East Kootenay Integrated Lakes Management Partnership (EKILMP)

Updated: January 22, 2010

 

 

What is EKILMP?

EKILMP was formed in early 2006 in response to concerns about the fast pace of shoreline development in the East Kootenay region.  The aim is to protect lakes by producing ecologically based land use and development guidance documents and encouraging more integrated and coordinated approaches by all levels of government, property owners and developers.  Current members of the partnership include: 

 

 

 

What has EKILMP done?

EKILMP has contracted the development of a series of reports based on the Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) protocols that are being developed in British Columbia for lakes in the East Kootenay region.  Three reports are generally completed for each lake:  Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM), Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment and Shoreline Management Guidelines. 
 

Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) is a project where GIS, GPS and field observation are used to identify and document the land uses (i.e. residential development), shoreline modifications (i.e. docks), and biophysical attributes (i.e. marshes) along the lake shoreline.  The report identifies baseline inventory information that can assist with monitoring, the development of land management objectives for the shoreline and the development of management plans and policies.
 

The Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment reports are a result of a range of activities to assess the values associated with the habitat.  Activities can include historical air photo analysis, fisheries, aquatic invertebrates and wildlife field assessments, aquatic habitat indexing and determination of zones of sensitivity for the lake foreshore.  The result of the report is the identification of Ecological Value rankings and recommendations of future actions to be undertaken to provide direction for opportunities for conservation and restoration.
 

The Shoreline Management Guidelines are intended to be used as an initial step when reviewing, planning for, or prescribing alterations along the shoreline.  The Guidelines are developed based on the information contained within the FIM and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment reports for each lake.  The Guidelines identify shoreline color zones, activity risk analysis and the process of proceeding with applications for works along the shoreline. The Guidelines are intended to result in cooperative management between all levels of government who have responsibility for approvals and permits and to provide direction to applicants when considering development along the foreshore.

 

Available Reports and Mapping

Links to the reports and associated maps that have been completed to date are available below:
 

Lake Windermere
 

Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) Report
 

Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment Report
Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment Maps:

    Shoreline Description – South Windermere

    Shoreline Description – North Windermere
    Habitat Index & Zones of Sensitivity – South Windermere

    Habitat Index & Zones of Sensitivity – North Windermere

 

Shoreline Management Guidelines

Shoreline Management Guidelines Maps:

    Shoreline Designation Map – South Windermere

    Shoreline Designation Map – North Windermere

Reports completed by Interior Reforestation Co. Ltd.
 

Moyie Lake
 

Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) Report*

            Figure 1

            Appendix A – FIM Methodology

            Appendix C – AHI Results

            Appendix E – Moyie Wildlife Appendix

            Photo Plate Summary
 

Shoreline Management Guidelines**
Shoreline Designation Maps:

    Mapsheet 1

    Mapsheet 2

    Mapsheet 3

    Mapsheet 4

    Mapsheet 5   

    Mapsheet 6

    Mapsheet 7

    Mapsheet 8

    Mapsheet 9

 

*     The FIM and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment Reports have been combined into one document for Moyie Lake.

**   Mapsheet 1 is the north end of the North Basin and Mapsheet 9 is the south end of the South Basin.

Reports completed by Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd.
 

Monroe Lake

Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) Report*
 

Shoreline Management Guidelines

Shoreline Designation Maps:

    Mapsheet 1

    Mapsheet 2

 

*     The FIM and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment Reports have been combined into one document for Monroe Lake.

Reports completed by Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd.

Columbia Lake

Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) Report
Report completed by Interior Reforestation Co. Ltd.
 

Wasa Lake

Foreshore Inventory and Mapping (FIM) Report
Report completed by Interior Reforestation Co. Ltd.

 

Current Projects

Contracts for the completion of the remaining two reports for Columbia Lake and Wasa Lake were awarded to Interior Reforestation Co. Ltd. in January 2010.  A contract has also been awarded to AMEC (Nelson) for the completion of the three reports for Tie Lake and Rosen Lake.  Once draft reports are available they will be made available for public review and comment.
 

The members of EKILMP will continue to work towards the cooperative management of issuing permits and approvals utilizing the guidance provided by these documents.  The importance of continuing public education and making these documents available to property owners and residents is also a priority project for 2010.