South Okanagan

Project Description and Location: This project is an upgrade of the original biophysical mapping (1991-1994) in the south Okanagan and lower Similkameen Valleys. The study area includes previously unmapped gaps between the South Okanagan TEM and TFL15 TEM and portions of the Naramata OCP area. Recent burns and new developments are mapped. The Naramata OCP area has improved capture of riparian and wetland ecosystems. A Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI) theme and Wildlife Habitat Assessments (WHA) are included.

Project partners: This report was produced for Orville Dyer, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection.

Project objectives: The South Okanagan project was initiated to update to provincial TEM standards and to provide a consistent Okanagan-wide mapping base by updating map units to be consistent with other Okanagan ecosystem inventories.

Standards and scale used: The project follows the Standard for Mapping Terrestrial Ecosystems in B.C. 1998  The Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) site series classification was not finalized for this area at the time of mapping. The mapping was completed in 2006 at 1:20,000 scale

Data & Reports

Report authors: K. Iverson and A. Haney

Digital files on EcoCat: An Updated Terrestrial Ecosystem Map (TEM) for the South Okanagan Valley (with Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory)