The main role of the VLSA is to help ensure that all wildlife and endangered species continue to be protected from development and that the critical habitat and larger ecosystems of the Vaseux-Bighorn Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Vaseux Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS) remain intact to protect the Species At Risk (SAR) and endangered fauna.
Vaseux Lake, in the south Okanagan area of British Columbia, is one of 92 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries in Canada. The entire lake is a designated bird sanctuary and is surrounded by multiple wildlife management areas. These legally protected areas fall under the jurisdiction of Wildlife Canada, Nature Trust BC, Ducks Unlimited as well as Protected Lands and Waters BC. Large areas surrounding the lake are presently off limits to human activity including recreational activities such as hiking and cycling. This area is one of the few wildlife sanctuaries with over 30 SAR, in the south Okanagan water basin, that is not being seriously encroached by land
development and other human activities. It should be noted the area is recognized as one of to the Canada’s most endangered natural systems. The semi-arid desert in the South Okanagan-Similkameen area is the only occurrence of this type of ecosystem in Canada; it forms the northern tip of North America’s Great Basin Desert. This area is also within the unceded territory of the Okanagan Nation and it contains numerous pictographs and historical artifacts that need to be protected and undisturbed.