Marron River Grasslands

The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) has successfully raised the final $1.22 million to protect the 77-acre Marron River Grasslands in the South Okanagan.

why is marron river grasslands so important?

1.  Rare native grasslands: 35 acres of native open grasslands on this site represent an endangered ecosystem, covering less than 1% of BC but supporting more species at risk than any other ecosystem.
2. Critical habitat for species at risk: American badger, western rattlesnake, Great Basin gophersnake, Lewis’s woodpecker, pallid bat, western screech-owl, common nighthawk, and western tiger salamander all call this land home.
3. Winter range for mule deer: The parcel provides essential winter habitat for declining mule deer populations in southern BC.
4. Life-giving riparian corridor: The Marron River supports birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and native plants year-round in this dry landscape.

Once secured, these 77 acres will remain intact forever, protecting biodiversity, supporting climate resilience, and benefiting future generations.

Marron River Grasslands, located in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation, shelters several species at risk, from American badger to western rattlesnake. By protecting this land, you help preserve a remarkable diversity of wildlife, plants, and ecosystems.

This land is truly rare. Native grasslands cover less than 1% of British Columbia’s land base, yet they support more species at risk than any other ecosystem in the province. Marron River Grasslands protects not only these fragile grasslands, but also sagebrush steppe, old coniferous forest, and vital riparian habitat along the Marron River itself.

This project was made possible through the collective support of the many individuals who make up our community, a keystone donation from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen – South Okanagan Conservation Fund, along with funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Priority Places Initiative, Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society, South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club, the BC Parks Foundation, Sitka Foundation, and a generous contribution from former landowner Doreen Olson.

From all of us at The Nature Trust of BC, thank you for being part of this effort. Whether you gave, shared the campaign, or followed along, you helped make this outcome possible.