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Conservation in the Kootenays
Monthly eNews
Temperatures are heating up and so is our eNews as KCP Partners prepare for a busy summer! Below you'll find a wealth of new information, from news and events to workshops, courses and a plethora of resources.
On May 12, KCP partnered with the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program to host the third annual "Critter Day" at Beaver Creek Provincial Park in Trail. Close to 700 people came out to learn about the region's distinct ecology and get up close and personal with many of the unique species that inhabit this part of the Columbia Basin. Click here for coverage of the 2018 event on the KCP website.
Coming up at the start of the June for KCP is the East Kootenay Spring Tour in the Fernie area. Join us for a tour discussing stewardship solutions on private land and a collaborative approach to landowner outreach in the Elk Valley Conservation Neighbourhood on Thursday, June 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. For more details on the tour, see our KCP News section below. Please RSVP to KCP Stewardship Coordinator Adrienne Shaw at
adrienne@kootenayconservation.ca by Monday, June 4.
A reminder that we now have a new shared events calendar on our website that links to the calendars of other Columbia Basin Environmental Networks. Bookmark http://kootenayconservation.ca/calendar/ to ensure you stay up-to-date on all conservation-related events in our region.
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. The most recent addition to our online photo gallery can be viewed
here.
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.
As always, a big thanks goes out to our supporters!
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2018 KCP East Kootenay Spring Tour
June 7, Fernie
This is a free event open to the public!
Join KCP for a tour on Stewardship Solutions in the Elk Valley Conservation Neighbourhood. The tour will visit restored beaver habitat, discuss the Elk River Alliance's latest Cutthroat Trout Research Initiative, visit Alexander Creek to talk about restoration and community water monitoring, see a collaborative approach to wetland restoration near Hosmer, and discuss protecting private land and stewardship with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and The Nature Trust of BC. Please register by emailing KCP Stewardship Coordinator Adrienne Shaw at
adrienne@kootenayconservation.ca by Monday, June 4.
2018 KCP Fall Gathering
Save the Date! October 12-13, Nelson
Join us in Nelson on October 12-13, 2018 for the 2018 KCP Fall Gathering! Please "Save the Date" by marking it in your calendars.
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Faces & Places Monthly Feature
Al Mallette is a passionate fisheries advocate with the Trail Wildlife Association (TWA) and co-manages the Murphy Creek Spawning Channel that runs alongside the river. On behalf of TWA, Al has volunteered at the last three annual Critter Day events hosted by KCP and the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, and he also sits on the management committee for the Fort Shepherd Conservation Area.
Click here to read more about Al and his dedication to conservation.
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Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
Grants awarded for new Invasive Mussels Lake Monitoring Program
BC Invasive Mussel Defence Program
Watercraft Inspection stations are now up and running
To date, B.C. is still free of highly invasive zebra and quagga mussels. To keep it this way, it is mandatory for all watercraft to stop at road side inspection stations. Watercraft includes sailboats, motorboats, car toppers, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards being transported in B.C. Failing to stop at an inspection station is illegal and may result in fines.
Click here for more information and a map of the 2018 BC Watercraft Inspection Stations.
Wildsight Golden
Highest counts to date for Spring 2018 Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey
In spite of lingering winter conditions in the Columbia Valley this April, Wildsight Golden's Columbia Wetland Waterbird Survey (CWWS) had by far the highest bird count to date (2015 to 2018) during the spring bird migration. Over the three survey dates in April, 77 volunteers visited 103 different monitoring stations in the wetlands and counted 48,264 birds - over 20,000 more than what was counted on the same three dates last year. A full summary of the data can be found
here.
Wildsight
Nesting Season on the Columbia Wetlands
Wildsight is reminding the public that the bird nesting season is in full swing and to reduce disturbances in the world-renowned Columbia Wetlands and the Columbia River.
Click here for the full article.
Kootenay Community Bat Project
Seeking participants in Roost Counts June 1-21
The BC Community Bat Program conducts volunteer roost counts at up to 200 sites throughout B.C., starting with pre-pup surveys from June 1 to 21. This program monitors 8 bat species that use buildings, barns and boxes, but mainly focuses on two species - Little Brown Myotis and Yuma Myotis. Both of these species are affected by White-nose Syndrome (WNS), so the counts are important for determining when WNS arrives locally and what level of impact occurs. Data also contributes to the North American Bat Monitoring Program, Bat Stewardship, Conservation Data Centre mapping and status assessment, and base lines for environmental impacts assessment.
If you can participate in roost counts, please contact the Kootenay Community Bat Project at
kootenay@bcbats.ca.
Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society
Trench Society welcomes new Coordinator
The Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society (Trench Society) Board of Directors and Member Organizations are pleased to announce that Marc Trudeau, RFT has been hired as the new Trench Society Coordinator effective June 1, 2018, replacing recently retired Coordinator Dan Murphy. Marc is a Registered Forest Technician, having graduated with a Diploma in Integrated Forest Resource Management in 1997 from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and has extensive experience in many aspects of natural resources management in British Columbia. Marc has recently been a Pro Ski Patroller at Kimberley Alpine Resort and is presently president and a founding member of the East Kootenay Climbing Association. Marc lives in Kimberley with his wife Shenoa and three-year-old son Finnegan. You can contact Marc by email at
marctrudeau36@gmail.com regarding his new position. The Trench Society would also like to recognize the significant contribution that Dan Murphy has made to advancing ecosystem restoration in the Rocky Mountain Trench as Coordinator over the past decade. Dan has been a pillar in our community and the Society thanks him for his work, passion and commitment, and wishes him all the best in his retirement.
Regional District of Central Kootenay
New regional park in Crawford Bay
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) has announced they are taking the next step in the process to purchase land for a new regional park on the East Shore of Kootenay Lake. The park will provide public access to Kootenay Lake, recreational opportunities, protection of sensitive wetlands and riparian area restoration.
Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute
State of the Basin 2017 - full report now available
The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute, at Selkirk College, is a regional research centre with a mandate to support informed decision-making by Columbia Basin-Boundary communities through the provision of information, applied research and related outreach and extension support. The State of the Basin Initiative provides a region wide check-up on community and regional well-being in the Columbia Basin-Boundary region. The full report is now available for 2017.
Click here to see the latest conditions and trends.
Canadian Environmental Education Conference
EECOM sold out in three days
The Columbia Basin Environmental Network (CBEEN) is co-hosting the EECOM 2018 Canadian Environmental Education Conference taking place October 18-24 at St. Eugene Mission Resort
and is pleased to report that the conference sold out in three days after early bird registration opened - a record for EECOM.
Click here for more information.
Wildsight
Caribou crisis: Major losses in Kootenay herds
The results of the spring caribou count are in and the news for B.C.'s two southernmost herds is devastating. The
South Selkirks herd is down to three caribou and the
South Purcells herd is down to four caribou, both losing roughly three-quarters of the endangered animals since last year.
East Kootenay Invasive Species Council
Community Weed Pulls
The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council has had a program in place for many years to assist with Community Weed Pulls all over the region. Community weed pulls provide an excellent opportunity for a group of people to get outdoors, learn about invasive plants and control the spread of these destructive species.
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Osprey Nest Monitoring Workshop
June 3, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park (near Nelson)
Join the Friends of Kootenay Lake for an
Osprey Nest Monitoring Workshop on
Sunday, June 3 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kokanee Creek Nature Centre in Kokanee Creek Provincial Park with Senior Naturalist Joanne Siderius, Ph.D. At the workshop, you will learn about Osprey behavior and identification. Those who attend the workshop are eligible to join the Friends on Osprey monitoring trips by boat and land throughout the summer. This workshop is free and open to all ages. Space is limited.
Information Night for South Rockies Grizzly Bear Project
June 4, Fernie
Are you interested in Grizzly Bear Conservation in the Elk Valley? Wildsight is holding an Information Night on Monday, June 4, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Arts Station in Fernie.
Learn how you can contribute to Grizzly Bear research. Information will be presented on the South Rockies Grizzly Bear Project and how to volunteer. For more information, contact Emma at 250-531-1102, or at
southrockiesgrizz@gmail.com.
Advanced Field Ornithology: Identification and Surveys by Sound
June 4-6, Revelstoke
For many field ornithology surveys, the ability to identify bird species by their calls and songs is an essential skill. It is also one of the hardest aspects of field work to master. This course will combine field-experience listening to bird calls and songs during two mornings at the height of the breeding season, with hands-on recording practice to generate sound files. Each afternoon, the class will learn to edit and review their recordings using sound visualization software on their personal laptop computers. Though this course is now full, if you're interested in being put on the wait list, please email Mia at
office@cmiae.org.
Invasive Plant Management for Industry Professionals
June 6, Invermere/June 7, Cranbrook
An East Kootenay Invasive Species Council course designed for forest industry professionals (operational staff and management), licensees, and other interested organizations. This course introduces participants to invasive plant management at the field level. Instruction will include invasive plant ecology; road, trail, and right-of-way maintenance and its influence on the introduction and distribution of invasives; mapping and monitoring invasive plants using IAPP and Report-A-Weed; invasive control and disposal methods; the proper and safe use of recommended equipment; and applicable regulations and best management practices. EKISC Certification of Completion will be awarded on completion.
Click here for the EKISC events page for more information.
2nd Annual Laird Environmental Education Fair
June 12, Invermere
Environmental groups are invited to join the Laird Environmental Education Fair as either a display or guest to share their expertise with the over 400 students that will be visiting the fair throughout the day. Setup will be between 8:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. and the fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at JA Laird Elementary School in Invermere.
Click here to contact Dylan Dainard for more information.
Ursus & Us: An Evening with John E. Marriott and Bear Day
June 15-16, Invermere
Meet John E. Marriott, one of Canada's premier professional wildlife and nature photographers, as he presents the remarkable stories and photos behind his critically-acclaimed new book,
Tall Tales, Long Lenses, at David Thompson Secondary School in Invermere starting at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door. His presentation is the warm-up act to Ursus & Us, Bear Day on June 16 from noon to 3 p.m. at Pothole Park in Invermere. Bear Day is an
annual, family-friendly bear awareness day with fun activities, workshops and displays. Chat with local wildlife experts, learn how to keep bears wild and stay safe in bear country with hands-on bear spray lessons.
Click here for more information on John Marriott's photographic presentation; and
click here for more information on Bear Day.
West Kootenay Watersheds Forum
June 18, Nelson
The 2018 West Kootenay Watersheds Forum will be held at the North Shore Hall in Nelson. Email
westkootenaywatersheds@gmail.com for more information.
Wetland Classification
June 21-22, Revelstoke
The classroom portion of this Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology course taught by Ryan Durand will be spent learning about wetland classification, with a focus on using the provincial Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) system. Federal wetland classes will be discussed, as well as the physical and biological characteristics that can be assessed in the field in order to describe and classify wetlands. A day and a half will be spent visiting local areas to practice the wetland classification process in the field.
Watershed Systems 1
June 21-22, Nelson
Join Kim Green, PhD, P.Geo., a Selkirk College research scientist and senior consultant with Apex Geoscience Consultants Ltd, on an exploration of Watershed Systems. This 2-day immersive course is intended to provide wildland resource managers, planners and technicians with a holistic understanding of watershed systems and the skills to recognize some of the key hydrogeomorphic processes affecting watershed and stream channel response that can be influenced by forest and resource management activities.
Wildfire and Climate Change Conference
June 26-28, Nelson
The Wildfire and Climate Change Conference will share the latest scientific research and initiatives from the Kootenays and from the international arena on climate change, wildfire behavior and why this leads us toward a need to take action at a landscape scale for a more resilient ecosystem. The target audience is: forest licensees (small woodlots to large companies), local government, emergency services, and community members. The two-day conference will be followed by one day of workshops for the forest licensees and a separate workshop for community members in order to identify barriers and opportunities to engage in wildfire risk mitigation and carbon effective forest management.
Introduction to Willow Classification
July 9-10, Revelstoke
Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology is hosting an "Introduction to Willow Classification" course July 9-10 in Revelstoke. Willows (Salix) are among the most widespread, diverse, and ecologically important vascular plants in British Columbia, yet are well known as one of the most difficult groups of plants to identify accurately to species. This course aims to provide students with a sufficient background in the genus to help untangle some of these complexities and become familiar with the identification process in the group. Both in-class and in-field components will allow students to practice identification using taxonomic keys and other materials. Space is limited to 15 people.
CABIN Field Certification
July 17-18, Nelson
Living Lakes Canada will be hosting a standard 2-day Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) course July 17-18 in Nelson that's open to the public. The training provides the knowledge and skills required to conduct biomonitoring program to CABIN standards. Online modules guide you through data entry, analysis and reporting, while the field course gets you into a river with experienced CABIN trainers to go over the steps of collecting data for CABIN-based monitoring. L
earn how to create and carry out your own biomonitoring program to assess the health of your surrounding freshwater ecosystems.
Click here for more information and to register.
Green Shores Level 1
August 11, Invermere
Lake Windermere Ambassadors and the Stewardship Centre of BC are offering a one-day Level 1 workshop in Invermere to introduce participants to the Green Shores program, including its rationale, benefits, and application. The content is of interest to elected officials, landowners, municipal staff, conservation organizations, real estate agents, and others who have a general interest in shoreline ecosystem protection. This workshop is free of charge. Register by phone at 250-472-4747 or online.
Toadfest
August 22-23, Nakusp
The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program will be hosting Toadfest at Summit Lake in Nakusp on August 22-23. More details about this annual outreach event will be made available on the FWCP website but save the date in the meantime.
Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Fall Survey
September 29, October 5 & 15
Wildsight Golden's 2018 Fall Waterbird Surveys will take place on September 29, October 5, and October 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be free bird ID training sessions and a limited amount of optical equipment lent to volunteers in need. If you're interested in being part of this citizen-science project or would like to learn more about the fall surveys, please contact the program biologist at racheldarvill@gmail.com or call 250-344-5530.
EECOM 2018 Conference: Classrooms to Communities
October 18-21, St. Eugene Mission Resort
From coast to coast, over 300 educators will have the opportunity to gather to learn, share and connect at this made-in-Canada environmental education conference. The theme for the 2018 Conference is Classrooms to Communities (C2C) which envisions learners and educators being deeply connected to place, community and planet. EECOM 2018 will be hosted as a partnership between EECOM, the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN), the BC Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA) with the support of the BC Classrooms to Communities (C2C) Network.
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Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program
Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
CBT's new 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.
Vancouver Foundation Systems Change Grants
Grant applications open July 3
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 can be submitted at any time throughout the year, beginning July 3 a and decisions are made the following month. Deadline to submit Letters of Intent for multi-year grants is July 20.
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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Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia
Executive Director
The Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia (GCC) is seeking an Executive Director to successfully manage and deliver the organization's programs according to the strategic direction set by the GCC Board of Directors. This is currently a part-time contract position with full-time potential dependent on success of fundraising programs. The location is flexible with strong preference for Kamloops, B.C. This position is open until filled.
Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society
Request for Statement of Qualifications
The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society is soliciting a statement of qualification from individuals or firms interested in providing herbicide contracting services. Proposals shall be submitted to the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society, Attention: Jennifer Vogel, at
admin@ckiss.ca by June 13 at 4 p.m. PST. Proposals submitted after the due date and time will not be considered.
Columbia Basin Watershed Network
Senior Manager
The go-to hub for watershed groups to find information, training or connections, the CBWN is seeking a dynamic, creative facilitator and excellent administrator and communicator with a background in watershed policy, non-profit administration, and community development. This is a half-time contract position. Applications are due by June 15. Contact
cbwn.coordinator@gmail.com with questions.
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
Conservation Programs Assistant
CVWMA is looking for a driven and passionate Conservation Programs Assistant to support the Head of Conservation Programs in the delivery of projects, and operations and maintenance activities. This new and exciting position will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to apply his or her skills to frequently changing and challenging environments. This is a one-year contract with probability of permanent full-time. The application deadline is July 3 by 4 p.m. PST.
Click here for the full job posting and how to apply.
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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.
Securing Private Land for Conservation in the Kootenays
FAQ document now available online
KCP has prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document to provide an overview of conservation securement in the Kootenays. This is a living document that may be updated regularly to reflect the evolving and variable securement process.
Click here for the online PDF.
Kootenay Conservation Program
KCP Winter Webinar Series Recordings
If you missed the 2018 KCP Winter Webinar Series or would like to revisit any of the webinars, the recordings are available on the KCP website.
Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (Selkirk College)
A 'Made in the Basin' approach to climate adaptation
Columbia Basin-Boundary communities, like other parts of rural Canada, are highly vulnerable to climate change. With the overall goal of building capacity and resilience to climate change, the State of Climate Adaptation Pilot Project, which ran from fall 2016 to spring 2018, helped to better understand community level vulnerabilities and refine a suite of indicators to help measure progress on adaptation.
Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society
Invasive Plant Management Area (IPMA) Operational Framework updated
In 2011, CKISS began working with regional partners and land managers to develop an operational framework for six jointly identified Invasive Plant Management Areas (IPMAs): Nelson, Nakusp, Slocan Valley, Lower Arrow, Pend D'Oreille, Creston, and Kaslo North. The framework is updated annually at the Land Managers Meeting in April.
Click here for the 2018 CKISS Operational Framework.
BC Flood and Wildfire Review
Final report is now complete
The BC Flood and Wildfire Review final report, "Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in BC", and its corresponding Executive Summary are available for download. The report includes 108 recommendations to improve flood and wildfire emergency management in B.C.
Click here for the results of the independent review and public engagement process.
BC River Forecast Centre
Snow Conditions & Water Supply Bulletin
Data from snow courses and automated snow weather stations around the province (collected by the Ministry of Environment Snow Survey Program, BC Hydro and partners), and climate data from Environment and Climate Change Canada form the basis of this report.
Click here for the most current and previously issued bulletins.
Columbia Basin Watershed Network (CBWN)
CBWN Spring Webinar Series recordings available online
Recordings of the CBWN Spring Webinar 4-part Series are now available on the CBWN website. The four webinars are: Healthy Communities, Economies and Ecosystems: Advancing Collaborative Freshwater Solutions in BC; Sharing the Kettle: The Kettle River Management Plan and Authority, from Idea to Implementation; Technology for Watershed Stewardship Non-profits; and Mapping Your Watershed with the CBWN Mapping Program.
Click here for the recordings.
Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program
Searchable project list updated
The FWCP updated its searchable list of all FWCP project reports on April 20, 2018. All FWCP reports and data are posted on Province of BC databases so everyone can benefit from the projects the program funds.
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Cabinet Purcell Mountain Corridor films on YouTube
The Cabinet
-Purcell Mountain Corridor
(CPMC) is one of only two remaining areas in the Yellowstone to Yukon region where grizzly bears can move back and forth between Canada and the U.S. The video series featuring conservation in this region, called
Conservation Films of the Inland Northwest, are available online on YouTube.
Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations Invasive Plant Program
Report-a-Weed Mobile App
The mobile Report-a-Weed BC app is available free of charge for both iPhone and Android platforms. It lets you report invasive plant sites anyw here in B.C., in just a few simple steps.Your report will go to one of B.C.'s invasive plant specialists, who will coordinate follow-up activities with the appropriate local authorities.
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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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