Stewardship Program for Landowners on the Kootenay River Floodplain and Tributaries $8,000

The flood plain cottonwood riparian ecosystem along the Kootenay River from Skookumchuck to Wardner and related tributary streams are of critical importance to wide variety of wildlife and fish species. The majority of this area is in private hands. There is interest within the ranching/land owner community in developing a stewardship group concerned with maintaining riparian values. The following are required in the creation and development of such a group:

• Gathering information of the tools available for stewarding these systems.

• Talking on a "one to one" basis with all of the land owners in the area.

• Holding a workshop to discuss the issues and the options for creating a stewardship group

• Developing examples of stewardship options and potential actions on private land

• Bringing some profile to the issues and the importance of these systems for fish, wildlife and ecosystem function.

Although many of the land owners in this area are pre-disposed to maintaining wildlife and fisheries values on their property, they do not have access to information or guidance on how best to maintain those values. There has been prior interest expressed in riparian issues in workshops on these issues sponsored by the Forest Service grazing division and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

We envision as product an established group of ranchers, land owners, native people and agency staff who are willing to work co-operatively on stewarding the river system. The project will be driven by a local rancher and wildlife biologist who has lived in the area for 25 years, with the assistance of Aquatex, a local firm with international expertise in riparian restoration. One of the principals in this firm is from a local ranching family.

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