Note about White Lake

Site Description

White Lake is located in the southern Okanagan Valley, about 15 km south of Penticton and 15 km north of Oliver. The area is an elliptical bowl (about 3 by 4 km) of sagebrush grassland set in hills forested with open ponderosa pine woodland. White Lake, a small alkaline lake approximately 300 m in diameter, is at the centre of the bowl. Two small creeks flow through either side of the bowl, but do not feed into or out of the lake. The surrounding hills are Eocene volcanic origin and the soils are grassland brown chernozems. Much of the area is used as rangeland and an astrophysical observatory is located in the northeast part of the site.
The area is also known for some unusual species of herptiles and mammals. It is the one of the best sites in British Columbia for Tiger Salamander, Great Basin Spadefoot Toad, Western Harvest Mouse, Great Basin Pocket Mouse, and Western Rattlesnakes have several hibernacula in the area. American Badger has also been seen at this site.

Birds

White Lake hosts up to two pairs of the nationally endangered Sage Thrasher, and formally supported at least two pairs of Burrowing Owls (nationally endangered). There are plans to reintroduce Burrowing Owls. Long-billed Curlews, which are nationally vulnerable, breed regularly in the area with annual populations ranging from 2 to 16. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes stop at the lake during spring and fall migration, and small numbers of Western Screech-Owls inhabit the area year-round.

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