A conservation initiative to restore the Elk Valley's west bighorn sheep is making headway this year, with plans to restore former industrialized areas with frequent human activity to its natural state.

The Elk Valley Bighorn Sheep Committee and VAST Resource Solutions are spearheading a rehabilitation project, deactivating 25km of roads to help herds thrive. There will also be a tree planting project and spraying of invasive weeds to restore the land to its natural state. 

The project will begin this spring and continue into August, funded by Elk Valley Resources. 

"Salvage logging, fire management has left these resource roads in place and the committee's intention is to deactivate the ones that are required to create a safer more sheltered [area], with less interaction with humans," said committee secretariat Nic Milligan 

"There is evidence of some propagation of invasive species, and the danger of course is if those invasive species take hold, they can displace high-value forage for bighorn sheep. It's important to keep them in check," he added.

The project began last year, with the deactivation of 7.5km of roads along the Middle Fork FSR. Efforts were inspired by a multi-year habitat and collaring study initiated by the Sparwood and District Fish and Wildlife Association on the west side of the upper Elk Valley. The project was led by Aurora Wildlife Research and Tanglefoot Forestry Consultants, with support from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. Findings indicated the East White River Mountain area is a critical winter range and lambing ground for west bighorn sheep population.

Milligan said that bighorn sheep have taken up residence on the local mine sites, since they provide clear terrain and shelter from predators and hunters. The intention is make other locations more desirable and suitable for sheep herds.

 "There was an effort to look beyond those mine sites and see where we could find opportunity to enhance habitat elsewhere," he said.

In a media release, Milligan referred to the project as a "grassroots effort" that has brought conservation groups, Indigenous Nations and industry stakeholders together.