October 18, 2016 – The Waneta Expansion LP (WELP)—a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corp. and Columbia Basin Trust—is now accepting applications for the 2017 Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program (WTCP), which will provide a total of up to $50,000 to projects in the Waneta area that “promote conservation and restoration through research, physical works, and other on-the-ground or applied projects”.

“This program supports a wide range of projects from biological inventories to species’ research projects and habitat restoration efforts,” said Wendy Horan, manager of Environment for Columbia Power. “The program is designed to be accessible to anyone—professionals and non-professionals—who has a project in mind which benefits the natural environment.”

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Eligible projects include research, species inventories, educational programs, development of management plans, habitat creation (restoration, rehabilitation), weed control, habitat protection and land acquisition.

“The Columbia River is a known flyway for monarch butterflies, and milkweed plays a vital role as a food source and for egg-laying,” said Valerie Huff on behalf of the Kootenay Native Plant Society. Earlier in 2016, Huff received funding to enhance and supplement milkweed populations in the area. “This funding allows us to showcase the importance of milkweed, not only for monarch butterflies, but for other native pollinators and beneficial insects as well.”

The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2017. Visit columbiapower.org/WTCP for an application form and more information.

— Monarch butterfly © Valerie Huff, courtesy Columbia Power.