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Conservation in the Kootenays
Monthly eNews
Welcome to KCP's November eNews. This month we bring to your attention some impressive KCP Partner events taking place in both the East and West as well as an active KCP Partner News section and an updated Resources section.
Please feel free to submit any photos, 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!
Please click
here throughout the month to check in on current news and events. 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. You can also
"like" us on Facebook to hear more news from partners throughout the month.
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2017-2018 KCP Board
Meet the new and returning Board members
At the KCP Fall Gathering AGM held in September, KCP Partners voted in a new Board of Directors to replace the Executive Committee. Welcome to KCP's new Board: returning chair Derek Petersen along with Candace Batycki, Chris Bosman, Ken Brock, Doris Hausletiner, Rick Hoar, Adrian Leslie and Jennifer Vogel.
The Board provides strategic direction to the KCP including funding, budget, program priorities, annual workshop themes and recognition awards.
KCP was sad to see Dave White step down after being with the KCP Executive since its inception in 2002. He will stay involved but with more time for family, hunting and retirement.
KCP Strategic Priorities
New Strategic Priorities 2017-2022 approved at KCP AGM
Over
the past year, KCP has been consulting with Partners to update our strategic priorities. The new KCP Strategic Priorities 2017-2022 document was approved at the KCP Fall Gathering AGM that took place on Friday, September 29 and is now available on the KCP website.
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Faces & Places Monthly Feature
Dave Zehnder is currently spearheading an incentive-based ecosystem services program for agricultural lands in B.C. and Alberta known as the Farmland Advantage. Farmland Advantage launched a five-year multi-region project and the Upper Columbia Valley is a subregion within of one of three regions in British Columbia that is participating in this project.
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Local Conservation Fund Feature Project
Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring on Columbia Lake
The Columbia Lake Stewardship Society (CLSS) has been working hard over the years on developing a water quality and quantity monitoring program on Columbia Lake. The overall goal is to improve communities' knowledge of water resources and the steps that can be taken to protect them.
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Columbia Basin Trust
NEW! Ecosystem Program
The Columbia Basin Trust will launch a new five-year, $10-million Ecosystem Program this fall that will help maintain and improve the Basin's ecological health and native biodiversity. The program will carry out large scale ecosystem enhancement, restoration and conservation projects across the Basin. The Trust will be engaging with government agencies, First Nations, community groups and other experts to ensure it is effective.
For more information about CBT's work in environment, water and climate change, visit
ourtrust.org or contact Emily Nilsen at
enilsen@cbt.org.
Columbia Basin Trust
Trust seeking input on WildSafeBC Program
The Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust) is conducting an evaluation of WildSafeBC in the region, a program that aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict. This evaluation will assess the effectiveness of WildSafeBC's delivery model and the extent to which its desired outcomes have been achieved. The findings from this evaluation will help strengthen WildsafeBC programming within the Basin.Join CBT for an
online focus group (maximum 1 hour, held in early November) to gather perceptions of the WildSafeBC program in the region and the effectiveness of its messages.
Indicate your interest in participating by emailing Jasmina Fatic, MNP's Manager of Consulting Services, at Jasmina.Fatic@mnp.ca with your contact information by November 3, 2017
Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society
Invasive Bullfrogs have moved into Creston
Invasive American Bullfrogs are now migrating from Idaho into the Creston area. This is bad news for local ecosystems, and for the American Bullfrog Action Team, which has been working to prevent this invasion. The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS), has been working in partnership with multiple stakeholders as part of the American Bullfrog action team, in order to prevent the invasive frogs from heading north into Creston.
Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Rainforest - Kootenay Film Tour
Between November 7 and November 21, join Wildsight and the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative for a screening of the 40-minute film
Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Rainforest in your community, followed by a panel discussion on the endangered mountain caribou with experts and conservationists.
Last Stand is a cinematic journey into the tragically threatened world of endangered mountain caribou whose home is the world's largest remaining inland temperate rainforest.
Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology
CRED Talks (Columbia Region Ecological Discussions)
Starting November 16, 2017 and ending March 31, 2018, the Columbia Region Ecological Discussions taking place at the Revelstoke Community Centre will include speakers addressing a diversity of topics such as science communication, active ecological management, citizen science, research skills and techniques and the influences that our natural environment has on art and culture. The talks will be recorded and posted to the CRED Talks event page so anyone can listen in.
Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Society
Seeking restoration resources for East Kootenay Trench
The Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration Program website - www.trench-er.com- is updating its online library and seeking input for resources, reports or other subject matter that would be useful to have on the site. The online resources and other parts of the website are a critical part of the Society's communications work in advancing awareness of grasslands and open forest ecosystems in the East Kootenay and their importance to local ecology, culture, economy and (particularly relevant at the moment) fire safety.
Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program
Report Sightings of Herons in Columbia Region
Heron breeding activity has continued to decline in the southern portion of the Columbia Basin, based on 2016 monitoring results. The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program is asking the public to report any heron nest sites, active breeding colonies, or large groups of herons feeding in areas throughout the Columbia River Basin, especially from McBride to Valemount, and south to Revelstoke and Golden. The heron inventory and stewardship work started in 2016 and is continuing this year.
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Forest Entomology: Insight into the Outbreak Dynamics and Impacts of Major Forest Insects of B.C.
November 1 - 2, Revelstoke
This course offered by the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology will introduce students to the major forest insects, both beneficial, and those considered pests, that are commonly found in interior forests of British Columbia. This course will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the fir/spruce beetle outbreaks currently affecting the forests of interior BC. Instructor Dr. Lorraine Maclauchlan has been monitoring, studying and managing forest insect pests in B.C. for over 30 years.
Community Gaming Grants Presentation - Kootenay Region
November 2, Cranbrook
Join Mike Sherman, Outreach Manager, Community Gaming Grants Branch, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort in Cranbrook for a free, detailed information session on the Community Gaming Grants program. A face-to-face meeting with Community Gaming Grants staff is available by request when registering.
Fall Celebration of Environmental Education
November 3, Kimberley
Join the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN), ed
ucators and community leaders in celebrating local environmental education (EE) programs, and showcasing the value of environmental education in our communities. This event will include an EE Expo, live EE vignettes, and the presentation of our Awards of Environmental Education Excellence.
Interpretive Guide Training Workshop
November 3 - 4, Kimberley
CBEEN is hosting this certification course as part of its Fall Gathering. This course is suitable for all guides, interpreters and teachers wishing to gain a greater understanding of our local environment, and tools to engage and manage groups outdoors. Participants will learn the natural and cultural history of the local region, interpretive tools and techniques.
Click here for more information and to register.
Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society's 2017 5th Annual Kootenay Lake Summit
This annual event is a full-day free event being held at the Wynndel Community Hall for community members around Kootenay Lake. The morning will include presentations, a free lunch will be provided to all attendees, and the afternoon will include workshops. T
his event has sold out in the past and to attend you must register for a ticket online. Registration is free but there are a limited number of tickets available.
Invitation to participate in a UBC Forestry study about proposed reforestation strategies for B.C.
November 8, Cranbrook
Help UBC better understand the needs of B.C.'s forest-dependent communities and how proposed changes to B.C.'s reforestation strategies might affect communities and the province. These changes may help B.C.'s forests adapt to climate change, potentially reducing its negative impacts. This small-group afternoon discussion, which will include coffee and snacks, will help inform planning for the future of B.C.'s forests.
For more information or to register, contact Dr. Kieran Findlater from UBC Forestry by email at
kieran.findlater@ubc.ca or by phone at 778-987-0100.
SCCP Webinar Species at Risk - On the Ground Policy
November 14, Webinar
South Coast Conservation Program is pleased to offer "Species at Risk - On the Ground Policy", the fourth in a series of webinars focusing on the regulatory responsibilities, tools and resources to address stewardship and protection responsibilities for species at risk and their critical habitat during development and other land use activities. View the entire series on the
SCCP YouTube Channel.
Creating Sustainable Funding for Ecosystems and Watersheds
November 15, Webinar Series
Did you miss this presentation at the "Different by Design" conference in Nelson in September? Rural communities are challenged to attract sustainable funding for conservation efforts, including supporting watershed protection and restoration. The first part of this webinar will focus on watersheds and opportunities for new partnerships that can bring new dollars to watershed protection. The second part of this webinar will focus on the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund, a tax-based fund for conservation that was the first of its kind in Canada. Speakers are Dr. Tara Lynne Clapp (Senior Manager for the Columbia Basin Watershed Network and Adjunct Professor, Great Plains IDEA Program, Iowa State University) and Juliet Craig (KCP Program Manager). Contact Monique Frith at 204-922-1878 or
frithm@brandonu.ca with questions.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
November 25, Invermere
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival returns to Invermere for its fourth year. The festival promises a full evening of environmental and adventure films that illustrate the Earth's beauty, the challenges facing the planet and the work communities are doing to protect the environment, supplemented by pizza, wine and beer, a raffle with great prizes, a silent auction and lots of door prizes. This year's festival will be bigger and better than ever as it will be held in the new Columbia Valley Centre. All funds go towards supporting Wildsight's environmental and educational initiatives.
Click here for more information.
Cracking the Code (in 3-D): A Water Data Hub Dialogue
November 29 - 30, Invermere
To help address the gaps in important water data needed by all levels of governments to make water-based decisions in the Columbia Basin in preparation of climate change, this 2-day water dialogue convened by Living Lakes Canada, the Columbia Basin Watershed Network, Selkirk College and Columbia Basin Trust will envision a water monitoring framework and open source water data hub for the Basin. This gathering is especially timely given the summer's drought-like conditions which may become the new norm and this dialogue will be particularly relevant to the region's higher-volume users such as communities and municipalities, hydropower operators, agricultural producers, industrial operations, ski resorts (snowmaking), golf courses, as well as commercial and residential users.
Click here for more information, a detailed agenda including guest speakers, and to register.
Taste the Wild
January 27, Nelson
The Kootenay Native Plant Society is holding a gala evening with a tasting menu featuring camas and other wild foods, presentations celebrating camas restoration in the West Kootenay, and a silent auction. All proceeds will support the Camas Conservation Area in Millennium Park, Castlegar. KNPS is also looking for sponsors and donations for the silent auction. KNPS is also looking for event sponsors and silent auction donations.
Trends Analysis and Environmental Impact Assessment
February 7 - 9, Revelstoke
Instructor: Carl Schwarz Environmental impact assessments want to know if trends over time differ between control and impact sites. Statistical methods for the analysis of trends over time use many of the same methods as the analysis of experimental data (e.g. ANOVA, regression) but must now deal with problems such as autocorrelation and process error. This course can accommodate students using both R and JMP software. This course will run on a schedule that will allow students to take up local winter recreation opportunities in the morning and/or by staying in Revelstoke for the weekend following the course. Early bird rates available until November 30.
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Climate Change Education Workshop - CBEEN
March 3, Nelson
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) will work with local and regional partners to offer 1-day workshop for educators to learn more about climate change science in the Columbia Basin, and best practices for sharing this information with audiences of all ages. Registration will open soon.
Call for Abstracts: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Managing Health of Fish and Wildlife
May 1 - 2, Kimberley
"Interdisciplinary Approaches to Managing Health of Fish and Wildlife" is a two-day conference taking place at the Kimberley Conference Centre. This upcoming conference, hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology, will provide an opportunity for improved dialogue among experts; First Nations, veterinarians, academics, epidemiologists, wildlife biologists, stakeholders, managers, stewardship groups, and the public to ensure proactive conservation of wildlife populations. Presentations, posters and displays are welcomed and encouraged.
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Columbia Lake Local Conservation Fund
Deadline: November 1
KCP in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) provides funding for projects that benefit conservation in the area from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats through the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF).
Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund
Deadline: November 1
KCP in partnership with the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) provides funding for projects that benefit conservation in the rural areas around Kootenay Lake, specifically Electoral Areas A, D, and E (
click here for map) through the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund (KLLCF).
Click here for more information about the KLLCF and how to apply.
2018-19 Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Enhancement & Restoration Grant
Deadline: November 2
Each year, HCTF provides approximately $6 Million dollars in Enhancement and Restoration Grants. These grants are provided to projects that: focus on freshwater wild fish, native wildlife species and their habitats; have the potential to achieve a significant conservation outcome; best represent the interests of the Trust Foundations' contributors, and maintain or enhance opportunities for fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and associated outdoor recreational activities. HCTF enhancement grants are available to anyone who has who has a good idea that benefits fish, wildlife and habitat in British Columbia. HCTF strongly encourages cost-shared proposals, and project leaders should explore the possibility of partnerships with other organizations.
Columbia Basin Trust Environment Small Grants
Deadlines: December 29, 2017 & February 28, 2018
Environment Small Grants funds projects that take place within the Columbia Basin Trust requesting up to $5,000 that will strengthen the environmental well-being and address one of the following four categories: Ecosystems, Climate, Water and Environmental Education.
Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program
Deadline: Ongoing
Delivered for the Columbia Basin Trust 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.
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.
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Columbia Basin Trust
Program Coordinator
The Columbia Basin Trust is seeking a Program Coordinator to coordinate the operations of Trust programs supporting environmental, social and economic well-being in the Columbia Basin. The deadline to apply is 2 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. MT on November 7. Submit your application to
hr@cbt.org.
Kootenay Conservation Land Coordinator
The Nature Trust of British Columbia (TNTBC)
is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Kootenay Conservation Land Coordinator to support the Kootenay Conservation Land Manager. This new and exciting position offers the successful candidate the opportunity to work
as part of TNTBC's conservation land management team which leads and implements landscape-scale conservation efforts on 11,230 ha (27,735 acres) of TNTBC lands in the Kootenay Region.
This is a full-time, permanent position based in Cranbrook. The deadline to apply is November 10.
Nature Conservancy of Canada
Stewardship Coordinator - Canadian Rocky Mountains Program
The purpose of the Stewardship Coordinator, Canadian Rocky Mountains Program is to ensure NCC delivers high quality, community-based land stewardship on NCC's Canadian Rockies conservation properties. This staff position assumes a lead role in the development and implementation of stewardship programs in conjunction with the Program Director and BC Director of Science and Stewardship. The Stewardship Coordinator will assume responsibility for the coordination and delivery of all stewardship activities as outlined in NCC's property management plans and natural area conservation plans. This is a full-time permanent position based in Invermere. The deadline to apply is before 5 p.m. MST on Friday, November 17, 2017.
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Kootenay 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, KCP has developed a webpage that compiles some of the best conservation and stewardship resources available for our region.
Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute
Climate Adaption Indicators Project: Piloting the SoCARB Suite in 2016 and Beyond
The purpose of this RDI-led project is to pilot, evaluate, refine, and support uptake of the State of Climate Adaptation and Resilience in the Basin (SoCARB) indicator suite. SoCARB was developed in 2014 as a result of a research partnership between Columbia Basin Trust's Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative and the RDI. It is a "made in the Basin-Boundary" approach to measuring progress in adapting to climate change.
BEC (Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification) for the Kootenays
LMH#70 A Field Guide to Ecosystem Classification and Identification for SE British Columbia - Volume 1: South-Central Columbia Mountains
This field guide presents an updated and expanded site classification for the South-central area of the southern interior area, British Columbia.
Stewardship Centre of BC
Stewardship Practices Guides
The Stewardship Centre of BC offers a diverse and comprehensive set of resources for the stewardship community of B.C., including four Stewardship Practices Guides on the following topics: Drainage Maintenance in Agricultural Waterways; Guidance for Restoration Activities in Riparian Areas; Riparian Areas in Settled Landscapes; and Reducing Domestic and Feral Cat Predation.
Columbia Basin Trust
Non-Profit Essentials Webinar Series
The Trust has partnered with Vantage Point, experts in learning opportunities for volunteers and non-profits, to develop and deliver the webinar series that explores important topics non-profit societies face today. Combining online videos with slide notes and workbooks, the series offers tools to expand the knowledge and build capacity in non-profit organizations across the Basin.
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| If you have news or announcements that you would like to share via our eNews, please email them to communications@kootenayconservation.ca by the 25th of each month. |
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