Undertaking Environmental Assessments in the South Okanagan Similkameen

If you are about to undertake an Environmental Assessment in the South Okanagan Similkameen, consider contacting Stephanie Winton, SOSCP Shared Environmental Planner. Stephanie is a great resource and can provide proactive assistance with challenging items such as species and ecosystems data, including Critical Habitat for species at risk. 

SOSCP has collated the following list of resources in support of land planning and high quality Environmental Assessments related to Development Permits. Information is sorted by topic:

  • Mapping and Data
  • Legislation, Policy and Best Management Practices
  • References, Unpublished Reports and Other Important Information
  • Community Specific Resources
Click here to access this resource list

NEW! Species at Risk Portfolio – This document summarizes recovery strategy direction for nine Species at Risk Act (SARA) species at risk found in the Okanagan. It provides links to detailed information for each species and is intended to support strategies for avoidance and mitigation of impacts associated with land development. The portfolio is intended for a qualified environmental professional audience to support them in completing environmental assessments and provide direction that prevents destruction of Critical Habitat.  Species at Risk Portfolio May 2020 final

Here is a resource called: “Working In and Around Water and Species and Ecosystems at Risk Workshop for Qualified Professionals” from the Province of BC  from February 7, 2018.

The Province has also developed the Okanagan Large Lakes Foreshore Protocol in January of 2018. This includes additional accompanying species at risk guidance documents (Guidance for Freshwater Mussels in the Okanagan; Guidance for Foreshore Plants in the Okanagan) that replace the Okanagan Large Lakes Foreshore Protocol dated May 2009. KML files for the three values considered are available on the protocol page, and in iMapBC (use layers: Kokanee Habitat Zones – Okanagan Region – Colour Themed, Mussel Habitat Zones – Okanagan Region – Colour Themed, Foreshore Plant Habitat – Okanagan Region – Colour Themed)

Critical Habitat for the following species located in the South Okanagan Similkameen is available:

  1. Branched Phacelia
  2. Behr’s Hairstreak
  3. Halfmoon Hairstreak
  4. Great Basin Spadefoot
  5. Grand Coulee Owl-clover
  6. Lewis’s Woodpecker
  7. Williamson’s Sapsucker
  8. Nugget Moss
  9. Pallid Bat
  10. Sage Thrasher
  11. Scarlett Ammannia
  12. Slender Collomia
  13. Desert Nightsnake
  14. Great Basin Gophersnake
  15. Western Rattlesnake
  16. Short-rayed Alkali Aster
  17. Tiger Salamanger
  18. Toothcup
  19. Yellow-breasted Chat
  20. Stoloniferous Pussytoes
  21. Dwarf Wooly-heads, Southern Mountain Population
  22. Rusty Cord-moss

Click here for the Species at Risk Critical Habitat Process Diagram

Critical Habitat (proposed or final) is available for most of the species on this list through iMAPBC or Environment and Climate Change Canada’s “Open Data” public portal EC Datamart except for sensitive data including for snakes (Desert Nightsnake, Great Basin Gophersnake and Western Rattlesnake) and the Western Tiger Salamander. Critical Habitat for snakes and tiger salamander requires a data sharing/confidentiality agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Contact Jared Maida, MSc  Species at Risk Biologist  Canadian Wildlife Service / Environment & Climate Change Canada  jared.maida@canada.ca / 250-491-1518

How do I access Critical Habitat Maps and Spatial Data? 

Click here for a spreadsheet of Okanagan SAR and data locations.

Critical habitat data for terrestrial species at risk can be accessed in a number of ways.

 BC Tools: iMap & Data Distribution Service:

Critical Habitat identified for terrestrial species under the federal Species at Risk Act within British Columbia is available to the public via the BC Geographic Warehouse. This data includes both “Final” and “Proposed” critical habitat, as depicted in recovery documents that have been posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry by Environment and Climate Change Canada or Parks Canada. **Note that the federal government is the custodian of this data, and that critical habitat identified for aquatic species within BC is not currently available through BC Tools.

Access this critical habitat data using either of these three tools:

A. iMapBC 2.0

Look in the layer library under “Fish, Wildlife and Plant Species” Group. Choose the layer “Critical Habitat for Federally-Listed Species at Risk – Posted”. Note that critical habitat polygons will only be shown when zoomed to a scale of 1:800,000 or larger.

B. Data Distribution Service: Download or connect to the data

C. Environment and Climate Change Canada has made the geospatial files for “Final” and “Proposed” critical habitat  available as “Open Data” for the public.  Click here for EC Datamart

How do I Access Sensitive/Masked Critical Habitat Data? 

Environment and Climate Change Canada must oversee the distribution and confidentiality of sensitive data.

Contact: Contact Jared Maida, MSc  Species at Risk Biologist  Canadian Wildlife Service / Environment & Climate Change Canada  jared.maida@canada.ca / 250-491-1518

How do I Access Sensitive/Masked Element Occurrences from the Conservation Data Center of BC?

Contact cdcdata@gov.bc.ca

Policy Advice Regarding Interpretation of Occurrence and Attribute-based Critical Habitat

The following is referenced in the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) Development Procedures Bylaw (found here go to pg 28), and is provided in support of quality Environmental Assessments throughout the Okanagan.

Occurrence-based Critical Habitat: Critical Habitat for the species listed below are based on known, recent occurrences (or occupied habitat). As directed in the development procedures bylaw, Critical Habitat for them would be considered ESA-1.

  • Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus)
  • Branched Phacelia (Phacelia ramosissima)
  • Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia robusta)
  • Toothcup (Rotala romosior)
  • Grand Coulee Owl-clover (Orthocarpus barbatus)
  • Short-rayed Alkali Aster (Symphyotrichum frondosum)
  • Yellow Breasted Chat (Icteria virens aurocollis)

Attribute-based Critical Habitat: Critical Habitat for the species listed below are based on habitat attributes. As directed in the development procedures bylaw, Critical Habitat for these species would be considered ESA-2. In circumstances where Critical Habitat includes known, recent occurrence(s) (or occupied habitat), the QEP should consider if an ESA-1 rating is required to protect habitat and prevent destruction of Critical Habitat, consistent with requirements in the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Other considerations may also result in an ESA-1 designation within areas of Critical Habitat for the species listed below. For example, where Critical Habitat areas also contain locally or provincially significant ecosystems, uncommon and other important to rare wildlife species.

  • Half Moon Hairstreak (Satyrium semiluna)
  • Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)
  • Behr’s Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii)
  • Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
  • Spadefoot Toad (Spea intermontana)