Marron River Grasslands

The Nature Trust of British Columbia

The Nature Trust of British Columbia is a leading non-profit land conservation organization. We protect and care for B.C.’s most critical habitats for vulnerable wildlife, fish and plants. Since 1971, The Nature Trust and our partners have saved more than 180,000 acers (73,000 hectares) of land.

The acquisition of 31.2 ha of sensitive grassland, sagebrush steppe, seasonally flooded field, riparian, sparsely vegetated rocky slopes, woodland, and old forest protects these important wildlife habitats from conversion, fragmentation, and degradation. This strategic location along the Marron River containing sensitive ecosystems in pristine condition supports the conservation of the water quality and quantity of the Marron River Watershed as well as wildlife habitat connectivity within the Marron Valley and broader Okanagan Valley. With federally designated critical habitat for four species at risk, this parcel of land has also been identified as a very high priority for conservation by the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy – Keeping Nature in Our Future.

This project is a land acquisition. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $450,000 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The land was purchased in 2026.

Reproductive Site Fidelity and Nesting Ecology of Racers and Gopher Snakes

Nk’Mip Desert Heritage Society

The Nk’Mip Snake Research Program is a long-term initiative operated through the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (NDCC), a non-profit organization established and governed by the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB). 

This project will fill in knowledge gaps about movement and essential habitat features for two threatened snake species by tracking gravid female Western Yellow-bellied Racers and Great Basin Gopher Snakes to identify nesting sites and assess fidelity to egg-laying areas across two key populations in the South Okanagan. By comparing movements and habitat use on Osoyoos Indian Band land and within the White Lake Basin, the study will determine whether females are selecting road embankments or other disturbed habitats for nesting. Findings will fill a major gap in conservation knowledge and guide actions to reduce neonate road mortality and protect critical reproductive habitats for these threatened snake species.

This project is year one of a three-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $22,285.73 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

nluxʷluxʷɬcwix- Lower Trout Creek floodplain engagement – Reach 2 Mid section

Penticton Indian Band Natural Resources and Okanagan Nation Alliance

snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band represents one of the seven communities of the Okanagan Nation. snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band is located on beautiful bench land in the southwestern portion of the Okanagan Valley.  snpink’tn holds inherent responsibilities and legal rights to care for tmxʷulaxʷ (the land) and tmixʷ (all living things) within its territory. Their mission is through the knowledge they gain from the Timixʷ and the Capti’kʷl, Snpink’tn is working together to build a vibrant, resilient, flourishing, self-determining community by providing relevant, effective programs, services, leadership and governance.

Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan and among other functions, works to provide technical fisheries assistance for the Nation and its eight member communities, including the Penticton Indian Band, and acting as a liaison between federal and provincial fisheries agencies and other non-government organizations.

nluxʷluxʷɬcwix-Lower Trout Creek restoration, led by Penticton Indian Band and the Okanagan Nation Alliance, began in the “Reach 2 Upper” section in 2021-24, restoring vital creek and wetland habitat, enhancing biodiversity and supporting indigenous fish and wildlife species. The current project continues floodplain engagement and creek structure restoration in the next “Reach 2 Mid” section. This work will provide a re-found connection between the land and water, improve water quality, flood resilience, and promote a healthier cottonwood riparian forest, and foster cultural connections to the land by supporting traditional practices and creating opportunities for syilx Okanagan community leadership in environmental stewardship and restoration.

This project is a multi-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $68,879.13 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

snpink’tn wetland health and amphibian habitat restoration

snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band

snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band represents one of the seven communities of the Okanagan Nation. snpink’tn (Penticton) Indian Band is located on beautiful bench land in the southwestern portion of the Okanagan Valley.  snpink’tn holds inherent responsibilities and legal rights to care for tmxʷulaxʷ (the land) and tmixʷ (all living things) within its territory. Their mission is through the knowledge they gain from the Timixʷ and the Capti’kʷl, Snpink’tn is working together to build a vibrant, resilient, flourishing, self-determining community by providing relevant, effective programs, services, leadership and governance.

This project will identify and assess amphibian breeding wetlands on snpink’tn Reserve Lands to restore and protect critical habitat for the Western tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium mavortium) and Great Basin spadefoot toad (Spea intermontana). Through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, acoustic monitoring, and riparian health assessments, the project will map breeding sites, evaluate wetland integrity, and prioritize areas for ecological restoration. Guided by nsyilxcən Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and community engagement, this work will advance the SOCF’s objective to conserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem resilience within the South Okanagan by restoring sensitive wetland habitats and supporting culturally and ecologically significant species.

This project is year one of a three-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $24,549.00 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel Components of VDS Restoration near Okanagan Falls

Okanagan Nation Alliance

Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan and among other functions, works to provide technical fisheries assistance for the Nation and its eight member communities, including the Penticton Indian Band, and acting as a liaison between federal and provincial fisheries agencies and other non-government organizations.

This project will restore a uniform, channelized river section in Okanagan Falls by backwatering Vertical Drop Structure 15 with a nature–like riffle and creating habitat riffles between VDS15-14 to reintroduce a meandering river pattern within the existing dikes. Main goals: 1) restore diversity, complexity, and functionality of ~31,100 m2 of riverine habitat in the Okanagan mainstem, and 2) follow a Syilx TEKK-based vision combined with western science tools to achieve goals. This project takes an ecosystem-based approach, targeting multiple species including Chinook Salmon, Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel and sculpins.

This project is a one-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $63,991.41 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

Bat Friendly Communities of the South Okanagan (copy)

The British Columbia Conservation Foundation with Community Bat Programs of BC

The British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF), a charitable not-for-profit society developed an important niche managing and administrating conservation projects in partnership with various funders. This enabled BCCF to support the efforts of local conservation organizations in their efforts to enhance and conserve fish and wildlife populations. For over 50 years, BCCF has implemented conservation projects working with First Nations, all levels of governments, non-governmental organizations, industry, private groups, and educational institutions.

Over the next three years, the BC Community Bat Program (under the British Columbia Conservation Foundation) – Okanagan Region will be working towards establishing Bat Friendly Communities with partners in Kaleden, Penticton, Naramata and the Osoyoos rural area. They will raise awareness about the importance of bats through presentations, community events, recruiting volunteers, offering Bat Ambassador training workshops, and forming working groups that can implement Bat-Friendly Communities. Also, they will be mapping where bat colonies using anthropogenic structures are located, as well as monitoring bat populations with annual bat counts. Bat conservation is important in the Okanagan as it has the highest diversity of bats in Canada and most of them are listed ‘at risk’.

This project is the final year of a 3-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $22,520.82 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

Fairview Antelope-brush Restoration Project (copy)

The Oliver and District Heritage Society

The Oliver and District Heritage Society (ODHS) operates both the Museum and Archives facilities in the town of Oliver, B.C; located on the unceded traditional and ancestral territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation.  Incorporated August 6, 1980, as the Oliver Heritage Society, the name was changed in 1998 to the “Oliver and District Heritage Society” to reflect the welcome support from the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and the Town. The Oliver & District Heritage Society is a not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. They preserve and present the history of Oliver BC; Canada’s Wine Capital, and surrounding district through exhibits, educational programming, special events, heritage walking tours, and more.

The Oliver and District Heritage Society (ODHS), as the newly appointed organization responsible for maintaining the historic Fairview townsite, wish to steward this site according to educational, historical and ecosystem values. A key aspect of its stewardship vision is to protect, enhance and educate the public about the 70 acres of globally imperiled and provincially red-listed Antelope-brush/needle-and-thread grass habitat on this site.

This project is the final year of a 3-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $23,474.92 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

Students Plant for the Future (copy)

Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS)

Established in 1996 the Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, detection, and management of invasive species in the Okanagan-Similkameen.

Students in the South Okanagan will learn about locally important grassland, shrub-steppe and riparian ecosystems and the negative impacts of invasive plants on these habitats. Over a three-year period, youth from School Districts #67 and #53 will be directly involved in planning, implementing, and monitoring invasive plant removal and indigenous plant restoration projects. Up to 2 hectares will be restored as students learn the value of being land stewards of local environments through place-based learning.

This project is the final year of a 3-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $14,476.00 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund for 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

Farming with Wildlife (copy)

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society

Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society has been working with local community members for over 20 years. OSSS helps people care for important natural areas by providing information and ways to coexist with wildlife, and assisting landowners to steward natural areas on their properties while maintaining their farms, ranches, vineyards or other land uses.

Within the South Okanagan valley, two notable changes in the area over the last 30 years are the decline in cattle ranching and the boom of the wine industry. In addition, there is a trend to maximizing the economic potential of every type of land. Together, this results in more intensive and sterile-to-wildlife agriculture, which causes to wide-scale habitat loss. Edge-to-edge agriculture has become the norm and has fewer opportunities and more barriers to wildlife than traditional orchards. Farmers may be reluctant to engage in implementation of nature-based solutions that do not also benefit their bottom line. Further, time is a non-renewable resource; relevant, specific training opportunities are more effective in achieving on-the-ground outcomes for conservation.

This project is the final year of a 3-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $24,989.13 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.

Post-wildfire recovery at Sage & Sparrow Conservation Area through fencing and invasive plant management (copy)

Nature Conservancy of Canada

NCC is Canada’s leading land conservation organization, working to protect Canada’s most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect 2.8 million acres, coast to coast with 1 million acres conserved in British Columbia since 1974. NCC has been active in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen since 2002. Since that time, NCC has secured 4350 acres of high priority habitat by working with private landowners and has provided funding to other land trusts and the province to enable them to secure 6800 acres of high priority ecosystems.

The goal of this project is to help the Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area recover following the 2023 Eagle Bluff Wildfire that burned the entirety of the conservation area. The objectives of this project are to replace fencing that was lost in the fire and is needed to control human and livestock trespass into the recovering, sensitive ecosystem and to implement increased invasive plant management to help prevent the spread of invasive plants within this disturbed landscape. This project aims to promote post-wildfire recovery of the Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area to maintain the rich biodiversity that this landscape has to offer.

This project is the second year of a 3-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $23,362.15 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2026. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2027.