for Okanagan
written by Peter Winter
From www.skaha.org:
Skaha Bluffs is now a BC Park
July 18, 2010
A bit of important news from BC Parks that crept under the skaha.org radar....
At an initial size of 179 hectares, the new Skaha Bluffs Park (brought into force on April 21, 2010) protects a popular climbing area and important wildlife habitat. Land within the provincial park falls under the jurisdiction of BC Parks and provisions of the Park Act and its regulations apply.
Legislation outlining the expansion of Skaha Bluffs Park was introduced via Bill 15 on April 28th, 2010, but to date the park addition has not yet been put into force. The park will be expanded by 310 hectares as a result of two private land acquisitions and the addition of a small Crown parcel.
Sublot 18, comprising approximately 307 hectares, was purchased through a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Environment, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Land Conservancy of BC, the BC Trust for Public Lands, and through the contributions of numerous individuals, groups and agencies. It consists of a variety of distinctive terrain features, including steep cliffs, riparian areas, grassland and open forest, which function together to provide habitat for many provincially or federally listed species at risk, including bighorn sheep, western rattlesnake and western screech owl. The total area of the park will be 489 hectares. Currently, the 310 hectare addition is administered by the partners on title (i.e., the Nature Conservancy, The Land Conservancy of BC, and the Ministry of Environment). Enforcement, compliance and daily operations are managed by BC Parks.
