Planters descended on a small park on the banks of Mark Creek in Kimberley in the fall of 2019. Their intent was to improve the riparian habitat and the community use of the area altered during the removal of the concrete flume on Mark Creek. During the flume removal project, the stream channel was returned to a more natural form but the riparian area; the land beside the stream needed some additional attention.

Mainstreams, a local water conservation society, took on the challenge of improving both the stream-side and park vegetation to make the area more useful to fauna, both human and other.

Key to any environmental project is monitoring the impact of that project.

To that end, Mainstreams assessed the survival and vigour of the plants after going through the winter of 2019- 2020. Two plants disappeared over the winter but 100% of the remaining plants survived. Most damage to the plants was due to browsing by the local city deer population but almost 50% of the plants were not browsed at all.

The plantings will next be tested by spring freshet and the dry heat of summer. Monitoring in the fall 2020 will determine how successfully the plants cope with these challenging conditions.

Mainstreams plans to continue improving riparian habitat on Mark Creek by working on a section further downstream in the fall of 2020.

Mainstreams gratefully acknowledges funding from the Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Grants though the Regional District of East Kootenay and the City of Kimberley, as well as the support of city staff, and Tipi Native Plant Nursery.

For further information or a copy of the monitoring report, please contact Mainstreams at 250-427-2600 or [email protected].

Photos submitted

Mainstreams

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