Proposed Multi-Use Trail seriously threatens the wildlife in the National Wildlife Area and the Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
The proposed multi-use trail along the west shoreline of Vaseux Lake would pass directly through the Vaseux-Bighorn National Wildlife Area (NWA) and the Vaseux Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary (MBS). This multi-use trail would endanger over 30 Species at Risk (SAR) that are currently listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. These species are categorized as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern, and their inclusion is necessary for them to receive legal protection.
A trail with human activity would obstruct essential movement corridors between the aquatic, foreshore and upland habitats and it would further endanger these species and possibly lead to extinction. These corridors benefit essential life processes including feeding, nesting, and seasonal migrations for many species. See Summary Report for a list of the known Species At Risk in the NWA.
Historical Reference
Although this corridor once served as a railway right-of-way, it was formally decommissioned in 1977, and the surrounding area was designated as an NWA in 1979 to protect this unique arid ecosystem including endangered species and the vegetation ecology that supports them. Any development within or adjacent to these protected zones would conflict with the established conservation objectives of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Canada Wildlife Act and the federal and provincial mandate to maintain and restore wildlife habitat and ecological connectivity.
Renown biologist Jared Hobbs warns of multiple violations to existing laws.
Based on the findings and current legislation cited in the report written by Jared Hobbs MSc RP Bio titled Evaluation of Anticipated Impacts of KVR Multi-use Trail VBNWA, we respectfully request that ALL levels of government recognize the ecological sensitivity of the Vaseux-Bighorn NWA and the Vaseux Lake MBS. Given these sensitive habitats, the government should work collaboratively together with stakeholders to ensure that any multi-use trail development, including all related permitting, serves to restrict trail development to the east side of Vaseux Lake.
The west side—where the NWA and MBS are located—should not be developed for the reasons outlined in the report, which include:
- Alienation of sensitive habitats critical to species-at-risk within the NWA.
- Increased direct mortality risk to vulnerable and endangered species-at-risk.
- Greater potential for wildlife–human conflict (e.g., with the venomous Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, black bears, coyotes, cougars, badgers and bobcats).
- Elevated risk of human-caused, stand-replacing wildfires.
- Increased risk from the introduction and spread of invasive species in adjacent habitats.
- Fragmentation of an existing wildlife corridor connecting upland habitats to the Vaseux Lake shoreline.
The VLSA will be following up with all potentially interested stakeholders in the near future to discuss potential alternate routes for the multi-use trail. A 2018 Environmental Feasibility Study of the Kettle Valley Railway, South Spur Trail, commissioned by the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, clearly indicated that the east side of the lake was the preferred option and identified several alternate routes that bypass the west side of the lake. Despite these findings, the Trails of the Okanagan Society has continued to advocate for a west-side trail alignment. Their website and the minutes from their 2025 AGM describe this section as a “key component of the linear pathway from Osoyoos to Penticton,” and state that diverting users to the highway on the east side is “not an option due to traffic and safety concerns.”
In contrast, we note that there are feasible mitigation measures to address cited human safety issues purportedly associated with trail development along the east side of Vaseux Lake. For example, a trail along Highway 97 would be considerably less hazardous than an already existing section of the trail which follows a four-lane highway near Summerland; risks were successfully reduced in this area by constructing protective barriers. A similar approach could be implemented around Vaseux Lake, and, in addition, trestle bridges could be installed for any section along the lake shore where there is insufficient space beside the highway. These bridges would also provide safe perches for fishers who currently fish on the side of the highway.
Our association would welcome the multi-use trail along the east side of the lake, connecting the communities of Okanagan Falls and Oliver.
If developed responsibly, this option would provide a safe alternative to pedestrian and bicycle traffic on Highway 97.
To be clear, the VLSA fully supports the concept of a multi-use trail. Our opposition is not to recreational connectivity – our concerns are instead related to the potential detrimental effects to one of the last intact wildlife and bird sanctuaries in the South Okanagan.
Finally, it is important to note that there are Indigenous pictographs and associated archaeological sites within the area already recognized for their cultural, spiritual, and historic value. The VLSA feels these sites are also at risk of damage from any increase in human activity that would be promoted by the proposed trail route along the west side of Vaseux Lake.
