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Conservation in the Kootenays
Monthly eNews
This past month, KCP had a fabulous experience presenting on the
Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund at the Regional District of East Kootenay Area G Town Hall meeting in Edgewater. Residents eagerly came forward with project ideas for the Fund plus scooped up every available copy of our
Stewardship Solutions handout, with specific inquiries about ranching, bats and bees.
We also engaged our partners in the far southern corners of KCP's service area. The
KCP Spring Tour brought together those who wanted to explore the Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area near Trail, and we distributed the
Summary Report on the Elk Valley Conservation Action Forum that took place in May in Fernie.
Plus, we
welcomed back Marcy Mahr to the position of KCP Stewardship Coordinator. Marcy is featured in Faces & Places this month - see the link to her story below!
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KCP Neighbourhood Planning
Elk Valley Conservation Action Forum Final Report now available
KCP hosted our fourth Conservation Action Forum in Fernie on May 29 focused on the Elk Valley. This Forum brought together participants from a broad range of backgrounds to identify conservation targets and threats as well as shared priorities for conservation actions in the coming three years.
The Elk Valley Forum resulted in six Priority Action Plans (not ranked): 1. Take a landscape-level approach to conservation in the Elk Valley; 2. Protect high quality habitats - purchase ecologically intact CanWel lands; 3. Access management habitat restoration (land and water) - trails and roads; 4. Bighorn sheep habitat restoration; 5. Riparian/Wetland habitat restoration - landscape level; and 6. Reducing human-wildlife conflict - transportation and towns.
KCP Spring Tour concludes
Summary and photos available on our website
KCP hosted a Spring Tour on June 26 that explored the Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area. Owned by The Land Conservancy of BC, this unique property south of Trail has outstanding ecological and historic features.
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019 KCP Fall Gathering - Save the Date!
October 4-5, Invermere
Did you have a fun, enlightening time at the 2018 Fall Gathering - or wish you did because you missed it? Mark your calendar for the 2019 event, which will be taking place in Invermere in the East Kootenay. The KCP Fall Gathering & AGM serves as one of the primary vehicles to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region, complete with a guest speakers series, field tour, catered meals and more at no cost to attendees.
Visit the Fall Gathering page for coverage of the 2018 event.
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Faces & Places Monthly Feature
Marcy Mahr
Last month KCP welcomed back
Slocan Valley resident Marcy Mahr to the position of KCP Stewardship Coordinator.
A highly respected conservation biologist and strategist, Marcy has a widespread reputation for proactively pulling together partnerships and creating collaborations to protect biodiversity.
Click here for the full story.
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Nature Conservancy of Canada
NCC adds 7,900 hectares to the Darkwoods Conservation Area
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is pleased to announce that it has acquired 7,900 hectares (19,500 acres) of rare inland temperate rainforest in the South Selkirk Mountains. With the support of a broad range of funders, the national land trust purchased the large tract of private land, situated in the heart of its Darkwoods Conservation Area in B.C.'s South Selkirk Mountains.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Publication of proposed amendments to the Wildlife Area Regulations and comment period
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has published the proposed amendments to the Wildlife Area Regulations (modernization), and they are now available for public review and comment. All comments received will be carefully considered by Environment and Climate Change Canada before the final Wildlife Area Regulations are developed. It is anticipated that the final regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in the winter of 2020. The proposed amendments to the Wildlife Area Regulations, along with a description of the changes, can be found in the June 1, 2019 edition of the Canada Gazette, Part I.
Parks Canada
Parks making efforts to move Kootenay grizzlies away from highway
A grizzly that was fed French fries two years ago is one of at least nine bears that prompted Parks Canada to implement a no-stopping zone along a 15-kilometre stretch of Highway 93 South.
Columbia Basin Watershed Network
SGRC Summer Mapping Program underway
The Columbia Basin Watershed Network's Summer Mapping Program Student
Katie Erickson from the
Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre (SGRC) is working with 5 Columbia Basin Watershed Network groups on community mapping projects. This year's program includes: Mapping the Quartz Creek watershed with the
Ymir Community Watershed Society to inform strategic planning, engage residents and create a trail/watershed map for an interpretive sign project; Highlighting public access points to Lake Windermere for the
Lake Windermere Ambassadors to support community engagement and public water access; Mapping Gwillim Creek for the Slocan Waterfront Restoration and Development Society to improve understanding of the Village's drinking water; Creating a web-based map of aquifers, tributaries and water monitoring locations in the West Kootenays to support water governance initiatives with the
Duhamel Watershed Society; and Mapping West Bench Beaver Wetlands with
Wildsight Golden to improve understanding of relationships between beaver occupied wetlands, habitat quality and human infrastructure.
Government of British Columbia
Private Managed Forest Land Program Review
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is conducting a review of the Private Managed Forest Land Program (also known as the Managed Forest Program). The review is one of several policy reforms announced as part of the Coast Forest Sector Revitalization Initiative.
The opportunity for public comment ends July 22 at 4 p.m.
Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society
Sightings of Harlequin Ducks Wanted in the Salmo River Watershed
Harlequin Ducks are striking sea ducks that overwinter on the coast and migrate to the interior to breed. For many reasons they are sensitive indicators of freshwater ecosystems. Pandion Ecological Research Ltd., in collaboration with Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society, is repeating a Harlequin pair and brood inventory from May to July 2019, along with stewardship follow-up at specific sites. Information and sightings are actively being sought from the public. Please share your sightings of Harlequin Ducks in the Salmo River watershed.
Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society
American Bullfrogs invader alert
The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) has been working to protect the
native reptiles and amphibians of the Columbia-Shuswap region by urging pet-owners, Don't Let
It Loose. In late May, CSISS staff posted signage near waterbodies where pet-owners may be tempted to
release their unwanted pet bullfrogs into the wild, urging them to re-home the invasive
amphibians instead. The American Bullfrog is among the top 100 worst invasive species in the world. Voracious predators, these bullfrogs will eat anything that fits inside their mouth, including
native and
endangered frogs and salamanders, songbirds, mice, and snakes. This aggressive behaviour
has led to a documented decrease in native frog populations wherever the bullfrogs are
introduced.
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Fernie Community Restoration
July 4, Fernie
Join the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council, The City of Fernie, Westfork Resource Management, and the Elk River Alliance in a community stewardship project at Dogwood Park. Participants will be hand pulling invasive plant species and reseeding the banks of the Elk River with native grass.
Community Columbia Paddle
July 9, Golden
Watershed Moments is Claire Dibble's solo paddling expedition and social-engagement art project that will cover all 2,000 kilometers (1243 miles) of the Columbia River between the source (Columbia Lake, Canal Flats) to the sea (beyond Astoria, Oregon). Wildsight Golden is proud to be welcoming Claire by hosting a community paddle event from Nicholson Bridge to Confluence Park. Glacier Rafting has graciously agreed to shuttle our paddling equipment and the paddlers from Confluence Park to Nicholson. Meet at Confluence Park at 4:30 p.m., or if you don't want to paddle there will be a meet & greet beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Bring A Weed: Pull & Tell
July 9, Marysville
Join Wildsight and the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) on Tuesday, July 9, starting at 7pm at the Marysville Eco Park. We will take a look at your weed samples, discuss how to manage invasive weeds and remove the ones living in the park.
Graphic Facilitation Workshop
July 11-12, Rossland
Do you plan projects? Facilitate meetings? Write reports? Have you noticed people don't read anymore? Perhaps you would like new ways to: develop shared understanding; gain buy-in; and build real time competencies. Add to your facilitation toolkit with practical innovative ways to walk people through processes visually, connect ideas, and help sense making. Whether you are on the front lines or want to work better with designers, you will gain key skills to add value to your practice.
BC Wildlife Federation Wetlandkeepers Workshop
July 12-14, Rossland
The BC Wildlife Federation's Wetlands Education Program presents Wetlandkeepers, a free public workshop funded by sponsors. 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. BCWF's Wetlandkeepers Course is a 2.5 Day workshop that educates participants about wetland conservation. Upon community request, BCWF hosts the Wetlandkeepers workshop to cover topics of interest to community stewardship groups
Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area Information Session
July 15, TBD
On July 15 from noon to 2 p.m., The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) and the Trail Wildlife Association (TWA) will be hosting an informational session on current and upcoming projects at the Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area, owned by TLC and co-managed with TWA. This is a great chance learn about what is happening on the land and share any ideas you may have for its continued restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement. The location is TBD. For inquiries, please contact TLC's Executive Director, Cathy Armstrong at
carmstrong@conservancy.bc.ca or 250-479-8053.
Summer Workshop: Record & Report Invasive Plants
July 25, Revelstoke
Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) is hosting a new summer workshop targeting professionals interested in learning techniques for recording and reporting invasive plants using the Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP). This workshop will provide participants with hands on training for planning inventories, practical IAPP field form skills and IAPP database skills. This course is geared towards professionals working in invasive species management and other related areas; particularly those working in forestry, land management, agriculture, conservation and stewardship, oil & gas, roadworks and park operations.
Columbia River Field School
August 15-28, Columbia River
This summer, 16 inspiring Columbia Basin youth will take up paddles and navigate the complex social, economic and natural history of the might Columbia River. Traveling by canoe through key sections of the river, participants will learn from local expert voices as varied as the river itself. Participants will gain important canoe and camping skills, will earn certifications from the Recreational Canoe Association of BC and will be inspired to engage and help shape the future of the Columbia River.
Click here for more information.
The 6th International Columbia River Transboundary Conference
September 12-14, Kimberley
Online registration is open for the Columbia Basin Transboundary Conference: One River, One Future, an international conference addressing key issues related to the future of the Columbia River, its ecosystem, management, and international implications. Join Columbia Basin Trust and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council from September 12 to 14, 2019 in Kimberley, B.C. to connect and collaborate on the future of the Columbia River.
2019 Inquiring Voices Environmental Education Gathering
September 20-22, Whatshan Lake Retreat (near Nakusp, West Kootenay)
CBEEN's 2019 Inquiring Voices Environmental Education Gathering will take place at Whatshan Lake Retreat near Edgewood (south of Nakusp) from September 20-22, 2019. The goal of this annual event is to bring together educators to form a rich learning community meet to share, support, and collaborate with one another. These retreats are a great opportunity to network, share resources and stories, inspire one another and have fun through dialogue and activity.
9th Annual Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent - Save the Date!
September 24-26, Montana
The Kootenays fall within the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. The theme of this year's Roundtable is "Connecting land and culture".
Click here for the conference information.
2019 KCP Fall Gathering - Save the Date!
October 4-5, Invermere
The KCP Fall Gathering & AGM serves as one of the primary vehicles to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region, complete with a guest speakers series, field tour, catered meals and more at no cost to attendees.
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TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant
Deadline: July 15
The TD Friends of the Environment Foundation is a national charity that funds environmental projects across Canada. Eligible projects include schoolyard greening, park revitalization, community gardens, park programming and citizen science initiatives.
Columbia Basin Trust Environment Small Grant
Deadline: July 30
If you have an idea that will strengthen environmental well-being, this program could help support it. If your project requires $5,000 or less, you can apply for a Environment Small Grant. There are multiple intake dates throughout the year. The next deadline is July 30, 2019 at 2 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. MT.
Community Gaming Environment Grants
Deadline: August 31
Community Gaming Grants support eligible not-for-profit organizations that deliver community programs that benefit the citizens of British Columbia. The Environment grant program supports community-based environmental programs that benefit the citizens of British Columbia.
Applications are accepted July 1 to August 31 with final notification by November 30.
MEC Community Grants
Deadline: September 4
Through grants of up to $20,000 MEC supports organizations that can demonstrate their commitment to teaching responsible outdoor recreation practices and environmental stewardship. 2019 fall grants are accepted July 1 to September 4. Applicants are notified mid-November.
Columbia Basin Trust Environment Grants
Deadline: September 18
If you have an idea that will strengthen environmental well-being, this program could help support it.
If your project requires more than $5,000, the Environment Grants intake will open June 5, 2019 and close September 18, 2019.
Vancouver Foundation Systems Change Grants - Develop Grants
Deadline: Ongoing
Systems Change Grants support projects that take action to address the root causes of pressing social, environmental or cultural issues by influencing the behaviours of populations, organizations, and institutions. Short-term grants (Develop grants) are a one-time application that can be submitted any time throughout the year and decisions are made the following month. The next granting cycle for multi-year grants (Test and Scale grants) opens July 2, 2019.
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.
Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program
Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
CBT's Career Internship Program provides wage funding for employers to hire college and university graduates in permanent, career-focused positions. Eligible employers are businesses, registered non-profits, municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous organizations within the Columbia Basin Trust region that have a demonstrated fiscal and organizational need for an intern and wage funding. The funding is up to 50 per cent of the new employee's wage over the first seven to 12 months, to a maximum of $25,000. The intern position must include a training plan that provides structured learning to the new employee and transitions to full-time, permanent employment at the end of the internship.
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Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society
Summer Environmental Assistant
The Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society (www.streamkeepers.bc.ca) seeks a full-time Coordinator. The Coordinator of the SWSS builds upon and expands the organization's local and regional impact; contributing to the understanding and stewardship of the Salmo River Watershed within the Columbia Basin. The Coordinator will provide support and management for the existing short term and ongoing SWSS projects. The deadline for receiving applications is July 17, 2019.
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network
Community Educators
Are you a forester or geographer? A biologist or mountain guide? A historian or First Nations storyteller? Do you have some unique knowledge, skill, or expertise you can share with students? Wild Voices is a unique program in the Columbia Basin as it enables local specialists to develop programs connected to the local environment and tailored to their area of expertise and passion. To get ready for the 2019/20 school year, applications for new community educators are due July 15. Wild Voices provides training and assistance with program development, promotes presenters and their programs, and provides cash honoraria to educators.
Wildsight Golden
Seeking volunteers to help with Golden Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Project
The Golden Rocky Mountain Bighorn herd has reduced in size since 2016 and Wildsight Golden has begun the Golden Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Project in hopes of helping this herd of sheep survive. They are asking for help looking for dead or alive sightings of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep along Highways 95 between Radium and Golden and along Highway 1 east of Golden to the ten mile bridge. With the widening of Highway 1, these animals could face additional stressors and decline in number. Reporting of bighorn sheep and other
wildlife takes place using the free
MAPS.ME app.
Goldeneye Ecological Services
Volunteers Wanted to Assist with Marsh Bird Surveys
An opportunity to experience little visited parts of the Columbia Wetlands and hear/see secretive marsh species. No bird experience necessary, but volunteers should be proficient with use of small watercraft and be available for 6-8 hours during an early morning.
East Kootenay Invasive Species Council
Pesticide Applicator Job Opportunities
EKISC aims to increase the number of experienced, licensed Pesticide Applicators in the East Kootenay region. If you are currently licensed and would like more information about contract opportunities, please contact Katie Reid, EKISC's Field Operations Manager, at
katie@ekisc.com for more details.
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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.
Stewardship Solutions Online Toolkit
For Landowners and Land Managers in the Kootenays
The KCP team has developed a fantastic resource for landowners and land managers in the Kootenay region featuring conservation groups engaged in landowner outreach in their respective regions. Find your "Conservation Neighbourhood" based on your location to access all the private land stewardship services available in your area. The toolkit is accessible online as an engaging and interactive website, or comes in the form of full-colour handouts that can also be downloaded from the website. The goal of this tool is to support organizations that do landowner outreach for conservation to showcase other organizations and services available in their region. This resource leverages the outreach work of partner organizations. Email
stewardship@kootenayconservation.ca if you would like print copies of the Stewardship Solutions for your region.
KCP Local Government Forum
Access presentations (video recordings & PDFs) online
The KCP Local Government Forum in Creston on March 13 brought almost 30 local government staff, elected officials and conservation group representatives together for a full-day workshop that showcased examples of voluntary and regulatory tools used in the Kootenays and elsewhere in B.C. to promote conservation in local government activities. The goal of this Forum was to identify specific tools/resources required by local governments of the Kootenays to integrate conservation principles into planning. Video recordings of all the speakers are now available on our website, as are PDFs of the slideshow presentations.
Kootenay Connect
Preliminary Report now available
Sponsored by KCP, Dr. Michael Proctor from the Trans-Border Grizzly Project and Marcy Mahr from EcoMosaic Consulting captured the concept of Kootenay Connect in the document "Kootenay Connect: Riparian Wildlife Corridors for Climate Change". This report outlines the concept of landscape connectivity in the Kootenays including biodiversity hot spots to focus on, provides a "proof of concept" for conservation actions to protect corridors, and outlines next steps moving forward.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development
FLNRORD Research Talks video series
The FLNRORD Research Program has developed a series of five informative Research Talks videos. Topics include: natural resources management in the age of remote sensing, Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification, grizzly bears, tree adaptation under the current climatic changes, and water management tools.
Report Invasives BC
App available for download
This Report Invasives app let you report invasive species sightings anywhere in BC, in a few quick and easy steps. Your report goes directly to a BC specialist for the reported species who will then coordinate follow-up activities with appropriate authorities when required.
Association of State Wetland Managers
ASWM-NRCS Wetland Training Webinar Series - 3 more webinars left!
This webinar series has been designed to provide participants with a general level of knowledge about wetlands and wetland restoration options and considerations. Participants will come away from trainings with key knowledge, the ability to be more conversant about wetland issues, knowing what questions to ask when looking at restoration opportunities, and knowing when to contact or bring in an expert.
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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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