The HCTF Board would like to welcome David Tesch as their newest member (bio here). David replaces the recently departed Alec Dale as one of the two government appointees, with Alec stepping down after serving a solid three year stint on the Board. Many thanks to Alec for all his service, advice and support to the Foundation, and welcome aboard Dave!
*Update* The Club had a very good response to its call for volunteers and have secured enough helpers for this fall. Interested individuals can still apply, as there may be opportunities to help in the spring. Thanks!
The North Okanagan Naturalist’s club is looking for volunteers to help them with monitoring Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes as part of a PCAF project taking place in the Campbell Brown Ecological Reserve.
The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake is a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake, which is designated as threatened in BC. In Canada, its range is limited to the Thompson and Okanagan Valleys and its habitat is increasingly threatened by development. The Campbell Brown Ecological Reserve was set aside partly because it had a long-recognized active rattlesnake den, and a second den has since been discovered. The project will focus on marking the snakes by inserting PIT tags under the snake’s skin which can be read without recapturing the snakes, and recording their biostatics in order facilitate long term research on the growth and conditions of snake and den populations, as well as providing a means of tracking the snakes’ use of the habitat.
Starting September 15th, the Campbell Brown Ecological Reserve Western Rattlesnake Project will require two people to start monitoring for snakes returning to dens on most warm days. Experienced assistants (i.e. people who have some experience in helping to handle snakes) are preferred for this task. The project also needs recorders to help record snake ID and measurements, and assistants and “go fors” to watch for snake activity. Volunteers will always work with another person. All jobs require the ability to walk up to dens (steady up hill on a good path) and have sturdy boots/gum boots. To confirm volunteer requirements or get further information, please contact Linda asap at ardtarig@gmail.com.
It’s almost time for BC kids to head back to the classroom. While the end of summer typically means a shift towards more indoor activities, HCTF GO Grants can help teachers get their students outdoors and learning about nature. K-12 teachers can apply for grants of up to $600 per class (max of $3500 a school) to pay for bus transportation, project materials or leader/programs fees for hands-on, outdoor field trips with a conservation or environmental theme. Full application criteria and grant requirements are available at http://hctfeducation.ca/go-grants/go-grants-about/. Questions? Contact our education department by email or phoning 250 940 9786 (toll free 1 800 387 9853).
Newly restored creek banks are taking shape along Penticton Creek, as the first restoration project for Penticton Creek hits the halfway point this week.
Construction started Aug. 4, marking the first time concrete was removed proactively from Penticton Creek as part of a showcase project designed to demonstrate what creek restoration can look like. Project goals include restoring fish habitat, maintaining the flood protection and stabilizing creek banks.
“We are so pleased to see the phenomenal progress on this project, as a huge first step in making Penticton Creek more sustainable,” said Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit. “The City of Penticton is grateful for the tremendous support of our partners in this initiative, including the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation – their financial support has really made this project possible.”
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Board member Ian McGregor sees the Penticton Creek project as a potential showcase for future stream restoration projects in the Okanagan. “Restoring historically productive kokanee streams is a major component of the Okanagan Lake Action Plan,” said McGregor. “It’s great to see the City of Penticton taking the lead on a project that will benefit fish populations while simultaneously addressing the needs of Penticton residents.”
This sample project includes a small section (80 metres) of Penticton Creek upstream from the Ellis Street Bridge. This site was chosen to substantially improve fish habitat, as well as address severe maintenance issues and show the community the transformation in a visible area.
Designing a creek bed that safely moves water through the area is important for flood protection, and this has to be considered while balancing elements that create good fish habitat – rearing areas (resting, hiding and feeding zones), spawning grounds, and minimizing velocity and elevation barriers to migration. Fish species that stand to benefit from improved habitat include Kokanee and Rainbow Trout.
The public is invited to check out Penticton Creek restoration in action. The Ellis Street bridge offers an excellent vantage point to watch crews undergo work. For information, visit www.penticton.ca/downtown.
The Penticton Creek restoration project would not have happened without the funding and contributions of several agencies: Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Province of B.C., South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program, Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C., Okanagan Nation Alliance, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Penticton Flyfishers and Downtown Penticton Association.
Watch recent video coverage of this project on Global News>>
We were so impressed with the entries we received last year in response to our first ever photo contest that we’ve decided to run it again! If you’ve captured a spectacular image of BC’s wildlife, freshwater fish, natural landscapes, or a photo of people participating in activities that connect them to these resources, you could enter to win this year’s grand prize of a $500 VISA gift card. For full contest information, official rules and digital entry form, click here.
Summer is all too quickly coming to an end, and so are the season’s Learn to Fish programs. There are still opportunities for youth ages 5 to 15 to learn the basics of freshwater fishing during the last few weeks of August, with programs scheduled to take place at:
Lower Mainland
Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery in Abbotsford (call 604.504.4716 for dates)
Matsqui Park, Fraser River: Aug 16th
Green Timbers Lake, Surrey: Aug 19th
Como Lake, Coquitlam: Aug 13th
Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam: Aug 20th
Alouette Lake, Golden Ears Provincial Park: Aug 19th
Cultus Lake, Cultus LaKe Provincial Park: Aug 14th and 21st
Hicks Lake, Sasquatch Provincial Park: Aug 15th
Lightning Lake, Manning Provincial Park: Aug 18th
Vancouver Island
Tyee Spit, Campbell River: Aug 14th
Lake Ida Anne, Langford: August 19th
Cameron Lake, Port Alberni: Aug 13th
Elk Lake (Waterski Beach), Saanich: Aug 22nd
Buttle Lake, Strathcona Park: Aug 26th
Cowichan Lake, Gordon Bay Provincial Park: Aug 24th
Goldstream Provincial Park: Aug 21st
Sproat Lake, Sproat Lake Provincial Park: Aug 23rd
Okanagan
Two Rivers Park, Princeton: Aug 21st
Children’s Fishing Pond, Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park: Aug 12th
Okanagan Lake, Ellison Provincial Park: Aug 13th
Otter Lake, Otter Lake Provincial Park: Aug 22nd
Thompson- Nicola
Lac Le Jeune Lake, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park: Aug 15th and 21st
Nicola Lake, Monck Provincial Park: Aug 14th
Paul Lake, Paul Lake Provincial Park: Aug 17th
Tunkwa Lake, Tunkwa Lake Provincial Park: Aug 16th
Kootenays
Kaslo, Mirror Lake Campground: Aug 20th
Kootenay Lake, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park: Aug 22nd
Moyie River, Yahk Provincial Park: Aug 16th
Nancy Greene Lake, Nancy Greene Provincial Park: Aug 15th
Summit Lake, Summit Lake Provincial Park: Aug 21st
Surveyors Lake, Kikomun Creek Provincial Park: Aug 28th
Third Champion Lake, Champion Lakes Provincial Park: Aug 14th
Northern BC
Big Bar Lake, Big Bar Lake Provincial Park: Aug 18th
Green Lake, Green Lake Provincial Park: Aug 20th
Horsefly Lake, Horsefly Lake Provincial Park: Aug 19th
The Learn to Fish programs (including loaner rods and tackle) are available free of charge, but many require pre-registration: please visit the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC’s website for event times, meeting spots, and to check registration requirements. Please note that youth must be accompanied by an adult.
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