User:Joycellyy/White Lake Grasslands Protected Area

White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is a conservation site located in Okanagan, BC, Canada. The region spans from shoreline to mountain top, providing essential living areas for various red and blue-listed species, plants, and plant groups in British Columbia.

The first aim of the protected area is to provide protection to red and blue-listed wildlife species (especially the white-headed woodpecker) and the habitat inside the area. The second aim is to protect the archaeological sites and First Nations’ traditional land.

The area was a farmyard and home for the First Nation; now it also offers tourism activities. It has a diverse ecology with generally hot and dry weather.

History and past use of the area
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area was recommended for protection by Okanagan-Shuswap Land & Resource Management Plan in 2000, and was established on April 18, 2001 under the Environment and Land Use Act. It was established as a Class A provincial park of the Areas of Brithish Columbia Act. The aim was to protected the ecosystems and rare or endangered species located in the Southern Okanagan Basin Eco section.

First Nations
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 was drew significant interest from settlers during the 1850s gold rush, leading to the displacement of the Syilx/Okanagan people and the lose 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, grazing- resistant shrubs, leafy forbs and invasive plants.

One of the aims of the protection of the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is to preserve and protect traditional lands of the First Nations. Therefore, after the colonialism and European settlement, the Nation Park located in South Okanagan are co-managed by the Syilx/Okanagan Nation. The Nation will provides leadership on conservation and economic goals, and also participating in traditional land use and spiritual activities. To support the Okanagan Nation Alliance in co-managing nation park reserve.

Geography
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is divided into five sites with a total area of 37.64 km². 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 provincial parks are not being protected. People can access the protected area through Green Lake Road and Fairview-White Lake Road.

Climate and the effects of climate change
The Area is located within the South Okanagan Basin Ecosection (SOB) which features extremely hot, xeric climate originating from Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimatic zone (PPxhl). The forest zone is sited in the narrow band which is known for the driest and warmest valleys of the Southern Interior. During the growing season, there are significant moisture shortages due to the hot and dry summers. Winter are mild with light snow cover. The zone has a mean annual precipitation of 280-500 mm, and 15-40% as snowfall.

Heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts brought on by climate change pose a threat to grasslands. Climate change could lead to longer periods of droughts, and extreme weathers such as intense storms. Thus, the soil moisture level could impact the vegetation growth that is important for the survival of species. This region has an overflowing amount of species at risk which inhabit in 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.

Management
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. With the guidance of the Okanagan-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan (OSLRMP), areas that need to be protected are identified. The Management Direction Statement (MDS), which gathers opinions from stakeholders and interested parties, was also created to lead the management strategy in this protected area.

All development related to these statements is in line with BC Parks' Impact Assessment Policy.

Conservation Goals
The Okanagan Valley, known for its warm winters and hot summers, is one of Canada's four most threatened ecosystemsundefined. However, excessive human activity, including cattle grazing, automobiles, vineyards, human settlements, invasive species, and the ban on grassland burns, is causing rapid habitat loss and destruction. A national park reserve was established to safeguard the remaining habitats, including the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, which is crucial for the survival of White-headed woodpeckers and also includes alkali ponds, riparian zones, and rock outcroppings.

The goals cover :


 * Restrict Urban expansion and hunting (not limited to First Nation's traditional, spiritual and cultural uses on land)White-headed Woodpecker - Sisters - Oregon.jpg]]
 * Grasslands are used as carbon storage to offset carbon emissions.
 * Protecting natural vegetation and water bodies allows soil to hold more water, which prevents floods and droughts, decreases soil and debris run-off, and naturally filters water.
 * Diversify the economies of local communities through investments, job opportunities, and expenditures from tourists.
 * Maintain ecosystem sustainability.
 * Potential benefits to The Syilx/Okanagan Nation's culture, include increased access to resources, research funding, and increased employment opportunities.

For the other protection goal, it also includes protecting the archaeological sites—the eight known sites, including rock shelters, pictographs, quarry/workshops, cache pits, and house pits.

Challenges
There are many obstacles to managing the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, including:


 * uneven distribution and shape of the protected land
 * Insufficient public knowledge in protecting the land
 * Over-access by tourists
 * Ineffective fire management
 * Off-road vehicle use poses significant challenges, damaging ecosystems and putting pressure on endangered species, some of which may even result in roadkill

With employees 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 Commitee suggests expanding the park limits to include Vaseux Lake, White Lake, and the adjacent territories in the national park reserve.

Trees, shrubs, forbs and grasses
This table lists the plant species that can be found during the drier and wetter phases :

Birds
There are 183 bird species in the area, including one globally threatened species, seven introduced species, and two rare/accidental species. Rare/accidental species: Himantopus mexicanus (black-necked stilt), spinus psaltria (lesser goldfinch)

Endangered species
Red and blue-listed endangered wildlife are inhabited in the protected area. These species include two amphibian species, five reptile species, fifteen bird species, eight mammal species, two insect species and three plant species in the park.

Plants
* Observation within 500m of Protected Area, but not recorded within the boundary

** Species of special concern

*** Includes both * & **

Tourism
The White Lake Grasslands Protected Area is located in Kelowna, the capital of the Okanagan. It is site on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake, and provides a range of outdoor recreation activities. There are several wilderness trails available, including the White Lake Trail which starts from the Nature Trust property south of the lake and the summit of Mount Keogan, which is near the Mahoney Ecological Reserve. Additionally, wildlife viewing, particularly bird watching, is a key part of activity in the protected area. Valued sites are Kearns Creek, Mahoney Lake, Rattlesnake Lake, Mclntyre Bluff and Myers Flats. Several existing nature appreciation activities, such as cycling, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. . Hunting is accessible but is limited to BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis.

Okanagan Mountain Provinical Park and Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park are located near Okanagan, and Fintry Provinical Park is near the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area. These parks provide high-value rare species and outdoor recreation activities, similar to what The White Lake Grasslands Protected Area provides.