Indigenous-led Initiatives

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have stewarded the pathways that life moves through — for food, ceremony, culture, and ecological balance. Today, many projects are underway to restore these connections. 

Okanagan Mountain-K’nmalka Lake Corridor

One of the last intact valley-to-highland movement routes in the central Okanagan. Protecting and restoring this corridor helps mule deer, black bears, and grassland species access seasonal habitat and safe passage.

Website

Okanagan Lake Dam
Salmon Passage Project

A historic reconnection restores salmon movement into Okanagan Lake for the first time in generations — reconnecting over 350 km² of aquatic habitat for sockeye, kokanee, and other fish species.

Website

Mission Creek Restoration Initiative

Re-engages floodplain processes, improves water quality, and restores habitat for fish in one of the most impacted watersheds in the Okanagan.

Website

Okanagan River Restoration Initiative

Re-establishing natural river function, improving salmon spawning habitat, and reconnecting side channels and along the previously straightened Okanagan River channel.

Website

Vaseux Floodplain
Re-engagement Project

Rebuilds natural wetland and riparian habitats, supporting migratory birds, amphibians, and fish by opening movement pathways across the valley bottom.

Website

Real Projects Restoring Connectivity

Across the Thompson-Okanagan in Secwépemc, Syilx and Nlaka'pamux territories, communities and Nations are reconnecting wildlife, water, and people through collaborative projects.

Kootenay Connect

A science-based initiative designed to sustain and connect exceptional places of biodiversity across Kootenay landscapes.

Website

Reconnecting the Rockies

Building a system of wildlife crossing structures on Highway 3 through the Rockies.

Website

Radium Wildlife Overpass (Highway 93/95)

A key north–south movement route in the Columbia Valley, where efforts are underway to reduce collisions and maintain wildlife access across the highway, specifically to support bighorn sheep.

Website

Sagelands Heritage Program

Working to protect, connect and restore shrub-steppe landscapes from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley to south-central Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills for the good of both wildlife and people

Website

Washington Habitat Connectivity Action Plan

Brings together decades of research to identify priorities for connectivity projects to protect and reconnect Washington state’s landscapes for wildlife.

Website

Tools and
Approaches

(There’s a variety of )Practical methods used across the region (which) include:

Practical Methods

wildlife overpasses and underpasses

fencing to guide animals to safe crossings

riparian and wetland restoration

fish ladder and culvert retrofit projects

grassland and forest restoration

invasive species removal

fire- and flood-resilient habitat design

Indigenous land-based stewardship

camera traps and community science

mapping and long-term land-use planning for corridor protection

Website

Connectivity in Action

Connectivity in Action

Indigenous-led Initiatives

Okanagan Mountain-K’nmalka Lake Corridor

Okanagan Lake Dam
Salmon Passage Project

Mission Creek Restoration Initiative

Okanagan River Restoration Initiative

Vaseux Floodplain
Re-engagement Project

Real Projects Restoring Connectivity

Kootenay Connect

Reconnecting the Rockies

Radium Wildlife Overpass (Highway 93/95)

Sagelands Heritage Program

Washington Habitat Connectivity Action Plan

Tools and
Approaches

Practical Methods

Stay Connected With Us

Newsletter

Keeping Nature Connected

Connectivity in Action

Connectivity in Action

Indigenous-led Initiatives

Real Projects Restoring Connectivity

Tools and Approaches

Tools and
Approaches