Intern with a strong attention to detail and technical skills in coding and GIS to join a dynamic team on a national effort to identify places in Canada that contribute significantly to the persistence of biodiversity. KBA sites are identified in a collaborative manner, using a global quantitative and scientific standard that requires extensive research into species distributions, population sizes and biology. The research intern’s role will focus on research, coding support, and geospatial support for the KBA program. They will operate, and help maintain, R and Python tools that ensure the accurate and timely flow of KBA information among partners and to the general public. They will contribute to the cleansing of geospatial KBA data using ArcGIS Pro. They will also assist with species and site research, develop and refine descriptions of sites and other KBA information, and generally support the identification and review of KBAs in Canada. The intern will join team meetings and meetings with partners to gain an understanding of biodiversity conservation approaches in Canada. Note that all applicants for this position must be under 30 years of age. Applications are accepted until August 4.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Ktunaxa Nation Council

Aquatic Biologist, ʔaq̓am near Cranbrook

The Aquatic Biologist is responsible for leading fish/aquatic biological research, monitoring and restoration projects, and providing scientific support to the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC), in our work to steward ecosystems and to develop Nation stewardship capacity. A main focus of the work of the Aquatic Biologist will be the assessment of proposed development projects and provide recommendations to support decision making by leadership to ensure the health of ecosystems. The Aquatic Biologist will also be a representative for the KNC on initiatives related to fish and aquatic resources in collaboration with other First Nations, industry, governments, and non-government organizations. Reporting to the Guardian - Water Team Lead, the Aquatic Biologist works closely with other Lands & Resources sector staff, other sectors, Ktunaxa First Nations, industry, and external agencies to implement stewardship activities collaboratively. Along with technical knowledge, the Aquatic Biologist requires strong interpersonal, analytical, and

conceptual thinking skills to synthesize diverse information and perspectives drawn from KNC staff and Ktunaxa citizens. This position operates within the objectives of protecting, conserving, and restoring fisheries/aquatic ecosystems within the Ktunaxa ʔamakʔis as the foundation for the continued exercise of indigenous fishing and related rights. This includes leading and providing coordination, facilitation, and technical support to Ktunaxa Nation stewardship initiatives. Applications are accepted until August 11.

Click here for more information.

BC Ministry of Water, Land, & Resource Stewardship

Provincial Species Habitat Modelling Specialist, remote

The Provincial Species Habitat Modelling Specialist is the lead provincial authority on species habitat modelling and will be part of a team that works to improve the state of knowledge and conservation of species and ecosystems in BC. The position develops and provides expert advice, standards, and spatial data products relating to species habitat modelling. The Provincial Species Habitat Modelling Specialist will work with botanists, zoologists, ecologists, and data managers in the BC Conservation Data Centre (BC CDC) and in the Natural Resource Ministries (NRM)’s, as well as contractors and other partners in the province. The position reports to the BC CDC Manager. Remote work is allowed, this position can work up to full time from their home in BC subject to an approved telework agreement. Applications are accepted until August 11.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Coordinator of Monthly Giving program, remote

If you are passionate about nature and want to use your skills and experience to raise funds to protect Canada’s natural landscapes, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) wants to hear from you. NCC is a private, non-profit organization that prides itself on its entrepreneurial, science-based, collaborative approach to achieving conservation success. Since its establishment in 1962, NCC and its supporters have protected more than 15 million hectares of natural habitat and special places across Canada. The National Marketing and Development team at NCC seeks a permanent, full-time Coordinator of Monthly Giving, to support strategic fundraising goals and continue the growth of the monthly giving program. This role will help coordinate, execute, and monitor all the monthly giving campaigns including face-to-face fundraising, telemarketing, direct mail, digital, and other campaigns, and steward NCC monthly donors. The successful candidate will work closely with the NCC Marketing & Development team and with external vendors for marketing and donor acquisition initiatives, to ensure quality, volume and income targets are met. The position requires a professional individual with previous experience in coordinating direct response, digital, multi-channel and/or monthly giving fundraising programs, and demonstrated experience working with data files. Applications are accepted until August 11.

Click here for more information and to apply.

British Columbia Wildlife Federation

Grant Writer and Coordinator, remote

The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) is British Columbia’s leading conservation organization. Grant funding is a critical component of the revenue source enabling the BCWF to deliver effective programs and projects in partnership with communities across BC. The Grant Writer and Coordinator will contribute to the BCWF's objectives of ensuring a long-term management and educational awareness of BC's fish, wildlife, park, and outdoor recreational resources. This role will manage, secure, and coordinate grant & contract documents in partnership with the program leads. Strong writing and communication skills and organizational abilities to meet tight deadlines are essential aspects of this work. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Click here for more information. 

Habitat Conservation Trust Fund

Request for Proposals for Caribou Habitat Restoration in BC, Data Analysis and Mapping

The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF) is seeking an individual to assist on various Geographical Information Systems (GIS) implementation tasks under their Caribou Habitat Restoration Program. The initial deliverable for this project is an interactive map and data set available online to the public as a resource for caribou restoration projects in BC. Although initially the map will be viewer only, we wish to build capability for users to upload data in the future. As the program develops, the successful candidate may also have the opportunity to submit proposals for other projects including development of innovative solutions for integrating reports into GIS, and work with staff on building other maps using ArcGIS Online. At its sole discretion, in addition to seeking a successful candidate, HCTF may create an eligibility list of future GIS contractors for additional projects as they arise. This competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Click here for more information on this opportunity. 



Elk Root Conservation Farm Society

Native Plant Educational Demonstration Gardens Manager

As the Elk Root Conservation (ERC) Native Plant Educational Demonstration Gardens Manager, you will receive mentorship to become a skilled leader and manager of ERC’s ‘beyond’ organic regenerative Native Plant Educational Demonstration Gardens (NPEDG). This role encompasses managing the native plant nursery and seed library, as well as implementing ERC’s Native Plant Educational Programs to promote ecological stewardship. The ERC Native Plant Educational Demonstration Garden is 1.5 acres of land, carefully restored with ‘local ecotype’ native plants. It includes a seed library and plant nursery, which serve both land restoration efforts and provide plant material to the community. Elk Root Conservation is currently developing the NPEDG into a beautiful outdoor classroom with signage, educational curriculum, and a Native Plant Field Guide to accompany the ‘local ecotype’ gardens. You must be between the ages of 16 and 30 to apply. This position is for 18 weeks commencing September 5, and there is potential for it to become a permanent position with ERC in the future. Please send your cover letter and resume to elkrootconservation@gmail.com.

Click here for more information.

Living Lakes Canada

High Elevation Citizen Scientists

Living Lakes Canada is inviting recreationalist to add observations to their high elevation monitoring project on the popular citizen science platform, iNaturalist. Anyone is welcome to contribute by joining the “High Elevation Monitoring Program – Living Lakes Canada” project and uploading pictures of flora and fauna they spot while recreating within the High Elevation (HE) Program’s active monitoring locations. These locations include Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Fletcher Lakes, Fishermaiden Lake, Macbeth Icefields, Ben Hur Lake and Shannon Lake in the West Kootenays and Talus Lakes in the East Kootenays. This citizen science project will create a valuable inventory of plant and animal species available to the HE team, as well as other researchers.

Click here to join the iNaturalist project. 

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society

Looking for volunteers to help at the recently restored Harrop Wetlands!

Learn how to monitor Western Toads and other amphibian species at Harrop Wetland and help collect data on their reproductive success, plant diversity, water levels, and more. Please email stewardship@friendsofkootenaylake.ca if you would like to sign up. FoKLSS would love to see you there!

Living Lakes Canada

Board Members

Are you interested in collaborating to protect freshwater sources in a changing climate? Living Lakes Canada is looking for progressive thinkers with diverse voices, backgrounds and perspectives who are keen to contribute their expertise and knowledge to the growth and strategic direction of a water stewardship non-profit. This is a volunteer commitment that involves attending quarterly meetings and sitting on sub-committees as needed. 

Click here for the posting.

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society

Board Members

Do you have an interest in community organizing and water stewardship, and want to share your skills with a local non-profit? Consider joining the Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FoKLSS) Board of Directors. Becoming a member of the FoKLSS Board is a great way to share your talents and ideas and to contribute to the great work we do in the Kootenay Lake community! We have many exciting projects on the go and our Board helps us by providing guidance and feedback at our meetings, volunteering at our events and workshops, and offering their expertise in all aspects of project planning and implementation.

Click here for more information.

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund

Technical Review Committee Member, Columbia Valley Region

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) in partnership with the Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) are seeking qualified members for the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF) Technical Review Committee (TRC). The volunteer role of the TRC is to make recommendations on allocating annual funding for conservation projects for the area from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen. Applications will be received on an ongoing basis.

Click here for the full posting.

Abundance Estimates for Marsh Bird Species in the Columbia Wetlands

Rachel Darvill, Ashleigh M. Westphal, Scott A. Flemming, & Mark C. Drever 

The Columbia Wetlands are one of the largest contiguous wetland complexes in western North America. Current population estimates are necessary for designation of priority conservation areas and for reliable assessment of population status for species of conservation concern. This multi-year study (2016–2019) was designed to estimate abundances of focal and secondary marsh birds using standardized call-broadcast protocols and distance sampling methods. Abundances of focal species varied by year, and mean population estimates indicated the most abundant secretive marsh birds were Sora (Porzana Carolina), followed by American Coot (Fulica americana), Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), and Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps). Most abundant secondary species were Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus), and Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata). Habitat covariates for detection functions varied by species, tended to include woody vegetation, tall vegetation, and open water; supporting previous studies proposing that a ‘hemi-marsh’ state is an important habitat condition for many marsh bird species. The Columbia Wetlands provide important wetland habitat and these estimates underscore the need for effective management for the conservation of BC’s avifauna.

Click here to access the report.

Secretive marsh bird occupancy across a spectrum of hydroelectric reservoir management in western montane Canada

Ashleigh M. Westphal, David J. Green, Janice E. Arndt, Rachel Darvill & Mark C. Drever

This report outlines how the alteration of hydrological regimes for generating hydroelectric power has affected the occurrence of secretive marsh bird species in the West Kootenay and Columbia Wetlands regions of BC. Sampling was done across a spectrum of hydrological regimes and other potentially relevant factors. At each survey station, the researchers assessed wetland occupancy during the breeding season using broadcast-callback surveys focused on five secretive marsh bird species: American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), American coot (Fulica americana), pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), sora (Porzana carolina), and Virginia rail (Rallus limicola). Additionally, they measured vegetation structure and the proximity and size of nearby water bodies for each survey station, and then used occupancy models to assess important correlates behind wetland occupancy for these marsh bird species, considering water management operations, regional differences, and local- and landscape-level wetland characteristics. Secretive marsh bird species were more likely to occupy wetlands in areas with less frequently altered hydrological regimes. Therefore, the authors suggest that reservoir management is altering vegetation communities within these wetlands, indirectly promoting lower occupancy of secretive marsh bird species.

Click here to read the full report. 

Spatial distribution of selenium and other potentially toxic elements surrounding mountaintop coal mines in the Elk Valley

Wyatt Petryshen

Despite the extent of of mountaintop coal mining in the Elk Valley, which is BC’s largest metallurgical coal-producing region, little is known about the transport and deposition of fugitive dust emissions within its mountain landscape. This study aimed to assess the extent and spatial distribution of selenium and other potentially toxic elements (PTEs) near the town of Sparwood originating from fugitive dust emitted from two mountaintop coal mines. To achieve these objectives, concentrations of 47 elements within moss tissues of Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, and Ptilium crista-castrensis were analyzed. This study found that selenium concentrations are a function of proximity to mountaintop mines, and the region's topographic features and prevailing wind patterns play a role in the transport and deposition of fugitive dust. Silver, germanium, nickel, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium were identified as other PTEs of concern.

Click here to read the full report.

Dynamic balancing of risks and rewards in a large herbivore: Further extending predator–prey concepts to road ecology

Marie-Pier Poulin, Seth G. Cherry & Jerod A. Merkle

Animal behaviour is shaped by the ability to identify risks and profitably balance the levels of risks encountered with the payoffs experienced. Anthropogenic disturbances like roads generate novel risks and opportunities that wildlife must accurately perceive and respond to. Funded by Parks Canada, this study tested whether animals dynamically balance risks and rewards relative to roads using extensive field-based and GPS collar data from elk in Yoho National Park, where a major highway completely bisects their range during most of the year. The researchers found that elk generally selected intermediate and high forage biomass and avoided crossing the road. Most of the time, elk modulated their behaviour given varying risks and rewards.

Click here to read the full report.

Addressing ecological connectivity in the development of roads, railways and canals

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas

Last month, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – the world’s premier biodiversity organization – released its first in-depth publication on the challenges and solutions of safeguarding biodiversity during the building of roads, railways and canals. It provides information critical for the conservation of wildlife and the protection of nature in the face of rapid linear transport infrastructure development across the globe. The report provides an overview of practical, feasible, science-based strategies for managers of protected and conserved areas, transport practitioners, industry, conservationists, and other interested stakeholders to reduce the impacts of infrastructure on the environment. From planning and design to construction, operations, and monitoring, the report synthesizes the state of the field and offers a way forward. This report takes inspiration from the great diversity of local, national, and transboundary connectivity conservation efforts already underway. Over the course of more than three years, this report has benefited from contributions from over thirty experts from six continents. It is expected to increase awareness and inspire commitment, the allocation of resources, good governance, and effective policies. Combined, these actions will contribute to more successful conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and resilient landscapes.

Click here to read the full report. 

Species-at-risk Recovery in BC: Case Study

Jared Hobbs, M.Sc., R. P. Bio & Todd Mahon, M.Sc., R.P. Bio

An independent case study found that logging is the biggest contributing factor for the decline of southern mountain caribou and spotted owls in British Columbia. In the case of spotted owls, logging is pervasive across the habitat, extreme in the severity of harm and has an extremely high overall risk ranking, according to the report. The case study assesses wildlife decline in BC and the legal gaps responsible in three geographic regions of BC (coastal, southern and northern areas), for six different species; caribou (southern mountain and boreal), spotted owls, western rattlesnake, great basin gopher snake, great basin spadefoot, and tiger salamander, representing diverse threats causing their decline. The study uses eleven threat categories developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to assess whether these threats are addressed in provincial law. Findings show that multiple IUCN threats are not being considered through provincial or federal legal measures. They also highlight that the federal Species-at-risk Act (SARA) does not have automatic legal authority on provincial crown land, which makes up 94 % of the land base, and that no provincial legislation is designed specifically to protect critical habitat.

Click here to read the full report.

An Honest Accounting: Improving BC'S Approach to Claiming Other Conserved Areas

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society & EcoJustice

Canada has committed to protecting 25% of its lands and waters by 2025 as a milestone to protecting 30% of both by 2030. It will take collaborative efforts from all levels of government - Indigenous Nations, community partners and experts - to create meaningful, effective protected and conserved areas that conserve ecological and cultural values. “Other conserved” areas were initially conceived as a tool to make the creation of protected areas more inclusive, recognizing Indigenous and community conservation values. As pointed out in this recent report by CPAWS and EcoJustice, unfortunately, BC has misused this tool to falsely inflate their progress towards protected area targets. This report was created to take a deep dive into the three designations - Old Growth Management Areas (OGMAs), Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs), and Wildland Zones - that make up more than 97%, by size, of BC’s claimed “other conserved” areas. The authors underscore it is critical that BC and other jurisdictions apply rigorous standards in their accounting of protected areas and other effective conservation measures (OECMs) to ensure these areas legitimately promote in-situ (i.e. “in place”) biodiversity conservation, to comply with Canadian and international standards in order to meaningfully contribute to 30 by 30.

Click here to view the full report.

Report on the Progress of Management Plan Implementation for Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

This report contains the progress made by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), its partners, stakeholders and the broader conservation community towards implementing the management plan and achieving its objectives. During the time period 2017 to 2021, progress on the BC population of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) included: • barrier assessments and habitat use studies within the Elk Valley • genetic studies on introgression to assess hybridization rates of WCT with Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) • implementation of a Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park management plan that has helped reduce hybridization risk through construction of a barrier to prevent migration of Rainbow Trout into WCT habitat in the White River • development and annual implementation of standardized protocols to determine WCT total abundance in specific provincially-managed streams • barrier remediation and fish passage restoration for WCT, other salmonids, and other species at risk • and development of novel non-lethal methods for whirling disease monitoring in WCT. While progress has been made towards meeting the management plan’s management goal and objectives, additional work is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of WCT. Further work may include preventing and mitigating hybridization with Rainbow Trout, continuing barrier remediation projects, and continued characterization and mitigation of threats to WCT and its habitat.

Click here to read the full report or click here to download it.

Video: Badgers in BC’s Grasslands

Grassland Conservation Council of BC

The American badger can be found in grasslands, forest clearings, and agricultural lands where the soils are easy to dig, and they have access to key prey species such as the Columbian ground squirrel. This video explains the important role of badgers as a keystone species in grassland ecosystems. Their ecological role includes helping keep other populations in check, and their abandoned burrows provide homes for many other species including the endangered burrowing owl. This video shows what the Simpcw Natural Resource Department is doing to help badger populations in the Kamloops region.

Click here to see the video.

Osprey Monitoring Report

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FOKLSS)

The Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FOKLSS) are thrilled to announce the release of their long-awaited osprey monitoring report! Osprey are considered a worldwide indicator species for aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring their reproductive success can help inform changes within aquatic food webs This is due in part by their almost exclusive diet of fish, their long lifespan, their strong nest fidelity, their global distribution, their tolerance to human development, their known sensitivity to human contaminants and their ability to accumulate most fat-soluble contaminants. FOKLSS tracked long-term changes in population sizes of breeding osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by conducting nest surveys to better understand the cumulative impacts of stressors on the lake. Data from 25 years of osprey nest observations collected on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake (1997–2021), and 6 years of osprey and bald eagle nest observations from the main lake (North and South Arms, 2016–2021) is analyzed.

Click here to access the report.

Proceedings from Responsible Recreation Conference

Columbia Mountains Institute for Applied Ecology (CMIAE)

This document is a summary of events, information shared, and resources from the conference: Responsible Recreation – Pathways, Practices and Possibilities. Event presenters have submitted a summary of their work for this document including PDF copies of posters, and a write up of discussions that took place during workshops and the Conversation Café are also included. We hope this document will serve as a resource to further the discussion and necessary work to mitigate the impacts of recreation on the landscape, helping to foster responsible and vibrant recreational activities and planning.

Click here to access the Conference Proceedings document.

Province of BC

Video: An Overview of The Old Growth Strategic Review

Managing forests in British Columbia is changing in response to pressing ecological and community needs. Nowhere is this more evident than in the way we are changing how we manage our oldest and rarest forests. We are engaging with First Nations and collaborating with sector participants across the province as we accelerate the protection of these vital ecosystems. New Forest Landscape Planning tables are underway to ensure science, established and innovative practices, and indigenous knowledge guide our decisions as we contend with extreme events like wildfire, beetle kill and invasive species.

Click here to watch the video.

Kootenay Connect featured

Community Nominated Priority Places Canadian wide showcase

Earlier this year in April, Kootenay Connect Manager Marcy Mahr presented at a cross-Canada showcase of Community Nominated Priority Places (CNPP). More than 100 people joined to learn about some of the amazing conservation work happening in CNPPs across Canada. In the Kootenay Connect presentation, Marcy summarizes some highlights from the first four years of Kootenay Connect (KC) projects, as well as outlining the bigger picture of the importance of the KC Community-Nominated Priority Places program.

Click here to access a recording of the presentation, and Click here to see a PDF of the presentation.

Kootenay Connect website updated

Year 4 highlights now available online

KCP's multi-year Kootenay Connect project wrapped up Year 4 at the end of March, and the highlights of all the work accomplished to date are available on the Kootenay Connect website. You'll find reports, maps and videos from the previous four years of Kootenay Connect.

Click here for the Kootenay Connect highlights.

KCP Stewardship Solutions Toolkit

Resource updated with growing number of stewardship listings

In 2019, KCP launched Stewardship Solutions, an easy-to-access stewardship resource for landowners and land managers in the Kootenays available both in print and online. We keep this resource up to date, and encourage you to access all the available stewardship "solutions" (i.e. services and resources) available in each of the 14 Conservation Neighbourhoods. Visit the website, select your location on the homepage map, and you'll be brought to the growing list of stewardship options available in your region.

Visit the Stewardship Solutions website.

KCP backgrounder document

Conservation Priorities in the Kootenays

This year the Columbia Basin Trust has been hosting community engagement sessions throughout the Basin. The Kootenay Conservation Program has created a document to outline effective conservation priorities recognized by KCP and our partners, and collaborative approaches to work towards achieving these conservation goals for the next 10 years. The Conservation Priorities document was developed to be used as a reference when attending the Trust's community engagement sessions. Thank you for speaking up for continued funding of conservation activities as a priority.

A Case for Conservation

KCP brochure promoting private land conservation available

KCP's “Case for Conservation” trifold brochure details 9 different reasons why conserving private land is so crucial to the health of the region’s ecosystems that support a myriad of plant, fish and animal species — many of which are currently rare or endangered or at risk of becoming so. The brochure opens up into an attractive poster that can be easily posted in offices, public spaces and homes. Printed brochures are available for distribution. If you would like copies, please contact KCP Program Director Juliet Craig at: juliet@kootenayconservation.ca.

Click here to view the brochure and download the PDF.

Kootenay Conservation Program

Conservation Resources for our Region

The Kootenay Conservation Program helps partners to coordinate and facilitate conservation efforts on private land, and in an effort to support this, KCP has developed a webpage that compiles some of the best conservation and stewardship resources available for our region.

Click here for more information.