Kootenay Connect: Riparian Wildlife Corridors for Climate Change

Author: M. Protoc, M. Mahr

Kootenay Connect will be developed over the next three years. Five focal connectivity areas have been identified for Year 1 (2019-2020): Creston Valley, Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, Columbia Wetlands north of Radium, Columbia Lake Wetlands, and Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor. In Year 2 (2020-2021), there are three additional proposed focal connectivity areas: Lardeau- Duncan, Elk Valley Corridor, […]

Kootenay Connect will be developed over the next three years. Five focal connectivity areas have been identified for Year 1 (2019-2020): Creston Valley, Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, Columbia Wetlands north of Radium, Columbia Lake Wetlands, and Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor.
In Year 2 (2020-2021), there are three additional proposed focal connectivity areas: Lardeau- Duncan, Elk Valley Corridor, and Slocan River Valley.
In Year 3 (2021-2022), four additional areas will be proposed.
1. Lardeau-Duncan Flats, between Kootenay and Duncan Lakes. The Lardeau Flats are a riparian-wetland complex at the north end of Kootenay Lake that is a pinch point between Kootenay and Duncan Lakes (Fig. 10). This area is downstream of the Duncan Dam, and contains the Duncan and Lardeau Rivers, and is being managed to enhance black cottonwood riparian habitats for wildlife and biodiversity through mimicking historic water regimes (BC Hydro 2017). This area has received considerable conservation attention in the form of private land conservation, including wetland restoration work. Previous wildlife surveys (reviewed in BC Hydro 2017) document red listed western grebe; and blue listed western painted turtle, great blue heron, bobolink, caribou, and grizzly bear (Herbison 1996, 1999). Herbison (1996) also suggested this riparian-wetland area is important for species that also use upland habitats. Ecologically significant conservation lands are owned and managed by The Nature Trust of BC and Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program.

Kootenay Connect will be developed over the next three years. Five focal connectivity areas have been identified for Year 1 (2019-2020): Creston Valley, Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, Columbia Wetlands north of Radium, Columbia Lake Wetlands, and Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor.
In Year 2 (2020-2021), there are three additional proposed focal connectivity areas: Lardeau- Duncan, Elk Valley Corridor, and Slocan River Valley.
In Year 3 (2021-2022), four additional areas will be proposed.
1. Lardeau-Duncan Flats, between Kootenay and Duncan Lakes. The Lardeau Flats are a riparian-wetland complex at the north end of Kootenay Lake that is a pinch point between Kootenay and Duncan Lakes (Fig. 10). This area is downstream of the Duncan Dam, and contains the Duncan and Lardeau Rivers, and is being managed to enhance black cottonwood riparian habitats for wildlife and biodiversity through mimicking historic water regimes (BC Hydro 2017). This area has received considerable conservation attention in the form of private land conservation, including wetland restoration work. Previous wildlife surveys (reviewed in BC Hydro 2017) document red listed western grebe; and blue listed western painted turtle, great blue heron, bobolink, caribou, and grizzly bear (Herbison 1996, 1999). Herbison (1996) also suggested this riparian-wetland area is important for species that also use upland habitats. Ecologically significant conservation lands are owned and managed by The Nature Trust of BC and Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program.