A gravel pit was approved in the 1990s but was never developed. A sand and gravel company is currently interested in developing a pit on Lot A.
The Southern Interior Land Trust purchased the 16.6-hectare (41-acre) Bourguiba Spring property in fall 2022.
Lot 16 is a steep, south-facing grassland with rock outcrops above a ravine that protects a year-round groundwater spring—the source of Bourguiba Creek, which flows into Haynes Creek, a tributary of Osoyoos Lake. That Lot 16 protects the source spring of a permanent creek in the dry Osoyoos landscape likely makes the property ecologically significant at a provincial level. That it has intact riparian vegetation with no apparent history of livestock grazing makes it even more special for wildlife and ecological study.
Its steep slopes of sagebrush, bunchgrass, and scattered pines are home to California bighorn sheep, provide spring range for mule deer, and habitat for at least 12 species-at-risk, including badger (endangered), rattlesnake (threatened), screech owl (threatened), and half-moon hairstreak butterfly (endangered). With its source of water, it is an ideal “stepping-stone” of habitat supporting wildlife movement through the area and between the southern B.C. interior and northern Washington State.
Buying the Bourguiba Spring property was made possible through funding provided by the South Okanagan Conservation Fund, the Wild Sheep Society of BC, the BC Conservation Foundation, the Okanagan-Similkameen Parks Society, the BC Parks Foundation, the Government of Canada through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, part of Canada’s Nature Fund, and dozens of non-profits, companies and individuals who donated what they could.
In November 2020, SILT acquired an additional 35 hectares (86 acres) of grassland habitat east of Grand Forks on Morrissey Creek Road, adjacent to its other DL492 property. This additional land secures and provides even more year-round habitat for a herd of 200-300 California bighorn sheep. Rams and ewes of all ages use the land. It is also excellent winter and spring range for mule deer and white-tailed deer. Several species-at-risk occur, including rattlesnake, gophersnake, spadefoot toad, tiger salamander and badger.
This low-elevation grassland is significant for more reasons than its great diversity of wildlife. DL 492 lies within an ecosystem that extends only a short way into British Columbia from Washington State, forming a narrow band from Anarchist Summit east along the Kettle River to the Grand Forks basin.
Buying Lot A – DL 493 for conservation was made possible through funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, B.C. Conservation Foundation, Tom and Jenifer Foss, the Wild Sheep Society of B.C., Wild Sheep Foundation Alberta, other individual donors, and the Government of Canada through its Natural Heritage Conservation Program.
Photo Credits: Brad Siemens & Judie Steeves
Photo courtesy - Brad Siemens
Photo courtesy - Brad Siemens
Upon acquisition of this property, SILT will work toward removing such hazards to wildlife. Please help with a donation.