Spawning Kokanee, Margaret Holm
South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program
September 2015 Newsletter
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 Link to SOSCP web site
SOSCP accepts organization or individual donations and issues tax receipts. Send
"Contribution to SOSCP"
RDOS 101 Martin Street, Penticton BC V2A 5J9 |
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Program Manager's Message
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Our thoughts are with our colleagues and friends who have been impacted by the intensive fires this season, here and in Washington State. It will be some time before we understand the impact of these interface and wildfires on the land base. It has been a long, and at times, scary season. Despite the chaos of smoke and ash, our partners continue to move projects forward such as the Penticton Creek Restoration project, the Okanagan River # 3 spawning platform, Shuttleworth Basin restoration, and the Ellis Creek fish passage initiatives. They are all executing inventive improvements to challenging environmental problems.
The highlight for me this August was the generous donation to SOSCP from our friends at the Lake Breeze Wine Farm. A heartfelt thank you to owners Drew and Barb McIntyre, all of the staff, and management at Lake Breeze for this wonderful contribution to conservation.
Bryn White, SOSCP Program Manager
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Partner News
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Protected Areas Framework for British Columbia's South Okanagan: Invitation for Public Feedback
The Province of BC has released an Intentions Paper for public and stakeholder feedback in relation to a protected areas framework for the South Okanagan Similkameen - including a proposal for Parks Canada to establish a South Okanagan National Park Reserve and provincial conservancy areas. The public has until October 12 to provide feedback that will help the provincial government finalize designation recommendations for this area. Link to Intentions Paper and maps.
 Shuttleworth Creek Fish Passage Project
 Provincial Parks and Landmarks Revert to nsilxcen (Okanagan) Names
Environment Minister Mary Polak and Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie announced the official renaming of Haynes Point and Okanagan Falls provincial parks to the traditional First Nation nsyilxcen (Okanagan) place names. The name changes are part of an agreement made between the Province and the Osoyoos Indian Band that also sees the Band managing the two parks. Haynes Point Park is now officially known as "sw̓iw̓s park." sw̓iw̓s (swee-yous) means place where it is shallow or narrow in the middle of the lake. The name explains how the ancestors of the Osoyoos Indian Band used the area as a crossing point. The official name for Okanagan Falls Park is now "sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ park" (s-wuh-wuneet-kw), meaning little falls, and signifying a connection to Kettle Falls, known as big falls. The place name for McIntyre Bluff is now nʕaylintn (Ny-lin-tn).
 Penticton Creek Restoration Project Well Underway
The Penticton Creek Restoration Project is moving ahead as planned, with final placement of river rock, removal of silt and water to be released from the bypass tunnel to the main creek bed in early September. The City of Penticton hosted a hard hat tour for media and elected officials last week, with the full extent of the restoration project visible from Ellis Street bridge and the walkway. Three riffles and pools will replace a homogeneous concrete flume for an 80 meter stretch of creek, with boulders and small round river rock to provide improved habitat for fish on this once very productive system. Although this was an extremely complex process to undertake, the City of Penticton and conservation partners moved forward with the support of funders: Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Federal Recreational Fishery Conservation Partners Program, and TD Friends of the Environment.
Vaseux Lake Bird Banding Station Open to Schools and Public
The Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance has received funding from Environment Canada to offer pilot school and family programs at the bird banding station. Now in its fifteenth year, the station bands about 1500 birds as they make their way south during fall migration. Programs will focus on bird conservation and bird biology. Programs run from Sept 22 to October 15th. Contact Jayme Friedt at meadowlarkfestival@osca.org for details.
 Generous Donation to SOSCP
This week, SOSCP was presented with a significant gift from Lake Breeze Wine Farm in Naramata. Lake Breeze has committed all of its patio sparkling water sales to the conservation partnership and presented Bryn White, SOSCP Program Manager with the donation at the annual Lake Breeze year-end staff party. "I was absolutely thrilled to accept this generous contribution on behalf of SOSCP," said White. During the presentation, Lake Breeze owners Drew and Barb McIntyre thanked Bryn for the SOSCP's conservation efforts and highlighted the important connections between what Lake Breeze does and the need for a healthy landscape in which to do it.
Hunters Asked to Submit Heads in MU 8-23 for Wildlife Health Surveillance Program
The Government of British Columbia is again asking hunters to participate in a voluntary collection of deer, elk or moose heads in MU 8-23 (Cherryville area of the North Okanagan) as part of its ongoing monitoring for Bovine Tuberculosis and Chronic Wasting Disease in wildlife. Neither of these diseases is currently in B.C., however, we are performing surveillance to be sure. Both diseases infect cervids (deer, elk and moose) and can be extremely difficult to control or eliminate if they enter wildlife. The surveillance in this area compliments other health monitoring such as for Chronic Wasting Disease in the East Kootenays and Peace regions of the province. Hunters who submit heads hunted in MU 8-23 are eligible to win a prize donated by Grouse River in Kelowna as a thank you for their participation! For information about the MU 8-23 program, including drop off locations and previous years testing results or information about monitoring programs and other diseases, visit the wildlife health website.
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| Upcoming Events & Workshops |
September 10 Puncturevine Seminar
Attention vineyard operators, ranchers, farmers, orchardists and land managers plagued by puncturevine. This spiny, invasive plant is rapidly spreading in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, negatively impacting agricultural and recreational lands. Effective treatment options are limited and management of this invader is complicated. The Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS) has worked with
several partners to conduct research trials to demonstrate the effectiveness of various herbicide and alternative treatment options on agricultural land in Osoyoos. We will be sharing our preliminary results on September 10, 9:30 - 11:30 at Haynes Creek Vineyard, Osoyoos. Event is free but pre-registration required. Contact Lisa Scott oasiss@shaw.ca or phone 250-404-0115.
September 28 - October 4 Okanagan Wetlands Institute
The BC Wildlife Federation's Wetlands Institute is a 7-day environmental stewardship workshop being offered in Kelowna and Vernon. This valuable free workshop requires preregistration by September 7th. Suitable for consultants, planners, environmental/conservation groups, government and First Nations representatives, engaged community members and keen outdoors-types. Participants should come with a wetland project or program that they wish to implement in their community. Apply soon, as this course has been known to fill quickly! There are spaces for only 25 participants. Further details.
September 17-18 Bioengineering Restoration Course, Grand Forks
Once the regional fires are contained and mop-up is done, there will be new work preventing and responding to damaging erosion in streamside areas where fire has killed plants and burned through the topsoil, or where fire control efforts have damaged riparian areas. Bioengineering is a cost-effective approach that accelerates ecosystem recovery through planting early-succession trees and shrubs in special structures on slopes and stream banks that are susceptible to erosion. Selkirk College is hosting a two-day course in Grand Forks with bioengineering expert David Polster. Details here.
October 7 Columbia River Treaty Workshop, Osoyoos
The Canadian Water Resources Association and the Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT) at Simon Fraser University invite you to participate in a workshop will invite the public to engage in discussion with panelists from government, First Nations, and academia to discuss issues related to the Columbia River Treaty and consider how a renewed treaty might be negotiated. The presentations will address the unique socio-economics of the Okanagan Valley as a sub-basin of the Columbia. Details here.
October 7-9 Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum
"A Watershed Beyond Boundaries: Stewardship of our Shared Waters" is the theme for this three day event full of interesting presentations on water stewardship and science. Link to conference program.
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September 10 Mountain Equipment Coop
Access and Activitiy and Capacity Building grants enable people to enjoy the outdoors and support conservation initiatives.
September 16 Real Estate Foundation of BC
Applications for general grants are accepted in the area of sustainable food systems, freshwater and the built environment. Details here.
September 18 Telus Community Foundation (Thompson Okanagan)
Community Board members choose programs that focus on youth, demonstrate social or technological innovation in program delivery, and involve arts & culture, education & sport, or health & well-being in our environment. Details.
October 15 TD Friends of the Environment
The Foundation supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary focus on environmental education, urban greening and enhancing biodiversity, and energy conservation. Please consult the checklist of what is and is not eligible for funding. Details.
November 1 EcoAction
Environment Canada's EcoAction Community Funding Program is accepting applications for community-based projects to protect, rehabilitate or enhance the natural environment. Preference will be given to projects that support the priorities of the Government of Canada's National Conservation Plan to conserve and restore lands and waters and connect Canadians to natural spaces, as well as larger multi-year projects (minimum $10,000, maximum $100,000) that demonstrate environmental and community engagement. Further details. Information on the National Conservation Plan.We encourage you to discuss your ideas with a Program Officer prior to submitting an application.
November 2 Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation - Enhancement and Restoration GrantsHCTF funds projects that focus on freshwater wild fish, native wildlife species and their habitats, have the potential to achieve a significant conservation outcome, while maintaining or enhance opportunities for fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and associated outdoor recreational activities . Details.
Vancouver Foundation Field of interest grants
Watch this video to understand the Foundation's new granting policies. The fall intake date has not been announced yet.
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Local Government Events
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Link to upcoming events and meetings scheduled by south Okanagan municipalities and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen.
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Bryn White
The South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program
102 Industrial Avenue, Penticton V2A 7C8 250-490-8225
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