Conservation in the Kootenays
Monthly eNews

September is here, and with it comes a number of great opportunities and events that we have featured below. 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. Please submit any news you'd like to share with our network by the third week of each month to communications@kootenayconservation.ca.

As always, a big thanks goes out to our supporters! You can click here to read more about the great organizations that support conservation in the Kootenays. 

Conservation Leadership Awards
September 15 Nomination Deadline
KCP's 2016 Awards are now open for nominations. These awards recognize individuals who are proven leaders and contribute to the field of conservation in the Kootenays. Nominees must be affiliated with a KCP partner organization (click here for KCP Partner list) and they must show a demonstrated commitment towards KCP's vision of "landscapes in the Kootenays that sustain naturally functioning ecosystems that can in turn support economic and social well-being."

Landowner Outreach Workshops
October 19-20, Nelson and Cranbrook
Caring for Land and Water: Improving Outreach to Private Landowners in the Kootenays is a workshop being offered by KCP this October that will explore how to more effectively and collectively engage and support private landowners interested in taking care of their property. One of the important roles KCP plays in our region is to strengthen collaboration among stewardship groups and resource managers in order to achieve positive benefits for private land conservation. This free workshop will be offered in both the East and West Kootenays, and is open to local organizations interested in exploring better ways to collaborate, coordinate and address gaps.
Click here for more information.


Faces & Places Monthly Partner Feature
Lee-Anne Walker: Elk River Alliance
Lee-Anne Walker is the Executive Director and founder of the Elk River Alliance community-based water group. She was inspired to start this group in her home watershed after being inspired by other groups in the Columbia Basin notably Mainstreams, Slocan and Salmo River Streamkeepers and Lake Windermere Ambassadors. Including community in the conservation conversation motivates her to represent ENGO's on the Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management Framework known as CEM working along side all levels of government, industry and community on protecting watershed values. Lee-Anne is happiest outdoors experiencing the amazing natural and cultural history of our region.

Local Conservation Fund Feature Project
Reintroducing Northern Leopard Frogs

This month's Local Conservation Fund feature project is Reintroducing Northern Leopard Frogs to the Columbia marshes by the Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partners. Project partners include the BC Ministry of Environment, FWCP, and Calgary Zoo. This project aims to reintroduce northern leopard frogs into the Columbia Wetlands near Brisco. From 2013 to 2016, approximately 4,000 leopard frog tadpoles that were bred in captivity at the Vancouver Aquarium, as well as over 10,000 tadpoles taken from the wild near Creston, were released at the Brisco site. Follow-up surveys have shown that the tadpoles have survived each year and successfully metamorphosed into froglets.

The Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund and the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund are now open and will be accepting project proposals until October 31. 

Columbia Basin Trust
New BC Societies Act
Starting November 28, 2016, BC's new Societies Act will come in to effect. Societies will have two years to update their constitution and by-laws to comply. CBT will be sharing resources and educational opportunities, as they become available, to support non-profits through this transition.

Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS)
How did CKISS make a difference? 
How did CKISS make a difference in 2015? Check out this fun, quick, new and improved "Annual Summary Report" that will explain what we have been up to!

Wilburforce Foundation
Apply for the 2017 Wilburforce Fellowship in Conservation Science
Wilburforce Foundation, in partnership with COMPASS, is now accepting applications for the 2017 Wilburforce Fellowship in Conservation Science. The Wilburforce Fellowship is a year-long program providing leadership and science communication training, along with coaching and support, to scientists from a wide range of affiliations, career stages, and disciplines. At the root of this initiative is Wilburforce Foundation's commitment to empowering scientists to engage in conservation management and policy discussions, because when scientists are part of the conversation, we get better solutions.

Yellowstone to Yukon
2015 Highlights
Last year Y2Y catalyzed the efforts of 118 partners and collaborated on 67 conservation projects to protect habitat and connect wildlife.
Click here to view their featured initiatives. 

The KCP encourages partners to take advantage of our eNews - send your relevant content for submission to info@kootenayconservation.ca 
Real Estate Foundation of BC
Deadline: September 8
REF of BC's grants program has five program areas and includes a focus on fresh water, sustainable food systems and well-planned built environments.

Mountain Equipment Coop
Deadline: September 10
MEC's Community Contributions program supports impactful and strategic grassroots, not-for-profit organizations in undertaking outcome-oriented projects that focus on conserving ecologically important places.

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Deadline: September 19
In celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary next year, TD FEF is excited to announce a special round of funding focused on the revitalization, animation and stewardship of public green spaces.

Columbia Basin Trust Environment Grants 
Deadline: September 30
These grants help to support projects that address goals outlined in CBT's Environment Strategic Plan. This includes enhancing or conserving ecosystems and/or species of conservation concern, as well as reducing the threat of significant invasive species to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program
Deadline: October 28
FWCP funds projects that align with their conservation priorities and actions recommended in their regional Action Plans, which address priority ecosystems and species of interest.

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund
Deadline: October 31
The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) provide funding for projects that benefit conservation in the area from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats through the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF). The purpose of the CVLCF is to provide local financial support for important projects that will contribute to the conservation of our valuable natural areas; one step towards restoring and preserving a healthy environment.

Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund
Deadline: October 31
The Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) in partnership with the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) provide funding for projects that benefit conservation in the rural areas around Kootenay Lake through the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund (KLLCF). The purpose of the KLLCF is to provide local financial support for important projects that will contribute to the conservation of our valuable natural areas; one step towards restoring and preserving a healthy environment.

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program
Ongoing intake
Delivered for the Columbia BasinTrust 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. Currently accepting applications for projects for the 2016 funding. 
Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Conservation Biologist
Y2Y is seeking an experienced and professional self-starter for the fulltime position of Conservation Biologist. The successful candidate will report to the President and Chief Scientist and will coordinate with Program Directors for all aspects of integrating science into conservation programs.

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Communications Coordinator
The Communications Coordinator reports to the Development and Communications Director and is responsible for working closely with Y2Y's staff to create compelling
marketing and communications opportunities and materials that build Y2Y's brand and advance Y2Y's conservation work.

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
Contract: Improving Integration of Groundwater into Science and Water Manage
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Project Description: The Contractor will prepare a report that compiles approaches, tools, and education/communication materials related to integration of groundwater science and management into broader water and ecosystem science and management frameworks. The Contractor will evaluate the approaches and tools identified and develop a toolbox of best practices for the integration of groundwater science and knowledge into water and ecosystem management.

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network
Wild Voices for Kids Community Educators
Are you involved with stewardship or conservation in the Columbia Basin region? CBEEN's Wild Voices for Kids program connects individuals who are involved with stewardship and conservation in the Columbia Basin with teachers looking to share this with their students. CBEEN also finds funding for travel and offer an honoraria to presenters. 
Wetland Restoration Design Workshop
September 14 - 15, Burton 
Join the BC Wildlife Federation over 2 days and learn about wetland restoration design from complex drawdown zones to basic techniques, and through a mix of in-class presentations and hands-on activities.
Read more here.

Graphic Facilitation Workshop
September 19 - 20, Rossland
Imagine you are planning a project, facilitating a meeting or writing a report. Putting words on a page assumes people will understand them exactly.  Adding visuals invites conversation, discussion and exploration. Visuals spark the imagination, help communities plan their futures and help groups track progress. This two-day experiential workshop provides the skills and confidence needed to use a range of visuals in your work and engage beyond words.

Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey (CWWS)
September 29, October 5 & October 15, Columbia Wetlands
Do you want to be immersed in a bio diverse setting while collecting valuable baseline data on waterbirds? If so, participating in the CWWS is for you! Training dates are set to occur in Golden on Sept 21st and in Invermere on Sept 22nd. High optical gear is lent to those in need. Participating in the CWWS is a great way to learn more about birds and the Columbia Wetlands, and your efforts help us to learn more about species abundance and distribution during spring and fall migrations, leading to potential Important Bird Area designation. For more information or to register, please contact racheldarvill@gmail.com or call 250-344-5530.

Inquiring Voices Sustainability Symposium
September 30 - October 2, Glacier National Park
The Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network will host their 2016 Sustainability Symposium at the Alpine Club of Canada's Wheeler Hut in spectacular Glacier National Park. This small-scale professional development retreat brings together educators who live in the same bioregion to form a rich learning community meet to share, support, and collaborate with one another. 

QGIS for Beginners
October 1, Nakusp
SWAMP and Slocan Lake Research Centre will be leading an introduction to GIS and the use of QGIS, a low-cost, open source mapping package. The course will be offered through Selkirk College CEWT, at the Nakusp Campus. 
Contact nakuspce@selkirk.ca for more information or to register.

Roundtable on the Crown of the Continent Annual Conference 
October 13 - 14, Fernie
The Roundtable is an ongoing forum to bring together people who care about this special place. It is based on the observation that the future of the Crown of the Continent is being shaped by over 100 government agencies, non-government organizations, and place-based partnerships. While these various initiatives operate somewhat independent of each other, the Roundtable provides a unique opportunity to connect people that share a common commitment to the region.

Bio-engineering: A Restoration Course
October 18 - 19, Revelstoke
Join the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology for this course. Soil bioengineering is an applied science that uses live plant materials, rocks, soil and landscape elements to perform an engineering function such as slope stabilization, soil erosion control or seepage control. Course instructor, David Polster, has been involved in the reclamation of severely disturbed sites for over 35 years.  He was president of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association and is on the board of the Society for Ecological Restoration (BC Chapter and International board). 

Trend Analysis and Environmental Impact Assessment
October 18 - 20, Revelstoke 
Environmental impact assessments want to know if trends over time differ between control and impact sites. Statistical methods for the analysis of trends over time use many of the same methods as the analysis of experimental data (e.g. ANOVA, regression) but must now deal with problems such as autocorrelation and process error.

Landowner Outreach Workshops
October 19 - 20, Nelson and Cranbrook
Caring for Land and Water: Improving Outreach to Private Landowners in the Kootenays is a workshop being offered by KCP this October that will explore how to more effectively and collectively engage and support private landowners interested in taking care of their property. One of the important roles KCP plays in our region is to strengthen collaboration among stewardship groups and resource managers in order to achieve positive benefits for private land conservation. This free workshop will be offered in both the East and West Kootenays, and is open to local organizations interested in exploring better ways to collaborate, coordinate and address gaps.

International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) Cross-Boundary Collaboration Workshop
October 27, Minneapolis
The ILCN will host a daylong session at the Minneapolis Central Library focused on cross-border collaboration for private land conservation. Featuring case studies from Mexico, Canada, the European Union, the United States and others, we will explore successful models of cross-border conservation collaboration, planning, and fundraising. Presenters will share lessons learned and discuss how their successes may be replicated in other localities. There will also be time to network with other international participants and to discuss how the ILCN may best serve this community. 

Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative: 7th Annual Northwest Climate Conference
November 14, Stevenson
The annual NW Climate Conference is the region's premier opportunity for a cross-disciplinary exchange of knowledge and ideas relating to climate impacts and adaptation. The conference brings together up to 400 researchers, resource managers and policy makers from academia, public agencies, sovereign tribal nations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, to share the latest climate science, challenges to infrastructure, industry, environment and communities, and adaptive solutions. Abstracts will be due on July 15. 

Field Leader Certification Course & Winter Module
November 24 - 26, Fernie
Join CBEEN for the Outdoor Council of Canada's Field Leader certification course including the Winter Module. This intensive two-day course introduces the roles and responsibilities of the leader. Discover the values and systems that promote high-quality low-risk outdoor programs. 

Get Outdoors Workshop
November 26, Fernie
Explore the new curriculum outdoors at this engaging 1-day workshop. Dig into activities, beginning with inquiry. Get immersed in experiences, exchange ideas and make connections to big ideas and curricular competencies. Discover new ways to integrate place-based learning and community connections to your practice.

Celebration of Environmental Education
November 26, Fernie
Celebrate the value of environmental education at this event which showcases the incredible depth and value of environmental education programs around the region. This wine & cheese event will include an Environmental Education Expo, Vignettes, and the presentation of the 2016 Awards of Environmental Education Excellence. 

KCP Fall Gathering & AGM
November 25 - 26, Creston
The KCP Fall Gathering & AGM serves as one of the primary vehicles to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region. The organizing theme for this year's Fall Gathering is "Promoting Conservation on Private Land: A Local Conservation Toolkit". We will explore four main elements of a local conservation toolbox including landowner outreach, capacity building and resources, local conservation fund, and securement. Special guests include Lorne Fitch to share insights from the Cows and Fish program in Alberta, and Jill Robinson from Habitat Acquisition Trust in Victoria to share their successes with landowner outreach programs. We will take advantage of this opportunity to also have a very short (45 minute) Annual General Meeting for KCP partners.

River Restoration Northwest Stream Restoration Symposium
February 7 - 9, Columbia River Gorge
River Restoration Northwest is gearing up for the 16th Annual River Restoration Symposium at Skamania Lodge in Stevenson Washington February 7-9, 2017.  They have issued a call for Session Proposals and Oral/Poster Abstracts.  

Community-based Social Marketing (CBSM) Institute
June 1 - 2, Castlegar
This 2-day Institute will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of community-based social marketing and how it is being applied throughout the world, and in the Columbia Basin, to foster sustainable behaviour. Attendees will learn the 5 steps of community-based social marketing and be exposed to numerous case studies, as well as have the opportunity to identify key behaviour changes they wish to target in their audiences. 
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
Map of conservation in your community
There's a tremendous amount of conservation work happening around BC and the HCTF has created a map showing the approximate locations of projects that have received grants from HCTF this year. Click on an icon on the interactive map to see a description of the project and contact information for the project leader. You can also contact us for additional information on any of our projects or programs.

 

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.