Central Okanagan Land Trust Rose Valley Pond

History

In 1990 the Central Okanagan Foundation felt it was time for this part of the valley to incorporate a Land Trust that could accept land or other material assets, to purchase or hold land for the "preservation, conservation or fostering of nature or wildlife sanctuaries, parks or reserves" for future generations. This Trust would need to be a charitable organization that could issue receipts for donations. They struck a small committee to decide on the composition of the new organization, and who should be eligible as a Director including a representative of the Central Okanagan Heritage Society and the Central Okanagan Naturalists' Club.
The new organization would be called Central Okanagan Land Trust . The Central Okanagan Foundation and the City of Kelowna [whose Mayor and Council heartily endorsed this proposal] each donated $25,000 as 'seed' money. In the event of dissolution COLT is obligated to transfer all its assets to the Nature Trust of B.C. for continuous use by citizens.

Regular monthly meetings of COLT began in early 1991. Almost immediately the Thomson families in the Mission area of Kelowna donated 4.5 acres to the City of Kelowna and requested COLT hold a covenant. This transaction was finally completed in 2006.

A small citizens' group of the Westside on the lake wanted to preserve Rose Valley pond, beside Rose Valley Elementary School. Private funds were needed, and COLT donated to this cause, along with other organizations, so the land adjacent to the pond was purchased by the Regional District of Central Okanagan and included in the Rose Valley Regional Park. The Province of B.C. recognized the value of the pond, and agreed to lease additional Crown Land to this park, which is now maintained by the Regional District.

Since this very modest beginning, COLT has continued to grow. Assets today are well over $1 million which includes property and convertible assets. The Board of Directors quickly recognized the need to include a local government in the land title where COLT holds property that is used by the general public, such as the Mission Greenway, so that its insurance coverage will cover liability.

In other parts of this website, readers can learn about property that is under COLT's stewardship. The Board of Directors take a pro-active approach to securing additional lands, particularly those that are sensitive as wildlife habitat; and particularly ponds and riparian habitat that is fast disappearing in the Central Okanagan.

SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THE TRUST HELPED PRESERVE

ROSE VALLEY POND

In 1992, when the Central Okanagan Land Trust (then known as the Central Okanagan Parks and Wildlife Trust) was in its embryonic stage, a group of citizens calling themselves “The Friends of Rose Valley Pond”, with the rallying cry “Help save the Yellow-headed Blackbird” came to our attention. A subsequent contact was made, and it was learned that this group needed to raise approximately $65,000.00 to help purchase a piece of property adjacent to the Rose Valley Pond near West Side Elementary School. This was a key piece of property. It was owned privately, while all the other land surrounding the pond was either Crown owned, or owned by the District School Board. The Friends of Rose Valley Pond had an agreement with the owner of the land; if they could raise this amount of dollars the owner would sell the property to the Regional District of Central Okanagan. In turn, the Regional District had a gentlemen’s agreement with the Provincial Government; that the latter would give them an additional 250 hectares of land to make a substantial regional park, representative of the wildlife habitat in the Central and lower Okanagan Valley. The Park would be bounded on the east by the pond and on the west by the damned Rose Valley Reservoir, a water storage lake for the Regional District of Central Okanagan, but one that was developing a large riparian area on its northern shore. The land between was a high ridge, home to a wide variety of other habitats; like Grasslands; Aspen Cops and the common Ponderous Pine forest.

The Trust donated $5000.00, and the Friends of Rose Valley Pond raised the necessary funds and the rest, as they say, is history. This is now a beautiful park, with a vibrant pond deeming with wildlife. It serves at times as an outdoor laboratory for the students in the nearby Rose Valley Elementary School, and for many other groups. Birders regularly check this pond, particularly in spring, when the harsh, raucous calls of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds echo from the Ponderous Pine Forest, and the energetic Ruddy Duck is pumping its head to try and attract a disinterested female partner. The riparian is also a rich habitat with frogs and snakes using the rich habitat. The hiking trails, provide an energetic climb for the ambitious walker, particularly on a spring day when the hills are ablaze with the blossom of the Arrow-leaf Balsam Root.