Author: Jamie Long

Restoring Balance — Wetland Renewal at Crooked Horn Farm

In the heart of Winlaw, B.C., Crooked Horn Farm has transformed a portion of its farmland into a vibrant wetland habitat through a partnership with the Slocan River Streamkeepers, the B.C. Wildlife Federation, and two organic farm owners. This initial project, introduced in 2016 and carried into 2017 by local conservationist and Program Manager for…
Building Like Beavers — BCWF’s 10,000 Wetlands Project Update

BCWF’s 10,000 Wetlands Project Aims to Restore British Columbia’s Watersheds After centuries of beaver exploitation and loss of productive beaver habitat, the B.C. Wildlife Federation is transforming ecosystem restoration in British Columbia through its innovative 10,000 Wetlands project. This initiative leverages low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) techniques, inspired by beavers’ tenacious dam-building tendencies, to address pressing…
Advancing Wetland Conservation — 2024 End of Season WESP Update

Over the past three years, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol (WESP) initiative has achieved remarkable milestones, setting the groundwork for a standardized approach to conserving wetlands in British Columbia. The WESP tool, originally developed by Dr. Paul Adamus, aims to provide a standardized method for assessing the critical functions and values of…
The Secret World of Wetland Fungi

Wetland fungi play a vital role in shaping wetland ecosystems and habitat for a huge variety of fish and wildlife, according to the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s resident “fun guy,” amateur mycologist, Todd Huang. These humble mushrooms form partnerships with plants, increase soil fertility, and even clean the water of pollutants, all without drawing much attention…
From Forage to Foe — The Environmental Impact of Reed Canarygrass Invasion

For over a decade, Dr. Catherine Tarasoff has been working to mitigate the impacts of invasive species in British Columbia. Equipped with a PhD in Weed Science (otherwise known as Crop Science) from Oregon State University, Dr. Tarasoff’s expertise highlights the necessity of knowledge-driven management strategies to combat these ecological threats. One particular focus has…
Wetlands Institute in Creston & Salmo — 2024

This September, the B.C. Wildlife Federation held its 22nd annual Wetlands Institute in Creston and Salmo, B.C., on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa and Sinixt Nations. Since its inception in 2002, the Wetlands Institute—an immersive, educational wetland conservation program—has brought together ecological professionals and environmental stewards from across British Columbia to learn…
Reduction of Watershed Security Funding a Blow to Reconciliation

The BC Watershed Security Coalition is asking all candidates in the 2024 BC Election to sign the Watershed Security Pledge as a commitment to invest in the health and well-being of British Columbians and the economic stability of local communities. Provincial funds from the Watershed Security Fund are diminishing as we head into 2025, which…
World Rivers Day — Celebrating and Protecting Our Waterways

This year, World Rivers Day falls on Sunday, September 22, 2024, and there are plenty of ways you can participate to support healthy rivers and watersheds! “The health of a river mirrors that of a human. Just as a person’s lifestyle influences their well-being later in life, the quality of a river’s tributaries determines its…
nʔaʕx̌ʷt (Ginty’s Pond) — The Power of Partnerships

As much as 85% of wetlands have been lost in the Okanagan and Similkameen region. Given the heavy dependency on water conservation in farming communities like Cawston, BC—known as the Organic Capital of Canada—the opportunity to restore Ginty’s Pond (nʔaʕx̌ʷt) back to an open water wetland was a clear choice for Josie Symonds, a senior…
Ginty’s Pond (nʔaʕx̌ʷt) Wetland Restoration Enters Second Phase

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…