| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Koocanusa Reservoir was created by Libby Dam in Montana. Since the dam is in the United States, there is no provincial water licence in place. That means, unlike other reservoirs in the Columbia Basin, there is no fish and wildlife compensation program associated with the historical footprint impacts of Koocanusa Reservoir in Canada and this has long been acknowledged as a gap. This acknowledgement, combined with growing pressures from human activity (e.g. development, recreation), highlighted the need to further address fish and wildlife impacts in the region. While the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust) and others have delivered fish and wildlife projects in the region, until now there has been no comprehensive assessment of the issues, no holistic approach to addressing them, nor the required funds to do so. In the spring of 2013, Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust), together with the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), announced their partnership, and their intention to implement a joint fish and wildlife initiative for the Upper Kootenay River watershed, including Koocanusa Reservoir. With a $3_million commitment from the Trust, the partners committed to developing an Action Plan for ecosystems and species of interest. The plan – the Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan or UKEEP – will help conserve, restore and enhance fish and wildlife by focusing on their habitats. The initial funding from the Trust supported development of the Plan and will support implementation of the priority actions identified in the Plan for the first three_ to five_years. The Plan’s success will be monitored and the Plan’s long_term future will be reviewed later in the implementation phase. The Plan will cover more than 20,000 square kilometres, including the Upper Kootenay River drainage and associated tributaries within Canada, such as the Elk, Bull, St. Mary's, Lussier, White and Wigwam rivers and Koocanusa Reservoir itself. Please see UKEEP area map (Figure 2). Developing the Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan The UKEEP incorporates community_ and science_based actions to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and their habitats and support their sustainable use in the Plan area. These objective support the Plan’s vision for the Upper Kootenay River watershed: “thriving fish and wildlife in sustainable, functioning watersheds supported by actions of engaged citizens.” The Plan was developed with input from local stakeholders, residents and First Nations, who identified a broad range of conservation concerns and potential solutions. The UKEEP includes four stand_alone Ecosystem Plans for the following four ecosystems: 1. Lakes; 2. Streams; 3. Wetland; and 4. Upland and Dryland Areas. The intention is to achieve objectives by focusing on ecosystems, which include important habitats for Species of Interest. By doing so, the Plan will support species that rely on the habitats found within each ecosystem. Each of the four Ecosystem Plans: _ reflects community_ and science_based priorities; _ identifies a mix of on_the_ground and research and information acquisition projects in order to inform further on_the_ground projects; _ builds on conservation work already under way by others while not duplicating current efforts by existing organizations or by replacing the role of government; _ includes actions and projects that will require new partnerships with government agencies, stakeholders and residents alike in order to make demonstrable progress; _ will be responsive to new and emerging priorities, including but not limited to climate change; and _ addresses five broad types of action. (See Section 2.5): _ research and information acquisition _ habitat_based actions _ species_based actions _ land securement _ monitoring and evaluation. Each of the four Ecosystem Action Plans will achieve the following broad objectives: Objective 1: Conserve productivity and diversity of ecosystems in the Plan area; Objective 2: Restore and enhance habitats and populations of Species of Interest; and Objective 3: Contribute to the maintenance or improvement of opportunities for sustainable use, including harvesting. The actions proposed in each Ecosystem Plan address the above objectives and will achieve the following outcomes: _ Increased understanding of Species of Interest and their habitat, as well as options to conserve, restore and enhance species and their habitats; _ Improved ecological function of each ecosystem through on_the_ground habitat improvements, Species of Interest recovery and maintenance, and management of invasive species; _ Improved opportunities for and/or maintained sustainable use; and _ Improved coordination with existing regulatory and management activities in the Plan area. A number of concerns and potential solutions identified by stakeholders and others during the development of the Plan cut across each of the four ecosystem types. Actions that address these concerns are considered priorities and include: • invasive species monitoring/management (both terrestrial and aquatic); • access and recreation management; • enhancing habitat connectivity; • conserving and enhancing important habitat for Species of Interest; and • monitoring trends, abundance, and distribution of Species of Interest. These priorities are reflected in the individual Ecosystem Plans. Implementation of the Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan (UKEEP) The Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan is comprised of five stand_alone Action Plans focused on the geographic scope outlined in Figure 1. Each Action Plan recommends a suite of prioritized actions aimed at achieving conservation, restoration, enhancement and sustainable use objectives. In addition to the UKEEP, FWCP_ Columbia has developed six stand_alone Action Plans aimed at a broader geographic scope (i.e. the FWCP_Columbia region includes the Columbia River Basin, excluding the Flathead River). These plans guide FWCP investments in the Columbia region, which includes the upper Kootenay River watershed. The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) – Columbia is responsible for implementing and managing the Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan. The FWCP’s existing implementation framework (delivery model) will be used to support and implement the range of projects recommended in the UKEEP. The FWCP typically delivers projects in three key ways: 1. funding projects via the FWCP’s annual funding application intake process (open projects); 2. directed projects (e.g. projects undertaken via a request for proposal, limited bid, etc.) to undertake specific projects identified in the Plan; and 3. negotiating long_term agreements to deliver actions on behalf of FWCP. Implementing the conservation, restoration, enhancement and sustainable use actions across four ecosystems will require a collaborative approach involving a range of partners, including local government, First Nations, residents, existing non_government organizations and others. Proponents interested in applying to the FWCP for funding to undertake an action recommended in the UKEEP will follow the FWCP’s application process. Proponents are responsible for ensuring their project idea is in alignment with the FWCP’s conservation priorities. Funding applications are due in November each year. See www.fwcp.ca for details. The partners – the Trust and FWCP – will monitor the success of the UKEEP, adapt actions and projects in the Plan (based on new information and performance outcomes) and update and modify the Plan as necessary to ensure it continues to address current priorities. The partners will also review the entire Plan in the next three to five years as part of an overall review and evaluation of the Upper Kootenay Ecosystem Enhancement Plan. |
