By Megan Jamison, Kootenay Conservation Program

Ten conservation projects were recently approved by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) to receive funding from the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF) in 2026.

A local government service that creates a dedicated fund for conservation, the CVLCF distributes funding to projects in the area between Spillimacheen and Canal Flats that are approved by RDEK Directors each year.

“First Nations and stewardship organizations in the Columbia Valley area are leading meaningful, collaborative conservation work,” said Kendal Benesh, Interim Program Director for Kootenay Conservation Program, which partners with the RDEK to administer the fund. “The CVLCF supports a wide range of initiatives, from ecosystem restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement to water quality and quantity monitoring —all of which help sustain our environment and quality of life.”

Lake Windermere Ambassadors will receive funding to safeguard the ecological integrity and water quality of Lake Windermere through science-based monitoring, early detection of environmental threats, and community education that drives long-term stewardship.

Similarly, the Columbia Lake Stewardship Society will continue its work to preserve the ecological health and water supply of Columbia Lake through water quality and quantity monitoring, collaboration with other stewardship groups, and education and outreach.

The CVLCF will support three wetland-specific projects in 2026. The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners will enhance habitat for species at risk and focal species by restoring wetlands and strengthening habitat connectivity.

The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) will continue to restore habitat in the headwaters of the Kootenay River by installing beaver dam analogues, planting willow and cottonwood stakes, and monitoring improvements to hydrology and habitat complexity. Funding will also support BCWF in planning for restoration of two degraded historic beaver complexes near Invermere and Canal Flats to repair hydrology, improve water quality and habitat, and strengthen ecological and community resilience to climate change.

Wildlife initiatives include Wildlife Conservation Society Canada’s Bat Habitat Enhancement and Monitoring project, which addresses key threats, knowledge gaps, and habitat loss in the area, and the Wild Sheep Society of BC’s work to reduce disease transmission risks between domestic and wild sheep through testing, outreach, and partnership-building.

ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation’s project will respond to the recommendations of the 2021 Kootenay Bighorn Sheep Management Plan by identifying seasonal ranges and movement corridors, recording population estimates, identifying opportunities for habitat enhancement, and developing the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation guardian program.

Wildsight Invermere will build on previous work to enhance and protect critical bank swallow nesting habitat in the Upper Columbia Valley through on-the-ground conservation actions and monitoring at key breeding sites at Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake.

Finally, the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council will receive funding to continue its work containing and reducing the spread of leafy spurge in the Columbia Valley, an aggressive invasive plant that displaces native vegetation, reduces biodiversity, and diminishes forage for livestock and wildlife.

“From the start, the Conservation Fund has been focused on real, on-the-ground results—supporting practical work that protects and restores the values that matters most in the Columbia Valley. From initiatives that support wetlands and wildlife habitat to water quality and stronger biodiversity, this year’s approved projects continue that commitment, delivering lasting benefits while safeguarding the environment. We’re excited to see this work take shape in the months ahead,” said Al Miller, RDEK Columbia Valley Services Committee Chair.

The CVLCF was established by the RDEK in 2008 by referendum. Property owners in the service area pay an annual tax of $20 per parcel towards this dedicated fund, which provides financial support to local projects helping to conserve and restore the area’s wildlife and habitat.

To find out if your idea for a conservation project qualifies, or if you have any questions about the fund, contact Interim Program Director Kendal Benesh at [email protected].

The application intake for 2027 projects will open this fall. Find more information on the CVLCF.

e-KNOW file photos

Lead image: The Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund is supporting wetland restoration in the Kootenay River headwaters. Photo by BC Wildlife Federation

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