Photopoint Citizen Science
Okanagan Stewardship Society (OSS) has launched a Photopoint Citizen Science project to engage the public in tracking wildlife habitat restoration progress. At key restoration sites, OSS has installed photopoint monitoring stations, which provide clear instructions for visitors to take photos from a fixed position using their smartphones or cameras. These images, when submitted, will be compiled into a timelapse sequence, allowing our biologists, partners, and the community to visually document changes in habitat conditions over time. By participating, citizen scientists help create a long-term record of ecosystem recovery, providing valuable data to support ongoing conservation efforts.
Carney Pond
Carney Pond is a beautiful wetland located along the Okanagan Rail Trail near UBC Okanagan in Kelowna. It is a popular place to visit if you're looking to spot interesting bird species or some Western Painted Turtles basking on logs. While this pond is the main attraction in the area, nearby there is an unnamed cattail marsh. This marsh area was pretty barren so we thought it would be a great spot for a wetland restoration project. In 2026, OSS partnered with the Kelowna Tree Protectors, UBC Okanagan's Bachelor of Sustainability and Community Supported Learning Program, Ponderosa Education, and the City of Kelowna to restore habitat next to the pond, through planting of indigenous trees and shrubs. Around 75 volunteers came out to help and we were able to plant around 500 plants around the marsh.
Access: The photopoint station is accessible from the Okanagan Rail Trail. The trailhead can be accessed along Lougheed Rd in Kelowna, west of A2D Autobody and Detailing. There is a viewing platform along the trail that provides amazing views of the pond. The planting area around the marsh is further north of the viewing platform, across from RINK Hockey Academy. The Rail Trail can also be accessed through Bulman Rd, where there is also a parking lot.
Want to help us track vegetation changes over time? It's easy! Visit the photo point monitoring station at Carney Pond. Place your phone in the bracket at photo point monitoring stations (HUGE thank you to volunteer handyman Len Bzdel who constructed these for us) and submit your photos using the submission forms below.
