Kootenay Conservation Program eNews

August 2015 

Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) partners are invited to join us for our Fall Gathering and Annual General Meeting. This will take place at St. Eugene Mission Resort (near Cranbrook) on September 25 - 26. The theme of the event is Large Landscape Conservation, and we have already lined up several excellent presenters. The event will start at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, September 25 and wrap up by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday, September 26. All meals except breakfast on Saturday morning are included. This year we are basing the event out of St. Eugene Mission Resort on Friday, with a field trip on Saturday into the Elk Valley. Regular rates at St. Eugene are $145.00/room but we have been able to work with St. Eugene to subsidize these for a KCP rate of only $75.00/room. However, rooms will only be held until September 4, so please book early to make sure you can take advantage of this discount. To book call 1-866-292-2020 and reference the Kootenay Conservation Program's group reservation #200836. Please email info@kootenayconservation.ca to confirm your attendance at this event and click here to find out more. 

We are accepting nominations for the 2015 KCP Conservation Leadership Awards until September 1, 2015. These awards recognize individuals in our region for their contributions to conservation, and award winners will be announced at the Fall Gathering and Annual General Meeting. Click here for more information.

This month we are pleased to showcase Greg Utzig as our 'Faces & Places' feature. Click here to see his feature story and photo. We'd also like to congratulate Heather Leschied who was honoured as one of WWF Canada's Water Heroes, and named a finalist for Water Canada's Water's Next Award. KCP supported Heather's attendance at the Canadian Water Summit and awards ceremony through our Professional Development Bursary Program. You can click here to see her full story and photo. 

Support from KCP's Professional Development Bursary Program is still available. You can click here for more information and to apply.

We hope you enjoy your monthly conservation update. You can click here at anytime during the month to check out current news and events on our blog. As always, please submit any news you'd like to share with our network by the 26th of each month to info@kootenayconservation.ca.

Greg Utzig

Kutenai Nature Investigations Ltd.

Greg Utzig has worked on various aspects of forest and wildlife management in the Kootenays for the past 40 years, apart from a few years working as a forest manager in southern Africa. He was instrumental in the early development of the Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification for southeastern BC. As a soil scientist, he has completed numerous terrain maps and participated in hydrologic assessments for the forest industry, woodlot owners and community forests.


In recent years, Greg's focus has shifted to climate change and conservation planning. With other Kootenay researchers he completed a project in 2012 for the BC Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (FFESC). The report examined potential climate change impacts and forest ecosystem resilience in the West Kootenays. Currently he is promoting climate change awareness and developing a strategic conservation plan for the Kootenays that emphasizes ecosystem resilience to climate change.
 

Click here for his full story and photo.  


Spring Waterbird Survey a Great Success! 
Wildsight - Golden
What happens when you put the call out to birders in the Columbia Valley to help with bird research? A flock of locals chirp in! Wildsight Golden has just completed the first ever Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey (CWWS), conducted during the spring bird migration. Nearly 40 volunteers set out to count and identify birds on three dates and at 64 sites located along the Columbia Wetlands, from Canal Flats to Donald. Over 90 species of bird were spotted, and over 14,000 birds were counted over three mornings, shining great results for this citizen science project! 
Click here for the spring survey data details. 

Prescribed Burn Aids in East Kootenay Fire Containment
Province of BC
The wildfire east of Lake Kookanusa and south of Cutts Road toward the Elk River is now 100% contained. Wildfire suppression efforts were aided by the Cutts Pasture Ecosystem Restoration burn, which was conducted in fall 2013. The objectives of the Cutts Pasture project were to improve wildlife habitat and help protect local communities from the potential of catastrophic wildfires. This incident is an excellent example of how prescribed fire on the landscape can reduce fuel loads and create defendable spaces for BC Wildfire Service crews to work when fires do occur.
Click here for more information. 

BC Court Approves Transfer of Conservation Properties
The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC)
The Land Conservancy of B.C. (TLC) received approval today from the Supreme Court of B.C. to transfer 27 conservation properties to The Nature Trust of B.C. (TNTBC) and The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) for an agreed upon amount of $1.5 million. The transfers had been identified in TLC's Plan of Arrangement, the document which details how and when secured and unsecured creditors will be paid. On March 30, 2015, the Plan was approved by creditors with overwhelming support, and subsequently sanctioned by the Honourable Madam Justice Fitzpatrick of the Supreme Court of B.C. on April 2, 2015.
Click here for more information. 

Fourth Annual Flathead BioBlitz Aims to Catalogue Species
Wildsight
Fourteen scientists gathered on Friday in B.C.'s Flathead and Elk valleys for a BioBlitz on three undeveloped parcels of land belonging to Teck Resources Ltd. Teck purchased the land for conservation in October 2013, for $19 million. One parcel is the former Flathead Townsite, a 1,000-hectare section along the Flathead River that is important for bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, grizzly bears and birds. The company also bought two 3,000-hectare parcels at Alexander Creek and Grave Prairie in the adjoining Elk Valley.
Click here for more information.

Fight Against Invasive Mussels Getting a Boost
Columbia Basin Trust (CBT)
Columbia Basin Trust is helping the province to double the number of mobile decontamination units aimed at stopping invasive mussels from entering British Columbia waterways, thanks to $360,000 in new funding. This new partnership, in the Ministry of Environment led Invasive Mussel Defence Program, also includes support from Columbia Power Corporation, FortisBC and the four local invasive species councils operating in the region East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council, Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society, Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society and the Northwest Invasive Plant Council.
Click here for more information. 

North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) Grant Program

Deadline: August 26

This grant program is designed to support non-profit nongovernmental organizations in Canada, Mexico and the United States that work with local communities to create a shared sense of responsibility for stewardship of the environment. 

Click here for more information. 

 

Canadian Wildlife Federation Funding

Deadline: September 1

Canadian Wildlife Foundation's Funding Program provides financial assistance to conservation programs and educational programs related to wildlife and research. 
Click here for more information. 

 

Mountain Equipment Coop

Deadline: September 10
Grants enable people to enjoy the outdoors and support conservation initiatives. 

Click here for more information. 

 

Real Estate Foundation of BC

Deadline: September 16

Water, sustainable food systems and well-planned built environments are a priority for these grants.

Click here for more information.

 

Columbia Basin Trust Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program

Deadline: Ongoing

Over $200,000 still available for projects in 2015 - 2016. Ranchers and individuals with Crown range tenures, environmental groups and non-profit societies are encouraged to apply for funding to improve and enhance grasslands and rangelands. Ranchers, for example, can use the support to build fences, install cattle guards and do other improvements on Crown land--activities that permit better livestock management practices and therefore result in better stewardship of rangelands.

Click here for more information. 


Kootenay Conservation Program Professional Development Bursary Program

Deadline: Ongoing

The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) Professional Development Bursary Program provides financial assistance to our partner organizations to allow their staff and volunteers to attend professional development activities. It is funded by the generous support of the Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and delivered by the KCP.
Click here for more information.  

Parks Canada Canadian Rockies Hot Springs Enterprise Unit - Radium Hot Springs Site Manager

Deadline: August 7

Manages the development and delivery of the visitor experience program through a client/visitor and market/business-centered approach to enhance and ensure visitor satisfaction, enjoyment and connection to place.

Click here for more information. 

 

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Licensed Authorizations Officer - Water (Cranbrook and Nelson)

Deadline: August 8

As the Licensed Authorizations Office - Water, you will work in a variety of settings and provide professional advice and may make decisions regarding the allocation of resources and adjudication of resource authorizations for the Natural Resource Sector.

Click here for more information.  

 

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Authorizations Specialist - Water (Cranbrook and Nelson)

Deadline: August 13

As the Authorizations Specialist - Water, you will work in a variety of settings and provide professional advice and may make decisions regarding the allocation of resources and adjudication of resource authorizations for the Natural Resource Sector.
 Click here for more information. 

CABIN Field Training
August 11 - 12, Golden
This Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network field training session requires advance completion of online training modules to gain access to the CABIN database. 
For more information contact rachel@wildsight.ca.

Toadfest
August 12, Nakusp
Toadfest is a free, fun, family event to raise awareness about Western Toads and learn about other local species. The hot summer weather has the toadlets moving extremely early this year, but come and see the live aquatic insects, amphibians, and reptiles on display; enjoy the kids' activities; and take in the interactive displays on other wildlife and plants in the region. Toadfest 2015 has been brought forward to August 12 from 4:00p.m. to 7.00p.m..
For more information contact Angus Glass with the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program at 250-352-1300 or email angus.glass@bchydro.com. 

Columbia Lake Stewardship Society Open House
August 15, Canal Flats 
A summer celebration of Columbia Lake with fun activities for kids of all ages.Join us from 10:00am - 1:00pm at Tilley Memorial Park in Canal Flats and from 3:00pm - 4:00pm at Columbia Ridge Estates Recreation Centre.

Columbia Salmon Festival
September 12, Invermere
A day full of fun free activities open to everyone to create awareness of the loss of salmon in the Upper Columbia.
Click here for more information.

Wild and Scenic Film Fest
September 12, Golden
The Wild & Scenic Film Fest goes on-tour to over 150 communities, making it North America's largest environmental film festival. Wildsight Golden will bring two hours of the beautiful, the exciting and the inspiring to the big screen at the Golden Sports Field.
Click here for more information. 

Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent Conference
September 16 - 18, Missoula
New Ideas and Enduring Values: The Next Generation of Leadership on the Crown
Click here for more information. 

KCP Annual Gathering & AGM
September 25 - 26, Cranbrook
The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) invites our partners to join us for our 2015 Annual Gathering. This will take place at St. Eugene Mission Resort (near Cranbrook) on September 25-26. The theme of the event is Large Landscape Conservation, and we have already lined up several excellent presenters. The event will start at 12:00pm Mountain Time on Friday, September 25 and wrap up by 4:00pm Mountain Time on Saturday, September 26. All meals except breakfast on Saturday morning are included. This year we are basing the event out of St. Eugene Mission Resort (near Cranbrook) on Friday, with a field trip on Saturday into the Elk Valley. We are pleased to be able subsidize the cost of rooms for KCP partners at St. Eugene for Friday night. Regular rates are $145.00/room, and we have been able to work with St. Eugene to subside these for a KCP rate of only $75.00/room. However, rooms will only be held until September 4, so book early to make sure you can take advantage of this discount. To book, call 1-866-292-2020 and reference the Kootenay Conservation Program's group reservation #200836. Please email info@kootenayconservation.ca to confirm your attendance at this event
Click here for more information. 

Okanagan Wetlands Institute
September 28 - October 4, Kelowna & Vernon
The BC Wildlife Federation's Wetlands Institute, a 7-day environmental stewardship workshop, is coming to the Okanagan. The workshop is suitable for consultants, planners, environmental/conservation groups, government and First Nations representatives, engaged community members and keen outdoors-types. Participants should come to the course with a wetland project or program that they wish to implement in their community.
Click here for more information. 

Voices for Sustainability Symposium
October 2 - 4, Edgewood
Join environmental educators and outreach specialists at Whatshan Lake Retreat near Nakusp for CBEEN's 7th annual gathering to share best practices and new ideas in communicating sustainability and stewardship in the Columbia Basin.
For more information email info@cbeen.org. 

3rd Annual Kootenay Lake Summit
October 24, Nelson
For more information email info@friendsofkootenaylake.ca. 

An Introduction to Bayesian Methods for Ecologists
October 27 - 29, Revelstoke
Bayesian methods supplement the standard analysis methods such as regression, ANOVA, and generalized linear models. They are helpful in two general situations. First, when information from a number of studies is to be merged together. Second, there are certain problems that are "hard" to do using standard methods. For example, dealing with censored data in regression, or random effects in logistic regression. This course will present an overview of the use of Bayesian methods in ecology.
Click here for more information. 

6th Annual Northwest Climate Conference
November 3 - 5, Coeur d'Alene
The NW Climate Conference annually brings together more than 250 researchers and practitioners from around the region to discuss scientific results, challenges, and solutions related to the impacts of climate on people, natural resources, and infrastructure in the Northwest. It is the region's premier opportunity for a cross-disciplinary exchange of knowledge and ideas about regional climate, climate impacts, and climate adaptation science and practice.
Click here for more information. 

CBWN Fall Member Meeting
November 6 - 8, Blue Lake Centre
Catch up with watershed groups, learn from others, have a great time! We will meet jointly with the Columbia Basin Water Quality Monitoring Program Fall Meeting.
Email cbwn.coordinator@gmail.com for more information. 
Large Landscape Conservation
The Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Since large landscape conservation involves great geographical scales and touches many lives, it requires a collaborative effort-not something one organization can fully shoulder alone. We see ourselves as the "hub" for large landscape conservation, connecting people, organizations and resources to foster powerful solutions that respect diverse stakeholders.
Click here for more information. 

Implementation Framework for Climate Change Adaptation Planning at a Watershed Scale 
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

CCME has published an Implementation Framework for Climate Change Adaptation Planning at a Watershed Scale. The Framework provides a process to identify, assess and manage or reduce vulnerabilities and risks stemming from climate change at a watershed level, and build resiliency within a watershed. The Framework is composed of seven key steps, each with a series of tasks and outcomes.

Click here for more information.


Smarter Grantmaking Playbook 
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Click on the links below to get answers to these common questions that both grantmakers and grantseekers have. 

 

If you have news or announcements that you would like to share via our eNews, please email them to info@kootenayconservation.ca by the 26th of each month.