Nature Trust of BC Photo Book Excerpt

Thompson Okanagan
The Thompson Okanagan Region includes two distinct geographic areas. The
Thompson portion extends from the Fraser River canyon to the Monashee Mountains,
while the Okanagan portion extends south to the Canada-USA border. The Thompson
area is characterized by gently rolling glacial benches comprised of vast grasslands,
sagebrush-steppe, and dry forests transitioning eastward to interior temperate
rainforests. The North and South Thompson Rivers define the Thompson Basin,
merging near Kamloops to form the largest tributary flowing into the Fraser River. This
area supports expansive ranchlands. Although grasslands are abundant in this region,
they are a rare ecosystem in British Columbia, covering less than 1% of the province. It
is difficult to find any large undisturbed grassland in BC, since non-native plants have
spread through these ecosystems. As a result, grasslands are considered to be more
endangered than coastal old growth forests.
The Nature Trust has acquired 90 properties
covering 2,949 hectares (7,287 acres) in this region,
plus 1 grazing lease (76 hectares/187 acres) and
2 grazing licenses (46,396 hectares/114,647 acres)
The Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys represent the northernmost extension
of the Great Basin of North America. The Okanagan Valley stretches 200 kilometres
(124 miles) and is bounded by the Cascade Mountains on the west and the Monashee
Mountains on the east. Low annual precipitation, hot summers, and mild winters create
a variety of semi-arid ecosystems. These valleys have a diversity of habitats including
a network of large valley bottom lakes, alkaline ponds, low elevation grasslands,
Antelope-brush steppe, Ponderosa Pine forests, and prickly-pear cactus in Canada’s
only true desert near Osoyoos. The South Okanagan is not only noted for the diversity
and uniqueness of its plant and animal species, it is also the region with the most
endangered, threatened and rare species in the province.
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