VERNON, B.C. – Dave and Wanda Casorso of Oliver, B.C. have received the province’s environmental stewardship award.
Presented annually by the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association, the award recognizes outstanding efforts to improve the land, forage and water on ranch land. Wildlife habitat improvement is also recognized.
The Casorso Ranch is located in the south Okanagan in one of Canada’s driest regions receiving about six inches of precipitation each year. They have developed a gravity fed irrigation system drawing water from a local creek to support pastures and hayland. They are also building fences along creeks and are adding more water storage on the ranch to protect fragile riparian areas.
In this unique desert environment, the ranch is home to big horn sheep, mountain goats, deer, bears, coyotes and nesting birds as well as numerous rare and species at risk.
The ranch includes 1,400 deeded acres, 400 acres of leased private land and 70,000 Crown land acres. They have about 240 cross cows and have built a local, niche market for their Angus base beef.
