BCWF Watershed Team

The South Okanagan is one of the driest regions in British Columbia, yet it’s full of life. Alongside vibrant vineyards, sparkling lakes, and rolling grasslands, the region is home to an incredible diversity of fish and wildlife that flourish where water flows. From the smallest stream to the quietest wetland to the broadest lake, these waters bring vitality to the land, its wildlife, and its people. 

Over time, however, water systems here have been reshaped. Streams sometimes run dry, natural water tables have fallen, and the risk of flooding and intense wildfires has increased in a region already prone to drought. 

Last week, we completed our first low‑tech process‑based restoration project of 2025 on Nature Trust of BC property, installing Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) and Post‑Assisted Log Structures (PALS). This marks the start of our 2025 restoration season and continues our work under BCWF’s 10,000 Wetlands initiative, which aims to restore wetlands and stream systems across the province by mimicking and promoting the natural engineering of dam-building beavers and other processes such as fallen trees forming log jams. 

Before restoration began, the stretch of stream flowing through the Nature Trust property moved sluggishly beneath a dense green canopy of watercress (Nasturtium officinale).  

Watercress is an introduced, invasive aquatic plant brought to North America in the 1800s as a salad green. Thriving in cool, slow-moving waters, it can quickly form thick mats that shade out native aquatic plants, reduce habitat diversity, and lower oxygen levels critical for fish and invertebrates. As demonstrated by the photos below, at this site it created an almost unbroken cover over the water. In other reaches, the stream had cut so deeply into its bed that it was entirely disconnected from its floodplain, preventing water from spreading out to hydrate the surrounding landscape. 

For bears, bobcats, coyotes, snakes, and deer, streams like this are a vital lifeline — especially in the arid climate of the South Okanagan. In a year when drought will once again grip much of the province, every metre of flowing water matters. The Nature Trust of BC shared the photos below, captured on one of their wildlife cameras placed beside the stream. From these images — and the lack of other water sources in the area — it’s clear that wildlife rely heavily on this stream for survival.

Thank you to the Nature Trust of BC for sharing the wildlife cam photos with us.

While on site, our team also observed a rich variety of life, including macroinvertebrates, dragonflies, butterflies, grasshoppers, birds, voles, and several snake species: the yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor mormon), western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans), rubber boa (Charina bottae), and western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus).

By building BDAs and PALS, water flow is slowed and spread out, which reconnects streams to their floodplains, and creates diverse wetland habitats. Over time, the aim is that these structures will help restore natural hydrology, boost biodiversity, create healthier (and cooler) wildlife corridors, and improve community resilience to drought, wildfire, and flood. 

Building a Network of Practitioners 

Restoration projects are also a chance to share what we’ve learned and spread this type of work through many practitioners. Alongside the construction work, we hosted a hands‑on Low‑Tech Process‑Based Restoration (LTPBR) workshop for participants from the Province of BC, local First Nations, and environmental NGOs. 

Over two days, participants learned how to assess sites, design BDAs and PALS, and build them in the field. Working side‑by‑side with our crew, they gained practical skills and built connections with others restoring wetlands and streams across the province.

Many participants noted that while they had studied the theory of these methods before, this was their first time getting hands‑on experience in the stream building BDAs and PALS. Together with our team, they gathered branches, sticks, and rocks from the surrounding area and wove them together to form the core of each structure. For the PALS, they worked methodically to help place each log in a thoughtful — yet intentionally “messy” — arrangement, mimicking the way nature builds. For the BDAs, they layered and packed in mud to hold everything in place, shaping each dam with a gentle ramp on the upstream side and a skirt of branches downstream, following the same patterns found in natural beaver dams. Untreated wooden posts were driven into the structures to provide stability. By the end of the build, participants could see water pooling and diverting behind and around their new structures — the first step in creating healthier, wetter habitat.

“It was so helpful to get into the water and do the work. All the desktop-based learning really came together for me. Emma patiently managed our lack of confidence (“a stick laid is a stick played”), Alana kept us safe and organized, Leanne answered every single random question we could think of, Geneva showed us some great pro-tips, and everyone was very welcoming and supportive. They were a pleasure to work with; even while lifting large portions of trees or rolling around in anoxic mud! I hope more people get to experience the workshop. It was excellent. Thanks for having us.“

— Workshop participant from the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Continuing the Momentum 

These first builds set the tone for an ambitious year ahead. We have five more sites planned for low‑tech construction this summer and are supporting a growing network of practitioners — including several who attended the workshop — as they take on their own restoration projects. 

In 2024, our team constructed 71 BDAs and one PALS across B.C. These structures are already showing results: slowing flows, spreading water onto floodplains, and re‑greening once‑dry areas. 

We are grateful to our partners — the Nature Trust of BC, Osoyoos Indian Band, snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band, and the Syilx Okanagan Nation Alliance — for their collaboration. Special thanks to Scott from Anywhere Arborist for helping us prepare materials. 

This project was made possible with support from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund, the South Okanagan Conservation Fund, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and the Watershed Security Fund. 

---

Learn More 

Our overall aim is to kickstart the creation and restoration of over 10,000 wetlands province‑wide — helping secure a healthier future for our watersheds, wildlife, and communities. And in dry landscapes like the South Okanagan, these projects are especially important. Here, every wetland we restore and every stream we reconnect is not just habitat — it’s insurance against drought, wildfire, and the loss of the living systems that make this place thrive. 

Highlight Photos

Photos throughout this article are by Jamie Long.