Local Conservation Fund
Regional District of Central Kootenay
A conservation benefit for rural areas around Kootenay Lake and the Slocan Valley.
We partner with the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) to support funding for high priority local conservation projects in RDCK Electoral Areas A, D, E, F and H. The purpose of this fund is to support projects that will contribute to the conservation of our natural areas. From 2016 to 2023 almost $610,000 was put towards local conservation projects. To learn more accomplishments and benefits to date, read our most recent summary report.
Landowner Information! If you own two or more adjacent parcels of land in the RDCK's Local Conservation Fund service area, you can request a parcel combination and only pay one parcel tax. For more information please contact RDCK Research Analyst Tom Dool at 250.352.8173 or TDool@rdck.bc.ca
Photo credit: Madeleine Guenette
Current Intake
General project intake is now closed. Applications for 2025 projects will open at the end of August 2024.
Are you a land trust applying for a land acquisition or covenant project?
Due to time sensitivity of securement projects, these applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Please contact us for details.
How To Apply
-- INTAKE IS NOW OPEN --
- Proposals Due October 31, 4:30pm PT -
Photo credit: Valerie Huff
What Types of Projects Are Funded?
Conservation projects are eligible to receive funding if they are:
Priority is given to projects that demonstrate partnerships with other funders.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are accepted from the following:
Other groups or organizations may partner with one of the qualified groups listed above.
Photo credit: Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society
Photo credit: Michele Halleran
How Are Projects Selected?
A Technical Review Committee reviews project proposals and makes recommendations to the RDCK for final funding approval. The framework for the Technical Review is based on the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification of direct threats.
Curious About Previously Funded Projects?
A list of projects funded between 2016 to 2024 can be found here.
Learn more about previous projects by visiting their profiles: a snapshot into the what and why of each.
The Full Story
Our experience establishing the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund helped us to work with local governments to bring a conservation fund to the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK).
A Process Driven By Research
Market research polling in the West Kootenays supported the Central Kootenay process. This research helped to determine the RDCK Local Conservation Fund service area, and offered insight into residents’ values, priorities, and willingness to pay for a dedicated fund for conservation.
After a successful vote in November 2014—held in conjunction with the local election in Electoral Areas A, D and E (around Kootenay Lake)—the RDCK established a Local Conservation Fund. The financing mechanism was set to a parcel tax of $15 per parcel per year, which is applied to all parcels (residential, industrial and commercial) in the service area. The service has since been expanded to include electoral areas H (Slocan Valley) and F (remainder of Kootenay Lake area).
Our research showed that habitat, wildlife and water are important to residents in the area. The fund’s Terms of Reference reflect this, listing conservation of water, wildlife, and habitat as the fund themes.
The Impact
From 2016 to 2023, 50 grants were approved totalling almost $610,000. This local investment has leveraged over four times that amount in external grants and in-kind support, not including two conservation acquisitions which, if included, raises the leveraged funding to over 30 times additional funding.
