Due to severe wildfire damage in areas of the Thompson Okanagan and one area in the Kootenays, 15 motor-vehicle closures under the Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation of the Wildlife Act are in effect.

A new $180,000 graduate student scholarship fund is being provided to Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to support students in priority areas, like science and technology, and boost research and economic growth throughout the province.

The Government of British Columbia is providing $861,500 in grants to help manage the spread of invasive plants in the Okanagan and Thompson-Nicola regions, Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development announced.

The B.C. government is providing $20,000 to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to help manage invasive plants in the region.

To protect sensitive grasslands and riparian ecosystems in the Thompson Rivers Natural Resource District, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is introducing measures to restrict motorized recreational use in the Lac du Bois/Batchelor and Lower Noble Creek areas.

In advance of the May long weekend, the public is reminded about restricted recreational use in the Tunkwa-Duffy area and on grazing leases in the Kamloops area.

To protect sensitive grasslands and riparian ecosystems in the Thompson Rivers District, the Province has introduced measures to restrict recreational use in the Tunkwa-Duffy area.