Columbia Basin Trust program helps the environment
Through Blue Lake’s Water Studies Programs, students and summer campers have the opportunity to participate in experiential lessons on water testing, flora and fauna identification, water flow rates, lake mapping and watershed contentedness.
Thirty-nine projects have recently been granted a combined total of over $1.3 million from Columbia Basin Trust’s Environment Grants. Funds are also currently available for groups seeking grants of up to $10,000 for their environmental projects.
Groups are encouraged to apply as soon as possible here. As funding is limited, applications will be considered as they arrive. Projects needing more than $10,000 can apply for funding in the fall.
“We appreciate all the work people throughout the Basin are doing to help preserve the natural assets of our region and address pressing environmental issues,” said Tim Hicks, Columbia Basin Trust Manager, Water and Environment. “Projects of all sizes can yield significant benefits, and we encourage groups with requests of up to $10,000 to come forward as soon as possible with their project ideas.”
Successful projects from the last intake include ones that strengthen ecosystems, help communities mitigate and adapt to climate change, and support environmental education—all of which address goals in the Trust’s Environment Strategic Plan.
The Blue Lake Forest Education Society is one of the groups that has received project funding. Its project involves delivering an aquatic environmental sciences program that will help participants develop skills in scientific methodologies and procedures.
“The water project is going to benefit Basin residents in two primary ways,” said Todd Hebert, Executive Director, Blue Lake Forest Education Society. “First, it will connect the participants to the watershed in their areas, educating them on where water comes from and how it is used. The second benefit is the potential for the development of science literacy, mainly in the field of water quality. They will also have a better understanding of how water quality relates to the flora and fauna around the water.”
The BC Conservation Foundation is one of the groups that has received project funding. Its project involves conducting a study on the conservation of grizzly bears in the Flathead and Elk Valley and providing recommendations to improve human safety and reduce human-bear conflicts.
“This project helps grizzly bear management staff make conservation decisions for grizzly bears,” said Garth Mowat, Wildlife Research Biologist, BC Ministry of Natural Resources. “Because it is based on broad public participation, it educates the public about grizzly behaviour, biology and population trends.”
The Rossland Society for Environmental Action is one of the groups that has received project funding. Its project involves rehabilitating a local non-functioning wetland, including by using hands-on restorative work. It will use the site as an onsite classroom, with interpretive signage and outreach to the community.
“The North Jubilee Wetland Restoration Project will increase wildlife habitat in the heart of our community and create a place for community members to learn about the benefits of wetlands,” said Rachael Roussin, Board member, Rossland Society for Environmental Action. “The wetland and wetland plants will also absorb and store excess water in peak runoff times and act as a filter for water before it flows downhill and into our stormwater drains, improving watershed function.”
See the complete list of projects approved for funding here.
To learn more about the Trust’s other environmental priorities, click here.
