A cow moose stands on hilly grassland with forest in the background
Aerial Mapping view of Mission Creek and surrounding community

OCCP is pleased to announce completion of the SHIM of Mission Creek's critical habitat area. Mapping information includes GPS and photo survey data for fish spawning areas, wetlands, and features and attributes such as retaining walls, bridges and culverts, side channels and tributaries, points of erosion, agricultural runoff, wildlife trees, and fish presence.

OCCP is pleased to announce the completion of the Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) of Mission Creek. This project was facilitated through a collaboration between OCCP, Regional District of Central Okanagan, Okanagan Basin Water Board, and the City of Kelowna. The mapping information collected included GPS and photo survey data for fish spawning areas, wetlands, features and attributes such as retaining walls, bridges and culverts, side channels and tributaries, points of erosion, agricultural runoff, wildlife trees, and fish presence. The SHIM mapping was completed in the spring of 2017 prior to the flooding, making this a valuable tool in assessing the changes that have occurred as a result of the recent flooding.

Mission Creek provides critical habitat and corridors for fish and wildlife with its spawning, rearing and overwintering and feeding habitats. The creek is home to many species of fish in including juvenile salmonids and animals such as deer, elk, turkey vultures, blue herons, as well as aquatic invertebrates and plants all of which function as part of the region’s wetland ecosystem. This new mapping has greatly improved the information about the creek and will assist in strengthen rationale for better protection and restoration of the riparian habitats in the face of continued land development. The SHIM mapping will be used by community planners, environmental organizations and government agencies to guide management and land use decisions for habitat restoration projects and assist in the design of floodplain management plans.

SHIM information can also:

  • Assist in determining setbacks and fish/wildlife-sensitive zones
  • Provide a means of highlighting areas that may have problems with channel stability or water quality, and require more detailed study
  • Identify and map point and non-point sources of pollution
  • Provide baseline mapping data for future monitoring activities

Get the Mapping Info [76MB PDF/GDB files on EcoCat].

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