BC Conservation Foundation granted $50,000 to Nature Trust BC to purchase and manage the East Columbia Lake DL 345 property consisting of 257.8 hectares. The parcel is part of a Wildlife Management Area and provides winter range for Bighorn Sheep. Significant plant communities include Snowberry-Balsamroot, and Bitterbrush-Bluebunch Wheatgrass and Douglas-Fir.
The property represents habitat at risk in the East Kootenays and includes grassland and open forest, and important early winter habitat for the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and elk, and the Flammulated Owl.