The Wild Sheep Society of BC is proud to have partnered with a number of stakeholders in saving critical sheep habitat in the South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen. The habitat was potentially slated for residential developement. The hard work by all involved resulted in another win for the Wild Sheep of BC. Supporters and partners include: BC Parks, the Ministry of Environment, MoE Sheep Advisory Committee, City of Penticton, Okanagan Wild Sheep Recovery Team, The South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance, Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Society, SKAHA.ORG, Climbers Access Society of BC and Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Sub Lot 18 – Skaha Bluffs
Acquisition Support Paper

April 30, 2007
Prepared by: Nichola Walkden
Acquisitions Paper Cover Page

Significance: Sub Lot 18 – Skaha Bluffs contains the following values:
• Identified as #1 priority for acquisition in Okanagan by MoE
• Inholding to Derenzy Wildlife Management Area and Derenzy Bighorn Sheep Resource Management Zone
• Adjacent to Skaha Bluffs Protected Area and potentially the site of the only designated access to this Protected Area.
• Important Bighorn Sheep habitat, potentially supports a number of species-at-risk

Rationale: The following rationale is offered for the purchase of this property:
• This land is not in the ALR and will almost certainly be developed by the next purchaser (zoned 20 acre lots)
• Very high wildlife values by size, habitat type and adjacent land use.
• Motivated in part by the climbing community, who will lose access to the Skaha Bluffs P.A in 2007 (currently access via neighbor’s property). SubLot 18 has suitable infrastructure to create a contained access point.
• Motivated seller, who is providing a significant donation to the project (bargain sale).
• A Provincially significant property and the most important acquisition in the South Okanagan.

Property Connections: Sub Lot 18 is a 760 acre property, bounded on three sides by the proposed Derenzy Wildlife Management Area and Derenzy Bighorn Sheep Resource Management Zone. The west side of this property is bounded by Penticton City limit. It is directly adjacent to the Skaha Bluffs Protected Area, meeting the south end of this property.

Partnerships: The following partners have expressed an interest in participating in this project:
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Ministry of Environment, BC Parks
• South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program
• City of Penticton

Funding Scenarios: It is expected that the majority of funds for this acquisition will be raised from the Province. Mountain Equipment Coop is assisting in championing this acquisition to an International climbing community and making financial contributions. A breakdown of potential funding sources can be found with the budget.

Price: $4.4 Million

Timeline: Potential - closing July 31, 2007

Endowment Potential: n/a

Sub Lot 18 – Skaha Bluffs, Acquisition Support Paper

1. Introduction and Summary
Sub Lot 18 is a 760 acre property, bounded on three sides by the proposed Derenzy Wildlife Management Area and Derenzy Bighorn Sheep Resource Management Zone. The west side of this property is bounded by Penticton City limit. It is directly adjacent to the Skaha Bluffs Protected Area, meeting the south end of this property. It is proposed that Sub Lot 18 be acquired for both recreational and ecological purposes: that the land be transferred to BC Parks to create permanent access to the Skaha Bluffs climbing areas and for the protection of the significant habitat values in complement to the Wildlife Management Area. This acquisition has been ranked as the highest (#1) priority in the Okanagan Region, by the Ministry of Environment.

This property is under threat of development. It is not in the ALR and can be subdivided. The current zoning allows for 20 acre parcels; however developers have spoken to the ability to create a gated community with views of the lake on the higher benches. The lower 100 acres of bench lands are suitable to, and appraised as, vineyard development. If SL 18 is sold privately and developed, there is potential to substantially negatively impact on several conservation investments. Purchase of this land for residential and agricultural development would cause loss and fragmentation of habitat and disruption of wildlife corridors and increase potential for ATV disturbance and damage, noxious weed invasion and increased conflict with domestic animals. The time to act is now, or the opportunity to save this site in its entirety will undoubtedly be lost.

2. Background
History: The conservation community came very close to the securement of this property a few years ago and in this regard monies were available for its acquisition from provincial government sources and others. Unfortunately the previous owner chose to sell to another party at the last minute- it was devastating for the conservation community including the members of the South Okanagan Bighorn Sheep Recovery Committee who along with The Nature Trust and The Land Conservancy worked very hard to secure this land.
Landscape: Sub Lot 18 – Skaha Bluffs consists of a single, undeveloped 760 acre parcel.

3. Description
Location: Sub Lot 18 Skaha Bluffs is located south east of the City of Penticton,

Property Overview: Located in the South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen area – one of Canada’s four most endangered ecosystems – the Bluffs are believed to be among the oldest rocks in BC. Over the centuries, the Bluffs have been weathered and ground-down, re-compressed and covered with solid ridges and deep ravines making them excellent conditions for rock climbing.
These same nooks and crannies mixed with the dry climate have also made the Bluffs ideal habitat for species at risk such as the California Bighorn Sheep, Pallid Bat, and Desert Night Snake. The Bluffs and the surrounding grassland, forest and wetland are vital to wildlife diversity as a source of water, food, shelter, nesting habitat and as movement corridors.
Sub Lot 18 is comprised of Ponderosa Pine grasslands, riparian forest, and rugged terrain. The towering cliffs, pine forests, grasslands and wetlands support a number of wildlife species at risk, including the California Bighorn Sheep, White-throated Swift, Canyon Wren, Lewis’ Woodpecker, five snake and four bat species as well as many other wildlife species.
Rugged terrain including cliffs, ledges and crevices, rocky ridges, outcroppings, and talus provide a variety of habitats for many wildlife species. High cliffs can provide escape terrain and lambing grounds for California Bighorn Sheep, ledges for nesting and perching for species at risk such as Turkey Vulture and Peregrine Falcon. Canyon Wrens nest in cracks or caves in cliffs next to extensive areas of large talus. Several species of bat are suspected to roost in the cliffs and to raise their young in sun-warmed crevices. Snakes such as the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake and Desert Night Snake, hibernate deep below the ground in talus and fractured bedrock and bask in the sun on the warm rocks.

Perennial grasslands dominated by bunchgrass occur on shallow-soiled terraces and ledges amongst the cliffs and forests. Deep-soiled arid grasslands are situated around the bluffs. The low-elevation, west-facing benches and slopes above the lake consist of sagebrush steppe furrowed by ravines These grasslands provide critical foraging habitat for species at risk such as California Bighorn Sheep, Pallid Bat, American Badger, three species of snake, and Western Harvest Mouse.

The dry, low-elevation forests, composed mainly of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir, form a mosaic of habitats with the grasslands, rugged terrain and riparian areas. Wildlife trees are used by about 80 species of BC’s wildlife - birds, mammals and amphibians – for nesting, dens, feeding, perching and shelter, are a feature of the Bluffs. Rubber Boa and Lewis’s Woodpecker have both been recorded in the area.
The value of the property for wildlife is enhanced by the fact that it forms part of a broader expanse of habitat that includes the adjacent protected areas and a large private holding. In 1999 disease eliminated more than 50% of the wild sheep population in the South Okanagan. This property is important year round to sheep (summer and winter range) and contains a critical movement corridor between two sub bands of sheep (Skaha East and Ellis Ck populations).

Buildings: There are no buildings on the site.

4. Merit
This acquisition is provincially important for both ecological and recreation purposes – with an outstanding ranking by acquisition table for both.

Recreational Values:
The negotiation of this property was, in part, motivated by the climbing community, who in the Fall of 2006 lost access to the Skaha Bluffs Protected Area when the private property they had been using was put up for sale. The Protected Area does not have any existing infrastructure for access of vehicles or parking. TLC has negotiated temporary access, via a neighboring property, but sees this acquisition as an opportunity to designate a parking area and permanent, secured access to the adjacent Protected Area. This use would be to a discrete area of the property (north west corner) and use of this area by climbers is not predicted to impact sheep populations because of limited access to the back country. BC Parks and the City of Penticton are working in partnership to this project to allow for this coordination and management for this area.
This arrangement is timely and has created a tremendous opportunity in assisting this acquisition. The climbing community and Mountain Equipment Coop have become champions of this purchase, offering funds, international profile and fundraising assistance.

The acquisition of this property meets TLC’s objectives to secure lands of high ecological importance.
Ecological Values:

Values for Bighorn Sheep
• Summer range over most of the property, enhanced by recent wild fire and selective logging
• Winter range at low to mid elevations
• Very important travel corridor between Ellis Cr. and Skaha East bands

Values for COSEWIC listed Species at Risk
• No inventory is available, required to confirm species presence
• Potential habitat for the following species was identified by Ecosystem Maps and confirmed by a site visit (Appendix A)

Critical Connectivity
• Inholding to Derenzy WMA and Sheep Management Zone. Adjacent to Skaha Bluffs PA. Proximity to Nature Trust holdings

Functional Condition
• This site is undeveloped and relatively undisturbed. There is a pasture area, and the property has been grazed in the last five years.
• The size of this property, in complement to the management of adjacent lands, and varied habitat types provides for species richness.

5. Threats
Current threats: The current zoning allows for 20 acre parcels; however developers have spoken to the ability to create a gated community with views of the lake on the higher benches. The lower 100 acres of bench lands are suitable to, and appraised as, vineyard development. If SL 18 is sold privately and developed, there is potential to substantially negatively impact on several conservation investments. Purchase of this land for residential and agricultural development would cause loss and fragmentation of habitat and disruption of wildlife corridors and increase potential for ATV disturbance and damage, noxious weed invasion and increased conflict with domestic animals.

6. Management
It is designed that this area be transferred to BC Parks and managed in complement to the proposed Derenzy Wildlife Management Area. Through this arrangement there is also the ability to provide a route of access to bring climbers to the Skaha Bluffs Protected Area, which is surrounded by private land holdings that prohibit secured access.
Past use of the property includes selective logging and lease for grazing. The property is considered to be in good condition and not in need of immediate enhancement or restoration. Because this property has been privately controlled access for inventory has been restricted. This acquisition will allow inventories to be completed, and allow wildlife and habitat management plans to be created in coordination to adjacent areas and provincial interests.

Partners: Supporters and partners include: BC Parks, the Ministry of Environment, MoE Sheep Advisory Committee, City of Penticton, Okanagan Wild Sheep Recovery Team, The South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance, Okanagan Region Wildlife Heritage Society, SKAHA.ORG, Climbers Access Society of BC and Mountain Equipment Coop.

7. Finance
Value of the Property: Appraised as $5.25 million (April 2007)

Cost of the Purchase: Estimated at $4.4 million (value of bargain sale $850,000 may increase to $1.1 million to achieve Ecological Gift)

Fundraising: The following requests have been made:

Mountain Equipment Coop: $250,000 confirmed
Mountain Equipment Coop: matching contribution 1:1 up to $125,000 confirmed
TLC fundraising to date: >$100,000
Habitat Conservation Trust Fund: $400,000
Trust For Public Lands: $ 400,000 (forthcoming)
Province of B.C.: $1.5 million confirmed
Nature Trust of B.C.: $500,000
Mountain Equipment Coop: $25,000 acquisition expenses confirmed

8. Conclusion and Recommendations
We are in a fortunate position. This property has been recognized as a high priority for acquisition for a number of years. This project has garnered broad based community support and active stakeholder involvement. TLC could be considered one partner to this project, responsible for the negotiation and ensuring that all of the funds are raised and this acquisition is completed. Awareness raising, inventory, planning and management will be possible with the support and active involvement of many of our partners.