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If you have any questions on the information presented, or require additional report data or attachments, please contact the
Ministry.
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This project supports two of FWCP Riparian and Wetlands Action Plan high priority actions: (1) identification of
threats to habitat connectivity and support opportunities, including but not limited to land securement, in order to
secure and steward lands with high conservation values for wetland and riparian areas; and (2) restore and create
wetland and riparian area habitat in this focal area, where feasible to address impacted, degraded or lost habitat.
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Author: L. Thomson
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Old Reference Number: COL-F17-W-1423
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Old Reference System: FWCP Fish Wildlife Compensation Program - Columbia
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Date Published: Apr 2017
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Report ID: 52850
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Audience: Government and Public
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Airport Slough is a regionally and locally significant wetland complex located adjacent to the Revelstoke Airport
and within the drawdown zone of Upper Arrow Lakes. The wetland supports a diversity of plant life, nesting,
foraging and shelter habitat for birds, hibernaculum and overwintering habitat for turtles and aquatic habitat for
fish. Airport Slough provides critical nesting habitat for numerous resident and migratory bird species (e.g. Blue
Heron, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Pied-billed Grebe, Virginia Rail, Sora, and Marsh Wren)
and foraging and overwintering habitat for Western Painted Turtles.
Recent studies in Airport Slough have confirmed a link between fluctuating water levels related to hydroelectric
reservoir operations and nest mortality of ground, wetland and shrub nesting bird species. Reservoir operations were
identified as the main cause of nest failure resulting in nest flooding for some species that utilized Airport Slough.
Stabilizing water levels in Airport Slough by means of constructing a dike has been discussed and proposed by local
biologists as a viable option for mitigating adverse impacts of reservoir operations on wildlife, including nest
mortality, and to enhance overall productivity and function of the drawdown zone.
This project supports two of FWCP Riparian and Wetlands Action Plan high priority actions: (1) identification of
threats to habitat connectivity and support opportunities, including but not limited to land securement, in order to
secure and steward lands with high conservation values for wetland and riparian areas; and (2) restore and create
wetland and riparian area habitat in this focal area, where feasible to address impacted, degraded or lost habitat
(FWCP 2014).
The feasibility of a dike around Airport Slough in order to protect wetland features and stabilize water levels was
explored. Outcomes from discussions with stakeholders and a summary of existing scientific studies on Airport
Slough are presented and include recommendations for next steps. Stakeholder survey feedback was mixed and
identified a number of knowledge gaps that should be answered prior to moving forward on any further development
of a dike in the Airport Slough area. Knowledge gaps were also revealed by the literature review.
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Report Type
Subject
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Amphibians & Reptiles - Painted Turtle: Chrysemys picta |
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Birds - Bald Eagle: Haliaeetus leucoephalus |
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Birds - Great Blue Heron: Ardea herodias |
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Birds - Marsh Wren: Cistothorus palustris |
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Birds - Osprey: Pandion haliaetus |
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Region - Kootenay |
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Terrestrial Information - Restoration |
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