Arrow Slocan Sub-Region

• Conservation, restoration, and enhancement of aquatic habitat
  
  • Priority Habitat: Arrow Lakes Reservoir, Slocan Lake, Rivers (Kootenay, Slocan), Tributary streams spawning, rearing, overwintering valley bottom to upper basin headwaters, Cold water refugia.
  • Priority Species: native fish (Rainbow Trout, Burbot, Bull Trout, White Sturgeon, Kokanee), waterbirds (Western Grebe, American Dipper, Cliff Swallow, Black Swift), freshwater mussels, invertebrates.
  • Priority Processes: fish passage, connectivity, water temperature, water quality (nutrients, turbidity), productivity, geomorphological function (erosion, sedimentation, large woody debris, gravel recruitment).

• Conservation, restoration and enhancement of wetlands and riparian areas.
  • Priority Habitat: wetland and riparian systems in the Slocan Valley – Summit Lake to Slocan Lake and along Slocan River, floodplain ecosystems, cottonwood stands, riparian habitats directly adjacent to rivers, alluvial fans.
  • Priority Habitat: western toad, western painted turtle, at risk migratory birds and waterfowl (Great Blue Heron, Western Screech-Owl, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Olive-sided Flycather), bats, Coeur d’Alene Salamander, American beaver, North American river otter, culturally important plants, plants – rare and culturally important, macroinvertebrates.
  • Priority Habitat: connectivity, linkage areas valley bottom to montane, hydrologic function, geomorphological function, productivity.

• Protection, enhancement and identification of corridors and linkage areas
  • Priority: Bonanza Biodiversity corridor, Slocan River Valley and cross valley corridors, east-west corridors for large mammals.
• Conservation and restoration of upland habitats that support species at risk and of conservation concern.
  • Priority Habitat: old growth forests, dry interior open forest types – fire maintained ecosystems, brushlands and grasslands, rock outcrops.
  • Priority Species: mountain caribou, grizzly bear, mountain goat, bats, Lewis’ Woodpecker, rubber boa, western skink, whitebark pine, rare plants and traditionally important plants, pollinators and other invertebrates, fungi.
  • Priority Processes: wildlife movement and migration, connectivity, food web interactions (predator-prey, seed dispersal, pollination), natural fire regime.

• Protection and enhancement of Indigenous cultural values.
  
  • Priority Habitat: cultural use areas.
  • Priority Species: culturally significant species.
  • Priority Processes: traditional knowledge, traditional practices.

• Climate Change
• Invasive Species
• Cumulative effects (dams, forestry, recreation, rural/urban development, shoreline/foreshore development)
• Emergent diseases/pests (White nose syndrome, whirling disease, mountain pine beetle)
• Imminent species/habitat decline
• Wildfire and Fire suppression
• Recreation and access management

South-facing slopes in the Winlaw Creek and Trozzo Creek watersheds are home to dry, forest habitat that is rare in the West Kootenay. By introducing controlled burns, the Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative (SIFCo) will improve over 870 hectares of habitat for animals that rely on these areas, from elk and cougar to alligator lizards. The three-year project also involves enhancing rainbow and bull trout habitat on the lower reaches of Winlaw Creek.

“The dry slopes are a rare habitat type in the Slocan Valley and are part of a regionally significant habitat corridor,” said Stephan Martineau, Manager, SIFCo. “This work will improve general ecosystem health and resiliency. It will also provide a source of dry-site plant and animal species that can move into transitioning ecosystems, since dry areas are expected to expand as climate change progresses.”

The Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, which runs from Summit Lake to Slocan Lake, is host to the highest concentration of wetlands in the Slocan Lake watershed and supports a wide range of species and habitats, including several identified Species at Risk. Over the next three years, the Slocan Lake Stewardship Society (SLSS) will restore and enhance three key stretches of marshes, fens and swamps along Bonanza Creek to improve water connectivity and the overall health of sensitive aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

“The wetlands targeted in this project are vitally important to the corridor,” said Wendy King, Director, SLSS. “These enhancements will be specifically designed to improve the overall hydrology, thereby providing long-term ecological benefits to Bonanza Creek, its tributaries and its wetlands.”

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), in partnership with the Penticton Indian Band, will be undertaking a four-year project to enhance ki?lawna? (grizzly bear) habitat on approximately 400 hectares west of Arrow Lakes Reservoir. ONA biologists and technical staff will work along side Sylix communities to support a collaboration between First Nations, local industry, provincial representatives and grizzly bear and wildfire experts that will enhance key ki?lawna? habitat through innovative and improved forestry practices through activities like prescribed burns, brushing and selective harvesting. They’ll also explore managing roads that access sensitive areas, where possible.

“The goal of this project is to increase the availability of important habitat and enhance the value of capable but currently unsuitable habitat,” said Cailyn Glasser, Wildlife Biologist, ONA.