Monitoring Biodiveristy - A control watershed proposal

A control watershed is proposed by the band to provide a contrast for measuring cause and effect relationships in watershed-level management. Previous attempts by the band to locate a similar watershed in the region for comparisons have failed to locate an undeveloped watershed of sufficiently similar ecological characteristics (M. Anderson, pers. com.). To be effective this requires measures to judge the success or failure of management regimes designed to sustain biological diversity. One way to monitor and identify the current status of the biological diversity is to select indicators of ecosystem conditions or properties.

In efforts to assess the trends and status of environmental values in the Deadman Watershed, the Skeetchestn Indian Band will choose a relatively untouched watershed with the same biogeoclimatic features to use as a control watershed. This watershed will be used to compare the ecosystems and biodiversity that exist in the Deadman. The results of co-investigations will guide restoration programs and community-based recovery plans. In addition, the Skeetchestn Indian Band and the Deadman Watershed Committee have identified several ecological indicators, priorities and objectives they would like to see incorporated and managed for in a community-based ecosystem management plan for the Deadman Watershed.

Alternative control watersheds will be explored in other areas with similar ecosystems. Of particular interest to this project may be watersheds protected on large reserve lands like in Warmsprings Oregon. This would be particularly advantageous to the project if linkages can be made with parallel watershed committees, (public involvement) and government involvement in management.


3.0 A Framework for ecosystem stewardship in the Deadman Watershed

According to the Skeetchestn community, sustainable management and use of natural resources requires a sensitivity for ecological values inherent in the rights and culture of the Secwepemc. Stewardship to Skeetchestn is a tool to accommodate relevant community ecological knowledge, innovations and practices into management, and it engages all valley residents dependant upon natural resources in their planning. This concept is being embraced by the Valley residents in ecosystem-based planning dialogue, and the following framework provides a glimpse of how these valley residents see their ecosystem.