| White Lake Grasslands Protected Area | |
| Iucn Category: | II |
| Iucn Ref: | [1] |
| Photo Width: | 260px |
| Map: | British Columbia |
| Map Width: | 260px |
| Location: | Okanagan-Similkameen RD, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nearest City: | Okanagan Falls |
| Coordinates: | 49.2936°N -119.597°W |
| Area Ha: | 3764 |
| Designation: | Protected Area |
| Established: | April 18, 2001 |
| Governing Body: | BC Parks |
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is a conservation site located in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen of British Columbia, Canada. It was established on April 18, 2001[2] by an order-in-council under the Environment and Land Use Act to protect the semi-arid grassland and pine forest ecosystem west of Vaseux Lake.[3]
The region spans from the lake's shoreline to mountain tops, providing protection and essential ecosystems for various red and blue-listed endangered species native to British Columbia.[4] Additionally, the area encompasses archaeological sites and land traditionally occupied by the First Nations.
The land was first recommended for protection by Okanagan-Shuswap Land & Resource Management in 2000 and was established as a Class A provincial park on April 18, 2001, under the Environment and Land Use Act. The overall aim of the land's classification is to protect the ecosystems and rare or endangered species located in the Southern Okanagan Basin.
Historically, the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area has encompassed parts of the traditional territory and ancestral homelands of a number of First Nations, including the Syilx Okanagan Nation and the Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council. First Nations Territories have existed and have been inhabited for approximately ten thousand years. The White Lake Grasslands Protected Area drew significant interest from settlers during the 1850s gold rush, leading to the displacement of the Syilx/Okanagan people and the loss of their essential resources and territory. During the period, intense cattle grazing caused damage to the grasslands, resulting in the replacement of native grasses with low-growing, graze-resistant shrubs, leafy forbs, and invasive plants.
One of the aims of the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is to preserve and protect traditional lands of the First Nations. Since the conclusion of colonialism and European settlement, the Nation Park located in South Okanagan has been co-managed by the Syilx/Okanagan Nation. The Nation provides leadership on conservation and economic goals, and also participates in traditional land use and spiritual activities.
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is divided into five sites[5] with a total area of 37.64 km2.[6] It is located west of the Okanagan River to the McIntyre Bluff and includes Mt. McLellan, Mount Hawthorne, and Mt. Keogan. The St. Andrews Golf Course on the east side of Mt. Parker is also protected. Surrounding communities include White Lake, Green Lake, and Okanagan Falls, and other unprotected provincial parks. Visitors can access the protected area through Green Lake Road and Fairview-White Lake Road.
The area is located within the South Okanagan Basin Ecosection, which features a hot, xeric climate originating from the Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimatic zone (PPxhl). The forest zone is sited in the narrow band, which is known for having the driest and warmest valleys of the Southern Interior.[7] During the growing season, there are significant moisture shortages due to the hot and dry summers. Winters are mild with light snow.[8] The zone has a mean annual precipitation of 280–500 mm, with 15-40% as snowfall.
Heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts brought on by climate change pose a potential threat to grasslands.[9] Climate change could lead to longer periods of droughts and extreme weathers, such as intense storms. Thus, the soil moisture level could impact vegetation growth, which is critical for the survival of species. This region has an overflowing amount of species at risk that inhabit mid-elevation grasslands and old-growth ponderosa pines.
To mitigate the impacts of climate change on the ecosystem, natural vegetation and water bodies throughout the region should be protected to increase the capacity of the soil to hold more water, which prevents droughts and floods, decreases debris and soil run-off, and naturally filters water.
The protected area is classified as IUCN Management Category II under the national designation. It is designated as a protected area for terrestrial and inland waters. Its management authority is under the oversight of the Government of British Columbia, which operates within the jurisdiction of a sub-national ministry or agency.
Framework from the Protected Area Strategy (PAS) recognizes the province's ecologically representative sites. Areas that need to be protected are identified with the guidance of the Okanagan-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan (OSLRMP). The Management Direction Statement (MDS), which gathers opinions from stakeholders and interested parties, leads the management strategy in this protected area.
All development related to these statements is in line with BC Parks' Impact Assessment Policy.
The Okanagan Valley is one of Canada's most threatened ecosystems, making the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area crucial for the survival of species such as the White-headed woodpecker.
Regulations of the area:
There are many obstacles to managing the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, including:
With staff to oversee and enact rules, the national park reserve would guarantee the safety of places that are vulnerable to danger. In consultations with the Syilx/Okanagan Nation, the Wilderness Committee suggests expanding the park limits to include Vaseux Lake, White Lake, and the adjacent territories in the national park reserve.
This table lists the plant species that can be found during the drier and wetter phases:
| Phase | Trees | Shrubs | Forbs and grasses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) | Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon), artemisia tridentata (big sage), A. frigida (pasture sage), chrysothamnus nauseosus (rabbit brush) | Festuca saximontana (rocky mtn. fescue), festuca idahoensis (Odaho fescue), crepis atrabarba (slender hawksbeard), Astragalus miser (timber milk-vetch), agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass), balsamorhiza sagittata (balsamroot), and Achillea millefolium (yarrow) | |
| Wet | Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine), pseudotsuga menziesii (douglas-fir) | Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon), Symphoricarpos albus (snowberry), rosa spp. (roses), acer glabrum (douglas maple), mahonia aquifolium (tall oregon-grape), and cornus stolonifera (res-osier dogwood) | Agropyron spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass), Koeleria macrantha (June grass), poa sandbergii (sandberg's bluegrass), and Antennaria dimorpha (pussytoes) |
There are 183 bird species in the area, including one globally threatened species, seven introduced species, and two rare/accidental species.[10]