BCWF Watershed Team

In 2010, students at K.L.O. Middle School in Kelowna discovered nesting Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) in their long jump sandbox. Michelle—a science teacher, the school’s Eco Club leader, and a past participant of the Wetlands Institute in Kamloops 2010—recognized the importance of protecting and enhancing this habitat, as Painted Turtles are a blue-listed species at risk in the Interior. Wetlands and streams are also crucial to restore in order to attract wildlife and improve water quality in the Okanagan Basin watershed.

In the 1970s, the creek running through the school property was confined by culverts and capped with paving stones. Until recently, one could easily mistake Fascieux Creek for a sidewalk. Now, the creek is being daylighted by removing the culverts and returning it to a more natural state. The project has gained considerable community support and fundraising momentum. A Green Team—formed over five years ago—includes parents, teachers, and students working together toward this restoration goal.

After visiting the site, we’re excited to report that Phase 1 (daylighting the first 50 metres) is in full swing! It was incredible to witness the excavator removing culverts and demolishing an old bridge during our short visit. After seeing the sludge that had accumulated inside the pipes, it’s hard to believe species like the Painted Turtle managed to survive there. One teacher even recalled stories of a “mud-laden” muskrat living beneath the bridge. Before our visit, students helped salvage 240 redside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus), 43 suckers (Catostomus spp.), 2 prickly sculpin (Cottus asper), and 3 northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) from the culverts before removal began.

Project consultants from Golder Associates and the school’s Green Advisory Committee were enthusiastic to share the restoration plans. These include planting cattails and other native wetland species, meandering the creek with large woody debris to form pools, and building habitat islands. Thanks to several key phone calls, the team was able to grind and recycle the old concrete tiles and culverts locally. In addition to daylighting the creek, the school gratefully received a donated bridge from the Kelowna-Okanagan Mission Lions Club. Future plans also include building a berm to stop stray soccer balls, installing cedar split-rail fencing to delineate the riparian zone, and constructing an outdoor classroom beside the new side-channel wetland. With additional funding, the school hopes to begin Phase 2, which would daylight another 133 metres of creek on the rest of the property.

This project is a powerful example of student-led discovery turning into action, supported by a committed community. Teachers are “excited for Fascieux Creek to function as a wetland and be a leading restoration success story.” The BCWF looks forward to following this inspiring story and supporting the project wherever possible.

Supporters for this project include: Environment and Climate Change Canada, BCWF, Robin Annschild, Central Okanagan Foundation, Central Okanagan Foundation for Youth, Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club, City of Kelowna, FortisBC, Fritsch Land Surveying, Golder Associates, Central Okanagan School District #23, KLO Parent Advisory Committee, students of K.L.O. Middle School, KLO School Green Committee, Okanagan Basin Water Board, Kelowna-Okanagan Mission Lions Club, TD Friends of the Environment, Telus BC, The Hamber Foundation, and the Vancouver Foundation.