The Columbia Basin, for the purpose
of this study, is that area defined by the Columbia Basin Trust
Act of 1995, which created the Columbia Basin Trust (see map on
following page). This area is very close in areal extent to the
combined Cranbrook, Invermere, Golden, Revelstoke, Arrow and Kootenay
Lake Forest Districts of the Nelson Forest Region. Only the Boundary
Forest District of the Nelson Region is outside the Columbia Basin.
A small portion of the southern end of the McBride Forest District
(Canoe River drainage near Valemount) is included within the Columbia
Basin. The Okanagan, Similkameen, Kettle and Granby Rivers all eventually
drain into the Columbia River, and therefore, technically, are part
of the Columbia River Basin. However, they are considered to be
outside the basin as defined by the Columbia Basin Trust.
This is relevant because the rare
and endangered species discussions that follow are largely based
on species accounts, records and tracking lists that are maintained
on a forest district basis. While not an exact match geographically,
six forest districts of the Nelson Forest Region (minus the Boundary
Forest District) are considered to represent the Columbia Basin
accurately enough for this level of discussion.
