Description:
In the fifth year (2023-24) of working on the Kootenay Connect initiative, the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners (CWSP) was contracted to operate the continuation of Years 1-4 (2020-23) of species at risk conservation and inventory work in the Columbia Wetlands. This project was comprised of three main components designed by Goldeneye Ecological Services to: 1) improve Western Painted Turtle (WPT) habitat based on Years 2 and 3 inventories and Year 4 enhancements; 2) continue Years 2-4 monitoring effort for Osprey; and 3) expand Year 4’s inventory of American Badger burrows and habitat to inform applications for Badger Wildlife Habitat Features (WHFs) and Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHAs) in regions identified as federally designated critical habitat. Wildlife Habitat Feature and/or WHA submissions were made for American Badger, Mountain Goat mineral licks, and follow-up was done for alkali-saltgrass ecological community WHAs made previously.

Keywords: species at risk; inventory; restoration

Authors:

Organization: Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners

Category: Species at Risk

Focal Area: Columbia Wetlands

Resource Type: Report

Year: 2024