Description:
Slocan Lake Stewardship Society (SLSS), in conjunction with Slocan River Streamkeepers (SRS), have completed the first phase of a riparian restoration and enhancement project on two crown land sites on the Slocan River: Perry Bridge (north and south) and Oxbow Island. The sites are situated on active low and mid-bench floodplains including roughly 2.5 km of shoreline and 13.8 ha of land. The enhancement of these sites will improve fish habitat in the river by ensuring that the cottonwood stands persist and large woody debris continues to enter the riverine system, and riparian vegetation provides shade and food. In addition, a healthy riparian community will help reduce riverbank erosion. As an integral component of the Perry-Oxbow restoration works, wildlife habitat enhancements were completed with the installation of bird nesting boxes and western painted turtle basking logs. There are several species-at-risk that have been observed in the restoration sites, including western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), Lewis’s woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), great blue heron (Ardea herodias herodias), tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), and western screech owl (Megascops kennicottii).

Keywords: riparian; species at risk; restoration

Authors:

Organization: Slocan Lake Stewardship Society

Category: Riparian & Wetland Restoration

Focal Area: Slocan River Valley

Resource Type: Report

Year: 2026