A recap of the 2023 Wetlands Institute 

For over two decades, the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Institute has been essential in empowering participants with the skills necessary to lead watershed projects across BC. In 2023, the Wetlands Institute, facilitated by the BCWF’s Wetlands Education Program, provided a lively foundation for the exchange of knowledge among industry professionals and participants, alike. 

Held in Barriere, Kamloops, and surrounding areas, the 2023 Institute was centered on crucial wetland restoration and stewardship aspects including classification, mapping, health assessments, maintenance, and monitoring. Attracting a diverse group of professionals, ranging from consultants and biologists to landowners and government staff, it created a unique environment where shared dedication to environmental restoration flourished. Notably, this 7-day workshop stood out for its dynamic and interactive expertise exchange, significantly enhancing the collaborative learning experience for everyone involved. 

Neil and some of the Wetlands Institute participants identifying sedges in the Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area. Photo by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

The contributions of Norm Allard, Community Planner for the Lower Kootenay Band, and Neil Fletcher, BCWF Director of Conservation Stewardship, were particularly noteworthy at the 2023 Wetlands Institute. Norm focused on the significance of combining restoration efforts with First Nations consultations, drawing from his leadership role in the Yaqan Nukiy Wetland Restoration project near Creston, BC. Complementing Norm’s insights, Neil Fletcher shared a wealth of knowledge on restoration techniques, enhancing practical learning. Additionally, Fletcher provided valuable guidance on grant writing, an essential skill for any non-profit wetland restoration endeavor. The Institute also featured evening sessions, providing opportunities for participants to engage in discussions with Allard and Fletcher about their own projects. 

Norm Allard from the Lower Kootenay Band teaches Wetlands Institute participants how to use the laser level. Photo by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

Equally engaging was the presentation by Trevor Goward and The Land Conservancy (TLC), detailing their Clearwater River Valley initiative on the property coined as Edgewood Blue. This ambitious project aims to protect and establish wildlife corridors in Wells Gray Provincial Park, reflecting a deep commitment to habitat protection and wildlife research. After the tour, participants learned how to classify the five different types of wetlands (bog, fen, marsh, swamp, and shallow water) all of which are found at Edgewood Blue and the surrounding TLC protected area. 

Trevor Goward leads a guided tour of Edgewood Blue, detailing the land’s features alongside The Land Conservancy in Clearwater, BC. Photo by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

To further instill local knowledge, Don Bowser, an Elder and Knowledge Keeper from the Simpcw First Nation, led a wetland tour on the Nation’s “Boardwalk Wetland,” a community-centered wetland featuring a newly installed boardwalk. This wetland holds special significance for the community due to its accessibility, heightened by the recent boardwalk addition. It serves as an outdoor classroom for the local school, Neqweyqwelsten, integrating wetland-based activities such as pond dips into their science curriculum and fostering hands-on learning experiences about the area’s flora and fauna. 

Don’s insights, enriched with local, Indigenous knowledge, included the traditional uses of plants found in the wetland and stories about the resident beavers. He emphasized the wetland’s importance to the Nation for resources like food and medicinal plants and highlighted its role in facilitating knowledge transfer between the youth and Elders. The accessibility of this particular wetland is especially valuable, as it allows Elders, who may not be able to visit other wetlands in the territory, to share their wisdom and experience with younger generations in a meaningful, engaging setting. 

Wetlands Institute participants on a walk through wetlands in Barrière, BC with Don Bowser of the Simpcw First Nation. Photo by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

Adding to this local insight, Stephanie Russell and Melany Leontowich with BC Parks, conducted a tour of the Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area, offering a deeper understanding of the region’s environmental challenges, primarily drought and wildfires. In their discussion, Russell and Leontowich explored potential solutions, including restoring spawning channels, adding Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs), or restoring ephemeral or shallow wetland basins to mitigate drought and maintain moisture in the wetland areas of the protected region. 

Wetlands Institute participants visit Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area. Photos by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

Additionally, at the Tranquille Wetland site in Kamloops, Dr. Catherine Tarasoff from Agrowest Consulting highlighted the management of Reed Canary Grass (RCG) spread. She stressed the importance of knowledge-based strategies and understanding plant biology to properly manage a species. Collaborating with the Kamloops Naturalist Club, they implemented an experimental benthic barrier to smother and hopefully control RCG, with participants actively engaged in the process. The club is also working towards the reintroduction of native plant species to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience and building a viewing platform for the wetland to expand the quality of wildlife education for the community. 

Participants of the Wetlands Institute participated in taking soil samples to submit to the TRU lab from underneath the benthic barrier placed at the Tranquille Wetland site in Kamloops, BC. Photos by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

The institute also featured informative sessions led by experts in their fields. Kyla Rushton from BCWF introduced participants to Rapid Wetland Health Assessments, essential for maintaining ecosystem balance. Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Kasey shared the journey of a significant wetland project, offering perspectives on its challenges and milestones. Moreover, Erin Roberts from the Canadian Wildlife Service added a technological dimension by showcasing the Canadian National Wetland Inventory tool. This tool in the making will improve mapping available for wetlands in BC, a key piece of conserving and protecting these invaluable ecosystems. 

Kasey McKenzie, Biologist at Ducks Unlimited Canada and Alana Higginson, BCWF’s Program Coordinator for the Wetlands Education Program. Photos by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

Beyond these insightful presentations, the institute emphasized practical, hands-on learning. Participants delved into real-world applications, including a planting activity at a wetland restoration project, demonstrating the effective use of solarization for invasive species control with wetland planting plans & enhancement work activities led by members of BCWF’s Wetlands Workforce crew, Rebecca Dodge and Kendall McLaughlin. Pond dips at the Dufferin Wetlands allowed participants to channel their inner-child and investigate the hard-to-see species that live in wetlands, learning about the important role macroinvertebrates play in the food chain, control of mosquito populations, and how they can be indicators of the health of wetlands.  

Wetlands Institute participant, Erin, assists with planting over 200 native plants at Heather’s property. Photos by Jamie Long, BCWF Conservation Stewardship Communications Coordinator. 

Identifying macroinvertebrates found in the Dufferin wetlands. Photo by Rebecca Dodge, BCWF Wetlands Workforce Field Crew Leader  

Overall, the 2023 Wetlands Institute was a testament to the power of collaborative learning, equipping attendees with new knowledge, resources, and networks. The BCWF’s ongoing support ensures that the momentum generated at the Institute continues to inspire and inform future environmental projects. 

For more information on the Wetlands Education Program, please visit https://bcwf.bc.ca/wetlands-program/. 

The 2023 Wetlands Institute was undertaken with the financial support of Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, BC Interior Community Foundation, the Province of BC, Wildlife Habitat Canada, and EcoCanada. Without their generous support, this workshop would not have been possible. Thank you!