Replanting More Than Divots:

Ecological Restoration at a Golf Course in the South Okanagan, British Columbia.

In 2005, the Osoyoos Golf and Country Club added another 9 holes to their course, which they have themed the 'desert nine'. This expansion took place in an endangered antelope-brush - needle and thread grass ecosystem that is home to red and blue-listed species such as the Great Basin spadefoot toad, Western rattlesnake, and behr's hairstreak butterfly.

The Osoyoos Desert Society (www.desert.org) was asked to help mitigate the ecological damages caused by the golf course expansion by conducting restoration on areas damaged by the construction of the golf course and on areas formerly occupied by an agricultural field.

Resulting activities included hydroseeding all disturbed areas with a native seed mix in 2006 and 2007, and planting over 1000 plants that were salvaged before construction of the golf course began. Some areas were also hand-weeded or selectively mown.