The Southern Interior Land Trust (SILT) is partnering with Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB) to heal Nʔaʕx̌ ʷt (nah hweet)—also known as Ginty’s Pond—a 6.3-hectare wetland conservation property at Cawston, within Smelqmix (LSIB) territory. Nʔaʕx̌ ʷt is a cut-off river oxbow cherished by the surrounding Indigenous and non-Indigenous community for its wildlife and cultural values. In recent decades, it changed from a productive open water marsh to a monoculture of dense cattail with little open water — a probable result of shallowing, hydrologic change, and nutrient enrichment from nearby agriculture.
This project will build on prior work that recovered 2.2 hectares of open water and created an additional 1.5 hectares of new riparian-woodland buffer to increase the amount of suitable habitat available for several species at risk. Deepening the wetland will increase flood retention capacity, extend drought resistance, and will improve community recreation and cultural use opportunities.
Key activities will include completing the restoration of the whole 6.3-hectare wetland to more productive and resilient hydrologic, floodplain, and habitat function, continuing to monitor the previously restored sites, and engaging Smelqmix community members in wetland restoration and recovery actions, building capacity for Smelqmix people to lead further Indigenous-led watershed restoration.
“When restored, wetlands do more than heal ecosystems, they reconnect people to nature,” says SILT’s Executive Director Al Peatt. “We are excited, with support from the Watershed Security Fund, to continue together with our Indigenous, non-profit, government, and local community partners to help improve the condition and resilience of the Similkameen River watershed.”
– Project Team
