American Avocet.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
May 10, 2016 - 5:00 PM
KELOWNA - The City of Kelowna has received a $30,000 Water Conservation and Quality Improvement grant from the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB). The grant will contribute to restoring and protecting the wetland habitat and breeding grounds of the American Avocets at the Glenmore Landfill.
“The American Avocet is a bird currently blue listed or considered at risk under the Ministry of Environment’s Endangered Species List. There are only approximately six breeding sites known in Southern B.C., including the Glenmore Landfill and nearby Roberts Lake,” said Andrew Reeder, Utility Planning Manager. “In 2010, the City constructed a dam at the Glenmore landfill to support a new wetland habitat for the American Avocet. Unfortunately, the Avocets have not adopted the new habitat for nesting. The pond depth may not be adequate to meet their needs.”
The new wetland was created to replace a habitat that the Avocet’s created on top of the southern portions of the landfill. As the northern parts of the landfill are being filled, the storage and processing areas for the recycling will need to be relocated in the south and will begin to infringe upon the current habitat.
“The grant will be used to investigate whether we can enhance the Avocet Pond so that it is better used, enhance existing wetlands south of the landfill, or create a new depression and wetlands more suitable for the Avocets,” said Reeder.
It’s estimated that nearly 900 visits made to the Glenmore Landfill annually are to view the Avocet.
In total, the habitat restoration project will be $60,000. The remaining funding will come from the Glenmore Landfill Reserve Fund. Future phases include implementation of the enhancements, monitoring Avocet activity and public education.
For more information about the landfill, visit kelowna.ca/waste.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016