They’re coming back!  Regional District Parks Services staff in Mission Creek Regional Park has received several reports of bear sightings in the park, along the Mission Creek Greenway and in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park.  Evidence of bear activity has also been spotted in Bertram Creek, Glen Canyon, Kalamoir and Rose Valley Regional Parks.

Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “As the higher elevation food sources start to decline and fruit crops ripen in the valley below, this is the time of year that we start to receive more reports of bears in some of our Regional Parks.  When we start getting sightings and staff sees evidence of bears in our parks and along trails, we post signs advising all park users of recent bear activity.”

“To reduce your chance of meeting a bear while hiking, it’s recommended that you travel in a group, make noise or carry something that makes noise, such as a bell.”  Smith says, “We’ve already noticed some Kokanee starting to return to Mission Creek.  As we get closer to the fall fish spawning season, it’s not unusual for park visitors to encounter bears along local creeks and rivers, as the fish are a plentiful source of food.  Be aware that bears fishing for food may not hear you over the noise of the creek water. If you see a bear, give it plenty of space and stay well away from it.”

People should respect all bears and anticipate and avoid encounters with them whenever possible.  Bears can be aggressive, especially when defending their food or their cubs.  Bears also have excellent senses of smell and hearing, and better sight than you might believe.  For their safety, dog owners are reminded when in Regional Parks that their pets must be leashed and kept on trails at all times.  Provincial Conservation Officers are advised of the bear sightings and along with Regional Parks staff, monitor the situation in local parks.

As well, residents are reminded to keep any garbage securely stored on their property and please don’t put out your garbage cart until the morning of your regular curbside collection.  That way you’re not tempting bears or other wildlife.

Bear Information Links

Ministry of Environment Bear Smart program www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/bearsmart/bearsmintro.html

Forest Fuel Reduction Projects Partnership

Reducing the possible threat of wildfire is the goal of a partnership project underway in the Trepanier Creek area of the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO).

The fuel management work is a cooperative effort between the Regional District and Westbank First Nation (WFN) on just over 23-hectares within the Westbank First Nation Community Forest that includes an area adjacent to the District of Peachland, through the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and District of West Kelowna to approximately Traders Cove.  View Map of Treatment Area

A six-person crew contracted by the WFN’s forest management department Heartland Economics began falling, spacing and pruning trees in this high priority section just south of Trepanier Creek during the week of July 19^th.  It’s expected their work will wrap up by late September, but may be extended if the fire hazard and danger rating affects the crew’s ability to safely work in the forest.

All fuel materials will be chipped and removed from the site.  No burning will take place.  Signs have been posted and neighbours and recreation groups have been advised to be aware of periodic, short closures of unsanctioned trails through the 23.75-hectare forest as trees are cut, spaced, pruned and cleaned up.

The Regional District and Westbank First Nation recognize the importance of this work in reducing the future potential for fire in this area by removing dead and dying trees, thinning the forest understory and pruning ladder fuels, all of which can contribute to the spread and severity of any fire.

Regional District Chair Robert Hobson says, “This partnership with the Westbank First Nation is an excellent example of our governments working together to improve the safety and security of all our residents.  We look forward to completing this and other joint forest fuel mitigation projects and encourage everyone to do what they can to make their properties Fire Smart.”   Westbank First Nation Forestry Manager, Grant Thompson RPF adds “This fuel management project is a demonstration of WFN’s commitment to manage the Westbank First Nation Community Forest for multiple values over a very long time..  These values include timber, water, wildlife, recreation, traditional uses, visuals and protection from wildfire.  Projects such as these will ensure that all Okanagan residents will be able to enjoy and benefit from of our forests for many years to come.”

The Canada Economic Action Plan is providing more than $166,000 in Community Adjustment Funds to the Regional District of Central Okanagan for completion of this work.

This is the second cooperative joint RDCO-Westbank First Nation forest fuel reduction project this year.  In March, similar fuel management treatments were done on approximately 12-hectares in the WFN Community Forest, adjacent to the Trepanier Forest Service Road, north-west of the Okanagan Connector overpass.  Almost $40,000 in Federal Community Adjustment Funds was provided to the Regional District for this work.

Art in the Park in August

Something special is happening Sunday afternoons during August in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park.

Check out some of the eco art that’s being displayed as part of the Woodhaven Eco-Art Project.  Each Sunday from 1:30 – 4:00 PM, eco art assistant Shed Simas will be available by the park entrance to talk about the project, hand out maps of the art in the park, and lend out loaner mp3 players loaded with the audio guides and video created for the project.   As well each Sunday afternoon, collect the Woodhaven Trading Cards that are available along the park trails.  The Regional Park is located at 4711 Raymer Road (off Gordon Drive past DeHart) in the south Mission area of Kelowna.

In the park, there are also installations by artists Lori Mairs, Byron Johnston, and Brenda Fiest, as well as other text-based works.   There’s no cost to view these art works.

The Woodhaven Eco-Art Project is a University of British Columbia Hampton-funded series of artistic events unfolding in Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park throughout 2010 with the support of the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.  The works of art have minimal impact on the natural environment.

For more information about the project, see the website www.woodhaven.ok.ubc.ca/ or Facebook “Woodhaven Project”.   Keep up to date on all Woodhaven news with Lori Mairs’ blog: http://blogs.ubc.ca/woodhaven/

Greenway Users Reminded of Trail Use Etiquette

It’s a great place to take a stroll or a more strenuous run in the shade alongside Mission Creek.  It’s an important corridor used by Central Okanagan cyclists.  It’s also a trail frequented by some local equestrians.

Mission Creek Greenway Regional Park is an extremely popular recreational trail that can find multiple user groups on it at any one time of the day.  In fact, it’s estimated well over a thousand people use the 16.5-kilometer trail each day.  They range from pedestrians walking and care givers out with infants in strollers to joggers getting some exercise; cyclists out for a ride and horse riders from adjacent stables exercising their steeds.

Communications Coordinator Bruce Smith says, “The Greenway is a year round mecca for lovers of the outdoors.  But during the spring, summer and fall months, we see a lot more traffic along the linear trail and just as it is on our roadways with so many multiple users comes the potential for periodic conflicts.  Our goal is to ensure that everyone using the corridor shares the Greenway.”

Parks Services Bylaw Enforcement Officer Blaise Laveay adds, “Everyone using the Greenway and any of the other trails in our Regional Park system should be aware of proper trail etiquette.  Under the Regional Parks Bylaw all dogs must be kept on leash and must stay on designated trails.  Cyclists shouldn’t go faster than ten kilometers an hour along the trail and should keep to the right side of the trail, unless they are passing someone on foot.  They should also give an indication that they are approaching from behind by ringing a bell, honking a horn or simply vocally acknowledging their passing to the left.  So that everyone can share the Greenway, cyclists and pedestrians should yield to horse riders while cyclists should yield to pedestrians.”

Animal owners are reminded to pick up waste deposited along the trail.  All residents should remember that unauthorized motorized vehicles are not allowed along the Greenway.