Latest acquisition for Nature Trust in land in Lardeau Valley
By Contributor
The Nature Trust of British Columbia is pleased to announce the acquisition of Lardeau–Duncan–Meadow Creek South property with the support of the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP).
This 31 hectare (76 acre) property expands the Lower Lardeau Duncan Conservation Lands Complex.
It is located near the community of Meadow Creek in the West Kootenay, and is adjacent to The Nature Trust’s existing Lardeau-Duncan property.
Meadow Creek South is on the floodplain of the Duncan River which supports regionally significant fisheries. The terrain is relatively flat, comprised of a diverse cottonwood and conifer riparian forest, shrub thickets, sedge wetlands, cattail marshes, tall grass meadows, and small open water sloughs.
It supports many species including the Blue-listed Great Blue Heron, Grizzly Bear, and Western Toad, and is in the heart of a riparian complex of beaver ponds and wetlands.
“We are pleased to conserve this ecologically rich property with the largest wetland slough remaining on the Lardeau-Duncan floodplain,” said Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of BC.
“We have been working in this area with our partners since 1981. And the Meadow Creek South property will add to our existing 405 hectares (1,000 acres) of conservation holdings.”
“Wetland conservation and restoration is outlined in our Action Plans and has been identified as a priority for us in the last few years,” says Grant Trower, public representative on the FWCP Columbia Region Board.
“We are, therefore, very happy to help purchase this important property that is already supporting many species of wildlife.”
Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams.
The Nature Trust of British Columbia is dedicated to protecting BC’s natural diversity of plants and animals through the acquisition and management of critical habitats.
Since 1971 The Nature Trust along with our partners has invested more than $90 million to secure over 71,000 hectares (175,000 acres) across British Columbia.
