An “ecologically significant” area of the East Kootenay is being earmarked for protection.
On August 28, the Nature Trust of British Columbia announced that it is raising $415,000 to protect 171 hectares of land at Lower Wolf Creek.
Located near Wasa, at the confluence of Wolf Creek and the Kootenay River, the area known as Lower Wolf Creek is an important wildlife corridor for American badger, grizzly bear, and elk and serves as a valuable stopover for migratory birds, especially waterfowl.
It contains diverse ecosystems, including floodplain wetlands, riparian and dry forests, and grasslands.
By securing Lower Wolf Creek, which is adjacent to 437.37 acres (177 hectares) of existing provincial conservation land, The Nature Trust of BC can increase connectivity for wildlife while improving the resiliency of floodplain and benchland ecosystems along the Kootenay River.
“Lower Wolf Creek has been on our radar for fifteen years given its rich ecology and legacy of land stewardship efforts,” said Chris Bosman, Kootenay Conservation Land Manager of The Nature Trust of BC. “Whenever we can secure wildlife habitat along the Kootenay River, it’s a win for conservation in the region. By protecting Lower Wolf Creek, we can contribute to a landscape that is more connected and resilient and offers exciting collaborative opportunities with our partners.”
Lower Wolf Creek offers essential habitat needs for a wide variety of species. It contains designated Critical Habitat for the Lewis’s woodpecker, which is listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as well as for American badger, which is listed as Endangered.
Additional federally listed at-risk species in the area include black swift (Endangered), barn swallow and bobolink (both Threatened), grizzly bear, common nighthawk, evening grosbeak, long-billed curlew, western toad, and the western painted turtle (all Special Concern).
The area is also within a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and provides habitat for several migratory waterfowl species, such as common goldeneye, trumpeter swan, cinnamon teal, tundra swan, and bufflehead. Lower Wolf Creek also contains winter range for mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk, while American beaver have also been observed.
Lower Wolf Creek is located within the unceded and traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation and is closest to the Ktunaxa community of ʔaq̓am. The conservation area is within the Interior Douglas-fir (IDF) biogeoclimatic zone and potentially contains at least seven at-risk ecological communities, which contribute to ecosystems rich with biodiversity.
You can support The Nature Trust of BC by donating to their campaign to secure Lower Wolf Creek at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/103756. The deadline for fundraising is October 10, 2024.
