BOTANY BC

Elkford - Elk Valley

Thursday July 2 – Sunday July 5, 2015

Program as of June 4, 2015

Botany BC is an annual gathering of professional and amateur botanists from British Columbia and nearby areas. This year it will feature botanical forays from mountain top to re-vegetated mine sites, with a special focus on the special natural and cultural settings around the beautiful and busy Elk Valley in southeastern BC

Please check the Botany BC website for updates. http://www.members.shaw.ca/botanybc/

Thursday, July 2^nd

Arrive in Elkford anytime during the day, find your accommodation and get settled, explore the town. Everyone is on their own for dinner.

6:45 - 7:30pm: - Gather at the United Steelworkers Union Hall at 10 Water St. Elkford BC Join us for an Ice breaker and, if required registration finalization/name tag pickup, general Botany BC program information and the start of Botany BC 2015!

Snacks/coffee/tea will be available.

7:30 pm: Welcome to Botany BC 2015 by Tanis Gieselman (Botany BC Organizing Committee; UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum)

7:45 pm: Welcome by Ktunaxa First Nation

8:15 pm: Introduction to the Elk Valley History, Physical Environments and Ecosystems - Clint Smyth (Ecologist, Consultant)

Friday, July 3^rd

Have a hearty breakfast and pack up your lunch for the full day trip!

Meet up at the United Steelworkers Hall prior to heading out as a group.

8:30 - @ 4:30 pm – full day field trips focusing on the Elk Valley area

Choose from:

· Native plant re-vegetation mine site – Teck's Greenhills Operation
The group will meet at the Steelworkers' Hall at 9 am for a brief introduction and presentation after which we will travel up to Teck's Greenhills Operation where we will tour the area. The tour will be in an open format with lots of opportunity for questions and discussion.

**(Everyone is required to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to enter the Greenhills site. Much of the PPE, hi-vis vests, safety glasses etc, will be supplied by Teck but steel-toed safety boots are in short supply. If you have a pair or are able to borrow some please bring them with you.)

· Crowsnest Pass & Andy Goode Creek - The group on this field tour will be looking at an exciting volume of listed plants found at Crowsnest Pass and large limber pine at Andy Goode Creek with Michael Keefer (Keefer Ecological Services) –

**(note participants will need 4x4 with good clearance to drive up rugged road and hike up talus for the Andy Goode portion of the trip –well worth it)

5:45 - 7:00 pm - Buffet dinner at the C & F Chinese Food Restaurant located next to the Mountain Meadow Golf Club @ 815 Hwy 43, Elkford BC

Evening speakers & activities (times are approximate) back at the United Steelworkers Union Hall:

7:15 pm – Introduction to Teck’s Biodiversity Program - Warn Franklin (Teck Environmental Officer)

8:00 pm - Developing an Effective Native Tree and Shrub Planting Program at Teck Coal Ltd's Elkview Operations - John Przeczek (PRYZM Environmental Ltd.)

8:35 pm - Endangered Five-Needle Pines – Randy Moody (Consultant)

After the talks feel free to stay at the hall and socialize, catch up with old friends and plan for the coming days.

Saturday July 4^th

Have a hearty breakfast and pack up your lunch for the full day trip!

Meet up at the United Steelworkers Hall prior to heading out as a group.

8:30 - 4:30 pm - field trips focusing on the Elk Valley area

Choose from:

· Mt Gass/Ewin Ridge – with Hans Roemer

· Josephine Falls/Lily Lake – with Janice Strong http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Josephine-falls-Lost-Lily-Lakes-near-Sparwood-BC-795

5:45 - 7:15 pm BarBQ Dinner at the United Steelworkers' Union Hall

Evening speakers and activities at the United Steelworkers' Union Hall

7:30 pm - The annual Botany BC vote (aka: “Where in the province are we going next year?”)

7:50 pm - The Flora of the Elk Valley and Thoughts on Revegetation Following Major Disturbances - Mike Keefer (Keefer Ecological Consulting)

8:30 pm - Native Plants from the Ktunaxa Perspective - Alison Burton (Coal Regulatory Coordinator, Ktunaxa Nation Council)

Socializing at the hall!

Sunday, July 5^th

8:30 am (tentative time) – Possible optional field trips on the way out of town - if they are a go we will gather at the USW Union Hall one last time...

· Norbury Lake Provincial Park walk

· ‘Big Old Cottonwoods’ – Morrissey Grove along the east side of the Elk River near Morrissey Provincial Park (Rood & Polzin 2003 wrote a paper entitled ‘Big old cottonwoods’ about large trees in the Elk Valley up to 400 years old!)..

All transportation will be in private vehicles so please consider sharing if you have room. Ride details will be worked out closer to the event.

As additional information and details about field trips, speakers and registration are confirmed they will be posted to the BBC website. Stay tuned!