Highlights from the KCP Board Meeting on April 5, 2023

KCP Conservation Leadership Award

Now 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.

Click here to download the nomination form.

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 now available on the Kootenay Connect website. You'll find reports, maps and videos from the 

Click here for the Kootenay Connect highlights.

Critter Day is back for 2023

May 13 is the date of Critter Day at Beaver Creek Park near Trail

Hosted by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), the Trail Wildlife Association (TWA), and Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP), Critter Day is back on for 2023! This free, fun family event for the general public is aimed to increase awareness of the special ecosystems in the Trail and Pend d’Oreille region, share information about the unique and at-risk plants and animals that call these ecosystems home, and educate the general public and landowners on the importance and fragility of the habitat in the area. Critter Day 2023 will have kid’s activities, the opportunity to build nesting boxes, and will feature live sturgeon, local snakes, amphibians, reptiles, native bees, aquatic insects, and more.

Click here for more information.

KCP Stewardship Committee Spring Tours

Field Tours taking place in East and West Kootenays

On Thursday, June 6, KCP will be hosting a local field trip as part of the East Kootenay Stewardship Meeting, led by Joe Strong, Kootenay Conservation Manager with the Nature Trust of BC. The destination will be the Bull River Grassland Corridor, and the tour will run from 12:45 - 3:30 pm MT. On Wednesday, June 14, as part of the West Kootenay Stewardship Meeting, there will be a local field trip to the Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, from 12:45 - 3:30 pm PT. This field tour will be led by Ryan Durand and Tyson Ehlers. If you are interested in attending either field tour, please contact KCP Stewardship Coordinator Camille Roberge at camille@kootenayconservation.ca.

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 10:00 am to 4:30 pm 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 is still being planned, so keep an eye on future newsletters for more information. 

KCP and RDCK are seeking Technical Review Committee members 

Qualified residents of Electoral Area H Slocan Valley are preferred

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK), in partnership with KCP, is seeking qualified members for the RDCK Local Conservation Fund Technical Review Committee (TRC). Residents of the Slocan Valley with technical expertise in wildlife, habitat or hydrology can apply to be a member of the TRC, which is a volunteer panel who reviews the applications for funding through the LCF service in RDCK Electoral Areas A, D, E and H. This is a volunteer term for three years. Travel expenses will be covered for those who require them. Please contact Kendal Benesh, Local Conservation Fund Coordinator at kendal@kootenayconservation.ca.

Click here for more information. 

KCP backgrounder document

Conservation Priorities in the Kootenays

Continuing this month and next, the Columbia Basin Trust is engaging with residents in order to develop its strategic priorities. 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 can be used as a reference when attending the Trust's community engagement sessions in-person or online, and when filling out the online survey. If you'd like to see the funding of conservation activities as a priority, please share your thoughts during this process! Please see the Events section of this newsletter for the date and location of each upcoming community meeting.

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network

4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning - Early bird registration now open!

Early bird registration is now 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.

Kootenay Native Plant Society

New Mason Bee Species Found in the Kootenays

Introducing Osmia (Cephalosmia) nr. subaustralis, a new discovery! Thanks to a grant from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, the Columbia Basin Trust, and a Mitacs Internship, the Kootenay Native Plant Society have found 39 Mason Bee species in Camas meadows in the West Kootenay. This includes two mason bee species new to BC, and one new to science. The unequal cellophane bee has never before been documented in BC. We found large nest aggregations along the Columbia River, from Fort Shepherd Conservancy to Millennium Park. As Rowan Rampton states “The fact that this abundant, large bee could go unnoticed until now again highlights the importance of pollinator monitoring, and how little is known about the bees of the West Kootenay region."

You can learn more about this amazing bee here.

Western Canada Bat Conservation Program

Bat fungus that causes white nose syndrome detected in B.C.

The fungus that causes white nose syndrome in bats has been detected in bat guano in the Grand Forks area. Since the arrival of the fungus on the west coast of the United States in 2016, the Province has been monitoring for its arrival in B.C. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is working with multiple partners to implement enhanced surveillance for the disease, as well as reduce threats to bat habitat. Since bats eat a wide variety of insects and pests, they are essential for keeping B.C.’s ecosystems in balance. The public is asked to contact the BC Community Bat Program or the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship with any information on the location of winter bat roosting sites, unusual behaviour, such as flying during the day, and observations of dead bats.

Click here for more information. 

Living Lakes Canada

Below the surface of Lemon Creek

With 13 water licenses, it’s safe to say that Lemon Creek, located in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, is heavily relied upon by both humans and wildlife. But research suggests that small changes in climate can drive large shifts in alpine freshwater systems, such as Lemon Creek. Through gathering comprehensive data on alpine ecosystems, Living Lakes Canada’s High Elevation Monitoring Program aims to better understand climate change impacts on these sensitive spaces, many of which have never been monitored before.

Click here for the full article. 

Living Lakes Canada

High Elevation Monitoring in the Columbia Basin: Pilot Year Summary

The High Elevation Monitoring Program aims to generate baseline data on alpine ecosystems and establish long-term monitoring to understand how these ecosystems, and the watersheds they are a part of, are responding to climate change. In 2022, Living Lakes Canada piloted the High Elevation Monitoring Program in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park and Shannon Lake in B.C. This report outlines the methodology, monitoring locations and results. The data collected will be made publicly accessible through the Columbia Basin Water Hub database.

Click here for the report.

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.

BC Ministry of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship

Tree Frog Study

Wildlife ecologist Ian Adams 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.

Province of BC 

Watershed strategy co-developed with First Nations, $100 million invested

Government and the B.C.-First Nations Water Table announced an unprecedented $100-million investment in healthy watersheds and the launch of engagement on a new co-developed watershed security strategy intentions paper to help ensure safe, clean water is available to communities throughout B.C. for generations. This $100-million investment in the Watershed Security Fund builds on last year’s $30-million commitment announced in Budget 2022, and will continue to improve B.C.’s watersheds and build on the success of a previous $27-million investment in the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) under the StrongerBC economic plan.

Click here to see the press release.

Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program

Plant and butterfly recorded in the province for the first time

Two species have been recorded for the first time in B.C. through a project in the Elk Valley for bighorn sheep, funded by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP). The apetalous campion (Silene hitchguirei Bocq), is a perennial plant typically found to the east and south in sub-alpine habitat. The other exciting discovery was an Edwards’ fritillary butterfly (Argynnis edwardsii). The project, conserving winter range and grasslands for bighorn sheep in the East Kootenay, is led by the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. It seeks to gather knowledge to inform ungulate management strategies by identifying where and how changes to high-elevation grasslands have occurred in the past decade.

Click here (and scroll down the page) to see photos of the two species. 

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. 

Kootenay Community Bat Project

Researchers seek public assistance as disease threatens BC’s bats

The Kootenay Community Bat Program, in collaboration with the Province of BC, are asking the public for help in the effort to detect and prevent the spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). Residents are urged to report any bat activity observed in winter and any sick or dead bats found before May 31st. WNS is a fungal disease responsible for the death of millions of bats in eastern North America, and it continues to spread on the West Coast. The disease, which is harmless to humans, has been confirmed in bats just 100 kilometers south of the USA / BC border. 

Click here for more information and to report signs of bats. 

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

In-person and online throughout the Columbia Basin, April to June

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement sessions continue this month with an online survey and in-person meetings through the Kootenays. During this process, the Trust will hear from Basin residents about their priorities. If you'd like to see the funding of conservation activities as a priority, please share your thoughts! For your reference, KCP has prepared a backgrounder of what we have heard as conservation priorities through our partnership. See the Events section of this newsletter for the date and location of each community meeting.

Click here for more information.

Columbia Basin Trust

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration Project Ideas Workshops

The Trust is excited to share that they will continue to fund landscape-scale restoration and enhancement projects through its Ecosystem Enhancement Program and is now seeking ideas for eligible projects from across the Basin. Register now for an in-person workshop to learn more about the program and how to submit a project idea, bring and discuss ecosystem enhancement and restoration project ideas, discuss the resources and partners that could help further develop project ideas, and next steps to submit your project idea for potential Trust support. Anyone who has an idea for an ecosystem enhancement and/or restoration project and/or anyone who would like to contribute to a project, is welcome to attend. Workshops are in Cranbrook, Revelstoke, and Slocan; see the Events section of newsletter for dates, or click here for more information. 

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Rancher Partnership Program 

B.C. 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 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 B.C.’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.

3rd Annual Lake Biodiversity Photo Challenge

May 1 - July 31, Lakes everywhere

The 2023 Lake Biodiversity Photo Challenge is now open! Living Lakes Canada’s Photo Challenge is the sister event to the National Lake Blitz that celebrates the beauty of lakes in Canada and raises awareness around what’s threatening their incredible biodiversity. This year, submissions across 4 different categories will be accepted until July 31: (1) Lake Landscapes, (2) Lake Biodiversity, (3) Lake Impacts, and (4) Kids Category (photographers under 12). Photos can be submitted via the online form or on social media using the hashtag #LakeBlitzPhoto2023. Winners will receive prizes from Earth Rangers, LUSH, Kicking Horse Coffee, Float-Eh and Teadore.

Click here to enter the Photo Challenge.

3rd Annual National Lake Blitz – Registration extended to May 8!

May 1 - September 30, Your Favourite Lake

Living Lakes Canada’s National Lake Blitz is an annual citizen-science program that encourages the widespread monitoring of lakes using simple tools. After signing up, each volunteer will be mailed a Lake Blitz Standard Kit containing a thermometer, tape measure, field guide, and datasheets. Free online training is provided on how to conduct lake monitoring using the kit, from data collection to data entry. Volunteers also receive a monthly newsletter and are invited to monthly online workshops featuring expert guest speakers who will present on a range of topics relevant to lake monitoring. 

Click here to sign up to be a Lake Blitz volunteer.

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 1, Fauquier 

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Bringing the Salmon Home Festival

May 2 - 3, Online

You’re invited! Join us for our third annual online Bringing the Salmon Home Festival, to learn more about our Indigenous-led work with diverse partners to bring the salmon home to the upper Columbia River. Explore innovative approaches to ecosystem restoration and cultural renewal. Enjoy presentations from knowledge keepers, artists, musicians, biologists, elders and youth. Check back often as our lineup of fabulous guest speakers will be updated in the days to come. These webinar events are all free and presented by the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative. 

Click here for more information and to register.

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 2, New Denver

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Room to Bloom Spring EcoGarden Webinar

May 2, Online

Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is teaming up with Kinseed Ecologies to offer a free webinar for gardeners looking to adopt ecologically mindful approaches into Kootenay gardens. You will learn the principles of ecological gardening and the challenges and joys of encouraging a garden in the Kootenays in a world being altered by continued habitat loss, fragmentation, and the climate crisis. Learn what you can do to make a difference in your own home garden! In this webinar, you’ll learn how to choose and grow native plants, attract and support native insect pollinators, work with natural processes, and start an EcoGarden this spring. Presented by Bren Beckwith, a local plant ecologist and ethnoecologist. From 7 to 8 pm PT / 8 to 9 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Living Lakes Canada Hydrometric Workshop – Nelson

May 3, Nelson (West Kootenay)

Living Lakes Canada is hosting the BC Ministry of Environment’s Hydrometric Training Program in Nelson on May 3 from 8:30 am to 4 pm PT. This session will be a 1-day practical course on Hydrometric Data Collection where participants will learn how to collect hydrometric (stream flow) data. Participants will meet at the Nelson Rod and Gun Club and begin the day by reviewing the theory behind hydrometric monitoring. The afternoon will be spent in and around a stream, therefore participants should be comfortable walking in moving water and on uneven ground.

Click here to register. 

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 3, Slocan • May 3, Nakusp

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information on the Slocan meeting, and here for more information on the Nakusp meeting.

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 4, Nelson

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Pulpit Rock Community Weed Pull

May 6, Nelson

Are you a hiker, runner, cyclist, or outdoors person in the Nelson area? Have you used the Pulpit rock trail? If yes, this event is for you. It’s time to give back to the trails you use and love! CKISS is teaming up with the Pulpit Rock Society and trail running enthusiast & Nelson’s 2023 Sport Ambassador Jazmine Lowther for the Community Weed Pull. With the help from volunteers we will remove invasive plants such as Scotch broom along the trail in order to improve ecosystem health and to protect one of the most popular trails in Nelson. Grab a friend and come on out for two fun and rewarding hours of weed pulling, snipping, digging, and bagging with community members! From 10 am to 12 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Lake Blitz Volunteer Spring Training

May 6, Online

Lake Blitz volunteers are invited to sign up for the annual training session taking place on May 6. This 1.5 hour session will be hosted by Living Lakes Canada’s National Lake Blitz Program Manager, Camille LeBlanc. Camille will walk volunteers through a typical sampling day and show how to use the Lake Blitz Kit and Field Guide to accurately collect your data and observations. Volunteers will also practice using the Survey 123 app to enter their data into the Lake Blitz Observation Form, and learn how to navigate the Lake Blitz Observation Map to see all of the data coming in from across Canada. The first monitoring weekend officially starts on May 12. Workshop will run from 10 - 11:30 am PT/11 am - 12:30 pm MT.

Click here to sign up. 

Way̓ ʔíʔtxʷǎʔ - Camas Festival

May 7, Castlegar

In celebration of Camas season, the community is invited to Millennium Park, in Castlegar. The event, “Way̓ ʔíʔtxʷǎʔ – Hello Camas,” presented by the Kootenay Native Plant Society, will offer an afternoon of festivities, including interpretive walks, bee bingo and more, in honour of this culturally significant native plant. Everyone is welcome and no pre-registration is required. From 1 to 4 pm PT. 

Click here for more information. 

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 8, Salmo

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Wings Over the Rockies Nature Festival

Monday May 8 - Sunday May 14

Our theme for 2023 is Wildlife & Landscapes - Exploring Connections. Our 26th annual festival is located in the beautiful upper Columbia River Valley centred around the mountain town of Invermere. We plan to have over 100 events over 7 days, many new ones too. Please plan to come and join us in 2023 and make your connection with wildlife and landscapes!

Click here for the schedule of events and for more information.

Responsible Recreation: Pathways, Practices and Possibilities

May 9 - 10, Revelstoke and Online

Recreation and adventure tourism opportunities and activities are expanding globally, with the Columbia Mountains region being no exception. This two-day hybrid CMIAE conference in Revelstoke and online is timely, as an increasing number of people are pursuing outdoor activities, and there is growing recognition of the limited information, tools, and resources for managing and monitoring the impacts of these pressures on wildlife and habitat. The event will address key questions regarding effects of current and future development and showcase best practices of established commercial and community managed recreation and adventure tourism tenures. The keynote address on May 9 beginning at 7 pm is free and open to the public! On this evening, we’ll be looking at responsible recreation through the lenses of climate and culture, with Sinixt cultural facilitator for the Colville Tribes Shelly Boyd, outdoor recreation researcher Natalie Knowles, a screening of the film Beyond Begbie, followed by a panel discussion.

Click here for more information. 

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 9, Castlegar

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 10, Rossland

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Innovations in Habitat Restoration

May 11, Online

Join Yellowstone to Yukon’s Dr. Jodi Hilty and Ngaio Richards, forensics and field specialist, for Working Dogs for Conservation at The Innovation Station, an event hosted by the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Hilty will discuss innovations in habitat restoration, among other topics relevant to the Yellowstone to Yukon region and mission. The Innovation Station amplifies woman and girl innovators developing solutions to climate-related challenges and builds relationships between those innovators and communities that could benefit from their work. This event is free and open to the public. The Innovations in Habitat Restoration webinar is from 10:45 to 11:20 am PT / 11:45 am to 12:20 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Columbia Basin Trust's Community Engagement Sessions

May 11, Fruitvale 

Join the Trust at our open houses and guided community conversations and share what's important to you and your community. Free of charge. Open house is from 3 pm to 6 pm PT, and the guided community conversation is from 6:30 to 8:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information.

Creston Valley Bird Festival

May 12 - 14, Creston

The Creston Valley is a vital birdwatching site, important bird area, and staging area for migratory birds with over 300 species of birds recorded. The Creston Valley Bird Fest celebrates this incredible diversity in an environmentally sensitive manner, inviting residents and visitors to expand their interest in the world of birds. The festival offers a variety of birdwatching activities guided by field experts, as well as photography and art displays and bird-oriented workshops. Promotional tours to local businesses and art studios have been incorporated into the festival providing eco-economic stimulus in a low impact way.

Click here for the schedule of events and to register.

Migratory Bird Day Birding Breakfast

May 13, Golden

Join Wildsight Golden for the second annual birding breakfast to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. The Columbia Wetlands is a superb place to view migratory waterbirds. Start with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 am. During breakfast, spotting scopes and binoculars will be available to view birds on Reflection Lake. After breakfast, join Wildsight naturalists on a walk to observe birds in their natural environment around Reflection Lake. The bird walk will start at 8:45 am and will last 1 hour. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be available throughout the entire time. If you bring your kids, there will be games and child friendly naturalist activities available as well. See you at Reflection Lake, May 13 at 7:30 am MT.

Click here for more information. 

Critter Day

Saturday, May 13 at Beaver Creek Provincial Park, near Trail

Critter Day is back! Get up close to some local amphibians, snakes, reptiles, aquatic insects, native bees, and more. Come and learn about all the special critters in the Trail and Pend d’Oreille region. Enjoy the kids’ activities and take in all the cool displays. Bring your curiosity and your questions for our biologists! Critter Day is hosted by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, Kootenay Conservation Program, and Trail Wildlife Association, with support from the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, Trail Silver City Days, BC Parks and the Ministry of Forests. From 1 to 5 pm PT. 

Click here for more information.

AG Showcase

May 13, Cranbrook

The AG Showcase will be hosted by the Kootenay Livestock Association (KLA), as part of their 2023 AGM on Saturday, May 13. This year, the KLA is trying something new with the addition of an AG Showcase. The goal is to provide a space and time where businesses, organizations and individuals related to agriculture can showcase their products, services and projects to people in the agriculture community. The KLA would like to extend an invitation to you to join us! Agriculture is important to us and we hope we feel the same way. Throughout the day, we have some other events taking place that you are welcome to join. The AG Showcase is from 4 to 6 pm MT.

Click here for more information. 

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration Project Ideas Workshop

May 15, Slocan • May 17, Revelstoke

Columbia Basin Trust is continuing to fund landscape-scale restoration and enhancement projects and is now seeking ideas for eligible projects from across the Basin. Register now for an in-person workshop to learn more about the program and how to submit a project idea, bring and discuss ecosystem enhancement and restoration project ideas, discuss the resources and partners that could help further develop project ideas, and find out the next steps to submit your project idea for potential Trust support. From 9 am to 1 pm PT. 

Click here for more information and to register. 

Juvenile Sturgeon Release

May 17, Shelter Bay Provincial Park

Join the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) for the annual release of captive-reared juvenile white sturgeon into Arrow Lakes Reservoir. This free event is hosted by the FWCP with support from BC Hydro, the Revelstoke Rod and Gun Club, and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. From 11:30 am to 1:30 pm PT.

Click here for more information. 

Living Lakes Canada Hydrometric Workshop – Baynes Lake

May 18, Baynes Lake (East Kootenay)

Living Lakes Canada is hosting the BC Ministry of Environment’s Hydrometric Training Program in Baynes Lake on May 18 from 8:30 am to 4 pm MT. This session will be a 1-day practical course on Hydrometric Data Collection where participants will learn how to collect hydrometric (stream flow) data. Participants will meet at the Baynes Lake Community Hall and begin the day by reviewing the theory behind hydrometric monitoring. The afternoon will be spent in and around a stream, therefore participants should be comfortable walking in moving water and on uneven ground.

Click here to register. 

Wildsight Guided Hike Series

May 21, Thompson Falls • June 25, Quartz Creek

Have you hiked with a naturalist before? Wildsight Golden will be hosting a series of Guided Hikes during the spring and fall of 2023. All hikes are free, and donations to Wildsight are gratefully accepted. Pre-registration is required. Meet at Thompson Falls on May 21, and at Spirit Square on June 25. From 10 am to 4 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Kootenay Lake Summit

May 25, Balfour

This year’s Kootenay Lake Summit will bring you an evening of learning, connection, and meaningful discussions around land use impacts to Kootenay Lake. Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FoKLSS) is excited to bring the Kootenay Lake community together again! This event will feature guest speakers Herb Hammond, Corey Scott, and Chad Luke, a dinner, and a community discussion for you to voice your concerns and help shape FoKLSS stewardship and education projects for 2024 and 2025. There will be a silent auction and all proceeds from this event will go directly to supporting important stewardship and education projects on Kootenay Lake including watershed and wildlife monitoring, shoreline cleanups, education, and more.

Click here for more information. 

Columbia Basin Trust Symposia

May 26 & 27, Cranbrook • June 9 & 10, Trail • June 23 & 24, Golden

For more than two decades, Basin residents have been connecting with each other at Trust symposia to discuss common interests. This year, the one-and-a-half day events will allow the Trust to share what we’ve heard from you during the community engagement process and continue to seek your feedback. Plus, together we’ll celebrate the region through food, music, art and entertainment.

Click here for more information.

Community Broom Bash & Weaving Workshop

May 31, Kootenay Bay

Learn to weave with invasive Scotch broom! The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is hosting a FREE Community Broom Bash & Weaving Workshop in Kootenay Bay. We will be targeting a patch of Scotch broom at the Pilot Bay parking area to prevent it from making its way into the park and beyond. Using hand tools you will help us cut and properly dispose of invasive Scotch broom and then learn how to weave with the green waste. Participants will receive complimentary snacks and the coffee bar will open for hot drinks and refreshments. Pre-registration is required - only 10 spots are available. From 4 to 8 pm.

Click here for more information and to register.

Guided Wetland Paddling Event

June 3, Golden

Join other paddlers and naturalists from Wildsight Golden in an exploratory paddle of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Columbia Wetlands. The paddle will take place from Brisco to Spillimacheen. Bring your paddleboard, kayak or canoe and paddle with us during this dramatic time in the wetlands. This will be a slow paddle, so beginner paddlers are welcome as well as non-furry children. Bring your PDFs, snacks, good outdoor gear and drinking water. Meet at Reflection Lake at 9 am to consolidate vehicles and car-pool. We should be finished paddling about 1 pm and will return to Golden by around 2:30 pm.

Click here for more information. 

KCP Spring Field Tour

June 6, Bull River Grassland Corridor

On Thursday, June 6, KCP will be hosting a local field trip as part of the East Kootenay Stewardship Meeting, led by Joe Strong, Kootenay Conservation Manager with the Nature Trust of BC. The destination will be the Bull River Grassland Corridor, and the tour will run from 12:45 - 3:30 pm MT. If you are interested in attending this field tour, please contact KCP Stewardship Coordinator Camille Roberge at camille@kootenayconservation.ca.

KCP Spring Field Tour

June 14, Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor

On Wednesday, June 14, as part of the West Kootenay Stewardship Meeting, KCP will be hosting a local field trip to the Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, from 12:45 - 3:30 pm PT. This tour will be led by Ryan Durand and Tyson Ehlers. If you are interested in attending the field tour, please contact KCP Stewardship Coordinator Camille Roberge at camille@kootenayconservation.ca.

2023 Summer Tour for the BC Chpt. of the Society for Range Management - looking for local projects & topics to showcase on the field tour! 

June 21 - 23, Cranbrook 

The mission of the Society for Range Management is to promote ways to maintain or enhance the integrity of the ecological community critical to the watersheds, plants, animals, and people that depend on rangelands for their sustenance. The summer tour will consist of an evening welcome session, a full day field tour, a banquet, and a half day learning session. We have some excellent topics and projects lined up ranging from species at risk to grassland restoration. Please save the date, we would love to have you, or members from your organization join us for all or just a portion of the tour! We are currently in the planning stages and have some field sites planned to showcase on the tour, however we are interested in showcasing more local topics/projects during the tour. If you or your organization has a project within the Cranbrook area that you would be interested in presenting during our tour, please send us more information so that it can be considered as a tour stop. You can contact Hailey at bcchaptersrm@gmail.com.

Click here for more information. 

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 11th to tour the Kalamalka Research Center & seedling inoculation facility in Vernon; and a post-conference trip on the 14th 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! We are accepting abstracts for presentations until June 21. Early Bird Registration open until June 30th. 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 10:00 am to 4:30 pm 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 is still being planned, so keep an eye on future newsletters for more information. 

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.

Capacity Grants from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

Deadline: May 1

With grants up to $25,000 available, the focus of Capacity Grants is to build and strengthen capability and capacity of organizations to successfully design and deliver conservation or restoration projects aligned with Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s objectives. Capacity grants assist with the first steps in identifying, exploring, and undertaking actions to solve a local conservation challenge. The goals of the grant are to advance conservation planning, engage organizations and communities, and develop skills and abilities of communities. 

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Community Grants from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

Deadline: May 12

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation will be accepting applications for Community Grants (formerly PCAF) in April, providing funding to organizations and individuals who need financial help to implement a conservation project. Since 1974, the Province of BC and HCTF provide approximately $150,000 each year to help implement on-the-ground conservation work, with a particular focus on hands-on, community-based, and public awareness initiatives. Eligible expenses total up to $10,000 in any one year. Note that the deadline to apply is Friday, May 12 at 4:30 pm PT. 

Click here for more information and to apply.

Scholarships available for Masters and PhD candidates 

Deadline: May 15

HCTF in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Forum and the Province of British Columbia are excited to announce the launch of the Together for Wildlife Scholarship program! Together for Wildlife is now offering up to ten $20,000 academic scholarships to Masters and PhD candidates undertaking research that will support a positive impact on stewardship, management, policy, or decision making of wildlife in BC. These scholarships also aim to support reconciliation and collaboration, diversity of perspectives, and building community capacity among Indigenous communities and rural areas of BC. We encourage Indigenous students to apply because of the perspectives they contribute through diversity, inclusion, and community capacity building. We encourage all eligible candidates to apply for the Together for Wildlife Scholarship program by May 15. 

Click her for more information and to apply.

Ecosystem Enhancement & Restoration Grants from Columbia Basin Trust 

Deadline: July 12 for Expressions of Interest 

Based on input from Basin residents, one of our priorities is to support healthy, diverse and functioning ecosystems. Our Ecosystem Enhancement Program will have a meaningful and measurable impact in supporting and strengthening ecosystem health in the Basin. The Program goal is to help maintain and improve ecological health and native biodiversity in a variety of ecosystems, such as wetlands, fish habitat, forests and grasslands. This year is a Basin-wide call for eligible project ideas that restore and/or enhance a variety of ecotypes, including terrestrial, aquatic and wetlands. The Trust will identify projects focused on enhancement and restoration by seeking input from community groups, First Nations representatives and government experts, and existing regional plans and research.

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 $1,000 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.

Nature Trust of BC

Kootenay Conservation Field Crew, Cranbrook

The Nature Trust of British Columbia (NTBC) is looking for a Crew Member who will assist in a variety of land management activities on over 20 conservation property complexes within the Kootenay region. You will work on both NTBC and BC Provincial conservation properties to help achieve shared conservation objectives. You will report to the Kootenay Conservation Crew Supervisor, and work as a coordinated team to complete the annual work plan. This is a full-time contract position based in Cranbrook, B.C. The Crew Member will report directly to the Crew Supervisor. Applications are accepted until May 7.

Click here for the full job description.

British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF)

Invasive Species Technicians, Nelson

The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) section of the Ministry of Forests (FOR) leads the long-term management of invasive plant species on conservation properties and ecological restoration units in the West Kootenay to maintain and conserve their habitat values. We are seeking two invasive species technicians to work with the FWCP crew leader to survey, map, and treat priority invasive species at these locations. Work will be conducted primarily in conservation areas and ecological restoration units in the Lower Arrow and the Pend d’Oreille valley with the potential for occasional work in other conservation areas. Mapping and data collection are conducted with hand-held GPS and iPad applications while treatments are done using hand pulling or digging, mechanical (weed whackers/brush saws), backpack herbicide application, and other methods. Applications are accepted until May 7.

Click here for the full job description.

Wildsafe BC

Community Coordinator, Golden • Selkirk Purcell • Columbia Valley • Kaslo

Are you passionate about wildlife in your area? Do you want to contribute to human-wildlife conflict reduction in a meaningful way? Are you detailed oriented, do you thrive on diverse project work and do you enjoy bringing people together to find common ground? The Wildsafe BC Community Coordinator position is a unique opportunity to make a difference in reducing human-wildlife conflicts where you live. Professionalism, good communication and community engagement skills are essential for this position as well as an ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Community Coordinators will attend group training sessions to learn WildSafeBC conflict-reduction information relating to BC wildlife species, and effective engagement and delivery techniques, which they can bring into their communities. Wildsafe BC Community Coordinators are needed in Kaslo, Golden, the Columbia Valley, and the Selkirk Purcell (Creston and Salmo) regions. Applications are accepted as soon as possible!

Click here to see the full job postings. 

Yellowstone to Yukon

Highway Connectivity Project Coordinator

Y2Y seeks an experienced collaborator and strategic thinker for the position of Highway Connectivity Project Coordinator. This 13-month contract position will report to the Y2Y Landscape Connectivity Coordinator and will assume responsibility to advance the Reconnecting the Rockies project along Highway 3 through British Columbia and Alberta. The Highway Connectivity Project Coordinator will be the principal liaison with partners and stakeholders, managing the development and implementation of internal and external communications strategies in close consultation with Y2Y communications staff, and acting as a champion for highway mitigations in support of wildlife along key sections of Highway 3. This is a part-time 13-month contract position with the potential for renewal and/or to become permanent. We are flexible in our employment approach for this role and would consider a term employment or contract relationship. The candidate will ideally be based in SW Alberta or SE British Columbia. We prefer the successful candidate start as soon as possible.

Click here to see the full job posting. 

BC Community Bat Program

Provincial Coordinator 

The BC Conservation Foundation is looking for an energetic, stewardship- and community-minded individual to work as the Provincial Got Bats? BC Community Bat Program Coordinator alongside our team of program advisors to lead the Provincial Program. In this position you will spearhead multiple bat conservation initiatives and ensure consistency in messaging and program delivery across 19 independent regional community bat projects. You can learn more about the Program and its components on our website. The successful candidate will be creative and have a keen interest in bats and the conservation issues around bats living near humans and in buildings and bat boxes, strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task, ability to understand competing points of view, and work as a team player. This is a challenging position but provides flexibility in the work schedule and lots of opportunity to develop the program in many ways! Deadline to apply is May 12.

Click here to see the full job posting.

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Communities and Conservation Research Associate

The Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada (WCS) is looking for a Communities and Conservation Research Associate to support effective and meaningful conservation outcomes through the development of research, tools, and strategies that foster respectful relationships and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and advance Indigenous-led conservation in WCS Canada programs across Canada. WCS Canada recognizes the importance of respectful and equitable conservation partnerships with Indigenous Peoples as an explicit goal our Strategic Plan. WCS Canada’s Indigenous Communities and Conservation Program advances the capacity of WCS Canada and partners to support Indigenous-led conservation in meaningful ways that support the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples and communities. Applications are accepted until May 12.

Click here for the full job posting.

Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada

Program Manager, Columbia Valley

The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada (WPEFC) is hiring a full-time Program Manager to oversee recovery and restoration projects for endangered whitebark and limber pine ecosystems in Canada. This position would oversee various WPEFC programs, track project funds, liaise with bookkeepers, spearhead reporting and have the option to assist with field projects. Initially, this is a 48-weel term June 1, 2023 to May 1, 2024, with the possibility of extension pending job performance and funding. This position must be based in the Columbia Valley. Deadline to apply is May 15.

Click here for the full job posting.

Living Lakes Canada

Water Monitoring Programs Coordinator, East Kootenay

The Water Monitoring Program Coordinator will support the Living Lakes Canada Columbia Basin Water Monitoring Framework program and associated Groundwater Program, with a focus on community outreach and engagement. The Coordinator will assist with monitoring and lead outreach and education initiatives that align with Living Lakes Canada water monitoring programs. Job posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Click here for the full job description.

BC Wildlife Federation

Senior Aquatic Biologist, Remote

The BCWF is seeking a Senior Aquatic Biologist with expert knowledge and project managing experience to join their Conservation Stewardship team. Working with BCWF staff, Indigenous communities, landowners, and project partners, this role will help identify and fill knowledge gaps, provide mentorship and advisory leadership to promote a long-term management and educational awareness of B.C.'s fish habitats. Posting open until the position is filled.

Click here for the job posting.

KCP and RDCK are seeking Technical Review Committee members 

Qualified residents of Electoral Area H Slocan Valley are preferred

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK), in partnership with KCP, is seeking qualified members for the RDCK Local Conservation Fund Technical Review Committee (TRC). Residents of the Slocan Valley with technical expertise in wildlife, habitat or hydrology can apply to be a member of the TRC, which is a volunteer panel who reviews the applications for funding through the LCF service in RDCK Electoral Areas A, D, E and H. This is a volunteer term for three years. Travel expenses will be covered for those who require them. Please contact Kendal Benesh, Local Conservation Fund Coordinator at kendal@kootenayconservation.ca.

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.

Key Biodiversity Areas of Canada

iNaturalist

We are very excited to announce the launch of the KBAs of Canada iNaturalist project! This project showcases the amazing diversity of species at Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). KBAs are areas that are exceptionally important for wildlife and biodiversity. All habitat types within in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems can be KBAs if they meet the standardized criteria thresholds for a KBA designation. The criteria used to identify KBAs include threatened biodiversity, geographically restricted biodiversity, aggregations of species, high ecological integrity, or high irreplaceability for multiple biodiversity values. Observations from all Canadian KBAs will be summarized in this Umbrella Project. Help add to the growing list of plants and wildlife observed at these sites by visiting a KBA near you! Note that boundaries provided for Candidate KBAs are preliminary - these sites are being investigated as a potential KBAs and it is not yet confirmed whether they will become KBAs or not. Candidate KBAs in the Kootenays include the Creston Valley KBA and the Skookumchuk Prairie KBA. Add your biodiversity observations at these sites to help guide conservation efforts!

Click here to see the website.

Ecosystem Connectivity to Ensure Nature can Respond to Climate Change

Coastal Douglas-fir and Associated Ecosystems (CDFCP)

On April 4, the Coastal Douglas-fir and Associated Ecosystems (CDFCP) hosted a webinar on Ecosystem Connectivity. The recording is now available as Webinar 3 on their website. As climate change occurs, the natural environment needs to adapt through the natural movement of species. This can only occur if we maintain ecosystem connectivity and identify refugia for species that have very specific environmental requirements. This is becoming increasingly difficult as our world becomes divided by roads, power lines and urban centres. Scott Boswell from the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program spoke about their work to protect the Okanagan Mountain – k’nmalka Corridor, and Jessica Stolar from the University of Alberta shared about using climate change refugia and corridors to inform conservation planning. Please note that only Scott’s presentation was recorded as Jessica requested that her presentation was not recorded as she is yet to finish this work.

Click here to access this recording.

Recording of UNDRIP & You Webinar

Real Estate Foundation of BC and Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions

Originally presented on April 13, this webinar featured three speakers. Learn from UNDRIP Fellow Tara Marsden, Michelle Bryant-Gravelle (City of Vancouver), and Nadine Raynolds (Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative).The governments of Canada and BC have adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as their framework for reconciliation. But what does this mean for your organization and its work? Nonprofits, foundations, and local governments have important roles to play in advancing UNDRIP. Watch this recorded webinar to hear from organizations on journeys of learning and action to respect Indigenous rights.

Conservation, Restoration and Stewardship of Low Elevation Brushland (Gb), Grassland (Gg) and Dry Forest Ecosystems in the West Kootenay Region: Field Manual and Background Document, Version 3 

Evan Mckenzie & Thomas Hill, for the Okanagan Nation Alliance and FWCP 

Non-forested brushland (Gb) and grassland (Gg) ecological communities that occur on dry sites at low elevations in the West Kootenay Region have high ecological values but are uncommon across the landscape. The grassland ecosystem that occurs in our area is a red-listed community. Ranking of the brushland communities by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre (CDC) is currently in progress and the ecosystems will likely be listed as at-risk communities due to their ecological importance, scattered distribution, high sensitivity to disturbance and low resilience. The field manual was developed to provide clear and concise best management practices for conserving and protecting these sensitive ecosystems. The background document describes the project objective, goals and project area and provides information related to guiding work activities in low elevation Gb, Gg and dry forest ecosystems. It was developed to supplement and support the field manual summarizing the best management practices.

Click here to see the Field Manual, and here for the Background Document. 

Kootenay Village Challenge

Ecological Footprint Calculator & Map of Kootenay Communities 

Dr. William Rees, a professor at the University of British Columbia, devised the ecological footprint. The ecological footprint measures the impact of human activity by how fast we consume resources and generate waste. Here in the Kootenays, the ecological footprint has been calculated for each community profiled in the census by Statistics Canada. As a citizen, you can calculate the footprint of your own household and see how you fit with your neighbours. To play and compete, go here to take the Kootenay Village Challenge. Then, you can determine your own ecological footprint. The village footprint calculation method will be submitted to the Sustainability academic journal this spring. 

Click here for more information. 

Survey of Long-billed Curlews and Grasslands in BC 

David Bradley, Birds Canada

In 2017, Birds Canada began a study of Long-billed Curlews breeding in the East Kootenay grasslands at the Skookumchuck Prairie Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. This work had three main aims: to fit satellite transmitters to curlews to track their movements over a full year, to determine the breeding success of those birds in a natural prairie environment, and to connect with farmers and local naturalists in the area to learn from them about the species and what it means to them. In 2022, a BC-wide citizen-science curlew survey was initiated, to get a handle on the numbers of birds in the province. These surveys have revealed an interesting trend, not as much in the total numbers of birds, but more so in the distribution of those birds.

Click here to read the survey results. 

Supporting Riparian Health On Farmland For Flood Protection

Associated Environmental Consultants & BC Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP)

The implications of climate change have resulted in heightened flood risk in the Kootenay and Boundary regions. A healthy functioning riparian area can provide valuable flood resiliency and mitigate flood damage where these areas overlap with vital agricultural lands. Agricultural producers play an important role in riparian area management but require enhanced support to fully understand how riparian areas relate to flood mitigation, along with options for management. The purpose of the project is to understand gaps in knowledge and available information for producers with riparian areas on both large and small waterways in the Kootenays. Further, associates worked to fill those gaps and to transfer relevant information and resources to land users. This report summarizes the activities completed during the project to achieve these goals.

Click here to see the Reports and Fact Sheets.

Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners

Reference Library with new resources added

The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners (CWSP) reference library contains the current and historical known research papers, projects, and land use plans for the Columbia Wetlands, including the area to the east and to the west bordered by the Rocky and Purcell mountains ranges. It is a work in progress with currently over 2000 citations and more being added every year. CWSP, where possible, houses the entire document of a reference in the library, which can be downloaded if desired.

Click here to access the reference library.

Recreation Ecology Research Project

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Y2Y's research project will improve the understanding of when, where, and how people recreate and the impacts to wildlife. The project focuses on two areas in the Yellowstone to Yukon region: the Kananaskis-Ghost in Alberta and Upper Columbia of British Columbia (see map). We have three objectives to better understand recreation use and its impacts: 1) Map and classify trails from government and non-government sources. 2) Measure and model intensity of human use: when, where, how many, and which activities. 3) Model important wildlife habitat (grizzly bears, wolverines, and caribou) and compare to the intensity of recreation use. The recreation ecology team will present at the Responsible Recreation: Pathways, Practices and Possibilities conference in Revelstoke in May 2023, and we encourage you to attend. In addition, the project has a new and updated website!

Click here to see the updated project website.  

Natural and human-made nesting habitat use by Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) in Canada

Noémie Pelletier · Janice E. Arndt · Rachel Darvill · Marc-André Cyr

A new publication in the Canadian Field Naturalist includes some findings from the Upper Columbia Swallow Habitat Enhancement Project, which is partially funded by the CVLCF, and the Kootenay Bank Swallow Survey. This peer-reviewed literature speaks to natural and human-made nesting habitat use by Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) in Canada, including some implications for conservation.

Click here to access the article.

Moving transboundary conservation from Indigenous engagement to Indigenous leadership: Working across borders for a resilient Cascadia

Meade Krosby, Gwen Bridge, Erica T. Asinas, and Sonia A. Hall

As the number of transboundary conservation initiatives continues to grow in response to the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss, so too have calls for Indigenous-led conservation that recognizes Indigenous rights and supports Indigenous land and wildlife stewardship. And yet, because many transboundary initiatives have historically been settler-led, such efforts are now contending with how best to pivot toward models of more meaningful Indigenous engagement and leadership. We describe the Cascadia Partner Forum’s recently completed Blueprint for a Resilient Cascadia, a collaborative strategy for supporting large-landscape resilience in the transboundary region of Washington and British Columbia. We hope our reflections can help inform other transboundary conservation initiatives working to move away from what has been a predominantly colonizing model of conservation to one promoting Indigenous-led governance.

Click here to read the full report.

Protecting Migratory Corridors For Bottled Up Wildlife

Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveller

This article emphasizes the importance of large landscape level wildlife corridors, and the challenges that exist in efforts to protect large habitats. Protecting migratory corridors stretching hundreds of miles or more won't easily or quickly happen. Challenges range from the federal land management agencies with different missions to state, local, and even individual landowners in the proposed corridors who might not want to grant conservation easements. And all the while there's the clock ticking on the loss of biodiversity in the world. This article focuses on American parks, with links for more information.

Click here to access the article.

Forest Fuel Treatments for the Southern West Kootenays

Greg Utzig, Kutenai Nature Investigations Ltd.

This project was initiated to explore what types of fuel treatments would likely be most effective for application in forests in the Southern West Kootenays (S WK). The project has primarily involved a focused literature review of studies that assessed the efficacy of fuel treatments where those treatments have been tested under active wildfire conditions.

Click here to read the full report.

Working Together to Recover Whitebark and Limber Pine in the Canadian Rockies

Cyndi Smith and Brenda Shepherd

For the past twenty years, biologists in the national parks and provinces of Alberta and British Columbia have been joining forces to monitor their condition and take coordinated action toward recovery. Both species are declining due to mortality from an introduced fungus, white pine blister rust, and from attack by native mountain pine beetle. Whitebark and limber pine are both legally listed as endangered in Alberta, and whitebark pine is legally listed federally under the Species at Risk Act, while the federal listing of limber pine has been pending for almost a decade. During this presentation on November 15, 2022, Cyndi and Brenda discussed the overall recovery program which includes prescribed fires, stand surveys, cone collection, resistance testing, candidate tree protection, seed orchard, seedling planting and mechanical thinning, activities that are being undertaken to keep these two iconic species on the landscape.

Click here to access the recording.

Farmland Advantage

2021/2022 Impact Report 

Farmland Advantage began in 2016, as a small five-year research and development pilot project of the Windermere Farmer’s Institute and other partners. Farmland Advantage’s vision is that BC farmers actively contribute to, and are compensated for, regenerative agricultural practices that support ecosystem services and wildfire risk reduction. This is accomplished by taking actions that promote cleaner water, air and soil, healthier wildlife populations, and the mitigation of climate change impacts. The 2021/2022 year was foundational for the Farmland Advantage (FLA) Program. Learn about Farmland Advantage’s work over the program year, including details about each area we are working in, and what actions are being taken. The report provides an overview of the FLA program, the results achieved in the 2021/2022 program year, and provides an outlook for future growth of the program. 

Click here to read Farmland Advantage’s Impact Report. 

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. In late 2021, we completed a full review of the toolkit and updated 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.

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.