Melinda Watson’s role as Director and Environmental Stewardship Chair of the Kootenay Livestock Association (KLA) is pivotal in advocating for both the agricultural community and wildlife conservation. Her deep-rooted connection to ranching, combined with her background in forestry and education, provides a well-rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities in her field. She is dedicated to ensuring that ranchers and farmers are valued and financially supported, and is focused on improving communication between ranchers/farmers and government agencies.
Melinda’s goal is to bolster local support and bring awareness to the critical role of farming in food security and conservation. She notes that herself, along with others, are concerned about the challenges faced by agricultural producers.
“One of my goals is to communicate the importance of keeping these family farms alive. It is a lifestyle, but we also need to recognize that it is how we make our living. If agriculture is not able to support a family financially, there are not going to be any farms and ranches left. We talk about food security all the time, but for this to be a sustainable reality, there needs to be more local support for the farming community.”
Melinda is a third-generation rancher/farmer living near Cranbrook. In addition to managing a ranch with her family, Melinda previously worked in forestry, and then as an Educational Assistant for several years. She supports KLA’s Agriculture in the Classroom program and is interested in expanding her involvement with it, as she sees education as a critical tool for increasing public awareness about agriculture and its intersection with conservation.
A significant challenge Melinda faces is balancing wildlife conservation with agricultural productivity. Her ranch has about 800 acres of mixed grasslands, forests, and hay fields, with incredible views of the Steeples mountain range. She often observes a herd of elk grazing or passing through, and notes that the increasing presence of elk on ranches across the Kootenays has led to significant crop damage, which is a concern shared by many ranchers. Despite this, Melinda and her family, as well as the neighbouring ranchers, choose not to fence their land in order to maintain wildlife corridors, understanding that fences could disrupt wildlife migration and have adverse effects on the ecosystem.
She explains how the KLA helped administer a wildlife fencing program many years ago. “This resulted in wildlife fencing on participating private land, meaning that some ranchers fenced, and some didn’t. Years later, those landowners that chose not to fence have 100% of the growing elk population habituated to their irrigated crops. There are still some ranchers who feel that fencing is probably the only way to go, but I’m hopeful that it is not. Fencing can cut off corridors and change migratory paths, which can be devastating to wildlife.”
Through the KLA, Melinda aims to foster a unified voice on this and other key issues, and collaborate with wildlife and conservation specialists. This can be a challenge with a diverse membership of over 70 ranchers and farmers.
“We want to focus on solutions, and we recognize that while it is not going to be perfect, something needs to happen. We are seeing elk cows having multiple calves because of ample feed and favourable weather conditions. They are having their calves in the irrigated pastures, almost like a domestic herd of elk. This is a problem that hasn’t been addressed yet.”
Melinda’s renewed focus on communications within the KLA is evident in recent initiatives including developing a website earlier this year, which currently features two impactful short films about the intersections of agriculture and conservation. These films are Guardians of the Grasslands, produced by a group of dedicated conservationists, ranchers and Canadian filmmakers, and Too Close to Home, produced by the BC Cattlemen’s Association.
Melinda is excited to be involved with the KLA production of three upcoming videos, designed to highlight agricultural challenges and the importance of conservation. One of the videos will showcase the Grassland & Rangeland Enhancement Program (GREP), which is a collaboration between the KLA, the Columbia Basin Trust, and the Ministry of Forests, and is focused on promoting the stewardship of grasslands on public lands, such as range for cattle. “GREP focuses on enhancing the stewardship of grasslands on public lands, which includes infrastructure improvements like fencing, cattle guards, and water wells for cattle on range to support keeping cattle out of sensitive riparian management areas,” Melinda explains.
As an active member of the East Kootenay Wildlife Habitat Advisory Committee (EWHAC), Melinda continues her work to bridge the gap between agriculture and wildlife. “I don’t know if it’s as big of a gap as everybody makes it out to be,” she reflects. “I think if there was more communication, which I am really trying hard for – to get at the table with everybody, so that we can all sit down and discuss what has to happen – we would be able to find solutions that benefit local agricultural producers as well as wildlife.”
Through her diverse roles and initiatives, Melinda is making significant strides in promoting sustainable agriculture, improving public understanding, and fostering cooperation between ranchers, farmers, and conservationists. Her efforts reflect a holistic approach to managing the land and its wildlife while ensuring the viability of local farming communities.
Photos: Views of the Steeples Range from Spring Creek Ranch, by Melinda Watson; Field Tour of the East Kootenay Stewardship Committee meeting in May of 2024 at Spring Creek Ranch; Melinda in September of 2024.
