Ducks Unlimited Canada is preparing for another phase of floodplain restoration near Cranbrook after spring flooding provided an early test of work completed last year.
Matthew Wilson, head of conservation programs in B.C. for Ducks Unlimited Canada, said construction on the second phase at Bummers Flats is expected to begin soon.
“We’re just about to start phase two at Bummers Flats, near Cranbrook. We’re hoping to begin construction within the next couple of weeks. It’s going to be concentrated at the north again.”
The organization completed restoration work at North Bummers Flats near Cranbrook and Moberly Marsh near Golden in fall 2025, reconnecting areas previously separated from the Kootenay and Columbia rivers by dikes and other water-control infrastructure.
During this year’s spring freshet, rising water moved through newly created breaches in the dikes and spread across the restored floodplains.
Wilson said wildlife quickly began using the newly flooded areas.
“We saw some really good results from this past year where new wildlife was already utilizing the areas once we got those floodwaters, so newly constructed wetlands were really a hotspot for waterfowl that hadn’t been utilizing that portion of the floodplain in quite a few years.”
Ducks Unlimited Canada said the first phases restored about 155 hectares at North Bummers Flats and 57 hectares at Moberly Marsh.
Wilson said further work at Bummers Flats will include creating more wetlands and improving connections with the Kootenay River.
“We’re going to build more wetlands in that area and try and actually improve the connectivity to the river so that there’s more frequent flooding to that area.”
And there is more work to be done.
“And then in fall 2027, we’re planning to do more work at Moberly Marsh in Golden, and then another phase at Bummers Flats at Middle Bummers, which is on provincial conservation lands.”
Ducks Unlimited Canada is working with ʔaq̓am, The Nature Trust of BC and the province at Bummers Flats. BC Parks is the primary partner for work at Moberly Marsh, which is within Burges James Gadsden Provincial Park.
Funding for the projects has come from several sources, including Columbia Basin Trust, the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the B.C. Watershed Security Fund.
Other support has included Elk Valley Resources, the province, The Nature Trust of BC, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the BC Parks Licence Plate Program.
Ducks Unlimited Canada said it will continue monitoring both sites to assess how the restored floodplains respond to natural flooding and help guide future restoration work in B.C.
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