Public invited to Community Celebration for Harrop Wetland Restoration Project Friday
By Contributor
Friends of Kootenay Lake is inviting the public to attend a community celebration on Friday (April 24th) from 9 a.m. to Noon at the newly restored Harrop wetlands in the Harrop portion of Sunshine Bay Regional Park (trail head at 6375 Erindale Road).
During the past year many people have helped out with restoring the Harrop Wetlands and raising awareness about their values.
Included in the celebration is the unveiling of the beautiful interpretive signs made with artwork from Redfish Elementary School students.
In total the project’s cash costs were $35,800.
Funding was provided from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and Environment Canada. In-kind donations were given by Dosenberger Excavating Ltd, Harrop Procter Forest Products, Beck Designs, BC Wildlife Federation, Province of BC, Harrop Riparian Society and the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
The goal of the wetland restoration project was to improve the fish and wildlife habitat on one of the few remaining wetland areas on the shores of Kootenay Lake.
The project focused on:
- Restoring 3 existing wetland ponds
- Building a snake hibernaculum
- Establishing a long term citizen science amphibian monitoring group
- Raising community awareness about the values of wetlands
- Creating painted turtle nesting habitat
- Planting native trees and shrubs.
The restoration will improve habitat for provincially blue-listed species including western toads, great blue heron, and painted turtle.
A special thanks to our Funders the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and Environment Canada for making this project possible!
Photo Caption: Volunteer Eric plants native plants. — Submitted photo
