Highlights from Year 1 (2019-20) to Year 7 (2025-26) are listed below.
Year 7 Highlights (2025-26)
This video summarizes work completed by The Nature Trust of BC in Year 7 (2025-2026) of Kootenay Connect Priority Places projects in Wycliffe Conservation Complex.
This video summarizes Kootenay Connect Priority Places projects completed in Year 7, in the Wycliffe Conservation Complex by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Year 7 of the project (fiscal 2025-26) marked the final year of effort at the Complex, guided by a work plan comprised of several sub-projects. The Partners hired the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) to implement invasive plant management across the Complex in 2025, guided by the Wycliffe Conservation Complex Invasive Species Management Plan. Work included chemical treatment, treatment monitoring, long-term effectiveness plot monitoring, InvasivesBC data entry and reporting. Fencing projects on the Complex were much smaller in scope than in recent years. During the 2025 field season, The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) administered one contract for a wildlife-friendly fence replacement project on NTBC managed land. In addition, MWLRS and the project manager disposed of fence materials located on provincial conservation land as a much smaller, second initiative under this sub-project.
Year 6 Highlights (2024-25)
The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) and its partner organizations are enhancing habitat for species at risk in the Wycliffe Conservation Complex, including using wildlife-friendly fencing and managing invasive species. This video summarizes the project activities completed in Year 6 of Kootenay Connect.
Year 6 of the project (2024-25) marked another ambitious effort at the Complex, guided by a work plan comprised of several sub-projects. With another busy year on the books, the Conservation Partners again required a project manager to assist with procurement, contract development, coordination and supervision. Marc Trudeau, Executive Director with the Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society (RMTNRS) was thus contracted in May 2024 to serve in this role. Invasive plant control efforts occurred across all three Partner jurisdictions: lands secured by NTBC, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), and the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (MWLRS or The Province). NTBC administered contracts with two fencing specialists to complete five fencing projects across the Complex. In 2024, fence work included the removal of derelict fences, the replacement of old range fences utilizing a wildlife-friendly design, and the construction of one new build in a previously unfenced location.
Bootleg Contracting Ltd. was contracted by The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) and The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to assess and repair selected sections of fence within the Wycliffe Conservation Complex as part of its implementation of the Wycliffe Conservation Property Complex Monitoring and Maintenance Plan (Masse, 2021). Fence sections on parcels owned by either NCC, NTBC, or the Province of BC (BC Gov) were prioritized by conservation land managers and mapped for monitoring (assessment) and maintenance by Bootleg Contracting Ltd.
Year 5 Highlights (2023-24)
Year 5 of the project (2023-24) marked another ambitious on-the-ground effort, guided by an annual work plan. The Wycliffe Conservation Area Complex (the “Complex”) includes lands secured by The Nature Trust of British Columbia (NTBC), the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), and the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (MWLRS or The Province), together known as the “Conservation Partners” or “Partners”. On behalf of the Partners, NTBC administered contracts for six separate fence projects across the Complex, with two bonus/extra projects completed as a result of one fence project coming under budget. In 2023, fence work included the removal of unneeded fences, repairs to compromised fences (and gates and braces), as well as new fence builds in previously unfenced locations.
This map shows the 2023 fencing projects in the Wycliffe Wildlife Corridor, including fence and gate repair, construction, and removal.
Year 4 Highlights (2022-23)
The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) and its partner organizations are enhancing habitat for species at risk in the Wycliffe Conservation Complex, including using wildlife-friendly fencing and managing invasive species. This video summarizes the project activities completed in Year 4 of Kootenay Connect.
Year 4 of the project (2022-23) marked another ambitious ‘on-the-ground’ effort guided by the annual work plan. With this anticipated workload, the Conservation Partners hired a project manager to assist with organizing contracts, project implementation and contract supervision and various administrative functions (chairing meetings, financial tracking, communications and assistance with reporting). For the invasive species work, NTBC utilized Kootenay Connect Funds to once again hire the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) and its subcontractor to implement work across the Complex, as recommended in the Invasive Species Management Plan. The fencing projects were primarily funded by ECCC/Kootenay Connect and CBT EEP funding. NTBC issued contracts for eight fence projects across the Complex, on behalf of the partners. This work included the removal of unneeded fences, repairs to compromised fences, replacement of fences in poor or non-functioning condition as well as, new fence builds in previously unfenced locations to protect and secure the conservation values within.
Year 3 Highlights (2021-22)
The third year of the project (2021-22) marked a transition where most funding was put to ‘on-the-ground’ projects on the Complex, which was exciting after so much time and effort had been spent on the planning components. NTBC utilized Kootenay Connect Funds to hire the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) to implement work across the Complex, as recommended in the ISMP. This included inventory, chemical treatment, treatment monitoring, long-term effectiveness plot monitoring, data entry, and reporting. CBT funds supplemented this work. NTBC also managed several fence contracts across the Complex, on behalf of the partners. This work included the removal of unneeded fences, repairs to compromised fences, replacement of fences in poor or non-functioning condition as well as, new fence builds in previously unfenced locations.
Year 1 Highlights (2019-20)
This map provides an overview of the available data for wildlife corridor identification in the study area.
This map shows the cumulative impacts in the Wycliffe study area.
This map shows the location of the principal wildlife corridor in the Wycliffe study area.
