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OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS
20th Anniversary Issue Reflecting on the past year- our first year as an independent society and twentieth year of stewardship in the Okanagan and
Similkameen- I can’t help but feel pride with how far we have come. Since May, over 15 landowners have committed to stewardship
on their properties, hundreds of native plants have been planted, 800 kilograms of garbage have been removed from natural areas,
countless bags and truck loads of invasive plants have been removed from stewarded properties and all because of YOU!
Do you have a stewardship story or photo you would like to share? Let us know! Provide a photo and story about your experiences to
us by email at [email protected] and we will post it on our blog!
Landowners make a difference: Forbidden Fruit Winery
In the past year alone, over 15 land stewards have committed to conserving
wildlife habitat on their properties! Our programs are currently expanding in
order to support stewards throughout the entire Okanagan and Similkameen
valleys.
Steve Venables and Kim Brind’Amour of Forbidden Fruit Winery recently
became Wildlife Habitat Stewards. Recognising the natural beauty of their
property, Steve and Kim set aside a vast area of old growth cottonwood forest
along the river, as well as some rocky outcroppings, and dry sagebrush
grassland habitat on the slopes above their orchards.
Their dedication to conservation and stewardship doesn’t stop there! On
signing their stewardship agreement, Steve and Kim also committed to
collecting donations for wine tasting on behalf of Okanagan Similkameen
Stewardship. This generous donation will enable OSS to support more land
stewards and communities in conserving and enhancing wildlife habitat
throughout the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.
“Things feel perfectly balanced on the property. We’ve noticed
fewer pressures, and less predators and fruit disease. There is
mutual benefit, we protect wildlife habitat and they are
protecting us. We like to let it go and not interfere too much.”
~Steve Venables of Forbidden Fruit Winery
Photo courtesy of Forbidden Fruit Wines
Photo courtesy of Forbidden Fruit Wines
Cormack Marsh cared for by the community of Princeton
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship supports improvement of habitat on stewarded properties and in communities by
planting native plants, removing invasive plants, installing bat and bird boxes, and removing garbage in partnership with
private land stewards and concerned communities.
In a true community effort, Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship worked with a variety of partners- including community
leader, Kelley Cook, Town of Princeton, Vermillion Forks Field Naturalists, teachers and students of John Allison &
Vermillion Forks schools, Princeton Arts Council, Princeton Sierra’s Fire Crew, Princeton Rotary and Princeton Brownies,
Girl Guides and Sparks- in an effort to draw attention to Cormack Marsh in Princeton, BC.
Together, the group removed 3 truck loads of garbage, 2 heaping truck loads of knapweed from the site. Students, Girl
Guides, Brownies and Sparks planted of over 100 native plants and over-seeded with a native seed mix. Students also
went birding with local naturalists and installed bird boxes around this little oasis in Princeton.
Want to get involved? Join us as we partner with TD Tree Days, South Okanagan Similkameen
Conservation Program and Young Naturalists’ Club of BC as we continue
Greening Ellis Creek Sunday, September 28 at 10:00am. Contact Alyson Skinner to learn how to register for this event ([email protected]; 250-809-1980)
Photo: Kelley Cook Photo: Hilary Sampson
OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS 20th Anniversary Issue
Photo: Alyson Skinner
Volunteers help Wildlife Habitat Steward remove 750 kg of debris from pond!
In a collaborative project between St. Lawrence University and
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship, and orchardist/landowner
Jaswinder Kailay, a new phase of restoration actions began on his
pond. Since 2004, we have been restoring this pond site with
past landowners removing non-native invasive predatory species.
Mr. Kailay has only owned the land for about a year and has
already signed a voluntary commitment as a Wildlife Habitat
Steward with OSS. Our main goal is to restore the ponds water
quality, enhance with native vegetation, and to provide habitat
for native species. It is the long-term commitment and voluntary
actions of landowners like Mr. Kailay that make the difference.
In June, over 750 kilograms of debris was removed from the shore of the pond by eight volunteers. Among the garbage
removed was a truck frame that is estimated to have been at the site for well over 50 years!
Wetlands provide a critical ecological service, providing many essential functions to protect our environment and the
health of local communities including clean water. In the south Okanagan more than 85% of wetlands have been filled in
or destroyed, and many remaining wetlands are in need of restoration. The greatest threats to wetlands include infilling,
introduction of non-native species (such as fish), agricultural over spray (pesticides, herbicides & nutrients), and garbage
debris.
The battle against invasive plants
Stewardship Technicians, Kieran McIntosh and Lia McKinnon, tackled the war against
invasive plants on many stewarded properties in the valley. Landowners participating in the
Wildlife Habitat Stewards project are offered assistance with invasive species on their
properties whenever Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship has the capacity to do so.
Most of our work on removing invasive species has centred on sticky and prickly species,
like burdock, hound’s tongue and Canada thistle. Removing countless garbage bags of these
pervasive weeds increases the opportunities for native plants and the native animals that
depend on them.
Learn how to become a Wildlife Habitat Steward and receive support and assistance with habitat management
issues on our website at www.OkanaganSimilkameenStewardship.ca.
Photo: Kieran McIntosh
OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS 20th Anniversary Issue
Sara Ashpole, Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship
Board of Directors Chair, shows Penticton youth a
Painted Turtle at the Downtown Penticton Market.
Community conservation With support from Canada Summer Jobs, summer student Kieran
McIntosh, and St. Lawrence University, Okanagan Similkameen
Stewardship was very active in communities throughout the valleys over
the summer- getting the word out to landowners, the public and
community groups. Between workshops, Farmer’s Markets and
Community Meetings, Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship
representatives have spoken with thousands of local residents.
Having a presence at local community markets was one of the key
approaches we took over the summer and much effort was put into
attending the Penticton, Kelowna, Naramata, Oliver, and Osoyoos
Community Markets. With different themes and props (including some
live animals) to keep a fresh topic each week, these booths were both
informative and engaging. It was a pleasure to connect face-to-face with
so many community members.
Bullfrog update
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship provided outreach and inventory of Penticton and
Summerland ponds and oxbows, looking for the invasive American Bullfrog this past
summer. American Bullfrogs are much larger than our native amphibians, many species
which are at risk. With two reports of these voracious predatory amphibians in Penticton
and Summerland, efforts were made to provide local area residents with a training
workshop and to get eyes, ears and boots to the ground- looking and listening for
American Bullfrogs.
OSS biologists did not see or hear any bullfrogs in the area during the inventory efforts-
this does not mean for certain that bullfrogs are not present though, so please keep your
eyes and ears open! To find out more about invasive American Bullfrogs, visit our website
at www.OkanaganSimilkameenStewardship.ca.
Newsletter compiled by Alyson Skinner.
Acknowledgements: Margaret Holm, Kieran McIntosh,
Lia McKinnon
Banner Photo: David Cunnington
For more information, please contact:
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship
www.OkanaganSimilkameenStewardship.ca
Phone: 250-809-1980
Email: [email protected]
Find us on Facebook!
Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Board of Directors:
Sara Ashpole
Anthea Bryan
Carolina Restrepo-Tamayo
Hilary Sampson
Mellhina Thibault
Photo: Alyson Skinner
OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS 20th Anniversary Issue