Bridge Creek Ranch: Conservation
The Cecil family, along with ranch staff, put a high priority on land stewardship and conservation of natural resources. Our goal was to ensure the economic prosperity of the ranch while also protecting the beautiful natural features of the property, such as Exeter Lake, Little Bridge Creek, and wildlife-rich wetlands.
Ranch manager Don Savjord initiated leading-edge 'intensive management' grazing practices.
Our program used an extensive system of fenced pastures to rotate grazing areas
in order to to mimic natural herd migration. Along with this, Bridge Creek ranch became Organic certified starting in 2015.
BCCA Environmental Stewardship Award
In conjunction with
Ducks Unlimited
and various Government agencies, we have undertaken a number of environmental stewardship projects.
In particular, we constructed extensive riparian buffer zones and alternative watering systems
to reduce the impact of livestock on sensitive water-interface areas.
In recognition for this work, the BCCA awarded Bridge Creek Estate its yearly Environmental Stewardship Award in 2001.
We are very proud of this award and the recognition it gained at the provincial level.
Forest Stewardship Award
In addition to our riparian and grazing conservation projects,
we sought to manage our forest lands using the principles of ecoforestry.
In 2000, the Woodlot Product Development Council awarded Bridge Creek Estate
its Forest Stewardship Award 'in recognition of contribution to the success of the B.C. Woodlot License Program in the 100 Mile House Forest District.'
Conservation Articles (PDF Files)
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Excerpt from
In the footsteps of J.A. Munro: Waterbirds and wetlands in the Cariboo parklands, British Columbia
(A comparative study: 1938, 1958, 2001).
Reprinted with permission from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environmental Conservation Branch.
PDF file, 6.7 MB
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Success Stories: Bridge Creek Estate — An Interview with Don Savjord (BC Grasslands,
Spring 2007 issue of the Grasslands Conservation Council of BC, author Amber Cowie, Education and Outreach Coordinator).From the BC Grasslands magazine, Spring 2007 edition.
PDF file,
42 KB — Posted with permission of the
Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia.
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BCCA — Bridge Creek Estate, Environmental Stewardship Award 2001,
July 2001 issue of the BCCA magazine. Two-page article highlights the partnership between conservation groups and ranch projects to protect sensitive ecological zones.
Original scanned PDF file,
1.8 MB; and
Re-typed content in PDF
for easier reading.
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Bridge Creek Ranch supports the Cariboo Badger Project — Educational article by Roger Packham, Seniors Ecosystems Biologist with the Ministry of Environment, on the red-listed badger T.t. jeffersonii subspecies of the North American Badger, some who reside and/or hunt on BCE land. From the BC Grasslands magazine, Spring 2007 edition.
PDF file,
42 KB — Posted with permission of the
Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia.
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