Heavenly Acres Covenant
Heavenly Acres Covenant
24 Hectares located near Invermere, Covenanted in 2001
Heavenly Acres is a 59 acre property near Invermere, on the rolling Toby Benches – a 35 square kilometre plateau at the foot of the Purcell Mountains, in the Rocky Mountain Trench of southeastern BC. This property contains open grassland, mixed forest, and wetlands around two small, unconnected ponds. These areas provide habitat for a variety of species, including the red-listed American badger, and an important wildlife corridor and refuge for native plant species. Protecting grasslands and open forests is a conservation priority in the East Kootenays, where grasslands are being lost rapidly to forest in-growth and urban development. This conservation covenant was donated by Helen Annis (Young) in 2001. Given to her as a wedding present, Helen never took this lovely property for granted and named it “Heavenly Acres”. She protected this property to honour that gift, and to protect habitat for elk.
Little Slocan River Covenant
31 Hectares located near Winlaw, Covenanted in 2007
This 69 acre property includes shoreline, side channels, and sevearl small islands in the Little Slocan River north of Nelson, BC. This property is home to deer, elk, cougar, bobcat, black bear, coyote, beaver, and golden and bald eagles and has mixed riparian and upland forests. In an area increasingly being subdivided into smaller lots, this property protects a critical wildlife linkage between Perry Ridge and the Little Slocan River. It is protected by a no-subdivision covenant, donated by the owner in 2007.
Elizabeth Lake, Kootenay
0.614 Hectares located in Cranbrook , Donated in 1998
The Elizabeth Lake property was generously donated to The Land Conservancy of BC. It contains valuable wetland and shoreline habitat and connects protected areas on either side.
This property is part of the City of Cranbrook regional trail system which circles Elizabeth Lake. These trails allow access for residents and visitors to the Elizabeth Lake Bird Sanctuary, a 249-ha marshland protected by the Ministry of Environment and the City of Cranbrook. The Elizabeth Lake wetlands provide nesting opportunities for many species of birds, and a resting spot for migratory birds and waterfowl as they pass thorugh the Elk Valley corridor. Elizabeth Lake provides prime habitat for muskrats, fish, frogs, turtles, and invertebrates. Deer, moose, fox, and coyotes also make this property home.
TLC works with the Rocky Mountain Naturalists and local elementary schools on restoration and management projects at Elizabeth Lake Sanctuary. Together, we have planted hundreds of native shrubs and trees to restore an abandoned athletic field adjacent to the wetlands to wildlife habitat. In 2008, TLC, the Rocky Mountain Naturalists, and the City of Cranbrook built new boardwalk trails through sensitive parts of the Sanctuary, to allow visitors to enjoy these areas without damaging habitat for the creatures who live there.
Directions: 1st & 15th, Cranbrook. Follow Hwy. South out of Cranbrook, the trails and parking are on the left just outside of town.
Newhouse Island Covenant
Newhouse Island Covenant
0.8 Hectares located near Invermere, Covenanted 2001
This conservation covenant, donated in 2001, protects the area of the property that is marshland along the shores of Lake Lillian near Invermere. The marsh is an open water area surrounded by bulrushes and cattails, and provides breeding and rearing habitat for a variety of waterfowl and songbirds. A pair of American Bitterns (blue-listed in BC) nest here each year, and Western Toads and Spotted Frogs are also present. The conservation covenant protects the wetland area from human disturbance while allowing natural succession to proceed.
Laux Property
45.5 Hectares located near Fauquier, Donated in 2004
Located south of Fauquier on Lower Arrow Lake, this 112 acre property was donated to TLC in 2004 to protect significant ecological values. It contains mature forest stands in the Interior Cedar Hemlock zone, and wetlands and riparian areas along the property’s shoreline are important bird nesting and resting areas. This property contains a large maternal colony of approximately 1,500 Little Brown Bats, and is home to several species-at-risk including Townsend’s Big-eared Bat, Pacific gopher snake, and racer.
Paradise Valley
62.7 Hectares located near Winlaw, Covenanted in 2000
Located along Paradise Valley Road near Winlaw, BC, this property is adjacent to the Kutenai Growth Society property – together, these two conservation covenants protect habitat for black bear, moose, deer, cougar, bobcat and small mammals of various kinds. The Paradise Valley covenant property is wooded with mixed conifers, and provides valuable riparian habitat along Dumont Creek. Several kinds of ducks nest in the property’s Lily Pond, and there are many wildlife trees to feed and house woodpeckers and the invertebrates they feed on. Although the land has been lightly logged since the early 1900′s, there are a few large trees along Dumont Creek. Common nighthawks, who despite their name are declining across much of North America, inhabit a rocky promontory at the property’s northwest corner. TLC has held a conservation covenant on this property since 1998.
Woods Family Property
Woods Family Property
22.3 Hectares located near Castlegar, Donated in 2001.
This 88 acre property is adjacent to Syringa Creek Provincial Park, 19km west of Castlegar. It contains a rare and unique variant of the Interior Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone, on a steep, open, southern exposure on Arrow Lake. Because of this warm southern exposure, this property provides important winter range for deer and other ungulates, including bighorn sheep. Variable topography and vegetation types contribute to its ecological value as they provide habitat for other species of wildlife, most notably cougars. This property was donated to TLC in 2001, to protect this rare vegetation community, enhance ecological integrity of Syringa Creek Provincial Park, and conserve habitat for bighorn sheep.
Kutenai Growth Society Covenant
0.95 Hectares located near Winlaw, Covenanted in 2003.
This 2.3 acre property near Winlaw was protected by a conservation covenant in 2003, and lies adjacent to the Paradise Valley covenant (signed in 1998). Both of these covenants are co-held by the Kootenay Land Trust Society. Together, these two covenants provide secure habitat for wildlife including black bear, moose, deer, cougar, bobcat, and small mammals. This moist property contains a mature Interior Cedar-Hemlock forest approximately 90 years old, made up predominantly of Lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and Western redcedar. Other dominant vegetation includes Douglas Maple, Red-Osier Dogwood, Black Huckleberry and Thimbleberry. In addition to protecting forest and wildlife values, this covenant provides a secure location for Kutenai Growth Society, a Benailese healing centre. Perpetual protection of the land’s ecological values goes hand-in-hand with the healing centre’s wholistic approach.
