Haynes' Lease Ecological Reserve
Date Established: December 17, 1980
Size: 101 ha - 150 acres
Haynes' Lease Ecological Reserve was established to preserve a representative natural segment of the most arid ecosystem in British Columbia and Canada.
The South Okanagan is home to one of the highest concentrations of rare and at-risk species in all of Canada.
Haynes’ Lease Ecological Reserve is located east of Highway 97 and north of Osoyoos Lake. The 101 hectare reserve is a relatively narrow band of land that stretches from the northeast corner of Osoyoos Lake northward to the base of Inkaneep Mountain. On its east and south sides lies the Osoyoos Indian Band reserve. The Indian Band land immediately south of the ecological reserve is used for vineyard.
The entrance is restricted to foot traffic only though there is a network of trials within the reserve.
The Burrowing Owl because of their declining populations, a reintroduction program began prior to 1980. The Okanagan Valley including the Oxbow region not far from the Haynes' Lease Ecological Reserve was part of the program. There are numerous reports that the Burrowing Owls are nesting in the reserve as well.
"The primary role of Haynes’ Lease Ecological Reserve is to protect a portion of antelope brush, the most arid shrub-steppe ecosystem, one of the four most threatened ecosystems in Canada. The southern portion of the reserve protects wetland habitat associated with the Okanagan River floodplain that is used as a migratory resting area for waterfowl.
Due to the small size of the reserve, representative values of the Southern Okanogan Basin ecosection and very hot/dry Bunchgrass biogeoclimatic zone/variant are low. However, since these areas are underrepresented provincially, every protected site in this ecosystem is important, regardless of size. Rare antelope-brush ecosystem values are high. The reserve has 2 known rare wildlife species (blue-listed Spotted bat and Western Harvest mouse), 3 rare plant species (red-listed Flat-topped Broomrape and Hairgrass Drop seed; blue listed Thyme-leaved Spurge) and 2 rare plant associations (red-listed Ponderosa Pine/Smooth Sumac and Idaho Fescue Blue bunch Wheatgrass)"
Source: BC Parks
