Projects in Progress
Current projects reflect Ntityix Resources LP’s commitment to responsible forest stewardship, innovation, and continuous improvement. Projects may focus on forest health, infrastructure, operational efficiency, or long-term planning initiatives that strengthen how forests are managed on behalf of Westbank First Nation.
Each project is evaluated through environmental, cultural, safety, and community lenses to ensure alignment with stewardship values and long-term objectives.
Derickson Swamp Beaver Dam Analogues
Overview
In partnership with the Derickson Family Trapline and BC Wildlife Federation Ntityix Resources LP has an ongoing wetland restoration project in the Derickson Swamp on the Westbank First Nation Community Forest. In 2025 37 beaver dam analogues were constructed in Derickson Swamp.
Project Objectives
- Store water at high elevation in watershed, releasing it slowly, extending flows in the summer.
- Reduce peak flow intensity and erosion potential
- Raise water levels, spread water across floodplain, and reconnect side channels
- Enhance wetland and stream ecosystem for many species of plants and animals
- Wildfire resiliency
- Restore beaver habitat – eventually reintroduce beavers where they can maintain the system
Current Stage
The first phase of the beaver dam analogue (BDA) construction has been completed. Ground water levels, stream flow rate and wildlife use is being monitored. A second phase of BDA construction is planned.
Huckleberry Research with AgCan
Overview
NRLP is collaborating with Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada on a few projects around the black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum). Multiple projects are exploring foliar diseases, insect pests, propagation and planting methods, preservation, effects of fire and coppicing, soil-plant-microbial interactions, and plant vigor.
Project Objectives
- Culturally guided food system resilience
- Advance reconciliation
- Advance disease management
- Advance invasive plant management under cultural burning
- Understanding the plant thoroughly
Current Stage
- Various projects are currently being worked on
- Some projects are waiting for funding
Huckleberry Planting and Monitoring
Overview
NRLP has been picking huckleberries to sow into seedlings to plant in disturbed areas affected by logging or wildfire. This has been experimental to determine what environmental attributes support the best success rates. Monitoring post-planting occurs at 1, 2, and 5 years and reviews seedling success rates. Planting these seedlings have become a well-loved community event that we will continue to host.
Project Objectives
- To compile data on successful and unsuccessful planting strategies based on environmental attributes.
- To share restorative attempts with community.
- To share knowledge with like-minded people and groups
Current Stage
- 1st plant regime was planted in 2023 and has been monitored twice
- 2nd plant regime was planted in 2025 and will be subject to 1st year monitoring
- Annual community plant days will occur as we have available seedlings and interest
Silviculture Innovation Program - Broadcast Burn in Jack Creek
Overview
Working alongside BCWS and UBC Okanagan, we will conduct a prescribed burn on a recently harvested cutblock, using insitu weather stations to monitor conditions. The goal is to reintroduce fire to the landscape and to reduce fuel-loading. Postburn, we will monitor the effects on planted trees and vegetation, including huckleberries that we will plant on both burned and control sites. We will also complete statistical analysis of plantation performance across the burned and unburned stand.
Project Objectives
- To develop in-house expertise in writing and implementing burn plans.
- To develop capacity and improve our knowledge around prescribed fire.
- To share our learnings and results with other communities and practitioners.
Current Stage
- Waiting for snow melt and appropriate venting conditions to complete the broadcast burn (as of March 31, 2026).
Silviculture Innovation Program - Pre-Commercial Thinning
Overview
This project will involve pre-commercial thinning (PCT) and monitoring inventory plots, fuel transects, and plant plots along transects to observe the changes from this treatment across 15.6 ha. The intended outcome is a less dense, more fire resilient tree stand that will support a more diverse herb and shrub understory.
Project Objectives
- To optimize the growth of remaining trees.
- To open the canopy to support ground cover growth and ungulate use.
- To prevent wildfire spread by thinning the dense stands.
Current Stage
- Received project approval
- Finalizing project contract
FESBC Fire Mitigation
Overview
Our fire mitigation efforts are funded by FESBC. About 57 ha were hand treated in 2025 by thinning from below, pruning and piling. Pile burning is an ongoing project with 54 ha burnt in 2025.
Project Objectives
- Protect lives, homes, property, critical infrastructure and forest values.
- Reduce the likelihood of a crown fire initiating.
- Create conditions where a crown fire cannot be sustained and fire will drop to surface.
- Create defensible areas for fire suppression.
- Create escape routes
- Improve chances of suppression success.
- Make fire suppression efforts safer.
Current Stage
- 50 ha approved for treatment and started.
- 94 ha under prescription just needing FLTC submission
- Up to 334 ha planned to be surveyed in 2026
- Syilx Contracting has been brought on board to aid on our mitigation efforts. This adds a small excavator with at brush rake to our toolkit.
- Mechanical treatment with a small harvester/processor was employed on a unit on a trial to evaluate effectiveness, efficiency and cost.
- A 5-year plan has been developed and will be continually updated.
Pre-Commercial Thinning
Overview
Pre-commercial thinning is a company funded treatment for the most part. It has been funding in the past by FIP and may be funded this year by FESBC. PCT entails thinning dense conifer stands (usually Pli dominated) to 2400 sph and pruning an average of 600 sph.
Project Objectives
- Improve growth of retained conifers.
- Create mid-term timber supply by setting up the stand for a commercial thin in 30 or so years.
- Improve wood quality by removing poorly performing and damaged trees.
- Improve timber value by creating clear wood (pruning).
- Manage forest health by removing diseased and damaged trees.
- Enhance tree species diversity.
- Increase understory vegetation cover including culturally important plants.
- Improve access and forage for ungulates.
- Reduce longer term fire hazard
Current Stage
- 33 ha in three units are scheduled for thinning in 2026
- A 21 ha unit is saw ready for 2027
- A 5-year plan has been developed that will be continually updated.
- A few more units will be flagged, prescribed and submitted for MoF and WFN approval in 2026 so that there is enough ground ready for 2027.
FESBC PCT and UBCO Decomposition
Overview
Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) of 48.9 hectares of dominant lodgepole pine stands. Inventory plots and fuel loading monitoring transects will be established to monitor changes and fire risks. A graduate research project with UBCO will be established to study the rates of decomposition with the application of extra local saprotrophic microorganisms.
Project Objectives
- To optimize the growth of remaining trees.
- To open the canopy to support ground cover growth and ungulate use.
- To prevent wildfire spread by thinning the dense stands.
- To determine if the application of saprotrophic microbes will speed up decomposition of coarse woody debris and to see if this is a viable alternative to pile burning.
- To strengthen academic relationships.
Current Stage
- Pending funding approval
Grassland Restoration and Monitoring
Overview
Medicine Creek IR#12 grasslands have an increased abundance of invasive plants. These invasive plants may outcompete native grasses, herbs, and shrubs. This can be problematic for ungulate winter range and cultural and community usage. Permanent plant monitoring transects have been established in Summer 2025 to observe changes over time. Collaborative research projects are in the planning stages with Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, UBCO, and a Grassland Ecologist expert.
Project Objectives
- To continue monitoring plant species abundances over time.
- To establish restoration methods to reduce, or eradicate, invasive plant species presence.
- To increase native grass, herb, and shrub presence for winter ungulate range and cultural and community usage.
Current Stage
- Baseline plant monitoring transects have been established and will continue to be monitored.
- Research projects are in the planning stages.
Reforestation in McDougall Creek
Overview
This program, funded by the Forest Investment Program (FIP), responds to the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire near West Kelowna, British Columbia, which burned significant areas including in the local community forest. Surveys are being completed to identify replanting sites, with prescriptions developed for areas not naturally regenerating.
Project Objectives
- To reforest the timber harvesting land base with ecologically suitable tree species
- To rehabilitate the burned areas and stabilize slopes leading into riparian areas
- To improve wildlife habitat
Current Stage
- Surveys have been mostly completed. The first stage of planting will take place in spring of 2026 and (pending funding approval) the second stage will be in spring of 2027
Rehabilitating Rose Valley Park for RDCO
Overview
We will assist RDCO in reforesting Rose Valley Regional Park and Stephens Coyote Ridge Regional Park with a variety of ecologically suitable conifers, grasses and shrubs to rehabilitate them following the McDougall Creek fire in 2023.
Project Objectives
- To rehabilitate and restore the parks to allow them to be reopened for public use
Current Stage
- Planting set to begin in April of 2026