Inviting Nature Back To Our Strata

Southern Interior Land Trust in Partnership with Strata K551, Lower Twin (Nipit) Lake

The Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) has, for over 30 years, worked to secure those gems and jewels of fish and wildlife habitat that act as “stepping-stones” for animal movement between larger conservation areas. SILT owns four conservation properties and has contributed to the purchase of many more. Natural shorelines, with their ribbon of native trees, shrubs, grasses and herbs benefit wildlife; protect properties from flood and erosion; and support ecological processes essential to clean, drinkable, swimmable, fishable water. With the current extent of lakeshore modification and development in the South Okanagan, the ecological function of our shorelines is clearly threatened.

In 2018 our strata on Twin Lake flooded. Emergency services brought in 220 truckloads of gravel and rock to protect 9 homes from flooding. When the water retreated, about 100 truck loads were taken away. The flooding and the flood prevention works left the land degraded and has impacted the health of Twin Lake, leaving the riparian area devoid of desired vegetation.

Our primary goal is to return as much of the strata lakeside to a more natural state as practical, as suggested in our Love Your Lakes property report. Our challenges are to educate the various strata members about lake health and convince them of the benefits of naturalization to speed recovery of our lakeshore and to help contribute to lake health. So far, we have found the LYL property reports and information to be an excellent resource.  Our project partner (SILT) is committed to helping with outreach, educational resources, and advice.

This project is a one-year request. Approved by Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board and $7,575 was allocated from the South Okanagan Conservation Fund in 2022. The project is expected to complete by January 31, 2023.