Focal Area
Columbia Valley Wetlands
One of the largest intact wetland complexes in North America, an international Ramsar site recognized by the United Nations.
About
The Upper Columbia River and Columbia Wetlands are one of the largest wetland complexes in BC and one of the largest floodplain systems in North America. The 180-km long stretch of wetlands extends from Canal Flats in the south to Donald north of Golden contributing significantly to the Pacific Flyway for migrating birds. Much of the 26,000-hectare Columbia Wetlands is encompassed within the Columbia Wetlands Wildlife Management Area with natural levees separating several hundred sub-basins with differing amounts of marsh. open water, riparian shrub and floodplain forest that supports high biodiversity, ecosystem services, and opportunities for climate change mitigation.
Kootenay Connect Partners
The lead organization in the Columbia Valley Wetlands focal area is the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners. This non-profit partnership includes over 30 organizations dedicated to working with all levels of government, community groups, and the public to implement a shared stewardship model for the management of the upper Columbia River and adjacent Columbia Wetlands.
