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 okanaganstewardship@gmail.com 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. Photo courtesy of Forbidden Fruit Wines
“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
OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS
20th Anniversary Issue
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.
Photo: Alyson Skinner
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.
Photo: Hilary Sampson
Want to get involved?
Photo: Kelley Cook
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 (alysonskinner@gmail.com; 250-809-1980)
OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS
20th Anniversary Issue
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.
Photo: Kieran McIntosh
Learn how to become a Wildlife Habitat Steward and receive support and assistance with habitat management issues on our website at www.OkanaganSimilkameenStewardship.ca.
OKANAGAN SIMILKAMEEN STEWARDSHIP NEWS
20th Anniversary Issue
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.
Photo: Alyson Skinner Sara Ashpole, Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Board of Directors Chair, shows Penticton youth a Painted Turtle at the Downtown Penticton Market.
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 effortsthis 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: okanaganstewardship@gmail.com Find us on Facebook! Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Board of Directors: Sara Ashpole Anthea Bryan Carolina Restrepo-Tamayo Hilary Sampson Mellhina Thibault