Conservation in the Kootenays
Monthly eNews

We hope you are enjoying the winter weather! As you'll see below, there are plenty of opportunities and resources available this month. Please  click here throughout the month to check in on current news and events. Also, please feel free submit any news or events you'd like us to share by the third week of each month to communications@kootenayconservation.ca .  As always, a big thanks goes out to our supporters! 

You can click here for our KCP Partner list and  click here to read more about some of the great organizations that support conservation in the Kootenays. 



KCP Webinars
Register now for 3 free KCP webinars
1) Securement 101: The Basics of Protecting Private Land Through Covenants and Acquisitions: Wednesday, February 15, 10 am to 11 am Pacific; 11 am to Noon Mountain
2) Wetland Restoration and Construction on Private Land: Tuesday, February 28, 10am to 11 am Pacific; 11 am to Noon Mountain
3) Species at Risk on Private Land: Wednesday, March 8, 10 to 11 am Pacific; 11 am to Noon Mountain

KCP Job Posting: Administration and Communications Coordinator
Closes Thursday, February 9
KCP is looking for a qualified contractor to provide administrative and communication support services. The primarily role of this position is to provide "behind-­-the-­-scenes" administrative support. The secondary role is to provide leadership in facilitating KCP communication activities.

POSTPONED: Conservation on private land in the Golden area
February 8, Golden
Please be aware that this event has been postponed. We will let you know once a new date has been confirmed.



Faces & Places Monthly Partner Feature
Bill Sanders: Rocky Top Ranch
Bill Sanders owns the Rocky Top Ranch near Grasmere. He has been actively stewarding this land for decades. Formerly a veterinarian, he now focuses his energy on improving and conserving his land. He demonstrates a landowner ethic and leadership in private land conservation. 


Local Conservation Fund Feature Project
Kootenay Community Bat Project - Upper Columbia Valley
Funded by the Columbia Basin Trust and the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP) provides site visits to residents with bats in buildings. The presence of KCBP in the upper Columbia Valley is still relatively new and they continue to work on advertising our program and connecting with residents. In 2016, the KCBP delivered a comprehensive program throughout the Columbia Valley.



Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival
Danny Catt announced as Keynote
We are honoured that Danny Catt, an internationally known conservationist, photographer and environmental educator will be the Keynote Speaker at the Gala. Danny spent more than a decade in the upper Columbia Valley in park planning when he received a Rotary International 'Preserve Planet Earth' scholarship to study conservation around the globe. Since then Danny has explored and photographed the people, landscapes and wildlife of close to 100 countries. Now head of British Columbia Institute of Technology's Fish, Wildlife and Recreational Land Management program he inspires future generations of wildlife conservationists. 

Columbia Basin Trust
Understanding Basin Water Resources
Responding to a growing interest in current information about water resources and water monitoring efforts, Columbia Basin Trust has released a report about the current state of water knowledge in the Columbia Basin Trust region. The report is called Water Monitoring and Climate Change in the Upper Columbia Basin.

Wildsight
Groundwater Monitoring in the Columbia Basin
This basin-wide project grew out of a three-well groundwater monitoring project that has been operating near Invermere since 2013. The pilot was a collaboration between Living Lakes Canada, Ecology Action Centre's Groundswell Program in Nova Scotia, and the Lake Windermere Ambassadors.  The goal is to collect the groundwater data and get people thinking about their local aquifers and how they might need to be managed in the future.

Columbia Basin Trust
Environment Projects Benefit Basin - $1.07 million in funding approved in 2016
The Trust approved funding for 49 environment projects in the 2016 Environment Grants intakes. These projects address one or more of the Trust's four environment goals: Ecosystems, Climate, Water, and Environmental Education.

The KCP encourages partners to take advantage of our eNews - send your content to  communications@kootenayconservation.ca. 


Monitoring landscape change in Canada Webinar
February 9, Online
Warming across Canada's Northern landscape since the early 2000's has resulted in significant changes to all components of the cryosphere, some of which are having regional and global scale impacts on infrastructure and sea-level change. This webinar will present results from the monitoring activities within the Climate Change Geoscience Program (Earth Sciences Sector) with a focus on recent trends and rates of change to the Glaciers, Permafrost, and Snow cover. The implications of these changes with respect to feedbacks to the climate system and natural and human systems will also be discussed.

Securement 101 KCP Webinar: The Basics of Protecting Private Land Through Covenants and Acquisitions
February 15, Online
Private lands in the Kootenays are usually located in valley bottoms and near water bodies - also the prime locations for species and habitat at risk. To protect these lands, one available tool is securement where lands are owned fee-simple by a land trust or the land is protected from development by a covenant. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and The Nature Trust of BC (TNTBC) are actively securing land in the Kootenays for conservation. Find out more about this process during this webinar.

The Power of Positive, Inspiring Solutions CBEEN Webinar
February 20, Online
CBEEN is partnering with Green Teacher and EECOM to host this webinar. presented by Guy Dauncey, a futurist who works to develop a positive vision of a sustainable future, and to translate that vision into action.  The Power of Positive, Inspiring Solutions webinar will showcase the power of positive, inspiring solutions to the worries that cause people to lose hope, including the climate crisis and wider ecological crisis. It will show how, using a positive three-step approach, you can turn worry into hope, and then into action. 

Reading a Water Chemistry Report CBWN Webinar
February 21, Online
In this session, Richard Johnson will lead us through a basic water chemistry report and explain how the qualities of watershed geology, soils, and land use are related to the attributes of our water. Using reports from different watersheds across the Basin, we will use comparisons of different watersheds to help us understand how to use our own data. At the end of this session, participants should expect to understand their own water chemistry report better, and to be able to identify the parameters that are most important for them to monitor, and to be able to identify when they should be concerned.

Wetland Restoration and Construction on Private Land KCP Webinar
February 28, Online
This webinar will discuss the importance of wetland restoration, the role of private land stewardship, and the basics of restoring a wetland on private land, including permitting, construction, logistics and monitoring, as well as provide examples of successful wetland restoration and construction in the Kootenays. In this webinar, site selection criteria will help you determine if a project is a suitable candidate for restoration and will provide a list of potential resources to get you started.

Columbia River Treaty CBWM Webinar
March 7, Online
In this webinar, we welcome Kathy Eichenberger to lead us through a review of the Treaty, the preparations for renegotiation, and the current status of the treaty and the timeframe for possible change. Kathy is the Executive Director of the Columbia River Treaty Review Team.

Species at Risk on Private Land KCP Webinar
March 8, Online
This webinar will examine how to better protect species and ecosystems at risk on private land including an overview of the Discussion Paper "Working Together to Protect Species at Risk: Strategies Recommended by Local Government to Improve Conservation on Municipal, Regional and Private Lands in British Columbia". Also, the webinar will provide information on how actions on species and ecosystems at risk can be taken by local governments, regional and local conservation programs, land trusts and environmental stewardship organizations. Find out more about practical and effective approaches (including incentives) to enhance protection of SEAR on private and local government lands.

Crown Managers Partnership Forum: Improving Drought Resilience - Forest to Valley Bottom
March 14 - 16, Choteau, Montana 
The Crown Managers Partnership seeks to demonstrate leadership in addressing the environmental management challenges in the Crown region by adopting transboundary collaborative approaches to environmental management. The voluntary partnership seeks to build common awareness of Crown interests and issues, shape relationships, and identify collaborative and complementary tasks that the various participating jurisdictions can pursue.

Sustainable Funding for Watershed Health CBWN Webinar
March 21, Online
In this webinar, CBWN will re-examine some of the fundamentals of 'value' in watershed stewardship, and look at different approaches to matching the values we protect and provide to sources of funds.Tara Clapp will introduce some of the 'value frameworks' that are used to create funding opportunities, and Gerry Nellestijn will relate his experience from the Salmo watershed with a encouraging a user-pay framework.

Introduction to Field Ornithology
April 3 - 5, Creston
This Columbia Mountains Institute course will introduce students to field ornithology including identification of birds by sight and sound, ethical and animal care considerations for field studies and basic methods in field ornithology (optics, field guides, sound recording, digital photography, DNA sampling, banding, standard survey protocols, estimating numbers, classifying and recording bird behaviour, data acquisition and data archiving). The majority of the course time will be held in a variety of outdoor settings in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area where students will see and hear numerous species of birds at an early stage in their spring migration.

Understanding Basin Water Resources
April 4, Online
Responding to a growing interest in current information about water resources and water monitoring efforts, Columbia Basin Trust has released a report about the current state of water knowledge in the Columbia Basin Trust region. The report is called Water Monitoring and Climate Change in the Upper Columbia Basin. Since climate change can influence the quality, quantity and timing of Basin water resources, understanding relevant changes and trends is increasingly important for Basin communities and resource managers.

Fields Forward Workshop
April 8 - 9, Creston
Join Fields Forward for 2 days of interactive learning on school gardens, environmental education and creative methods of teaching using local community resources.

Avoiding Incidental Take of Bird Nests: From law to practice
April 26 - 27, Cranbrook
This Columbia Mountains Institute forum will provide an opportunity for dialogue between an environmental lawyer, industry, regulators, and biologists whose work involves the MBCA and relevant mitigation. Registration now open! 

Environmental Education Leadership Clinic
April 29 - May 2, Kootenay National Park
The 2017 Leadership Clinic will help to facilitate the development of a Local Chapter of the Environmental Educator's Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA) in each school district in the Columbia Basin. A Local Chapter is a teacher-driven organization that helps local teachers come together to collaborate, engage in professional development and influence curriculum.

Wings Over the Rockies Festival: Birds, Bats, Bears and Beyond
May 8 - 14, Invermere
In 2017 Canada will celebrate its 150th birthday. Canada was founded upon its nature and wildlife that remain symbols of our nation. The 21st Wings Festival appropriately explores the theme Birds, Bats, Bears and Beyond in recognition of Canada's interconnected but increasingly challenged wildlife international migratory birds; mysterious bats and grizzly bears, symbols of wilderness. The festival will bring in experts provide insights into the lives of these animals and the conservation challenges in protecting them. Danny Catt, an internationally known conservationist, photographer and environmental educator, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Gala.

Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM) Institute
June 1 - 2, Castlegar
Registration is now open! Learn how to foster sustainable behavior.  CBEEN has engaged Doug McKenzie-Mohr, world-renowned developer of Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM), to facilitate a 2-day CBSM Institute.  This Institute will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of community-based social marketing and how it is being applied throughout the world, and in the Columbia Basin, to foster sustainable behaviour. Attendees will learn the 5 steps of community-based social marketing and be exposed to numerous case studies.

Field Soil Description & Classification Course
June 7 - 9, Revelstoke
Participants can expect to be able to describe and classify forest soils by the end of the course. They will have a couple of new field techniques to improve the quality of their soils data. They will be able to determine the % sand in the field to aid in soil texture determination, using the "spoon" method invented by the instructor. They will have applied soil properties to assess soil salvage, soil remediation, restoration and reclamation activities.

Introduction to the Wetland Plants of British Columbia
July 25 - 26, Revelstoke
This course will introduce students to the freshwater vascular plants of British Columbia, providing them with an overview of prominent and ecologically important groups as well as giving them the skills to identify many species in the field. The course will prioritize the identification of families and easily-identifiable species, but will also cover species-level identification within more challenging genera so as to introduce students to the process of species-level identification using dichotomous keys. 


The Nature Trust of British Columbia Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund
Deadline: February 17
This fund promotes applied research, habitat restoration and other stewardship activities that will assist in the management of the land, plants and animals of BC's native grasslands.

Great Northern Landscape Conservation Coorperative
Deadline: February 17
The Great Northern LCC is pleased to announce the FY17 funding opportunity. Proposals targeting the priorities and specific criteria described in the Funding Guidance will be accepted until  February 17, 2017 at 6pm MST  /  5pm PST . There will be two conference calls for questions about the Funding Guidance.

Ecological Gifts Program Land Acquisition Support Fund (EGP LASF)
Deadline: February 24
This program has been undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Canada. The EGP Land Acquisition Support Fund supports the reimbursement of costs incurred by Eligible Recipients between April 1, 2016 and February 24, 2017, for completed Ecological Gifts for which a Statement of Fair Market Value has been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Eligible Recipients will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis and organizations are limited to a maximum award of $15,000 per round.

Y2Y Partner Grants
Deadline: February 28
The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is pleased to announce that its Partner Grants program has been extended to its nineteenth year. The Y2Y Partner Grants program is made possible through the generous support of the Woodcock Foundation. 

Mountain Equipment Coop
Deadline: March 10
MEC supports impactful and strategic grassroots, not-for-profit organizations (registered charitable status is not required) and First Nations communities in otcome-oriented projects that focus on conserving ecologically or recreationally important places.

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Acquisition  Fund
Deadline: March 31
HCTF accepts proposals for projects that acquire land or interests in land to secure the value of these areas for conservation of fish and wildlife habitats and populations.

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Public Conservation Assistance Fund 
Deadline: May 16
HCTF provides small grants to organizations and individuals who have a conservation project in mind but need financial help to make it happen. Projects must be of a conservation nature, with priority given to projects that focus on activities that maintain, conserve or restore native (indigenous) fish and wildlife species and their habitats.

Nature Conservancy of Canada  Round 3 of Other Qualified Organizations (OQO) Program
Deadline: Ongoing until November 1
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is pleased to announce Round 3 of the Other Qualified Organizations (OQO) Program.  Funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and administered by NCC, the program will provide up to $5 million in support of conservation in communities across Canada. Land acquisitions closing between April 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018 will be considered under Round 3 of the OQO Program, and applications will be accepted until 5:00pm EST on November 1.

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program
Deadline: Ongoing
Delivered for the Columbia BasinTrust by the Kootenay Livestock Association, the Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program supports efforts to maintain and/or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environmental and recreational objectives. Objectives include promoting the stewardship of the grassland resource, striving to maintain and enhance biodiversity and long-term fish and wildlife productivity in public grassland ecosystems and improving compatibility between livestock management and recreation use. Currently accepting applications for projects for the 2016 funding. 

Columbia Basin Trust Small Grants Program
Deadline: Ongoing
If you have an idea that will address community priorities and encourage community development activities, including those that relate to the environment, you can apply for up to $5,000 through this program.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Community Engagement Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
The goal of the Community Engagement Grant is to provide an opportunity for FWCP stakeholders (e.g. environmental groups, rod and gun clubs, non-profits, stewardship organizations, government, and First Nations), to apply for small amounts of funding to support their conservation and enhancement work. 


Kootenay Conservation Program
Administration and Communications Coordinator
KCP is looking for a qualified contractor to provide administrative and communication support services. The primarily role of this position is to provide "behind-­the-­scenes" administrative support. The secondary role is to provide leadership in facilitating KCP communication activities.

The Nature Trust of BC (TNTBC)
Kootenay Conservation Land Manager
The Nature Trust of BC (TNTBC) seeks an enthusiastic and motivated conservation professional to be our Kootenay Conservation Land Manager. This unique position offers the successful candidate the opportunity to work as part of The Nature Trust of British Columbia's conservation land management team that leads and implements TNTBC's landscape-scale conservation efforts on 11,230 ha (27,735 acre) of TNTBC holdings in the East and West Kootenay. The land manager serves as TNTBC's regional representative, conducting and/or coordinating all aspects of conservation land management, ecological monitoring, neighbour and community relations/outreach, and oversees all volunteer activities associated with TNTBC's conservation lands.

Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook
Interim Branch Manager
Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook is currently seeking an Interim Branch Manager to cover a maternity leave term.  The Branch Manager provides leadership and management to ensure Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook is as effective as possible in achieving the organization's mandate. This goal is achieved by working directly with the Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook Board of Directors, who set policy and strategic direction. The position is responsible for administration, communications, fundraising, management and outreach.

Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA)
Field Operations Technician
This one-year term position reports to the Head of Conservation Programs and is directly responsible for the management and maintenance of the wetland compartments, associated infrastructure, and equipment. This position may conduct and/or supervise activities required in the physical manipulation of habitat, control of public access and maintenance, and security of fixed assets. This position also supervises field staff and contractors when required.

Columbia Basin Trust
CEO Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation
The Trust is looking for a Chief Operating Officer with the ability to impact broadband development, uptake and utilization in the Columbia Basin. Step into a senior leadership role where you can make a meaningful impact to the quality of life, well-being and prosperity of Columbia Basin residents and communities.


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

 

If you have news or announcements that you would like to share via our eNews, please email them to communications@kootenayconservation.ca by the 26th of each month.