The South Okanagan Valley: A National Treasure at Risk Richard J. Cannings South Okanagan Recovery Team 1330 Debeck Road, S11, C96, R.R.#1, Naramata, BC, V0H 1N0, Canada
[email protected] Key words: Artemisia tridentata, antelope-brush, bunchgrass, are in a truly natural state. Okanagan, ponderosa pine, Purshia tridentata, sagebrush. The shrub-grassland ecosystems of the South Okanagan can be divided into 3 types that differ floristically and in terms of the fauna they support: antelope-brush (Purshia EXPANDED ABSTRACT tridentata), sagebrush, and bunchgrass. The antelope-brush The South Okanagan Valley is one of the 4 most endangered ecosystem is mostly restricted to low elevations on the east ecosystems in Canada. Its chain of large lakes moderates side of the valley south of Penticton, usually on sandy or winter temperatures, allowing species typical of the gravelly soils. It is the most endangered of the 3 ecosystems. Columbia Basin and Great Basin to extend north into Most of the present threats come from the rapidly expanding Canada. The proximity of valley-bottom wetlands to arid wine industry, which uses antelope-brush as an indicator benchlands, and the presence of montane forests that quick- species for high-quality vineyard land. Antelope-brush habi- ly merge with subalpine and eventually alpine zones, pro- tats are used by a number of Red-listed species, including the duce a mosaic of very different habitats. As a result, the lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) and the pigmy short- Okanagan has a unique flora and fauna from a national per- horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasi), which is probably ex- spective, as well as a tremendously diverse biota.