Environmental Protection Discussion Paper, January 2002
1.0 Introduction
The Central Okanagan is a region of rich natural heritage. The combination of a semi-arid climate, large freshwater lakes and complex valley terrain provides the conditions for a wide diversity of plant and wildlife communities.
The climatic conditions that support this diversity also provide favorable conditions for human settlement and agriculture. In the last two decades the Central Okanagan has been an area of rapid growth and development pressure.
In order to effectively plan for and manage future growth and development, the communities of Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland, the Regional District of Central Okanagan and provincial agencies are working in partnership to achieve common goals and vision of a Regional Growth Strategy. This Environmental Protection Discussion Paper is one of a series focusing on key issues applying to growth.
1.1 Purpose of the Discussion Paper
The identification of environmental attributes and the understanding of natural processes is a key component in community planning. The discussion paper provides for circulation of ideas and themes relating to regional* environmental protection. It will generate policy and management review, and will guide future development and investment decisions.
The discussion paper focuses on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, i.e., streams and riparian areas, grasslands, forests, and natural areas that support a diversity of wildlife and plants. It includes a description of environmental management programs, roles and responsibilities. The environmental protection discussion paper complements separate discussion papers on regional water resources and air quality.
As new strategies and programs are introduced to the region, it is important that public decision makers be aware of and supportive of each other’s initiatives. In the absence of such understanding, settlement and public infrastructure decisions may inadvertently degrade the health of our environment. Therefore the scope of the discussion paper is inclusive of all lands and bodies of water situated within the Central Okanagan Regional District, an area of 3,142 square kilometers in size that includes three municipalities and
* Generally, unless otherwise noted, the term “region” is used to refer to a geographic area consisting of the land and water situated within the boundaries of the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) and/or one of its member municipalities. transcends various administrative boundaries. (refer to map, Central Okanagan Administrative Boundaries)
Within this area, through the Central Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy, the three municipalities and three electoral areas are working together with provincial agencies to plan effectively for future growth. It is anticipated that over the next twenty years, homes will be built, employment created and community services established to house an additional 80,000 to 100,000 new residents.
While this report does not address the entire Okanagan Valley region, its authors recognize that activities taken within the Central Okanagan often have consequences on the larger region, and vice versa. Provincial and national influences outside of the regional district boundaries impact community growth and environmental protection activities within the Central Okanagan. In spite of these influences, experience has shown that many community objectives may be achieved by concerted efforts of local decision makers working within the Central Okanagan region.
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Development of this Discussion Paper was overseen by the Central Okanagan Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, which is comprised of staff from municipal and provincial agencies. This Committee worked in tandem with the Environmental Advisory Committee, which is a regional board appointed committee of interested citizens and representatives from professional and community organizations.
The Environmental Protection Discussion Paper engaged local government, provincial agency staff and non-government organizations in compiling information, in assessing regional policy directions and in making recommendations for future activities. The information contained in this report is intended to be available for public use and reference. The recommendations are to be considered when undertaking long-range planning and investment activities. The objective is to fulfill a common goal of environmental protection during a period of sustained population growth.
1.2 The Challenge of Growth
Since the 1970’s the rate of growth in the Central Okanagan has presented both challenges and concerns to the provincial government and to local governments. Although controlled growth can be beneficial to the community, rapid growth can have undesirable impacts on the land base, on plant and animal communities, and on the natural features that define the region.
In 1970 the population of the Central Okanagan region was approximately 50,0001. In 1996 (date of last census) the population was 136,0002. It is projected that the population, now exceeding 150,000 persons, will increase by an additional 80,000 by year 20203, a rate of growth in the vicinity of two percent per year.
The pattern of growth is managed through land use and servicing decisions made by a variety of public authorities and by private landowners. With the rapid increase in population over the past 30 years and the expectation of continued growth through the next 20 years, local efforts will be needed in order to protect the environmental features and natural processes that contribute to the quality of environment.
1 Canada-British Columbia Okanagan Basin Agreement, Technical Supplement 1, 1974 2 Statistics Canada, 1996 Census 3 BC Stats, PEOPLE Projection Model, year 2000 report
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Recently, in response to concerns on a provincial basis, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs1 encouraged local governments to develop regional growth strategies. The purpose of the regional growth strategy is to promote human settlement that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy and that makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land and other resources. More specifically, the growth strategy addresses issues of “provincial interest” i.e.: · Protecting environmentally sensitive areas, · Maintaining the integrity of a secure and productive resource base, · Reducing and preventing pollution, and 2 · Achieving settlement patterns that minimize the risks associated with natural hazards
Within the Central Okanagan, three municipalities and three electoral areas supported a Growth Management Strategy bylaw approved in June 2000 and signaled intent to take action in the interest of environmental protection.
1.3 Scope of the Discussion Paper
The Discussion Paper contains the following sections.
Chapters 2, 3 and 4 provide a description and inventory of · natural features including topography, drainage patterns, description of natural habitats, rare species lists, etc. · human settlement features including current settlement patterns, access routes and anticipated future settlement patterns, and · environmental protection management tools and operations including major regional and provincial parks, flood protection measures, pollution permitting, and environmental control.
Chapter 5, Roles and Responsibilities contains a brief overview of · agencies and community groups involved in environmental protection · accomplishments over 20 years, and · examples of the levels of public funding for various environmental protection activities now common within the region.
1 At time of report writing, provincial ministries were undergoing a period of restructuring. In this report, the “Ministry of Municipal Affairs” is used to identify activities that are now conducted by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services. “BC Environment” and “BC Parks” are used to identify activities that are now conducted by Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management and Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2 Source: Provincial Growth Strategies Planning Mandate for the Okanagan, 1997 4
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Chapter 6, Emerging Issues describes key regional issues that were identified and articulated through consultation with community members, specifically issues of · water resources and air quality · natural diversity · sustainability and pressures of population · natural hazards and · visual aesthetics.
Chapter 7, Goals and Actions contains a statement of regional goals, targets for environmental protection, and a framework for action, including direction on: · What to protect? · How to improve management? and · How to improve on development and investment decisions?
Reference Sources are enclosed at end of the report, listing correspondence and published sources of information cited in this Discussion Paper.
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2.0 Environmental Attributes
This chapter and the following chapters 3 and 4 describe broad attributes of the Central Okanagan region, referencing current or earlier published inventories of environmental features, settlement areas and environmental management areas. No new inventory work was undertaken for this discussion paper.
The description of environmental attributes, human settlement patterns, and environmental management “zones” is general in nature. It is intended as a basis for understanding environmental features and the relationship to settlement and resource management tools of the Central Okanagan. It specifically does not reference individual sites or operations, but provides reference to sources of detailed information and management guidelines.
In the following sections, environmental attributes and natural features of the Central Okanagan are described as follows:
· Topography · Natural Habitats · Climate · Flora and Fauna · Aquatic Features · Rare and Endangered Species · Soils and Geology · Important Ungulates · Natural Ecosystems · Fishery Attributes
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2.1 Natural Features of the Region
The Central Okanagan region lies at the heart of the Okanagan Valley. The Valley itself is a deep glacial formed trench running north/south, bound by forested uplands known to the east as “Okanagan Highlands” and to the west as “Thompson Plateau”. Okanagan Lake is about 120 kilometers long and averages 3.5 kilometers wide, narrowing through the Central Okanagan mid-section, and supporting on its shores the communities of Kelowna, Peachland and the “Westside”. A less pronounced, parallel valley corridor houses the community of Lake Country on the shores of Wood and Kalamalka Lakes.
The Okanagan Valley lies like the neck of an hourglass between the vast boreal forests to the north and the Great Basin deserts to the south. This critical position, when combined with the altitudinal range in the valley, the chain of large lakes, and the flow of moist air off the Pacific at high elevations, produces an abundance of animal and plant species found in few other places in Canada or even North America. (source: Habitat Atlas)
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2.2 Topography
Central Okanagan’s “Regional District” boundaries follow heights of land on the east and western flanks of the valley trench. The land rises from Okanagan Lake elevation of 1120 ft (342 m) to the upland plateaus at 5000 ft (1500 m) and mountain peaks over 6000 ft. Underwater, the depth of Okanagan Lake ranges from 45 meters mid-lake at the bridge crossing to a depth of 232 meters recorded offshore from Lake Country. The bottom of the lake itself lies below sea level, covered by up to 750 meters of glacial material, sand and gravel.
The topographic features of the land have shaped the form of human settlement, and become hard reality in the design of human settlement, highways and other services in the Central Okanagan. By and large, settlement has occurred and is anticipated to continue occurring within the valley bottom and lower elevation bench lands.
General contour map1
1 Source: BC T.R.I.M 2 data
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2.3 Climate
Generally warm and sunny summers with low humidity and rainfall, and generally cloudy winters with more substantial snowfall in upper elevations characterize the climate of the Central Okanagan. Depending on elevation, growing periods (frost free days) can range annually from a mere 19 days in frost pockets at high elevations to 150 days in Kelowna 1.
Annual precipitation ranges from about 12 inches (30 cm) in the valley bottom to 40 inches (100 cm) measured at higher elevations east of Kelowna. The low amount of rainfall at valley bottom produces a net loss of runoff water in that the amount of evaporation (including from the surface of Okanagan Lake) and evapotranspiration (from plants) exceeds the amount of water replenished by precipitation.
As a general rule of thumb, the 3,500 foot (1,060 m) elevation is considered the break-even point – thus the region relies on cooler temperatures and more precipitation at higher elevations to achieve sufficient water for consumption and fisheries values.
What we may expect from Climate Change:
Current understanding of climate change makes the assumption that the provincial Southern Interior region will have some impact from global warming. Initial analysis conducted by Environment Canada predicts over the next 100 years a rise in annual temperature in the vicinity of two degrees Celsius 2 for the Okanagan region.
1 Source: Phase One Regional Plan Report – Regional Development Concepts 2 source: Stewart Cohen (UBC research project team leader) presentation in Kelowna January 2001
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2.4 Aquatic Features
Lakes, streams, water bodies
Most prominent in the landscape, and a defining feature of the Central Okanagan is the string of four large freshwater lakes - Ellison (Duck), Wood, Kalamalka and Okanagan that form the valley floor and that figure prominently in community culture, recreation and heritage. Less prominent, but important features of the environment, are the numerous lakes, wetlands and streams scattered across the uplands of Central Okanagan. Most of the upland lakes are constructed water storage reservoirs, capturing and transporting the annual snowmelt and rainfall to lower and dryer elevations in the Okanagan Basin.
Turning to the streams, four of Okanagan Lake’s largest tributaries are situated in the Central Okanagan. Mission Creek is the largest and is a substantial “river” width at its mouth. Kelowna (Mill) Creek, Peachland (Deep) Creek and Powers Creek are other major tributaries. These four together account for about 50% of the water entering Okanagan Lake.
The riparian zones of streams and the lakeshores of lower elevations, and once-numerous wetlands and marshes have been filled in or heavily altered by urban settlement and agriculture. These riparian areas once offered important habitat for fish and other wildlife, served to reduce erosion and acted as sediment traps during high flows and water levels.
Throughout the Central Okanagan, community-based efforts have been underway to protect remaining wetland areas, and to restore natural vegetation along streams1.
Drainage Patterns – Head of the Valley to the US Border
Flow of water in the Okanagan Basin begins in the upland east of Lake Country, initially in the Vernon and Oyama Creek watersheds draining downstream and northward through Ellison (Duck), Wood and Kalamalka Lakes into the headwaters of Okanagan Lake at Vernon (situated within the North Okanagan region). Once in Okanagan Lake, the downstream flow heads southwards through the Okanagan valley picking up flows from numerous small creeks and several major watercourses draining through the Central Okanagan communities of “Westside”, Kelowna and Peachland.
In 1971, research into the flows of water projected the “theoretical time in years to completely replace water” as 57 years for Okanagan Lake, a variable 20 to 109 years for Wood Lake, and 115 years for Kalamalka Lake. These rates of water turnover highlight the
1 Information on regional water resources is detailed in the companion report, “Water Resources in the Central Okanagan Region: A Discussion Paper”, June 2000
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Source: BC Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks Water Management Branch & Environment Canada; Groundwater Resources of British Columbia, 1994. 12
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General drainage basins
Groundwater flows
Potential sources of Groundwater Contamination: An important, but less understood · Fertilizers component of the water drainage pattern is · Pesticides that of groundwater flows, level of use, · Septic systems vulnerability of aquifers and recharge. · Sewage sludge · Wood preservation facilities Mapping of aquifers is now underway by · Livestock wasters BC Environment and publication is · Mine tailings anticipated. Earlier analysis showed major · Industrial chemicals aquifers situated within settlement areas of · Petroleum products the region (refer to map of aquifers in · Asphalt production & equipment cleaning · Road salt storage Okanagan Watershed). Source: State of Canada’s Environment
1 Source: Canada-British Columbia Okanagan Basin Agreement Annual Report March 1972.
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2.5 Soils and Geological Features
General Conditions affecting Settlement:
For purposes of understanding general conditions and constraints on land development and servicing, the following geological features are of note: · Areas in excess of 30% slope. · Unstable slopes, areas prone to landslip or rock fall. · Alluvial fans & Floodplains. · Aquifers & High water tables. · Soil capability for septic disposal (rate of phosphorus transmission).
Areas that Exceed 30% Slope 1
1 Source: BC T.R.I.M.1 data interpretation
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Slopes that are in excess of 30% grade are generally considered ill-suited for urban development, following traditional methods of construction and servicing (however this rule of thumb is changing, as the shortage of valley bottom land forces development onto hillsides). The stability of the soil for building foundations is a concern and the ability to build public roads with a recommended maximum grade of 12% becomes problematic and expensive though not impossible. (Refer to map, slope analysis of the Central Okanagan)
Commercial centers of Kelowna and Lake Country, as well as several residential neighborhoods across the region are subject to high water tables and are situated at the “flood elevations” of Okanagan and Wood Lakes (343 and 393 metre elevations respectively, refer to map of flood elevations in Section 2.3.4).
Soils of the Central Okanagan generally consist of fertile Dark Brown soils supporting agricultural crops in low elevations, giving way to Black soils (supporting grasslands and timber) then to Brown-Podzolic-Grey Wooded soils supporting most of the forest cover.1 Some soils in the Central Okanagan region are well suited to on site septic disposal; others are poorly suited and result in surface and below ground seepage.
During the 1970s and 1980’s a series of soil capability inventories was published by BC Environment’s Resource Mapping branch and has since been applied for determining general agricultural and settlement capability. The inventories capture valley-bottom soils and terrain and were largely based on 1972 Canada Land Inventory and air photo analysis. Soil capability inventories still in use (but no longer updated in a comprehensive manner) include: · Soil Capability for Agriculture, 1972 · Surface Soil Erosion Potential, 1986 · Soil Suitability for Septic Tank Effluent Absorption, 1982 which lead to the designation of Environmental Control Areas for Sewage Disposal, 1989.
Minerals
The understanding of mineral resources comes largely from commercial exploration activity. The western ridges of Central Okanagan are part of a larger band of “high” mineral value running from the US border north along the western ridges into the Nicola and Thompson regions.
On the eastern hills, there is a large volume of aggregate value (sand and gravel washed out along the major stream corridors) and one known uranium deposit (at Hydraulic Lake) with other known deposits south of the region in the Big White and Kettle River areas.
1 Source: Phase One Regional Plan Report – Regional Development Concepts
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For a description of particular geological features associated with the Central Okanagan, the following reference sources are recommended: · Geology of the Kelowna Area, 1995 · Aggregate Supply and Demand Study, Regional District of Central Okanagan, 2000
Geothermal Resources
Earth movement Hot Spots in the Okanagan:
“Brief mention here of geothermal heat resources in the Records of earthquake activity in the Okanagan serves to emphasize that the ancient volcanic Okanagan Valley show one quake centers have not entirely cooled. The Okanagan Valley measuring 4.5 Richter in 1936 (earliest from Winfield south is believed to have high potential as a date of record keeping). Of the geothermal heat source that could be used to heat subsequent 10 recordings in the buildings or generate electricity.” Source: Geology of the Kelowna Area Central Okanagan region, most were in the range of 2.0 to 2.9 Richter, leading to the understanding of the Okanagan “Geothermal may have applications in agricultural as being at low risk of damage from processing such as fruit drying” earthquake activity. Source: LRMP Base Case Profile Report
2.6 Natural Ecosystems
In the Central Okanagan, the natural landscape is comprised of wetland and riparian plant communities, shrub and meadow steppe, bunchgrass ecosystems, and dry open forests of Ponderosa Pine and Interior Douglas Fir. The habitat supports a large number of breeding and migrating birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and it is home to many species found only within the Okanagan, as well as some species now at risk in the province.
Mid and low elevations of the Okanagan Valley are recognized as a place of unique and very special natural habitat. The combination of climate and geology provides the conditions for a wide variety of plant communities. As a result, the Central Okanagan is part of an ecosystem corridor of almost unparalleled biological diversity in the province of British Columbia and in Canada as a whole. Furthermore, the region provides an important physical link in the corridor between the extensive grassland systems and dry forest ecosystem of Central British Columbia (Thompson, Nicola and Cariboo), the desert grassland ecosystems of the South Okanagan and the “Great Basin” of Washington State, Oregon and Idaho.
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General Biogeoclimatic Zones of the Central Okanagan
Rare Ecosystems
There is growing awareness in British Columbia that the grassland ecosystem is threatened. Covering only about 1.8 percent of the province, grasslands are unique ecosystems and highly varied. While historic range use and fire suppression activities are known to diminish the health of grasslands, human encroachment (and particularly fragmentation of natural grasslands) is now the greatest threat to the golden grassland corridor threading through the Okanagan Valley. In the Okanagan, it is estimated that less than 10 percent of the historical grasslands remain in a relatively natural state.
Within the Central Okanagan, this critical corridor is associated with the dry Interior Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine “Biogeoclimatic Zones” shown on the enclosed map of “Natural Grasslands and Low Elevation Open Forests”1
1 Source: LRMP – Resource Management Zones, April 2001
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Natural Grasslands and Low Elevation Open Forests
2.7 Natural Habitats
Part of the unique attributes of the Central Okanagan is the diversity of natural landscapes and habitats. Moving from the valley floor to height of the plateaus, the region is defined by a progression from open grasslands, through riparian woodlands, past rock outcrops and steep canyons to mature coniferous forests.
The following habitat descriptions reflect the importance to wildlife, and particularly to “wildlife at risk”.
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Natural Habitats of the Central Okanagan
Shrub-Grassland
The dry shrub-grasslands represent the northern-most extension of the Great Basin shrub-steppe community. Drought and wildfire restrict tree growth where grasses and shrubs dominate the landscape.
In pristine conditions, widely spaced bunchgrasses and a Threats to ‘At Risk” Wildlife well-developed lichen crust are interspersed with drought · tolerant shrubs. Low elevation grasslands are subject to development pressure from the expanding population.
· The remaining grasslands are fragmented Rock Outcroppings and may suffer from loss of species along
Rock outcroppings in the grasslands provide roosting and their borders (edge effect) due to disturbance denning opportunities for animals that otherwise could not from adjacent developed areas. · Some grassland areas have been cleared of survive in expansive grasslands. shrubs and burned for “improvement”.
· Weed invasion and off-road vehicle activity
Gullies & Ravines can further degrade this ecosystem.
Within the grasslands, the relatively moist, rich soils and shaded conditions of gullies and ravines support dense shrub growth. These habitats provided critical food, cover and movement corridors for wildlife. Many gullies and ravines have been cleared or filled to accommodate roads, agricultural or urban development. In others, the under-story is often damaged by livestock congregating in the shade.
Coniferous Forests
As the valley floor rises toward the steep surrounding mountains, open stands of ponderosa pine dot the warmer slopes, forming parkland forests. Mature trees exceed 40 meters in height , with trunk diameters more than one meter across. The understory often consists of sparse bluebunch, wheatgrass, arrow-leaved balsamroot and Saskatoon. ‘Douglas fir grow on cooler sites near the valley floor and become more common at higher elevations. Western larch grow on the wetter, east side of the valley at mid-elevations. Further up the slopes, stands of lodgepole pine and other conifers dominate the landscape. Here, the understory is filled with shrubs and pinegrass. (CHECK LIST of PLANTS)
Wildlife Trees Threats to ‘At Risk” Wildlife · Removal of dead standing snags used as Wildlife trees are standing dead or live trees that provide valuable nest holes habitat for wildlife. · Low elevation forests may disappear with A century of harvesting many of the largest trees at lower increased residential and subdivision elevations has left very few snags for wildlife. development on forested slopes. · Old growth trees, used as roosting, nesting and denning habitat for birds and mammals, are subject to logging pressure.
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Wetlands & Water Bodies
The life force in this otherwise hot, dry valley is water. In wetland ecosystems, a number of very different habitat types occur within close proximity. The most significant wetlands and water bodies are lower elevation lakes, ponds, wet meadows, riparian thickets and marshes. Threats to ‘At Risk” Wildlife Like giant sponges, wetlands store and slowly release spring · Since wetland and riparian areas are critical runoff and rainfall, reducing flooding and soil erosion. Like for so many species, the loss of a small area kidneys, wetlands purify water by filtering wastes and toxins, can have a dramatic effect on local wildlife including some pesticides and fertilizers. populations. · Small ponds and marshes may be A vast array of species rely on wetlands because of presence of permanently drained and filled for agriculture water, rich nutrients and diversity of habitats. Wetlands not only or development. provide food and shelter for resident creatures but attract animals · Natural travel corridors running between form up to several kilometers away to feed or drink. ponds and surrounding grassland or forest habitats are often blocked by roads and surrounding development. Riparian Woodlands · Water consumption for human and agricultural uses can diminish stream flows, Narrow, dense bands of deciduous thickets along rivers and dry up summer breeding sites, and change lakes host a community of their own. These multi-layered mineral concentrations in ponds and lakes. woodlands provide shade from the hot sun, a buffer from the · Livestock can trample streamside vegetation snow and wind, and food. These woodlands also serve as travel and reduce the quality of riparian habitat for and migration corridors for many species. Aquatic species wildlife. benefit from the shade, which moderates the water temperature. · Sediments and chemicals from storm water discharge, agricultural fertilizers and A wealth of insects in the riparian woodlands supports dense pesticides, and sewage effluent can erode flocks of songbirds, with enough left over to attract the voracious and impact on riparian and wetland appetites of many bat species. ecosystems.
Vegetation along the shores of most lakes and streams has been almost entirely eliminated. In fact, our communities and intensively developed agricultural lands now occur where riparian woodlands once flourished. (for example, the natural floodplains of Mission, Kelowna and Middle Vernon Creeks are now the most densely settled areas of Kelowna and Lake Country).
Cliffs/Canyons/Talus
More than ten thousand years have failed to erase scars made by huge glaciers, hundreds of feet thick that carved and melted their way through the valley. The resulting cliffs, canyons and talus (rocky debris accumulated at the bottom of cliff faces) create an inviting habitat for a spectacular array of wildlife species.
This steep and rugged terrain with its crevices, ledges, caverns and deep recesses provides year-round shelter from predators and the elements for many wildlife species. It also offers roosting, nesting, perching and hibernating sites.
These centuries -old landforms are not immune to development pressures. Rock cliff habitats are impacted by road building, talus extraction for riprap and rock climbing. Developments on land adjacent to cliffs can restrict wildlife species; access to escape routes, travel corridors and feeding areas.
Extracts from: Habitat Atlas for Wildlife at Risk and A National Treasure – Habitats of the South Okanagan.
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2.8 Flora and Fauna
The Okanagan supports 200 native species of birds, over 50 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and an estimated 10 – 20,000 invertebrate species. From a public management perspective, species are categorized on the basis of their value to economic conditions (enhanced for hunting, trapping, fishing opportunities - or controlled for agricultural and forest crop production); on the basis of their sensitivity or population declines; and on the basis of their association with a particular region.
For a full description of flora and fauna associated with the Central Okanagan, the following reference sources are recommended:
· Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia, 1996, edited by Parish, Coupe and Lloyd gives a thorough account of forest and non-forest land plant groups and a few aquatic plants. · Habitat Atlas for Wildlife at Risk – South Okanagan and Lower Similkameen, 1998 by the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, gives a description of habitat threats and requirements for species at risk in the Okanagan. · Birds of the Okanagan Valley, 1987, by Cannings gives a description of the 193 species of birds that breed or have bred in the Okanagan.
Why do natural plant communities need protection?
“Conserving biological diversity at a variety of scales is required if we wish to maintain a healthy biosphere. It is just as important to protect genetic variation and ecosystem diversity as it is to protect species diversity, if we wish to maintain B.C.’s biological diversity.
Currently, there are a number of natural plant communities in B.C. that are on the verge of extirpation or extinction. Not only do these communities provide habitat for many rare plants and animals, they also perform functions that influence their environment, and they set the stage for the complex interactions between organisms and their environment which set the stage for evolution. Losing these natural plant communities would not only harm the species that depend on them, it would also have far reaching effects that we cannot fully understand.
We must ensure that examples of every ecosystem type are maintained in a natural state to serve as “benchmarks” against which to measure our success in managing our natural resources, and as a reference point for restoring ecosystems that have been destroyed. It is truly in our own best interests to protect natural ecosystems so that we may enjoy and benefit from them in the future, as we have enjoyed and benefited from them in the past.”
Source: Conservation Data Centre Web Page
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2.9 Rare and Endangered Species
Perhaps most important from an environmental perspective in the Central Okanagan are the plant and animal species associated with the low elevation grassland and dry forest communities. These species are considered most at risk from habitat fragmentation and human settlement activities in the Central Okanagan.
“Good Capability” for rare & threatened species1
1 Source: LRMP, April 2001
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Conservation Data Centre Records
The British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (CDC) maintains “Tracking Lists” of endangered or vulnerable species and plant communities. A separate but coordinated list is maintained by the federal agency, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The lists below show critical species known to occur, and those that previously existed in the Central Okanagan. The lists are updated and new species added annually.
Notes to the Tables below: Ø Recorded sightings (shaded) include 23 endangered or vulnerable species or plant communities known to occur in the Central Okanagan (as per CDC records to April 2001). Ø Additional species listed below are being tracked through the Penticton and Vernon Forest Districts (no shading). Based on current and past distribution, it is likely that these species do (or did) occur in the Central Okanagan region. Some species with recent sightings confirmed by provincial wildlife officers in the Central Okanagan are noted. Ø Species flagged * appear on the list of priority species maintained by COSEWIC. Ø Species marked in italics have “two page species statements” or published guidelines for habitat protection available through provincial forest and wildlife offices.
Central Okanagan Rare Animal List Threatened “Red Listed” Vulnerable “Blue Listed” Vertebrates (Animals) Vertebrates (Animals) · Western Screech-Owl · Bobolink · Grizzly Bear (confirmed) · American Avocet · Lewis’s Woodpecker · California Bighorn Sheep · Yellow breasted Chat · Williamson’s · Fisher Sapsucker · Burrowing Owl · Sharp-tailed grouse · Wolverine · Grasshopper Sparrow · Short-eared Owl · Fringed Myotis · Lark Sparrow · Flammulated Owl · Western Small-footed Myotis · Prairie Falcon · California Gull · Spotted Bat · Swainson’s Hawk · Sandhill Crane · Townsend’s Big-eared Bat * · Ferruginous Hawk · Canyon Wren · Western Rattlesnake · Peregrine Falcon (confirmed) · Long-billed Curlew · Gopher Snake (deserticola subspecies) · White-headed Woodpecker · Great Blue Heron · Racer · Badger · American Bittern · Great Basin Spadefoot Toad · Mountain Caribou · Great Basin Pocket Mouse * · Northern leopard frog · Western Harvest Mouse
Threatened “Red Listed” Fish Vulnerable Invertebrates: · Umatilla Dace (confirmed) · Nivalis Copper · White Sturgeon
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Rare Plant (Vascular) List
Threatened or Endangered Vulnerable “Blue Listed” Plants: “Red Listed” Plants: · Rigid Fiddleneck · Three-Flowered Waterwort · Dry-land Sedge · Slender Hawksbeard · False Mermaid · Thyme-leaved Spurge · Obscure Cryptantha · Regel’s Rush · Five-angled Dodder · Red-Rooted Cyperus · Rice Cutgrass · Beaked Spike-Rush · Awned Cyperus · Great Basin Nemophila · Giant Helleborine · False-Pimpernel · Okanogan Fameflower · Dwarf Groundsmoke · Hairy Water-Clover · Northern Linanthus · Orange Touch-me -not · Needle-Leaved Navarretia · Pink Agoseris · Regel’s Rush · Peach-Leaf Willow · Western Dogbane · Rice Cutgrass · Cut-leaved Water Parsnip · Woody-branched Rockcress · Purple Oniongrass · Cockscomb Cryptantha · Bigleaf Sedge · Brewer’s monkey-flower · Hairstem Groundsmoke · Bearded Sedge · Marsh Muhly · Porcupine-Grass · Porcupine Sedge · Kellogg’s Knotweed · Mousetail · Fox Sedge · Tweedy’s Willow · Flat-topped Broomrape · Blue Vervain · Cup Clover · Scalepod Sources: · CDC records for the Central Okanagan region, April 2001; Tracking Records cross listings for Penticton and Vernon Forest Districts, April 2001; Submission from Malcolm Martin, North Okanagan Naturalists. · COSEWIC Prioritized Candidate List (September 2001. · Species statement reference Okanagan Shuswap LRMP Area Socio-Economic and Environmental Profile, April 1998 draft.
“ We know little about which invertebrates live in British Columbia, we know even less about their role… we can surmise that they are essential in maintaining resilient ecosystems. For example, many insects, including bees, flies, butterflies and beetles are key players in pollination… insects help create productive soil...Despite our general ignorance, we can say that the endangered invertebrates are threatened not by direct exploitation, but by loss or degradation of their habitats…”
Source: GG. Scudder & Syd Cannings; Inventory Priorities for and Status of Rare and Endangered Species, 1994
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2.10 Important Ungulates
Hoofed animals such as Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, moose and mountain goat are the “big-game” species considered significant in the Okanagan. Mule deer are abundant; moose populations are considered on the increase and mountain goat populations are low but considered stable. Elk is found in the Myra/Little White/Okanagan Mtn. Park vicinity. The mountain caribou, which is on the provincial “blue list” is no longer found in the Okanagan but was known to range in the 1960’s along the east side of Okanagan Lake to the Monashee Mountains. California Bighorn Sheep, also “blue listed” range on the west in the Shorts Creek to Lambly Creek area. Efforts are now underway to restore Bighorn Sheep habitat and populations on the Westside.
2.11 Fishery Attributes
Some 16 species of indigenous fish and nine introduced species are found in local lakes and streams. Those valued by the sport fishery include kokanee salmon, mountain whitefish and rainbow trout. To enhance the sport fishery, over 20 of the upland lakes are routinely stocked with brook char and/or rainbow trout from local fish hatcheries.
Crown and private land Over recent years, there has been extensive research into management and stream flow the decline of kokanee stocks. One such project allocations can affect water undertaken in 1999 by University of British Columbia quantity, temperature, oxygen fisheries biologists was able to analyze land use patterns levels, and runoff patterns and fish stocks from 1963 through 1996, and found a which in turn affect fish high statistical relationship between forestry or migration, rearing and agricultural land uses abutting the shoreline and fish spawning success. stocks. Forestry was related with higher fish numbers, agriculture was linked to lower stocks.
There was a weaker relationship between urban development situated within 500 meters of the shoreline and negative impacts on fish stock. The study recommended further research into other factors such as fluctuations in lake levels to prevent flooding, a reduction in phosphorus levels due to improved sewage treatment, and/or the introduction of myses (freshwater shrimp).
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada and BC Environment, through new legislative tools and a multi year program focus, have encouraged improved stream and shoreline habitat management through private land use planning and regulation. Within the Central Okanagan, this effort is anticipated to focus on fish bearing streams and shore spawning found on Okanagan, Kalamalka and Wood Lakes.
Of the stream habitat, the 10 or so largest streams are well mapped, inventoried and recognized through special management provisions in place by local and provincial regulators. Mission Creek, Vernon Creek and Powers Creek are some of the most productive spawning channels in the Okanagan. Many other streams measure less than 1.5 meters in width and much less is known about their fishery value. Outside of urban areas, these smaller streams often do not show up on local land use maps and management is by general regulation.
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3.0 Human Settlement Features
Humans are an integral part of the natural environment. History of the Okanogan First Nations dates back least 6000 years and probably longer. European settlement was established in the 1800’s and boosted by a productive tree fruit industry established in the 1900s. Humans, by nature, generally concentrate their activities in the warmer habitats and more fertile soils of the valley floor and low elevation bench lands.
Urban development became a key factor in the Central Okanagan upon opening of the Okanagan Lake Bridge in 1959 and was further enhanced by federal industrial incentives during the 1960’s. The population of the region quickly grew from 34,000 in 1966 to 73,000 in 1976 and continued to 136,500 by 1996. Planners (working with provincial statistics) predict that by 2020, the population will grow to a conservative estimate of 230,000 or upwards of 250,000.
View northeast from Mt Boucherie on the Westside. The visual quality of the Okanagan Valley landscape is a major factor valued by residents and tourists. High priority is given to protecting the visual aspect of forested hillsides framing settlement areas and defining viewscapes across lakes and valleys.
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Human settlement is closely linked to environmental protection in number of ways. There is a link between quality of the environment and health of the population (i.e.: protection from pollution and disease, access to food and water). Across all regions of British Columbia, there is a considerable economic link associated with the quality and protection of natural resources – forest harvest activities, range use, domestic water supply. And in the Central Okanagan, these natural resource qualities including the scenic views translate into a rich tourist economy.
The other linkage is the impacts that humans have on the environment (establishing settlement in wildlife corridors and in sensitive habitats, altering landscapes, and modifying natural processes).
In the following sections 3.1 to 3.3, there is a general description of existing and future anticipated patters of human settlement.
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3.1 Existing Settlement Patterns
The existing settlement pattern is largely based on topography, the allocation of water supplies, and the design criteria of public roads. As well, settlement land uses and private land tenures have been discouraged in upper elevation “community watersheds”. Settlement uses on private lands and on First Nation reserve lands are subject to the respective municipal, regional district or first nation servicing standards and land use policies.
At present, “urban services” such as community water or sewer are concentrated at the valley floor. When “rural” properties are excluded, the extent of urban and agricultural settlement appears largely confined to the valley bottom (refer to map below).1 Most of the settlement on the “Westside” and in Peachland occurs below the 2300-foot (700 m) elevation. Settlement in Kelowna is concentrated below 2000 ft. (600 m); that in Lake Country occurs below 1250 ft (400 meters).
A rough calculation shows 205 square kilometers of land now in urban and agricultural use (as shown below; roughly 100 sq. km in urban use, 105 in agricultural use).
Current Settlement
1 Source: BC Environment Analysis, mid 1990’s 29
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3.2 Access Routes
Of growing interest in crown land management is the factor of unrestricted public road access and outdoor recreation activity to and within sensitive environments. Within the Central Okanagan, much of the region has unrestricted open access along major forest service roads shown below.
Existing Highways, Local Roads and “Back Roads”
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3.3 Future Human Settlement Patterns
The pattern of future settlement is today being established by land use and planning decisions made by local and provincial officials, and by investments in water, sewer, transportation and other infrastructure built to serve development. An estimated increase in population from 150,000 today to over 230,000 persons by year 2020 is anticipated to result in an additional 30,000 dwelling units in the region. Where this settlement occurs is established by planning bylaws enacted by individual municipalities, first nation reserves, and electoral areas. A total of nine such community plans or rural land use bylaws are in effect in the region.
The general distribution of new housing in the next twenty years, as anticipated by community plans, is portrayed in the following map. This pattern anticipates infill and town center development in existing urban serviced areas, development on First Nation reserve lands, extension and improvements to storm drainage and wastewater collection systems, extensions and improvements to the Highway 97 corridor, and ultimately a parallel highway corridor (North End Connector and second lake crossing).
If the region achieves infill and town center development, (relying on more multiple family dwellings) the extent of urban and suburban lands may increase by as little as 25 to 50 sq. kilometers. Apportionment of new housing is predicted to occur roughly ¾ on the east side of Okanagan Lake (Kelowna and Lake Country) and ¼ on the west side of Okanagan Lake, although this may change through investment decisions, transportation patterns, or through the sequencing of development by major land owners.
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General Distribution of New Housing Units 1
1 Source: New Town Planning and RDCO planning staff from Official Community Plan Bylaws 1999
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4.0 Management Areas and Operations
Specific activities are directed at conserving or managing the environment and at managing human impacts associated with settlement and with resource development. The following sections describe much of the current management practice, and include:
1. Areas established for · Conservation Management (commonly known as Parks), · Resource Management, and/or · Settlement Management.
2. Environmental protection Activities within settlements, associated with · Natural Feature or Hazard Protection, · Constructed Works, · Operational Management, · “Environmental Control” Programs.
4.1.1 Conservation Management Areas (a.k.a. Parks)
In order to conserve natural resources, values, or attributes, specific areas are managed as follows:
Provincial parks and crown recreation reserves are kept in public ownership and managed by BC Parks for purposes of conservation and recreation. Provincial parks and crown recreation reserves make up over 80% of the lands held in the Central Okanagan region for conservation purposes, and cover 7.75 % of the total regional district land base (refer to table, Land Base under Conservation and Recreation Status).
The largest of these provincial parks, Graystokes Park and Okanagan Mountain Park are, respectively 12,000 and 10,000 hectares in size and overlap into neighboring regional districts. On the west side of Okanagan Lake, Shorts Chapperon and Trepanier Provincial Parks are respectively 3,000 and 2,900 hectares in size, and Bear Creek Provincial Park is a smaller 153 hectares.
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Ecological reserves - Campbell Brown, Cougar Canyon and Browne Lake Ecological Reserves are held by the province and protected from all human activity other than scientific research. These reserves are relatively small in size (+/- 100 hectares) make up less than one percent of the land held in the region for conservation purposes.
Regional and municipal parks are kept in public ownership and managed for purposes of community open space, conservation and recreation.
Within the Central Okanagan, the total land base of all conservation management areas (regional and municipal parkland, provincial parks, recreation reserves and ecological areas), is equivalent to 8.72% of the total regional district land base (refer to table). By comparison, provincial sources report more than 12% of the provincial land base in “protected area” status 1 and federal sources report approximately three percent of the total national land base held in national park status 2.
Provincial, Regional and Major Municipal Parks3
1 Source: Land Use Coordination Office, January 2001. 2 Source: Parks Canada, 1997 Report, including “National Park Areas of Interest”. 3 Source: LRMP April 2001and RDCO Parks Department – includes Browne Lake extension and Wrinkly Face Cliffs, areas intended but not yet included in park legislation. 34
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Focusing more closely on efforts of communities in the Central Okanagan and looking back in time, there is evidence of a major focus on conservation through regional district and community park acquisitions that preceded the recent provincial “protected area” strategy. In 1973, an inventory of land uses in the Central Okanagan recorded 267 hectares (660 acres) in “open space”, representing 2.2% of the 29,800-acre valley bottom settlement area. By year 2000, community and regional parks totaled 1,895 hectares (4,680 acres).1
Central Okanagan Land Base under Conservation and Recreation Status Management Category # of Park % of Total Land Area (ha) Type Base
Provincial Parks (including newly approved protected 11 7.75% 22,516 areas and ecological reserves)
Crown Recreation Reserves 8 .32% 915
Regional Parks 24 .37% 1073 Regional Community Parks* (as of January 2000) 5 .003% 9 § Eastside 67 § Westside Municipal Parks* (as of January 2000) 163 .26% 762 § Kelowna 24 .01% 38 § Lake Country 15 .004% 13 § Peachland Total: 317 8.72% 25,326
*Excludes an additional 200 ha. in School District lots. Note: Total RDCO land base is 290,400 ha (excluding large lakes)
The community and regional parks range in size from small neighbourhood playgrounds to the largest regional park, Rose Valley, which is roughly 325 hectares (+/- 800 acres) in size. For conservation purposes, these parks are relatively small in size, yet protect key natural features and have potential to form critical corridors through the urban settlement areas.
When omitting community recreation parks and focusing only on parks that are sufficient in size to offer some natural integrity, (including parks that exceed 10 hectares in size) rough calculations show approximately 1060 hectares (10.6 sq. km) now protected as municipal and regional conservation lands. This is equivalent to 10% of the extent of existing urban land base, or less than 5% of urban, rural residential and agricultural land base2 (valley bottom settlement area).
1 Source: RDCO Park Management Plan Analysis, 1999 2 Source: Extent of Urban and Agricultural Areas, BC Environment data, see map on page 29.
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4.1.2 Resource Management Areas
Virtually all of the crown upland is allocated in overlapping provincial tenures including: · Forest license tenure (other than parks and ecological reserves) · Range license tenure · Open to mineral exploration and claims (other than parks and ecological reserves) · Guide outfitting and trapping tenures.
Similarly, virtually all of the crown upland, within the Central Okanagan is designated within a community watershed. Management of these tenures is in accordance with relevant provincial legislation and with the recently approved provincial land and resource management plan.
Through the “Five Year Forest Development Plan” process, forest tenures are governed by criteria that includes setbacks from lakes and watercourses, design of cutblocks within identified “Visual Quality Objective” zones and biodiversity guidelines. An apportionment of the Okanagan based “AAC” (annual allowable cut) that estimated to remain at current harvest levels for at least 20 years and likely over 80 years.1
Range license tenure is governed by individual operator “Range Use” management plans that include identification of plant communities, fencing of stream banks, and scheduled rotation of livestock through grazing areas.
The Community Watershed designation governs forest harvest activities, and may be used generally to identify watercourses and the holders of major water license tenures. In the Central Okanagan, the upland lakes form a critical component of domestic and irrigation water supply. Many are dammed and flows are managed by organized water utilities for water supply and downstream fishery benefits. There is little opportunity for new water license allocations on upland watercourses. Most are fully allocated and there is little to be gained in additional reservoir capacity. Thus it is expected that new water license allocations will draw from the valley bottom lakes.
Commercial guide outfitting licenses and trapping licenses establish areas of operation and specifies which and how many game animals may be harvested.
There are no designated Wildlife Management Areas within the Central Okanagan, however the recently approved Land and Resource Management Plan establishes special management objectives in identified “Resource Management Zones” that blanket the region. Perhaps of greatest relevance to human settlement in the Central Okanagan region are the Community Watershed, Fish and Aquatic Habitat, Community/Crown Interface and NDT4 (Low Elevation Grassland) Resource Management Zones.
1 Source LRMP – Multiple Accounts Analysis, November 2000 36
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4.1.3 Settlement Management Areas
Local governments (municipalities and the regional district) are given authority over planning and land use management of privately owned lands situated within their respective administrative boundaries, and given authority to operate community services (such as water, sewer, flood control, or road systems) within a specified service area. In addition, local governments have authority to hold land for public park purposes. This authority is by way of the provincial Local Government Act (refer to Chapter 5), and similar authority is made available to First Nation communities by way of federal legislation.
4.2 Settlement Management Activities
The purposes of a local government include Management of settlement uses on private land is largely governed by a. Providing good government for its community, b. Providing the services and other things that the development bylaws established by local government considers are necessary or local governments (Official Community desirable for all or part of its community, Plans, Zoning Bylaws, Subdivision c. Providing stewardship of the public assets of its Bylaws, Development Permit Areas, community, and Building Bylaws etc.) and by d. Fostering the current and future economic, social and environmental well being of its community. community infrastructure and service Source: Local Government Act, 1999 bylaws.
Many of these local bylaws address environmental attributes in a direct or indirect manner. And, a number of settlement activities are subject to referral and approval by provincial agencies; for instance, construction within the “floodplain setback”, septic disposal field approvals, works in and about a stream, pollution permits, pesticide permits, hazardous waste disposal and activities on crown lands and lakes.
At present, within settlement areas of the Central Okanagan, there is fairly consistent application of the following major environmental protection measures:
· Operations such as wastewater collection and treatment systems, flood control works, landfills, water treatment facilities etc.,
· Regulation of activities through “nuisance” regulations or through standards of practice bylaws, such as weed control and outdoor burning bylaws and agricultural pest management,
· Establishment of building setbacks to create open space, to buffer, to protect natural features or sensitive areas, and to protect from natural hazards during the course of private land development, 37
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· Acquisition and management of municipal and regional district parks for conservation and recreation purposes, and
· Widespread community support for retaining upland watercourses as crown land, designated as Community Watersheds, and managed for environmental and recreation values.
Some of these measures are detailed in the following descriptions of natural feature and hazard protection, constructed works and operational management.
4.2.1 Natural Feature or Hazard Protection
Areas of potential flooding and areas of high potential for wildland fires are identified and addressed in development permit designations and zoning or subdivision regulations. These regulations come into effect at time of construction and therefore apply to buildings and large structures but not necessarily to use of the land.
Protection from flooding:
Captured within applicable zoning bylaws are floodplain setbacks (applies mainly to residential buildings, i.e.: farm buildings, industry, storage yards are exempt): · 7.5 meters (24.6 ft) from the natural boundary of a lake, swamp or pond (including Wood and Kalamalka Lakes) · 7.5 meters (24.6 ft) from a dyke · 15 meters (49.2 ft) from Okanagan Lake (recently raised from 7.5 meters, not yet enforced in all local government bylaws) · 15 meters (49.2 ft) from a watercourse (stream, creek etc) · 30 meters (98.4 ft) from the natural boundary of Mission Creek1
And, floodplain construction levels are set at: · 343.66 meters (1127 ft) adjacent to Okanagan Lake · 393.20 meters adjacent to Kalamalka Lake · 393.20 meters adjacent to Wood Lake
Protection from wildfire:
Areas identified as having higher hazards for wildland fire are generally the interface between low elevation open forests (with grass and shrub growth at ground level) and rural or low-density residential neighborhoods on steep, heavily wooded hillsides. Management
1 In some cases, most notably Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland, floodplain setbacks are incorporated within wider “Stream Protection Leave Strips” that apply to all buildings.
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Development Permit Areas:
During the early 1990’s, all four local government jurisdictions in the Central Okanagan engaged citizens in a program of identifying “natural features” and/or development hazards and in establishing tools for managing these features as “Development Permit Areas”.
Including the above noted hazard areas, the general type of feature identified and protected in Development Permit Areas include: · Streams (those with year round flow) · Large lake shorelines · Selected groves of trees (aspen grove, cottonwood etc.) · Selected rock cliffs, bluffs or canyons · Selected marshes, wetlands · Selected grasslands and · Areas that exceed 30% slope.
Development Permit Areas are designated by local bylaw and the guidelines apply to private land development. Application to crown land management is discretionary and may present conflict with other provincial resource interests. For instance, natural features such as canyons, rock outcrops and other rugged areas are often rare geological anomalies. Because of the relative rarity, these features often have greatest value for mineral extraction in the production of specialized products.
Quick Synopsis of Foreshore Management
Management along foreshore areas involves a complex web of private landowner and public agency responsibilities and management objectives. As a general rule of thumb, areas below “high water mark” is provincial crown land and is managed for recreation, access and environmental objectives including fish protection and water allocation.
Along the lakes, foreshore leases are managed by BC Assets and Lands and are allocated in accord with provincial policy and (where applicable) local government policies. Areas above high water mark and within settlement areas are generally private lands, managed by private landowners in accord with regulations of the local zoning bylaws.
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4.2.2 Public Works and Facilities
As settlement occurred, a number of projects were constructed for the purpose of preventing harm to the environment from settlement and/or protecting settlement from environmental hazards.
While not exclusive, the following outlines several of the “constructed works” situated in the Central Okanagan region that have regional or provincial significance.
Fish Egg Collection Sites - Within the Central Okanagan, there are two provincial hatchery egg collection sites of special interest. The Dee Lake Chain (upstream of Swalwell/ Beaver Lake) supports a wild rainbow egg collection station, and an inlet creek on the southeast side of Oyama Lake has been used in the past as an alternate collection site. Just outside of the Central Okanagan, a third significant site is at Pennask Lake/Creek.
Wildlife Viewing sites (excluding parks) – Maude Roxby Marsh, Hardy’s Slough, Winfield Creek Wildlife Habitat Preserve.
Liquid Waste Treatment Facilities – Three community wastewater treatment facilities are situated in the Central Okanagan. One each in Kelowna and Lake Country, and the Westbank Treatment Plant that serves West Kelowna Estates and IR 10 south to Peachland.
Solid Waste Collection – Landfills are in operation at two locations – on Glenmore Road in Kelowna and on Shannon Lake Road in Westbank. Former and now closed landfills are situated in Peachland, in Kelowna.
Flood control works – There are flood restraining works along most of the large streams as they enter settlement areas in the Central Okanagan region (dykes, channel excavation, debris interceptors etc.)
Mountain Weather Services Office – Environment Canada has situated a regional weather station at the North Kelowna campus of Okanagan University College, from which daily and hourly weather predictions are forecast.
Air Quality Monitoring Station – BC Environment (now Ministry of Water, Land & Air Protection) and Environment Canada have situated a regional air quality monitoring station at the K.L.O. Road campus of Okanagan University College, from which continuous monitoring is compiled for levels of Nitrogen oxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Inhalable Particulates, Sulphur dioxide, and ground level Ozone.
Water Survey Stations – Water Survey of Canada monitors stream flows at 11 hydrometric stations situated within the Central Okanagan.
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4.2.3 Operational Management
Within the Central Okanagan, over 40 site-specific operations are regulated by BC Environment as to the amount of pollutants emitted, for instance: · Landfills (existing and reclaimed); · Liquid waste collection and treatment service areas; · Operations granted industrial discharge permits; and · Operations exempted from pollution control permits.
In addition, operational management is regulated for a range of chemical and biological controls unrelated to individual sites, for example, areas approved forest insect control, weed control, Sterile Insect Release, and pesticide permits.
Regional Landfill Data
Landfill data is monitored in part to track the success of recycling programs, including region- wide curbside collection of “recycle” and “compost” products (glass, paper, yard prunings).
4.2.4 Environmental Control Programs
Two “environmental control” programs are of note to settlement uses in the Central Okanagan. One is control of invasive weeds, the second is control of insects that are known to harm commercial plant crops.
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Weed control
Standard resource management practice is the control of plant species that have been introduced to the Okanagan and that are now considered invasive. Some have been introduced through inadvertent means, for example new species invading a disturbed area and then out-competing natural species. Others have been introduced deliberately, such as through the import of “decorative” plants or trees.
The number of “weed” plants now appearing on the Regional District’s “weed control bylaw” now totals 26 (not including Sagebrush is an milfoil, an invasive shallow water plant). Aside from weeds, the important part of the region’s bylaw controls any grasses over 8 inches in height (in natural grassland order to uncover hidden weeds or to lower the risk of wildfire habitat. close to homes).
Insect control
Two types of insect problems are prevalent. The first are insects that are destructive to the Okanagan’s fruit and agricultural crops. Ministry of Agriculture requests the control of these insect pests and at present 18 species are listed in the region’s “control” bylaws. The Codling Moth is presently being managed by an area-wide suppression program until 2005 (Sterile Insect Release); other pests are controlled through chemical or biological means by the individual property owner or crop manager.
A second type of insect “problem” is that which affects the forest cover. The Okanagan area has the highest hazard rating for mountain pine beetle in the province and an outbreak during the years 1913 to 1920 depleted or eliminated stands of ponderosa and lodgepole pine. Bark beetles, defoliators and root disease are other managed forest health problems. Bark and pine beetle infestations are typically managed by tree harvest. Application of biological insecticides is used as needed against defoliating caterpillars such as western spruce budworm and Douglas fir tussock moth.
Pesticide Use
In 1988, BC Environment conducted a water and sediment monitoring project, sampling four sites on Brandts Creek in order to document levels of pesticides entering the creek from neighboring forest, agricultural, industrial and residential lands. Sampling included residual ingredients from insecticides used during the 1950s and 60s.
Results of the study indicated “all documented levels of pesticide active ingredients are well within safe levels” (applying federal standards).
Current insect control practices rely on Integrated Pest Management Programs using a combination of biological and chemical controls for an overall reduction in pesticide use.
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5.0 Current Roles & Accomplishments
This section provides an overview of current roles and responsibilities, followed by a description of accomplishments over 20 years in environmental management, education and stewardship within the Central Okanagan. It includes activities of a broad range of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private individuals or corporations.
5.1 Roles and Responsibilities – Public Authorities
Legislative Tools:
The general tools for environmental protection as established through legislation include the following:
Pending legislation at the federal level (Species at Risk Act, Bill C-5, 2001) is intended to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and to secure their recovery through stewardship incentives and development controls. The Act covers species listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and will take effect immediately on federal lands. Application to other lands (private and provincial crown) will be subject to agreements with the provincial government.
Provincial legislation providing for protection of biodiversity and wildlife includes the Wildlife Act and the Forest Practices Code of BC. The Wildlife Act, administered by Ministry of Water, Land & Air Protection contains few requirements other than protection of birds and their nests. The Forest Practices Code provides a more comprehensive approach to managing wildlife and biodiversity, however it applies only to Crown land timber harvest and forest road development, and is not intended to have significant impact on the allowable harvest.
Management for wildlife protection and conservation is achieved on lands designated as Park or Ecological Reserve through the provincial Park Act or through respective municipal and regional Park Bylaws.
Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management reviews major projects and activities such as ski resorts, mines, and highway infrastructure under the provincial Environmental Assessment Act. Routine projects and activities are reviewed through a “referral” system to varied authorities, and may be evaluated in accordance with a variety of guidelines issued as Best Management Practices or Guidebooks. 43
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The provincial Waste Management Act governs mainstream waste, establishes a permit system for certain types of operation based on the amount and type of pollutants emitted, and provides contaminated site regulations. Pollution Prevention Officers enforce the Act and monitor operations.
On site wastewater disposal (septic systems) are governed by Sewage Disposal regulations under the provincial Health Act.
The management of water quantity is governed through the provincial Water Act, and water quality is managed under the Waste Management Act and the newly enacted (April 2001) Drinking Water Protection Act (regulations are waiting approval).
Municipal and regional district roles, responsibilities and functions are enabled through the Local Government Act and generally include the following:
· Planning and regulation of land uses as well as enforcement of regulations; · Delivery of services; and · Financing of planning and service functions.
In each case, the policy and regulations are established by elected officials (municipal councils and regional boards of directors) and are implemented by staff or by contract services. The choice of policies has major impact on achieving environmental objectives, particularly within settlement areas.
In the planning for future growth, typical local government activities include:
1 · Establishing a vision, goals and objectives for future development of the community ; · Identifying environmentally sensitive or hazardous areas through Official Community Plans; · Designating development permit areas for the purpose of protecting development from hazardous conditions or protecting the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity; · Locating sites of future public works such as treatment plants, landfills, and storm drainage retention systems to prevent environmental harm.
In regulating land uses, typical local government activities include:
· Establishing development regulations, buffering, setbacks, and incentives for density bonuses through zoning; · Requiring dedication of natural watercourses or natural features through subdivision; · Regulating soil removal and deposit; · Setting maximum percentage thresholds for impermeable surfaces (parking lots etc); 1 · Establishing tree cutting permit areas .
1 In regional districts, official community plan bylaws are required to have provincial government approval.
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In the delivery of services, typical local government activities include:
· Providing on behalf of local residents services such as flood control works, storm drainage systems, landfills, wastewater treatment plants, emergency response services; · Owning and operating community and regional parks for recreation and conservation purposes; · Managing and maintaining the above.
It should be noted that municipal council generally chooses which services to provide and to tax for within the municipality. Regional districts can provide and tax for services only on a specified service basis, i.e.: only upon receiving the approval of the “benefiting area” population. In the delivery of environmental management services such as flood control, local government often partners with provincial or federal agencies.
Financing of local government planning activities and service delivery is done primarily through property taxes, but other financing options include fees for service, development cost charges, and voluntary gifts or donations.
Regulations of the Fish Protection Act require local governments in the Okanagan Valley to establish stream corridor setbacks for new residential, commercial and industrial land uses. These regulations are phased in over a five-year period.
The Land Title Act allows the subdivision approving authority (municipalities and Min. of Transportation) to request environmental information in determining whether the land to be subdivided is suitable for the intended land use, and may set conditions of subdivision particularly in floodplain areas.
Section 8 of the Land Act allows provincial crown land managers to set conditions in leases or sales of crown land if subject to flooding.
The Building Code enables municipal or regional district building inspectors to require special building provisions in areas of known natural hazards.
1 In regional districts, tree-cutting regulations may be done only for hazard management purposes.
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Environmental Activities by Local and First Nation Governments
Each of the three municipalities and the Westbank First Nation conduct a number of similar environmental activities – provision of community water service (to all or part of their residents), community and regional parks; participation in regional landfills and local wastewater systems; regulation of land uses and subdivision. All regulate the scale of residential development on the basis of water supply and availability of wastewater disposal, and all have a variety of development bylaws adopted by the respective council or regional board.
City of Kelowna operates an environmental management program; both the City and Regional District operate environmental education programs. The Regional District has both an environmental planner and a regional habitat steward on staff. Specific activities and achievements of local and provincial agencies are outlined in Section 5.4
Sensitive Grassland Ecosystem tour, September 2000
Westbank First Nations is involved in natural resource activities such as logging and stream enhancement through a band owned company “Heartland Economics Ltd”. It participates in activities of the Okanagan Nation Alliance, including a Fisheries Commission and Natural Resource Office.
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Policy and Program Development:
A number of public authorities have established professional or advisory committees to assist in the development of policies, to establish funding priorities, or oversee programs. They include the following:
Habitat Conservation Trust - a provincial agency funded through hunting and fishing license revenues, publishes Stewardship Series guidebooks, awards financial grants to community based habitat enhancement and wildlife education projects, e.g.: recovery of kokanee stocks through the Okanagan Lake Action Plan.
Canadian Wildlife Service – a federal agency, CWS has not undertaken major project focus recently in the Central Okanagan but, together with COSEWIC, is a major proponent of a newly launched South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Strategy addressing the dry ecosystems that extend north from Washington State into the Central Okanagan region and beyond.
Okanagan Basin Water Board – an association of local governments in the Okanagan Valley that operates the milfoil control program and that provides cost sharing of municipal and regional district wastewater treatment facilities.
Okanagan Nation Alliance – an association of First Nation governments in the Okanagan.
Okanagan Similkameen Boundary Fisheries Partnership – a provincial appointed volunteer committee providing technical and advisory services to the allocation of Fisheries Renewal BC grants. (Committee and grant program status is under review).
Central Okanagan Environmental Advisory Committee – a regional district appointed volunteer committee providing comment on electoral areas development applications and assisting the development of regional growth strategy policies.
Central Okanagan Air Quality Committee and Technical Committee – a regional district appointed committee and a technical staff committee from agencies providing education and advice to local governments on issues pertaining to air quality management.
Royal BC Museum – an outreach program conducted by Okanagan University College, initiated with a Living Landscapes festival in 1996, an internet based program entitled Endangered Species in Endangered Spaces, ongoing research, and a Thompson Okanagan newsletter on human and natural history.
Kelowna Joint Water Committee – a committee of community water system operators that meet to exchange information.
City of Kelowna Parks and Facilities Committee – a municipal appointed committee providing advice on park acquisitions, management, and recreation service delivery.
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5.2 Roles and Activities of Non Government Organizations
Much of the public awareness of environmental protection, a variety of environmental programs, and many volunteer activities are sponsored by non-government organizations (NGOs) active in the Central Okanagan Region. These organizations include a variety of registered non-profit societies, service organizations, and community based associations.
Development of many community parks in the past was often an initiative of a neighbourhood association or water utility (such as an Irrigation District). More recently, park and open space development is assisted by contributions from service clubs (such as the Rotary Clubs), from community based fundraising campaigns, and/or from assorted “Friends of the Parks” initiatives.
While not exclusive, the following is a list of environmental associations and organizations known to have initiatives or programs current in the Central Okanagan region.
BC Lake Stewardship Society Lake Country Environmental Society BC Wildlife Federation Lake Country Watershed Roundtable Brenda Mines Monitoring Committee Trepanier Linear Creek Park Society Central Ok Environmental Advisory Committee Nature Trust of BC Central Okanagan Naturalists Club Oceola Fish & Game Club Central Okanagan Parks and Wildlife Trust Okanagan Nation Fisheries Commission Central Okanagan Resource Stewards Okanagan Nation Natural Resources Commission Clean our Okanagan Lake Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Fund Society Earthcare Society Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society Endangered Wildlife Festival Society Peachland Sportsman's Club Friends of BC Parks Return of the Peregrine Falcon Society Friends of Brandt's Creek Science & Stewardship for Community & Kids Society Friends of Knox Mtn Park Science & Technology Council Friends of Mission Creek Sierra Club of Western Canada Friends of the South Slopes Smart Growth Coalition Gellatly Bay Aquatic Park Society Society Promoting Environmental Conservation Go Green Coalition Trepanier Creek Monitoring Committee Kelowna & District Fish & Game Club Western Canada Wilderness Committee Kelowna Geology Committee
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5.3 Roles and Responsibilities - Individuals
Many individuals, businesses and organizations have contributed to environmental protection in the Central Okanagan, in a variety of manners including changing to industrial operations, participating in recycling and waste reduction activities, donating lands to park or conservation authorities, and modifying agricultural or land development practices.
5.4 Accomplishments over 20 Years
The level of effort placed annually on environmental protection is reflected in the following 20 - year record of environmental protection initiatives and major accomplishments in the Central Okanagan.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACCOMPLISHMENTS In the period of 1980 to 2000, the following were major environmental protection accomplishments undertaken by provincial and federal agencies, first nations, industry, and non-government organizations in the Central Okanagan region:
Conservation · Creation, management and expansion of Provincial Parks. · Ongoing stewardship of Ecological Reserves. · Protection and community stewardship of Maude Roxby bird sanctuary.
Environmental Programs · Appointment of a Natural Resource Officer by Westbank First Nation · Creation of Okanagan Tribal Council Fisheries Commission · Development of Conservation Programs targeted at research and management activities in the grassland ecosystem south of Peachland, by BC Environment. · Inventory of “Red” and “Blue” (Threatened and Endangered) plant and animal species by Conservation Data Centre. · Ongoing fish and wildlife management programs. Introduction of Habitat Steward partnerships, by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and BC Environment.
Enabling Legislation and New Regulatory Frameworks · Environmental Assessment Act · Municipal Act amendments · Floodplain zoning · Forest Practices Code, particularly Biodiversity and Identified Wildlife guidebooks · Waste Management Act, particularly new contaminated site regulations. · Fish Protection Act and Okanagan regulations · Endangered Wildlife Act (legislation pending) · Land and Resource Management Plan · Drinking Water Protection Act
Site Reclamation / Restoration · Brenda Mines Tailing Pond Effluent Treatment system · Riverside Mill Co-generation · CN Rail lands remediation (Kelowna city center) · Mount Boucherie tree replanting · Watershed Rehabilitation, Forest Road Deactivation and Forest Replant initiatives · Undertaking of Fish Spawning Enhancement works on major streams including Mission, Powers, Peachland, Mill, Brandts, Vernon, Trepanier, Bellevue and Bear Creeks.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In the period of 1980 to 2000, the following were major environmental protection accomplis hments undertaken by Central Okanagan municipalities and regional district. Riparian Protection: · Completion of Foreshore management plans on the three large lakes, applicable to development in electoral areas, Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country. · Official Community Plan environmental policies and designation of most stream corridors and some shorelines as “Development Permit Areas”; and adoption of provincial “Stream Steward” guidelines as standard setback guidelines. Natural Feature Protection: · Compilation of Natural Feature Inventories (by public nominations) in City of Kelowna, District of Lake Country, and Electoral Areas. · Identification of Environmentally Sensitive Areas and designation as “Development Permit Areas” with development guidelines in each of the three municipalities and in settlement areas of the regional district. · Compilation of Wetland Inventory in City of Kelowna. · Initiation of Ecosystem Mapping in Electoral Area grasslands and low elevation forests. Environmental Programs : · Hiring of an Environmental Manager and various Environmental Education and technicians at City of Kelowna. · Hiring of an Environmental Planner at Regional District of Central Okanagan. · Hiring of a Habitat Steward partnering Fisheries & Oceans Canada, BC Environment, RDCO, Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland. · Construction of an Environmental Education “ECCO- Centre”. · Completion of an Environmental Audit of Kelowna city operations. · Creation of a Regional Growth Strategy bylaw. · Implementation of Soil Deposit bylaws in Kelowna and Lake Country. Pollution Prevention Strategies: · Fulfillment of provincial target in Reduction in Landfill wastes. Achieved a 47% reduction in the Central Okanagan. · Establishment of Curbside Recycling, yard waste composting, and hazardous household waste collection programs. · Introduction of Wastewater Collection and Treatment (septic sewer system) to Westbank, to Indian Reserve #9, to Lakeview Heights, to Peachland and to Lake Country. · Compilation of management plans for solid waste, wastewater, liquid waste, and storm drainage. Conservation: · Park acquisition criteria, conservation management, trail development, and park interpretive programs. · Acquisition of large intact tracts of lands for municipal and regional protection, including Rose Valley, Mission Creek, Scenic Canyon, Coyote Ridge, Roberts Lake, Rose Valley Pond, Woodhaven Nature Conservatory, & Cedar Mtn. · Protection of conservation lands and natural features through Development Covenants, such as Dilworth Mountain, Mt. Boucherie, Tyndal Road. Site Restoration: · Acquisition of lands along Powers, Peachland and Kelowna (Mill) Creek corridors and of wetlands at Rotary Marsh, Fascieux Creek, Michael Brook, Chichester Pond for habitat restoration.
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5.5 Level of funding Examples
Level of effort may also be measured by financial accounts. The following numbers are provided to show the “order of magnitude” costs associated with various activities. They are intended to provide context to the current level of public sector investment in environmental protection. They do not reflect budgets associated with any future actions or programs in the region.
Peregrine Falcon Recovery: “There have been some attempts to Allocated $53,000 to local efforts in one year, part of a measure the value British national recovery effort budgeted at 7.69 person years Columbians place on certain plus $191,200 expenses spent nationally environmental amenities …. through (source: Annual RENEW Report, 1999-2000 and local the use of “Contingent Valuation” surveys. For example, a 1991 study source) by the Ministry of Forests Recreation Branch estimated that the value of Habitat Conservation Trust Fund: outdoor recreation in provincial Awarded forests was $114 million, or on $25,700 to stabilize and restore stream banks on Middle average BC adults were willing to pay $54 per year to protect this Vernon Creek and $ 25,000 to promote lake sensitive resource. A 1995 joint study living among Okanagan Lakeshore residents (two of conducted by the Ministry of Forests 137 provincial fish and wildlife projects in the and the Ministry of Environment, 2000/2001 fiscal year). Lands and Parks estimated that the (source: HCTF news release, April 11, 2001) net economic value of wilderness (willing to pay on a wilderness trip) was $288 million, or a mean Septic Tank Effluent Disposal Site: individual value of $266.” Operation of the regional disposal site is an annual expenditure in the order of $ 409,975 Source: LRMP draft Socio-economic (source: RDCO 2001 Annual Budget) and Environmental Profile
Regional Parks: Operation of the regional park function (including acquisitions and interpretive programming) is an annual expenditure in the order of $1.6 million. (source: RDCO 2001 Annual Budget)
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6.0 Emerging Issues
In focusing on environmental protection, members of community groups, provincial agencies, and municipal leaders have identified the following as key issues of the Central Okanagan region: · Water Resources and Air Quality · Diversity of the Region · Sustainability and Pressures of Population Growth · Natural Hazards · Managing Aesthetics
These issues are described as “emerging” and deserving of thought and attention. A brief description of the issue and discussion of possible action follows.
6.1 Water Resources and Air Quality
Issues surrounding water resources and air quality were identified through public dialogue as being the “highest priority” issues facing future growth and development in the Central Okanagan.
The issue of water resources is one of limited water supply to meet consumption needs (domestic and irrigation demands), to sustain water quality, and to sustain flows for fish, wildlife populations and natural stream/groundwater functions. Compounding the issue is a heightened awareness of threats to water quality, of the cost of remediation, and cross boundary water negotiations whereby the Central Okanagan is just one player in the Okanagan – Columbia River system.
The issues surrounding air quality are ones of periodic exceedence of national standards for air borne particulates and for ground level ozone.
Actions: Analysis of regional water resources and recommendations for action are detailed in a companion “Water Resources Discussion Paper” authored by Dobson Engineering and received for information by the Regional District of Central Okanagan and its member municipalities in June 2000.
Analysis of air quality issues and recommendations for action are detailed in a companion regional district “Air Quality Discussion Paper” received for information in September 2001.
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6.2 Diversity of the Region
How Diverse is British Columbia?
“British Columbia is Canada’s most biologically diverse province… It is home to an impressive diversity of plant and animal species, including: · 70% of Canada’s native breeding bird species; · 70% of Canada’s native mammal species; and · 75% of Canada’s bryophyte (moss and liverwort) species.”
“Loss of biodiversity is usually related to the loss and degradation of habitat due to pollution, invasion of exotic species, over-exploitation, environmental change and habitat fragmentation… Grassland ecosystems of the (provincial) southern Interior are threatened by overgrazing, agriculture, urbanizations and the invasion of exotic species.”
Source: Ministry of Forests, Biodiversity in British Columbia
An important component in maintaining natural levels of biodiversity is the maintenance of rare ecosystems. In the Central Okanagan, the grassland and dry ponderosa pine forests are considered an extension of the South Okanagan ecosystem that is among the most biologically diverse (by shear number of species), is considered one of the three most threatened in Canada, and that is an important link in the landscape corridor between Washington State’s Great Basin and the BC Interior Grasslands.
Maintaining these rare ecosystems is a challenge to the “Biodiversity includes the Central Okanagan due to the concentration of urban and variety and variability of living agricultural settlement at the valley floor. Large tracts of organisms, their genetic low elevation grasslands, wetlands and dry forests are differences and the ecological complexes in which they occur. already lost to urban development and agricultural activities The conservation of natural in this and the neighboring South Okanagan region. biodiversity ensures the Settlement has potential to create choke points in the valley. maintenance of ecosystems, Continued reduction in or blockage of this valley corridor native species, and genetic will impact both the natural diversity of the region and the diversity, and the processes that shaped them” movement of many rare plant and animal species. (Source: Sustaining our Protected Areas System) In mid and higher elevations, early in cattle ranching practices left the rangelands in poor conditions. Invasive weeds and soil disturbances by mechanical use (ATV’s, land clearing etc) now inhibit regeneration of natural grassland conditions.
Early forestry activity centered on the harvest of large ponderosa pines and Douglas-firs at low elevations. While forestry activity has moved onto higher plateaus in the region, earlier logging practices and fire suppression have resulted in a dramatic change in the structure of 54
Planning for the Future 54 Environmental Protection low elevation forests from open, park like forests with scattered large trees to the present dense sands of younger trees (Cannings, 1998).
In short, an emerging issue is that local and provincial government activities of the past have not managed for biological diversity.
Taking Action:
Changes are underway on crown lands. Forest harvest and range use activities are now being changed to manage for diversity (reference Forest Practices Code Biodiversity Guidebook and the LRMP General Management Objectives for Range Use). And further action is anticipated through agreements of the LRMP, referencing the Ø “NDT4 Grasslands and Low Elevation Open Forests” Special Management Zone, Ø “Wildlife” General Management Objectives for Rare Species in the Low Elevation (BGxh1, PPxh1 and IDFxh1) biogeoclimatic subzones, and Ø General Management Objectives for “Crown” that specify a number of strategies (impact assessments, conservation plans, reserves from Land Act applications etc.) in order to minimize impact on rare species.
However, the most rare and sensitive ecosystems of the Central Okanagan are generally associated with lower elevations (where settlement is occurring). In order to protect natural diversity, specific management activities will need to occur within settlement areas, and to be undertaken by local communities working in concert with conservation groups, provincial and federal authorities.
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6.3 Sustainability and Pressures of Population
The Commission on Resources and Environment has suggested that sustainable means “capable of being maintained indefinitely” (Strategic Land Use Planning Source Book)
Canadians have one of the highest rates of consumption and of waste generation in the world. Our pattern of consumption of energy, water, and land for low-density housing is an issue when coupled with expectations of a growing population in the Central Okanagan region. The wastes that are generated by daily living compound this problem. Such wastes typically include landfill wastes, air pollution, groundwater contamination, or toxic wastes carried by storm water into lakes and streams.
“Our challenge is to balance pressures to The issue posed by population pressure is that not develop against larger area impacts. Do we much is known about the ability of the fully understand these impacts?” environment to adapt and to maintain natural
“Will we love this valley to death?” processes, natural attributes indefinitely. A lesson learned from other communities is that the “Our challenge is to raise the standard and to environment does have a finite capacity. expect sustainable development”.
Submissions to the evolving discussion paper. What is unknown is the capacity or threshold of natural environmental attributes, features or processes of the Central Okanagan region. Often this is not known until the threshold has been exceeded, then there are extensive costs to rehabilitate or to restore.
The issue of sustainability goes beyond maintaining the immediate environment. Cities are based on the premise that compact centres have economic and social benefits. And, that compact centres have environmental benefits in keeping habitat destruction to a small land base, in building flood control measures and clean water supply systems, in treating human wastes cost effectively.
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What is often easy to ignore is that cities rely on larger regions for the import of resources and the export of wastes. This reliance on a larger region that is “out of sight, out of mind” may ultimately become an issue affecting economic and social sustainability.
Our ecological footprint
A popular way of thinking about sustainability is to calculate the size of a region’s ecological footprint. According to academic calculations, an average Canadian requires at least 4.8 hectares of ecologically productive land to support current rates of consumption. Thus, unless our lifestyle changes, the Central Okanagan population of 250,000 projected for the year 2020 will be reliant on imports of resources from and exports of wastes to an area of over 12,000 square kilometres (an area four times larger than the land base of the Central Okanagan). Source: calculations from State of the Fraser Basin, 2001
Can everybody on earth live like the average North-American today? No. In fact if everyone on earth lived like the average North American, it would require at least three earths to provide all the material and energy she or he currently uses. Source: Task Force on Healthy and Sustainable Communities, UBC
Taking Action:
Actions needed to address this issue will occur through changes in society habits and consumer patterns. Public awareness campaigns for water conservation and recycling are a start, but local communities should not stop here. Energy awareness campaigns such as PowerSmart or community based energy efficiency plans such that completed in Kamloops may be the next logical steps.
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6.4 Natural Hazards
Natural hazards are an increasingly important aspect of land use management. As the population increases, settlement activity expands into mountainous terrain that is more difficult to develop safely.
Physical factors identified as having the greatest hazard to development in the Central Okanagan region include: · Flooding & Erosion · Wildfire in forest/urban interface.
Flooding:
The issue of flooding is two fold. First is the “unexpected” or natural hazard associated with periodic high water during spring runoff or with streams “jumping their banks”. Second is an increase in impervious surfaces as urban settlement expands through a watershed. There is also a managed hazard associated with dykes and water storage dams constructed for the purpose of water management. Many of these works were built half a century ago and there is an interest in ensuring sufficient financial reserves are in place to ensure proper maintenance and needed repairs of these facilities.
Wildfire:
The issue of wildfire hazard is associated with settlement adjacent to and within dry forest lands. It is recognized as a growing problem in the Central Okanagan and neighboring regions.
With changes in forestry practices (rapid response to put out fires, reduced harvest levels in community viewscapes) has come a change in fire “regime”. Fires used to be more frequent, smaller and cooler, but are now less frequent, larger and more lethal. The province has identified high hazard areas for wildfire and is interested in identifying strategies to minimize the hazard.
Other hazards:
Other natural hazards present in the region include landslide and rock fall, and wildlife- human conflicts (deer in orchards, rural encounters with cougar or bears). As well, minor earthquake activity occurs throughout the Okanagan. However, these hazards are considered to be manageable through well-established provincial and local management techniques.
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The issue relative to natural hazards comes when attempts are made to avoid damage from the hazard, and when the hazard is addressed in isolation of other environmental factors. For instance, to reduce flood hazards, streams are channelized and dykes built with resulting loss of salmon rearing and spawning habitat. To reduce forest fire hazards, the natural fire processes have been altered and have resulted in increased fuel loads close to rural settlement areas.
Taking Action:
“There are many different ways to reduce the impact of natural hazards on people and their property. Property owners could, for instance, build a massive waterproof wall around their houses to protect them from potential flood damage. Alternatively, the houses could be built on higher ground… The first is an example of active mitigation, where the hazard is reduced by doing something. The second is an example of passive mitigation, where the hazard is reduced by avoidance.
By using passive mitigation, the hazard is usually reduced at a much lower cost… The potential hazard must, however, be recognized before it can be avoided. And it must be recognized before development.” (Source: Natural Hazards in British Columbia)
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6.5 Managing Aesthetics
Environmental stakeholders are starting to question decisions that may achieve more in the way of zealous protection of the visual landscape and rural scenery rather than in net benefit to environmental protection. Yet the community’s respect for the environment comes in part through appreciation of the rural landscape and quiet ‘small town feel” of many neighborhoods. At issue is whether local governments have adequate tools and the necessary resources to balance visual, social and environmental values in the planning of new neighborhoods.
Contrary to popular belief, Within the Central Okanagan, housing augmenting the density of communities that develop around an image of development does not create a harsh single-family homes situated in rural or “natural” physical environment. For example, settings are now being questioned as threatening Copenhagen and Vienna – two cities the very habitat that homeowners admire. widely associated with urban charm Expensive to service, relying on automobile and livability – are of moderate travel, and consuming large tracts of resource density, with 19 people per acre and lands, these low-density residential 29 people per acre respectively. By neighborhoods are being identified with urban contract, low-density cities such as sprawl. Phoenix (5 people per acre) are often dominated by unwelcoming, car- In order to reverse the pattern of urban sprawl, oriented commercial strips and vast (and to protect farmlands, to protect watersheds, expanses of concrete and asphalt. to reduce serving costs, to provide a range of Source: Lowe 1992 quoted by Roseland – housing options, etc) all community plans of the Toward Sustainable Communities Central Okanagan now include policies of infill and increasing density in identified “town centers”. The implementation of town centers will require public support (financial and political) that is not always evident. Density and neighborhood redevelopment often becomes a flashpoint for public hearing debate, resulting in conflict between neighbors, the development community, and land use authorities.
At issue is the region’s ability to achieve environmental protection if its residents favor low- density “market driven” patterns of urban development spreading outwards onto rural and resource lands. And if “scenic viewscape” interests disrupt natural forest processes such as forest fire. And if native grasses are replaced by ornamental lawns and gardens. And so forth. In order to address the conflict between visual aesthetics and environmental protection, it will be important to properly define and understand each aspect.
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7.0 Goals and Actions
The following section contains recommendations for specific actions targeted at achieving environmental protection during a period of sustained growth, settlement and resource development within the Central Okanagan region. It identifies lead agencies for specific activities, and sets performance targets that have been developed through an evolving dialogue with community stakeholders and public agencies.
The recommended actions and activities are premised on goals and objectives for environmental protection that are specified in the Central Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy and that include the following components:
7.1 Components of Regional Goals
· The region protects and respects its natural attributes. Green spaces and water resources are managed to ensure their long-term health and sustainability.
· Development and growth management decisions respect neighboring communities. Cooperation is supported to sustain the health of our water, air and lands.
· Decisions respect the carrying capacity and quality of our water, air and land.
· Day to day decisions work toward providing for future generations … preventing environmental harm… generally promoting development that sustains and enhances the environment.
· Protect the scenic quality of the region and preserve significant features, open space…
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7.2 Regional Action Recommendations
Considering the goals, the issues facing future development and suggested priorities for action, it is recommended that communities of the Central Okanagan region focus on achieving the following:
· Plan for development by knowing first what to protect, and then developing and using a selection of special management tools. · Use best management practices for urban and resource development to achieve environmental protection. This includes encouraging compact and well-designed communities, maintaining an intact resource land base, and managing for natural biodiversity. · Incorporate environmental with social and economic considerations in day-to day decision-making.
Action: Plan for development by knowing first what to protect, and then
developing and using management tools to achieve the desired level of protection.
The objective is to identify ecosystems, natural features, or areas that are sensitive to development and to provide special management of these areas through a selection of tools.
“Protection” includes developing and using a considerable range of management tools including: · public acquisition as park or conservation lands, · agreements with provincial crown land managers or private developers to retain lands as open space and resource lands, or · stewardship measures and incentives for private landowners concerning land management, use of landscaping and irrigation practices, protection of trees, etc.
What to Protect
Within the lower elevation lands that are most subject to development pressure (i.e.: lands designated for community expansion), conservation groups and agencies have recommended that the following features be protected from i.e.: given special management consideration during development. Comments follow on the benefits of protection and whether action is feasible in the short term (ongoing or immediate action taken), mid term or long term.
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Features to protect, through special management tools, are (in no order of priority):
· Riparian areas (wetlands, stream corridors and lakeshores). Ø Benefits include protecting water quality, respecting natural plant and wildlife travel corridors to upper elevation forests, protecting water as the “life force in this otherwise hot, dry valley” and protecting settlement from flood damage. Ø A selection of management tools is generally well known and accepted. Management measures for riparian areas are feasible in the “short term”.
· Grasslands and shrub (generally the hot dry ponderosa pine and interior Douglas fir “ecosystems” that surround communities of the Central Okanagan) Ø Benefits include protecting habitat of provincially and federally recognized rare and endangered species, providing connectivity for plants and species to move and to adapt, reducing the high threat posed by wildland fire in the interface of dry forests and residential communities, respecting provincial efforts to manage for biodiversity through modified forest harvest practices, and respecting neighboring efforts in the South Okanagan to conserve Canada’s Desert Country. Ø “Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory” work is underway in partnership with the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, the provincial Conservation Data Centre and the Regional District of Central Okanagan. A process of evaluating sensitive ecosystems such as the grasslands is required, together with a strategy for protecting connectivity of plant and animal movement. A selection of existing and new management tools is required, particularly those pertaining to agricultural and settlement lands. Partnerships need to be developed with provincial and local stakeholders. Management measures for grasslands and shrub areas are feasible in the “mid term”.
· Rugged areas (talus slopes, cliffs, canyons such as along KLO, Bellevue, Mission, Hydraulic, and Lambly (Bear) Creeks) Ø Wildlife benefits include protection of nesting and perching sites and escape from predators. Human benefits include protection from rockfall hazard and conservation of relatively unique and interesting landscapes that portray the region’s past as a glacial valley. Ø These areas are expensive to develop so have been largely protected in the past. However they are not immune from development pressure or resource extraction. A selection of management tools is recommended. Management measures are feasible in the “mid term”.
· 30 % slopes (hillside areas that require special management practice during development due to the degree of natural slope) Ø Human benefits include management of visual impacts, management of storm water runoff, no limitation to natural road and utility corridors, early identification of lands suitable for school or playfield sites, and early
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geotechnical investigation that identifies areas subject to rockfall or land slippage. Ø These areas are expensive to develop but are subject to development and resource extraction pressure. Various management tools are being acquired through experience including ongoing work by City of Kelowna to establish hillside development guidelines. A selection of regional management tools is recommended. Management measures are feasible in the “short term”.
· “Natural Features” Ø These areas include sites that have been nominated through natural feature inventories and have high value to the region as benchmarks or remnant sites, as areas of aesthetic value, or as having historic significance. Benefits of protection include, at minimum, the fulfillment of public expectation that these features would be conserved following inclusion on a municipal or regional district inventory. Ø These features are predominantly found on private lands and are subject to development pressure. There is little consistency in management tools. A regional analysis and selection of management tools is recommended, followed by expansion of the inventories to cover a larger geographic region and more critical analysis of the nominated sites. For instance, fossil fields at Gallaghers Canyon and Gorman’s Mill and remnant old growth forests should be added to local inventories. Management measures are feasible in the “mid term”.
· Aquifers, recharge areas Ø In the Central Okanagan, detailed provincial mapping of aquifers is not yet published. Earlier work identified that many of these are situated in areas of existing and proposed additional settlement. This could have a foreseeable negative impact on water quality. Ø Benefits of special management include protection of the ground water resource and of regional water supplies. Cost of accommodating growth while protecting these areas is not known. And the selection of management tools is not well known or understood. Protection of aquifers and recharge areas is therefore considered feasible only in the “long term” unless more proactive measures are taken following completion of the mapping.
Where is the Urban Containment Boundary? A currently popular regional planning tool is known as the “urban containment boundary”. Considering environmental management tools for the Central Okanagan, a regional urban containment boundary was considered to have limited value.
In favor of urban containment, the cost of development on hillsides and the present private-Crown land boundary potentially offers a natural urban boundary. And, urban containment could be seen as an incentive to achieving the town center objectives. However, indiscriminate use of urban containment could lead to increased pressures on agricultural lands, on the sensitive dry ecosystems, and on aquifers and recharge areas. As well, many of the urban containment objectives such as managing the costs of extending urban services are met by strategies already in place through respective Official Community Plans and through the “Community Crown Interface” zone endorsed in the Land and Resource Management Plan.
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Action: Use best management practices to achieve environmental protection
Over the last ten years, there has been a concerted effort by Habitat Conservation Trust Fund and other provincial agencies to develop best management practice guidelines. Many are recognized as especially pertinent to attributes of the Central Okanagan and it is recommended that these be applied through collective action by the municipalities and electoral areas of the Central Okanagan region.
Management of urban development uses:
Ø Monitor work underway in the South Okanagan Similkameen region to develop guidelines pertaining to sensitive ecosystem management. Consider undertaking complementary actions, recognizing that lower elevations of the Central Okanagan form an important link in the grassland corridor extending between Washington State‘s Great Basin north to the BC Interior Grasslands.
Ø Apply the best management practices and development guidelines published within the provincial Stewardship Series to settlement and agricultural developments. The Stewardship Series pertain particularly to riparian habitats, streams and lakeshores; and also provide guidelines for tree protection, soil removal, and watercourse protection.
Ø Upon completion of aquifer vulnerability mapping, adopt guidelines for managing settlement and agriculture uses in areas of high vulnerability.
Ø Monitor compliance with best management practice guidelines on a regular post- development basis. Report to elected officials each year on conformity with guidelines.
Ø Encourage the implementation of town center policies, focusing on design guidelines, financial incentives, marketing messages or other strategies to achieve residential development in regional town centers.
Ø Over the longer term, work with BC Assets and Lands to identify suitable lands for future settlement and expansion outside of the most sensitive ecosystems and away from vulnerable groundwater recharge and aquifers. (Note, this action is supported by approved strategies of the LRMP)
Ø Build partnerships between local governments and with provincial agencies to undertake regional inventories of the natural geology, hydrology and biology of lower elevation lands in the Central Okanagan. All mapping should be done at scales of at least 1:20,000 designed for community planning purposes.
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Management of resource development uses:
Ø Encourage the application of best management practices to resource and infrastructure development activities. In the absence of specific guidelines, the Okanagan Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan and the Forest Practices Code should be referenced. For instance, Forest Practices Code regulations may be applied as reasonable to other resource development and settlement activities (e.g.: apply landscape guidelines to transportation & utility service corridors, apply watercourse setbacks to mining and agricultural activities, monitor and manage for biodiversity).
Ø Protect an intact and functional crown land base for future resource development opportunities. First priority is to address pressures associated with the adjacent urban centers, particularly pressures relating to recreational access, viewscapes and watershed management. The allocation of crown lands for individual tourist or recreation tenures should proceed cautiously until completion of watershed management plans, viewscape analysis, and access management plans, so as to avoid conflicts between resource development and leisure activities and/or conflicts between downstream and upstream land uses. Areas identified and approved in the Land and Resource Management Plan as having high value for agriculture, energy, fish, mining, range, timber and silviculture, tourism, transportation and water consumption should be respected, kept intact and functional for ongoing and future resource development opportunity.
Ø Local governments, when requiring environmental impact assessments as part of development review, should ensure that existing and future resource development opportunities of neighboring or upstream lands are referenced, so as to avoid hazards that may be absent but foreseen at time of development approval.
Management of native habitat & species:
Ø Manage for biodiversity, starting with:
a. Amending landscape regulations and guidelines to encourage the use of native plants and xeriscaping.
b. Reducing application of pesticides & herbicides other than for commercial agriculture. Report regionally and publish each year the type and amount of chemical applications in use on public property – parks, roadways, and waterways. Undertake provincial monitoring of pesticide levels on a more frequent basis.
c. Managing for a diversity of features.
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Ø Apply best management practices to the construction process, paying particular attention to erosion control during construction, and to reestablishment of ground cover and native plants thereby reducing the spread of weeds following construction.
Action: Incorporate environmental with social and economic considerations in day-to day decision-making.
It is suggested that environmental considerations should be given greater importance in day- to-day decision-making. The objective is to enhance knowledge of environmental impacts prior to making decisions.
Consideration of environmental impacts may be viewed as “everyone’s responsibility” (as compared to a provincial or federal matter) through the following activities:
Ø Encourage the use of three dimensional modeling, watershed analysis, and landscape unit planning in neighborhood or comprehensive development planning processes. This is now done in resource development planning and enables decision makers to better understand topographic and watershed impacts.
Ø Work towards achieving regional consistency in procedures for environmental review applicable to settlement uses, referencing current procedures in each municipality and on First Nation lands.
Ø Work within the Central Okanagan to carry out the higher level of communication and referral between provincial resource and community agencies described within the Community –Crown Interface Management Zone of the LRMP.
Ø Work with the councils and administrators of first nation and municipal governments as needed to ensure that capital investments in environmental infrastructure are linked to future regional development plans and priorities and vica versa.
Ø Design strategies that encourage conservation (or reductions in patterns of consumption) and that may be leveraged in coordination with capital investments in environmental infrastructure (e.g.: introducing water meters at the same time as upgrades to water reservoir capacity).
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7.3 Implementation of Actions
Recommended actions will be implemented through the actions of local government and provincial organizations. The purpose of the following “Plan of Action” table is to outline some of the partnerships required and the potential staging of activities.
Timing of actions is important from a management perspective so that staff resources and budget allocations are applied in an efficient and effective manner. With respect to environmental protection activities, “short term” identifies actions that require little or no additional inventory work, that have general acceptance of management tools, and in which action is already underway in parts of the Central Okanagan region. “Mid Term” reflects activities that require some time to establish partnerships, to complete inventories, or to develop management tools. “Mid term” activities may conceivably be undertaken in a three to five year time frame, depending on reallocation of staff resources (provincial and local) following success in current activities. “Long term” activities are ones considered difficult to implement today, as they require major shifts in development pattern or process. More inventory work and analysis of impacts is required before deciding how to proceed.
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Plan of Action Table
Implementation Activities Lead Agencies1 Anticipated Timing
Plan for development by knowing what to protect: Establish “settlement expansion” management Regional District and Ministry of Long term (following aquifer & plans with BC Assets and Lands Sustainable Resource Management. sensitive ecosyst em mapping & management plans) Build partnerships to undertake regional Individual municipalities, electoral areas, Short term inventories (for community planning purposes) first nation communities and Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. Use best management (urban development): Develop guidelines for managing Sensitive Individual municipalities, electoral areas Mid term Ecosystems and first nation communities assisted by (following efforts underway in provincial conservation agencies. South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Strategy and federal initiatives) Apply Best Management Practices and Individual municipalities, electoral areas Short term Development Guidelines referenced in Stewardship and first nation communities. Series. Develop and adopt best management practices for Individual municipalities, electoral areas Mid term (following publication vulnerable aquifers and recharge areas (in and first nation communities assisted by of mapping for Central consultation with water purveyors and using Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Okanagan region) provincial and federal guidelines as a base) Monitor compliance post development Individual municipalities, electoral areas, Short term provincial agencies & and first nation communities. Development of Town Centre implementation Individual municipalities, electoral areas Short term strategies and first nation communities assisted by public sector investment and funding agencies. Use best management (resource development): Apply best management practices to resource Regional District and Ministry of Ongoing (through LRMP development Sustainable Resource Management. implementation) Protect an intact and functional crown land base Ministry of Sustainable Resource Ongoing (through LRMP Management implementation) Reference existing and future resource All development approving agencies Short term development in environmental impact assessments Manage native habitat & species: Amend landscape regulations to encourage use of All development approving agencies Short term native plants Reduce application of pesticides and herbicides Municipalities, electoral areas, provincial Mid term agencies & and first nation communities. Apply best management practices to construction All development approving and public Mid term process, especially re erosion control and ground works agencies. cover.
Incorporate environmental with social & economic: Encourage watershed and landscape unit planning Regional District and Ministry of Mid term Sustainable Resource Management Work toward regional consistency in Regional District and Ministry of Mid term environmental impact assessments Sustainable Resource Management Enhance level of communication and referral Regional District and Ministry of Short term between resource and community agencies Sustainable Resource Management Work to ensure that capital investments in All public works agencies Ongoing environmental infrastructure are linked to development priorities Leverage conservation with capital investments in All public works agencies Mid term environmental infrastructure
1 Lead agencies are those that are anticipated to lead in the initiation of activity, based on current functions as of October 2001. 69
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7.4 Performance Targets and Indicators
In order to monitor success of environmental protection, the following 20-year targets and benchmarks are recommended. The establishment of regional targets has been the focus of debate and deliberation by stakeholders reviewing the discussion paper. Much of the discussion is captured in the comments and is included for consideration during implementation of regional environmental protection strategies.
Achievement of targets will not insure environmental protection. Simply, the establishment of the following targets is intended to facilitate evaluation of performance from a broad regional perspective.
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By the Year 2020, at a regional population in excess of 220,000 residents, communities of the Central Okanagan will:
TARGET COMMENTS
Maintain and manage a minimum This target will match the percentage of the regional crown lands 10 % of the urban settlement land protected by provincial park designation and reflects status quo (see base for conservation purposes report section 4.1.1 for calculations) whereby large areas of regional through parkland acquisition, and municipal conservation lands have been identified and acquired conservation covenants, open space through long range planning and negotiations, in areas that are not easements, transfer of development serviced for urban settlement. rights etc. While this target requires substantially larger acquisitions than that received by parkland dedication at time of subdivision, it does not infer taking of additional lands from within existing development nodes, nor from future development neighborhoods. (see additional commentary on next page) Provide for connectivity that Measures to protect biodiversity and to provide connectivity of critical allows plant and animal movement grassland ecosystems should complement management practices being through the dry ecosystems prepared in the neighboring South Okanagan Conservation Strategy. (Ponderosa Pine and lower elevations) on west and east sides of Some potential management measures are recognized as potentially Okanagan Lake and have problematic to other interests such as agriculture, transportation, and connections along major streams low-density residential development. downstream to lake levels and upstream through crown resource lands. Achieve the town center objectives It is recognized that town center objectives have not been fully with proportionally greater numbers achieved through development patterns of the last ten years. It may be of new employment and residential necessary to offer town center incentives or to reevaluate development development regulations if development patterns are to shift. built within the existing urban settlement land base than by extending services into crown land and other “green fields”.
Lower the ecological footprint Aim for an average footprint smaller than other Canadian cities of calculation for residents within the similar size. Water conservation and diversion of wastes are already Central Okanagan. For example, successful programs in parts of Central Okanagan and provide a decrease rates of water consumption stepping-stone for improved performance. and increase levels of recycling and diversions of waste from regional landfills.
While achieving the above targets It is recognized that environmental protection will be achieved through for environmental protection, application of best practices and through management guidelines rather communities of the Central than restriction of urban, agricultural or resource development Okanagan will strive for balance of opportunities. environmental with social and economic components of In supporting strategies for environmental protection, communities of sustainability. the Central Okanagan are committed to pursuing with equal vigor regional strategies for economic and social wellbeing.
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Additional commentary on managing lands for conservation purposes:
The recommended target of managing 10% of the urban settlement land base for conservation purposes generates much debate as to the roles of local government, the ability to develop lands in a compact manner with effective and efficient community services, and the need for conservation lands in addition to newly created provincial parks.
The practice of acquiring parklands from the provincial crown land reserve base has led to concerns over the loss of economic opportunities from resource development, particularly loss of subsurface resources and of future servicing corridor opportunities. It is recognized that the Land and Resource Management Plan did not receive support from the mineral development sector, in part due to the fact that protected areas were established without investigation of subsurface mineral and geological value.
In future, it is suggested that a process be established whereby park proponents (including local governments) engage in more detailed evaluation of economic opportunities and specifically the consequences of lost development opportunities in advance of park dedication. As well, tenure options such as recreation reserves should be given greater consideration.
It is also important to acknowledge the impact that large areas of land managed for conservation would have on settlement patterns, both in the alienation of lands from urban settlement and in the cost of extending services around protected lands. Critical areas need to be identified for protection well in advance of neighboring development so as to respect property rights and to in order to design effective and efficient patterns of development and servicing.
Through Land and Resource Management Plans, the province has protected over 12% of its land base in protected areas (provincial parks), and approximately 8 % of the Central Okanagan land base is now protected through provincial parks and ecological reserves.
However, within private settlement lands, less than 5 % of the area is set aside for long-term conservation purposes. Environmental values have been well protected in the past through rural development patterns, covenants and development permits protecting steep slopes, parkland dedication, stream corridor and foreshore management, pollution prevention and other measures. In the future, facing a more urban settlement pattern, there will be considerable value given to urban parks, nature reserves and other conservation lands.
In recommending a “10% target”, it is assumed that the following areas would be included: Ø municipal, regional district, first nation, provincial, or federally managed Ø parks, marine, ecological ,environmental or recreation reserves, and Ø privately owned lands managed in partnership with a conservation organization, stewardship group or trust; Ø that are ten hectares or larger in contiguous area, and that are Ø situated within or adjacent to urban settlement lands.
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7.5 Transmittal from Central Okanagan Environmental Advisory Committee
“The Central Okanagan Environmental Advisory Committee forwards general endorsement of the Environmental Protection Discussion Paper to the Regional Board. The description of local issues and the selection of priorities for action were considered with representatives of community based environmental societies, and broad-based community support is indicated. The Environmental Advisory Committee considers the Discussion Paper and its recommendations as a blueprint for taking effective action.” (September 27, 2001)
7.6 Transmittal from Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
Members of the Central Okanagan Intergovernmental Advisory Committee oversaw and provided advice in the preparation of this Discussion Paper. The report is intended to assist communities in understanding and evaluating regional environmental attributes and values, in considering the emerging issues, and in setting a course of action within settlement areas that will complement environmental strategies approved for provincial crown land and resources.
Local and provincial agencies have expressed concern with a growth strategy focus on environmental protection in the absence of regional agreements in support of and providing certainty to social and economic objectives. In particular, the alienation of land from resource development without evaluation of social and economic impacts is unlikely to be supported.
While the IAC is pleased to forward this Discussion Paper to communities of the Central Okanagan for consideration and follow up action, it recommends that environmental actions should not occur in the absence of growth strategies addressing social and economic goals and objectives.
(October 18 and December 13, 2001)
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Resolution of Planning and Environment Committee
“Planning and Environment Committee endorses the recommendations and performance targets of the Regional Growth Strategy Environmental Protection Discussion Paper as a reflection of the environmental protection actions that local communities will work toward; the Committee encourages Municipal Councils, the Regional Board, community groups and associations, provincial and federal agencies to participate in implementation of the recommendations as permitted by program and funding priorities; through day to day decision making that incorporates environmental with social and economic considerations at a local and regional level; and giving respect to existing development rights and opportunities on private and crown resource lands; and the report is referred to the Regional Board of Directors for endorsement.”
(January 16, 2002)
Resolution of Central Okanagan Regional Board of Directors
“The Regional Board of Directors receives the Regional Growth Strategy Environmental Protection Discussion Paper and endorses the recommendations and performance targets as a reflection of the environmental protection actions that local communities will work toward.”
(January 28, 2002)
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Reference Sources
Publications
BC Environment, A National Treasure – Natural Areas of the South Okanagan and Lower Similkameen Valleys, undated brochure
BC Environment, Habitat Atlas for Wildlife at Risk, 1999
BC Environment, Important Ungulate Habitats, 1997 submission to Okanagan Shuswap LRMP from Habitat Protection Section.
BC Environment, Fisheries Resources and Special Interests, 1996 submission to Okanagan Shuswap LRMP from Bruce Shepherd and Brian Chan.
BC Environment, Mountain Caribou Habitat Management, 1996 presentation to Okanagan Shuswap LRMP from Fish and Wildlife Management Branch.
BC Environment, Inventory Priorities for and Status of Rare and Endangered Species: Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrates, 1994 brochure authored by GG Scudder and Syd Cannings, published by Wildlife Branch.
BC Environment, Pesticide Monitoring Study of Brandt Creek, Kelowna, undated, unpublished report.
BC Environment, Groundwater Resources of British Columbia, 1994
BC Environment, Annual Reports, 1998, 1999
Canadian Wildlife Service, Annual Report on Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife, 1999-2000
Canadian Wildlife Service, Invasive Plant News, Internet news page, 1997
Cannings Holm Consulting, South Okanagan Ecosystem Recovery Plan Scientific Assessment, Draft March 1998
Central Okanagan Regional District, Regional Parks Plan for the Central Okanagan, June 2000.
Central Okanagan Regional District, Regional Plan – Phase 1 Regional Development Concepts, 1974 75
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Central Okanagan Regional District, Waste Reduction Progress-2000, Report to the Board, February 2001
Central Okanagan Regional District, Annual Budget, Report to the Board, April 2001
City of Kelowna, Official Community Plan for the City of Kelowna, draft 2001
District of Lake Country, Official Community Plan, draft 2001
District of Peachland, Official Community Plan, 2001
Environment Canada, The State of Canada’s Environment, 1996
Environment Canada, The Species at Risk Act, Bill C-5 – A Guide, 2001
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (formerly DFO), Urban Referral Evaluation: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Referral Process for Protecting Fish Habitat (1985-1995), authored by Coast River Environmental Services Ltd., 1997
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Protection of Aquatic and Riparian Habitat on Private Land: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Covenants in the City of Surrey, 1995
Fraser Basin Management Program, State of the Fraser Basin : Assessing Progress towards Sustainability”, June 1995
Kelowna Geology Committee, Geology of the Kelowna Area and Origin of the Okanagan Valley, authored by Murray Roed, 1995
Ministry of Employment and Investment, Okanagan Shuswap LRMP Area Socio-Economic and Environmental Profile, draft, April 1998
Ministry of Forests, Biodiversity in British Columbia, undated brochure published by Research Branch
Ministry of Forests, Ecosystems of British Columbia, Special Report Series 6, 1991
Ministry of Forests, Plants of the Southern Interior British Columbia, 1996, edited by Roberta Parish, Ray Coupe and Dennis Lloyd, published by Lone Pine Press.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Growth Strategies, Province of British Columbia
Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Provincial Growth Strategies Planning Mandate for the Okanagan, May 1997
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Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Natural Hazards in British Columbia, January 1996
Parks Canada, State of the Parks, 1997 Report
Province of British Columbia, Okanagan Basin Agreement Annual Report, March 1972
Province of British Columbia, British Columbia Economic Study – The Okanagan-Shuswap Region, April 1971
Province of British Columbia, Okanagan-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan, October 2000
Province of British Columbia, Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP Area Socio-Economic and Environmental Profile, Draft, by J. Paul & Associates Ltd., April 1998
Province of British Columbia, Sustaining our Protected Areas System, Preliminary Report of BC’s Park Legacy Panel, November 1998
Province of British Columbia, Provincial Growth Strategies Planning Mandate for the Okanagan, May 1997
Royal BC Museum, Endangered Species in Endangered Spaces, Internet Exhibit, 1995 and personal comments of coordinator, Carol Thomson, 2001.
University of British Columbia, Centre for Human Settlements Task Force on Health and Sustainable Communities, website.
University of British Columbia, Institute for Resources and Environment, Kokanee Decline in the Okanagan Lake: Fish-Habitat-Land Use Interactions, 1999
University of British Columbia, Climate Change and Water Management in the Okanagan Basin, Presentation by Stewart Cohen of research funded by government of Canada Climate Change Action Fund, January 2001.
Urban Development Institute, Central Okanagan Chapter, Hillside Development – Key Findings of Study PIBC/UDI Seminar, April 1996
Wackernagel, Mathis and Rees, William E., Our Ecological Footprint – Reducing Human Impact on the Earth, 1996
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Submissions & Correspondence on File
Central Okanagan Environmental Advisory Committee, Meeting records and Submissions, correspondence from Greg Henderson and Ian Pooley, December 2000 through 2001
Central Okanagan Intergovernmental Advisory Committee, Meeting records of August 23 and September 13, 2001, submissions of file from individual member agencies.
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Priority Wildlife List, September 2001
Conservation Data Centre, Rare Element Occurrences, Central Okanagan Regional District, April 2001
Dave Smith, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, memo to file, July 2001
Mark Watt, City of Kelowna, general correspondence, 2001
Mike Watkins, BC Environment, general correspondence & memos to file, April & September 2001
Michelle Boshard, Okanagan Nation Fisheries Commission, memo to file, Sept 2001
Murray Roed, correspondence to Environmental Advisory Committee, June 2001
Peachland Voters Association, correspondence to Regional District Directors, June 2001
Signe Bagh, City of Kelowna, general correspondence, 2001
Steve Gormley, Regional District of Central Okanagan, general correspondence, 2001
Rick Adams, Ministry of Energy & Mines, memos to file, September & December 2001
Urban Development Institute, Kelowna Chapter, correspondence on file, December 19, 2001
Comment pages from neighborhood and environmental associations, submitted at November 2001 Open House.
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December, 2001
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