The Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society (SABNES) has received $48,000 to address concerns about biodiversity in the Salmon Arm Bay wetland.
According to SABNES, the Salmon Arm foreshore lacks complex habitats necessary for nesting and rearing young for various species living in the area.
Part of the habitat concerns result from extensive growths of the invasive reed canary grass along the foreshore.
A wetland inventory performed by the city of Salmon Arm in 2012 identified the canary grass as a threat to nesting areas for the Western Grebe.
The funding for the habitat improvement project comes from a Habitat Trust Conservation Foundation Grant.
Access to the habitats that need improving will be simplified by partnering with the city’s planned maintenance of the foreshore sewer in the spring. SABNES plan to use swamp matting the city will deploy for heavy equipment, to seed and plant the area with plants that will improve biodiversity and habitat in the foreshore.
They also plan to add snags, root wads and bedding sand for turtle nesting as well as basking logs and large rip rap which will form a reptile habitat.
Western painted turtles, various kinds of reptiles, small mammals, juvenile salmon and water fowl are expected to benefit from the project.
Between four and seven poles with a variety of bird and bat houses attached are also planned for the area.
SABNES say the enhancement work will begin in mid-November.