About Us

In recent years, growth in development pressure led to an increase in permits and referrals subject to agency review. The jurisdictional complexity of land and water policy coupled with declining capacity by provincial and federal agencies determined the need to address the issue. To better assign structure and to clarify regulations and legal requirements, the various responsible levels of government and First Nations came together and created the Kootenay Lake Partnership.

On January 21, 2010 the local Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) staff convened a meeting in Nelson BC to discuss the intensification of development around the lake. The common concerns and joint responsibilities were discussed with agreement on the need for a partnership initiative.

The partnership includes Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Regional District of Central Kootenay, the Lower Kootenay Band (Yaqan Nukiy), the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Canadian Columbia Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Interior Health Authority and the City of Nelson.

Operational funding is provided by the participating agencies and partner funding is leveraged to acquire additional project-based funding through various supporters. We are grateful to the following organizations for their financial contributions to our work:

• Real Estate Foundation of BC
• Vancouver Foundation
• Columbia Basin Trust
• Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund