05-12-2004, 03:54 AM
$5.5 MILLION FOR B.C. CONSERVATION PROJECTS
PENTICTON - Over $5.5 million in conservation, habitat restoration and enhancement projects in British Columbia will receive funding this year from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF), Water, Land and Air Protection Minister Bill Barisoff announced today.
"Many of these conservation projects are led by community groups that share government's vision of a strong, healthy and safe environment," said Barisoff. "Through partnerships with the HCTF, these groups are restoring and enhancing habitat for fish and wildlife, and creating recreation and economic benefits for all British Columbians."
This year, investments will be made in 142 projects across British Columbia, including:
* $338,000 for the Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan
* $250,000 for the Vancouver Island Steelhead Recovery Plan
* $60,000 to gather grizzly bear population data in the Southern Coast Ranges
* $60,000 for prescribed burns in the Peace to enhance key wintering habitat for ungulates
* $10,000 for a wildlife-vehicle collision public awareness campaign in the Thompson-Nicola
In the Okanagan, 12 fish and wildlife, habitat and conservation projects will receive a total of $700,000, the minister said during a visit Saturday to Penticton.
The minister made the announcement on the banks of Penticton Creek, which this year will benefit from a $40,000 investment to kick-start a multi-year restoration of critical fish habitat. "This significant project will restore that habitat, give fish additional spawning, rearing and resting areas, and maintain flood protection," Barisoff said.
The first phase of the five- to eight-year project will see the artificial concrete bank and creek bed replaced with rocks and other material to create riffles, resting pools and spawning beds. Vegetation along the creek's banks will also be restored. "We can never recreate what Mother Nature created, but we will make it easier for returning fish to find vital spawning areas," added Barisoff.
Work is scheduled to begin in July, when there is no risk of harming fish or their eggs. The project will be monitored through the fall and winter to see what improvements may be needed for the next stages.
The creek restoration will support the extensive Okanagan Lake Action Plan, a multi-year project to rebuild kokanee stocks. Now in Phase 2, the plan will this year receive HCTF funding of $325,000.
The Penticton Fly Fishers Club will manage the multi-group Penticton Creek restoration project.
"Restoration of Penticton Creek has been a long-time dream of the Penticton Fly Fishers Club," vice president Bruce Turnbull said. "We are extremely happy to see Minister Barisoff and the HCTF share and support that dream."
Among other Okanagan projects:
* $55,000 to continue stewardship projects with private landowners in the South Okanagan-Similkameen
* $43,325 to continue riparian restoration on a section of Middle Vernon Creek
* $17,000 to monitor the response of two herds of radio-collared mule deer to winter habitat projects
The region will also share the benefits of an additional $800,000 from provincewide conservation projects including:
* $222,230 for the River Guardian Program
* $130,000 for Wild B.C., which provides environmental education materials to teachers, scout and guide leaders
* $100,000 to assist volunteer fish and wildlife projects through the Public Conservation Assistance Fund.
The HCTF is supported primarily by surcharges on angling, hunting, trapping and guide-outfitting licences. Major partners include the B.C. Wildlife Federation, the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. and the B.C. Trappers Association.
In the past 23 years, the HCTF has contributed over $75 million to conservation, enhancement, protection and educational projects across British Columbia.
For more information on this year's HCTF projects, by region, visit http://www.hctf.ca/.
-30-
Contact:
Liz Bicknell
Communications Director
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
250 387-9973
[signature]
PENTICTON - Over $5.5 million in conservation, habitat restoration and enhancement projects in British Columbia will receive funding this year from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund (HCTF), Water, Land and Air Protection Minister Bill Barisoff announced today.
"Many of these conservation projects are led by community groups that share government's vision of a strong, healthy and safe environment," said Barisoff. "Through partnerships with the HCTF, these groups are restoring and enhancing habitat for fish and wildlife, and creating recreation and economic benefits for all British Columbians."
This year, investments will be made in 142 projects across British Columbia, including:
* $338,000 for the Georgia Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan
* $250,000 for the Vancouver Island Steelhead Recovery Plan
* $60,000 to gather grizzly bear population data in the Southern Coast Ranges
* $60,000 for prescribed burns in the Peace to enhance key wintering habitat for ungulates
* $10,000 for a wildlife-vehicle collision public awareness campaign in the Thompson-Nicola
In the Okanagan, 12 fish and wildlife, habitat and conservation projects will receive a total of $700,000, the minister said during a visit Saturday to Penticton.
The minister made the announcement on the banks of Penticton Creek, which this year will benefit from a $40,000 investment to kick-start a multi-year restoration of critical fish habitat. "This significant project will restore that habitat, give fish additional spawning, rearing and resting areas, and maintain flood protection," Barisoff said.
The first phase of the five- to eight-year project will see the artificial concrete bank and creek bed replaced with rocks and other material to create riffles, resting pools and spawning beds. Vegetation along the creek's banks will also be restored. "We can never recreate what Mother Nature created, but we will make it easier for returning fish to find vital spawning areas," added Barisoff.
Work is scheduled to begin in July, when there is no risk of harming fish or their eggs. The project will be monitored through the fall and winter to see what improvements may be needed for the next stages.
The creek restoration will support the extensive Okanagan Lake Action Plan, a multi-year project to rebuild kokanee stocks. Now in Phase 2, the plan will this year receive HCTF funding of $325,000.
The Penticton Fly Fishers Club will manage the multi-group Penticton Creek restoration project.
"Restoration of Penticton Creek has been a long-time dream of the Penticton Fly Fishers Club," vice president Bruce Turnbull said. "We are extremely happy to see Minister Barisoff and the HCTF share and support that dream."
Among other Okanagan projects:
* $55,000 to continue stewardship projects with private landowners in the South Okanagan-Similkameen
* $43,325 to continue riparian restoration on a section of Middle Vernon Creek
* $17,000 to monitor the response of two herds of radio-collared mule deer to winter habitat projects
The region will also share the benefits of an additional $800,000 from provincewide conservation projects including:
* $222,230 for the River Guardian Program
* $130,000 for Wild B.C., which provides environmental education materials to teachers, scout and guide leaders
* $100,000 to assist volunteer fish and wildlife projects through the Public Conservation Assistance Fund.
The HCTF is supported primarily by surcharges on angling, hunting, trapping and guide-outfitting licences. Major partners include the B.C. Wildlife Federation, the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. and the B.C. Trappers Association.
In the past 23 years, the HCTF has contributed over $75 million to conservation, enhancement, protection and educational projects across British Columbia.
For more information on this year's HCTF projects, by region, visit http://www.hctf.ca/.
-30-
Contact:
Liz Bicknell
Communications Director
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
250 387-9973
[signature]