The Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) has purchased 4.9 hectares (12 acres) of seasonally-flooded mature water birch forest, on the banks of Keremeos Creek near Olalla, between Penticton and Keremeos.
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The property is an intact streamside water birch forest, one of very few remaining in the Okanagan-Similkameen. It provides habitat for at least five federally-listed species at risk, including the yellow-breasted chat, western screech owl and Lewis鈥檚 woodpecker. It is also good habitat for deer, bear, bobcat and badger that travel across the valley, and for rainbow trout in the creek.
| Tireless volunteer Ron Taylor helping out at a Winfield Fish and Game Club fundraiser in 2002. |
SILT is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit charity dedicated to conserving land for all living things. SILT works to acquire wildlife habitat that act as stepping-stones for animal movement through developed areas.
SILT believes that maintaining public access to its conservation lands rewards and further engages the people that support and benefit from habitat conservation.
鈥淭he Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is very pleased to contribute to the purchase of this property to protect some very rare undisturbed valley bottom habitat in the Okanagan,鈥� said HCTF CEO Brian Springinotic. Though the foundation was not aware of SILT鈥檚 plan to name the property after Ron Taylor when it decided to support the project, Springinotic says it is a fitting tribute. 鈥淣aming this property after Ron is a fantastic way to recognize his many contributions to conservation in B.C., including past participation on the HCTF board of directors.鈥�
Learn more and donate to support SILT at: . Tax receipts will be issued for donations of cash, land or bequests.
Steve Kidd
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