Quintal

Highlights

The Quintal project area totals 49 hectares along the Okanagan River and includes hay lands, oxbows and floodplain wetlands.

Under the Intermountain Wetland Conservation Program, the Quintal project aims to restore some of the floodplain habitats that made up much of the valley floor along the Okanagan River. Floodplain wetlands are especially important to migrant waterfowl, fish, amphibians, and a host of songbirds.

The project area has been used for hay and pasture, with some of the property within the ALR. While some agricultural use will be maintained, future management will include the needs of wildlife. The project is immediately adjacent to the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area, now creating a larger piece of contiguous wildlife habitat. The Quintal project is an important parcel in DUC's effort to restore wetlands in the Okanagan valley.

Background

Over the past 50 years, the Okanagan Valley has experienced intense pressures from agriculture and urban expansion. It's estimated that only 15% of wetlands remain intact and only about 2% of wetland habitats are considered to be in an undisturbed state.

The Okanagan River was channeled and dyked in the late 1950's, eliminating the natural water supply and drastically altering the natural flood regime of the floodplain. Ground observation and aerial photos reveal with some accuracy where the natural swales and oxbows formed and where saturated areas continue to exist.

These wetland areas vary from bulrush marsh to wet meadow classification. During spring freshet, most of the land is inundated with water from the Okanagan River.

This is an opportunity to restore some of the Okanagan River channel and floodplain to its natural state and protect this portion of floodplain from urbanization. DUC efforts reduce some of these impacts and re-create high quality contiguous habitat. To achieve DUC’s overall goal of no net losses, acquisition and restoration of properties such as the Quintal Property is necessary and effective. The overall goal is to restore the property to natural floodplain habitat while also maintaining some agriculture presence.

Project Partners

Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service)
The BC Ministry of Water, Land & Air Protection (MWLAP)
Habitat Conservation Trust Fund
Ducks Unlimited Canada
The Nature Conservancy