The Thompson-Okanagan

BC’s biodiversity heartland

The Thompson Basin extends from the Fraser River canyon to the Monashee Mountains. It’s characterized by gently rolling glacial benches covered in vast grasslands, sagebrush steppe, and dry forests, gradually becoming interior temperate rainforests as you head east.

Below the Thompson, the Okanagan stretches to the southern border, bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Monashee Mountains to the east. Together the Okanagan and Similkameen river valleys form the northern end of North America’s Great Basin, more often associated with the vast drylands of the western United States.

About the Thompson-Okanagan Region

Antelope Brush ecosystem, South Okanagan, BC © Graham Osborne 3-I-130850

Where rare ecosystems converge

Grasslands, common in this region, cover only 1% of BC overall. They are highly vulnerable to invasive species, making them more endangered than coastal old-growth forests. The southern valleys, with their low rainfall, hot summers and mild winters, offer diverse habitats that are unique in Canada—from valley bottom lakes to alkaline ponds, grasslands, Antelope-brush steppe, and Ponderosa pine forests.

Canada’s only pocket desert

The Okanagan region is often referred to as Canada’s only pocket desert—it isn’t a true desert, but rather an extension of the semi-arid landscape of the Great Columbia Basin. It is the most biodiverse area of BC, and also contains the most endangered, threatened and rare species.

Together, we’re protecting a biodiversity hotspot

Our priority in the Okanagan is preserving the region’s last remaining grasslands, where many species are endangered. We’ve protected 82 conservation areas totalling nearly 130,000 acres.

Explore the Thompson-Okanagan

Vaseux Lake, NTBC S. Okanagan © Graham Osborne 3-Ia-332269

Visit Vaseux Lake

Our conservation complex at Vaseux Lake has protected 1,196 acres of wildlife habitat from development. The complex protects rare and endangered wetland plant communities made up of red-osier dogwood and black cottonwood. Here you’ll also see grasslands dominated by antelope brush (a globally imperilled ecosystem), sagebrush and bluebunch, and wheatgrass dotted with stands of Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir.

The Vaseux Lake complex is a refuge for bighorn sheep, but also for species at risk such as white-headed woodpeckers, Lewis’s woodpeckers, night snakes, Nuttall’s cottontails, western small-footed myotis, western skink, and Behr’s hairstreak butterflies.

On the ground: Bringing beavers back to Park Rill Creek

We’ve partnered with Yves Saint Laurent Beauty to build human made “beaver” dams along 1.5 kilometres of Park Rill Creek in the southern Okanagan. Like beaver dams, these structures are made of organic materials like wood, mud and grasses, and they’ll help create vital habitat for wetland species. The hope is that these constructed wetlands will eventually attract real beavers, as similar projects in other areas have already done.

Safeguarding biodiversity through partnership and stewardship

One way we have been able to conserve so much area in the South Okanagan is by using a biodiversity ranch model. By partnering with local ranching families, we have secured active ranch lands. This way, the ranch maintains an active livestock operation while prioritizing biodiversity and habitat conservation on the land.

Nicholas Burdock

Thompson-Okanagan Conservation Land Manager

Nicholas Burdock joined us in 2003 as a member of the Thompson-Okanagan Conservation Youth Crew. Since then, he has held several roles, including Wildlife Habitat Assistant, Field Operations Coordinator, and Conservation Land Coordinator, and now serves as Thompson-Okanagan Conservation Land Manager. Born and raised in Penticton, Nick is an avid outdoorsperson and enjoys the diverse nature the South Okanagan offers; from rare species to wine! He still calls Penticton home and is proud to be able to share his passion for nature and conservation with his two children. While he is still developing his appreciation for birds, his favourite grass is needle and thread grass- Hesperostipa comata.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia.

Meet the Okanagan Conservation Field Crew

Tess McCall

Field Operations Coordinator

Kristen Ashley

Crew Member

Zoe Ellwood