BCWF Watershed Team

The B.C. Wildlife Federation is excited to announce the start of the second phase of the Ginty’s Pond (Nʔaʕx̌ʷt) wetland restoration.  

Located in Cawston within the territory of the Smelqmix people of the Sylix Nation, the historical nʔaʕx̌ʷt wetland was once an oxbow pond of the Similkameen River. Over the years, significant agricultural water use and development have greatly altered the wetland. The project aims to restore wildlife habitat by removing invasive species, creating more open-water habitat, and planting native plants. 

Phase One included the restoration of two hectares of wetland habitat, deepening areas to create pools, revitalizing 0.8 hectares of riparian habitat, planting 1,700 trees and shrubs, seeding 0.8 hectares of ground cover, and installing 500 metres of fence in 2022-23. Turtle nesting areas, basking logs, and coarse woody debris were also added to enhance habitat complexity. 

Phase Two of the Ginty’s Pond wetland restoration project will continue to transform the area into a diverse open-water wetland habitat that will support a diverse range of species. 

Prior to restoration, Ginty’s Pond had, over time, infilled with a monoculture of cattail making it undesirable for wildlife due to a severe loss of habitat diversity. 

Phase Two of the project will focus on creating an additional two hectares of open-water habitat and 0.5 hectares of upland riparian habitat, featuring species such as cottonwood, woods rose, red osier dogwood, and milkweed—all of which have successfully taken root in the Phase One area. New restoration efforts are focused northeast of the initial project site, between VLA Road and Wooden Road. 

Community input from Cawston highlighted the need for water storage, wildlife conservation, and cultural uses, including skating in the winter and kayaking in the summer. 

Phase Two partners include the B.C. Wildlife Federation, Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT), Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (MWLRS), Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB), and Rewilding Water and Earth.  

For more information on the Ginty’s Pond wetland restoration project or to get involved, contact Alyssa Purse, BCWF Restoration Project Coordinator at alyssa.purse@bcwf.bc.ca.

We extend our gratitude to the Community Foundation South Okanagan and the Watershed Security Fund for supporting this project.