Road 22 Beautification

Volunteers from the South Okanagan and Oliver-Osoyoos Naturalists' Clubs joined South Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship to finish planting red-osier dogwood and other native plants at the Rd 22 Kiosk near Osoyoos. The project both restores native habitat and beautifies this popular traihead area that is used by visitors and locals alike to explore the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area and surrounds to hike, bike, birdwatch or hunt game birds. It is amazing the number of people that use this spot to park and enjoy the new interpretive signs at the kiosk. The beautification has already made an impact by reducing illegal dumping that used to be prolific. It's now a pleasant place to pull in, read a little about the natural history of the area, and then hike or bike along trails, or carry on wine tasting or touring.

Habitat Protection For McLachlan "Lake"

It was during the work to implement the Garnet Valley Motor Vehicle Closure project that we noticed an area that had obviously been a wetland in a previous life. Hard-hit by cattle and mud-boggers, the area was struggling to hold a small amount of water and was being punished for doing so by off-road vehicle vandals. A bit of local research confirmed that this was a wetland in the past known as McLachlan Lake. Judging from the remnants of barbed wire and old posts it had once been been fenced off. Perhaps with some luck and a fence to exclude cattle and off-road vehicles, this wetland could come back. Inspired by the success of the Ritchie Lake project, SOSCP approached the local rancher Dave Casorso, FLNRO Range Officers Charles Oduro and Rob Dinwoodie, and the District Manager Ray Crampton to get permission to re-establish a fence around it. At the same time, conservation partners were working towards an Okanagan Wetland Strategy and were looking for a project that they could sink their teeth into.

SOSCP with partners, funders and helpers got the project off the ground and completed within a couple of weeks. Led by Bryn White with funds and staff help from the BC Wildlife Federation, Okanagan Basin Water Board and Central Okanagan Regional District, the fence was completed in four long, tiring days thanks to Meadow Valley Construction, the Summerland Sportsmen's Association and other community volunteers. What a dedicated crew! Although trying to stop off road vehicle damage in the Okanagan sometimes seems a losing battle, it is inspiring to finish a project with people who want to make a difference, go the extra mile and show up to work hard, with a smile, in the mud and rain. A very special thank you to Dave Carleton, Ray Paulsen, Dave McClellan, Doug and Kathi Penny from Meadow Valley Construction, Lorraine Bennest, Sue George, Murray Rooney, Neil Fletcher, Diane Kiss, Lia McKinnon and Jillian Tamblyn.

Napier Lake Ranch and Conservation Area
Situated in the heart of the Nicola Valley, Napier Lake Ranch and Conservation Area encompasses native grassland and gently rolling hills with steep slopes giving way to cliffs and rock outcrops. The ranch goes from mid-elevation grasslands to Douglas-fir forests, providing movement corridors for animals shifting between summer and winter ranges. The cattle ranch dates back to 1873 and was owned by Roy and Agnes Jackson and their family since 1974. Agnes and her late husband wanted to protect the ranch, "We're here for such a short time and we use the land to survive. To just cast it aside like an old shoe- I just can't do that." Instead, Agnes worked with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to protect more than 526 hectares of Napier Lake Ranch's most productive grasslands. "Keeping large tracts of land intact is really the only way to protect them. Cows, grouse and burrowing owls can all live together," says Agnes. NCC would like to acknowledge the Government of Canada, Agnes Jackson and family, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Estate of Thomas T. Forbes, Sitka Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service, BC Conservation Foundation, McLean Foundation, New Gold Inc., New Afton Mine and Teck Highland Valley Copper and many other groups and individuals. Read more about the history and wildlife of the ranch. 

Bullfrog project results 

The American Bullfrog is an introduced amphibian with the ability to invade and spread in areas with permanent water. Reports of bullfrog sightings in Penticton and Summerland suggested a potential range expansion. Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship conducted an intensive outreach and monitoring project in July for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Residents living near high risk ponds and oxbow habitat were contacted and given information. Searches and auditory surveys failed to detect any bullfrogs. Residents are now well informed about how to monitor and report sightings of this invasive species. 

G. Beaudry

Follow the Caribou

British Columbia has 52 caribou herds which have been divided into three ecotypes depending on feeding and behaviour: the Boreal, Northern Mountain and Southern Mountain. Caribou numbers are decreasing in our province and they face an uncertain future. Three short videos explain the ecology and conservation of woodland caribou found in B.C. The videos will be released every two weeks. Click the link to see the first short video on Boreal Caribou.