Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA) is located near the town of Creston in south-central British Columbia. It is situated on the floodplain of the Kootenay River, where it enters the south end of Kootenay Lake, and extends about 20 km north along the lake. The area lies within one of British Columbia's few flat valleys, and is bordered by the Selkirk Mountains to the west, the Purcell Mountains to the east, and Kootenay Lake to the north. Most of the landscape is marshland, and includes the ~1,500ha Duck Lake. The entire wildlife area is ~7,000 ha. The valley bottom is composed of recent alluvial soils that have developed chiefly from well-sorted silty clays deposited since the last glacial period. Some local fauna are of provincial significance such as the White Sturgeon, Red-tailed Chipmunk and Coeur d’ Alene Salamander (one of less than five sites known in Canada). Finally, this area is the only known site where the Northern Leopard Frog occurs in the province.

The CVWMA is well-known for its concentrations of birds, especially waterbirds. Waterfowl numbers are highest in spring and fall, with a 16-year fall average of 67,000 birds. It is an important spring and fall stopover site for migrating Tundra Swans, which supported 3% of the North American population in the early 1980s, but numbers have decreased markedly due to changes in agricultural practices, with recent counts nearer 1,000 birds. Globally significant numbers of American Coot pass through during both spring and fall migration, and many stop to breed in the area; the 24-year average maximum annual count (during spring or fall) was 22,700. A nationally significant breeding population of Black Terns occurs. The site also supports one of only three breeding colonies of Western Grebes in British Columbia. A 1998 census located 56 grebe nests, which is a decline from peak numbers (around 100 nests) recorded in the 1980s. The total number of grebes using the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area was 157 in 1997 and 166 in 1998; 152 were recorded on Duck Lake alone in 2005. The only breeding location of Forster’s Tern in British Columbia is also found at CVWMA. Long-billed Curlews, Ospreys, and Great Blue Herons also breed in and around the CVWMA. The heron colony is the largest British Columbian colony away from the coast. Non-breeding American White Pelicans have been increasing in number; 80 were seen in 1999 and 246 in 2003. Important winter raptor concentrations occur in the Creston Valley, including the CVWMA; up to 179 Rough-legged Hawks have been recorded, although many use the agricultural land adjacent to the CVWMA. Northern Pintail and American Wigeon spring migration can number in the tens of thousands. The Sandhill Crane has expanded its breeding range and has nesting successfully in CVWMA, first breeding record in 2006. Double-crested Cormorants are also a recent breeding colonist of the CVWMA; first discovered in 2003, it is only the second known colony in the British Columbian interior (the other is at Stum Lake), and the only colony in southern BC. The riparian and shrubland habitats support one of the highest densities of Yellow Warbler in the province. CVWMA also supports one of the highest breeding densities of Wood Duck in the province.

The land in the CVWMA is mostly used for wildlife conservation and several ongoing research projects. This entire site is within a wildlife management area that is managed by a mixed group of government and non-governmental organizations. Most of the marshes are dyked and managed for wildlife production. Drawdowns, mowing and water level controls are all used to maintain this marsh productivity. One concern is a lack of funding to control vegetation succession. Threats to nesting birds include disturbance from fishing, changing water levels, and natural marsh infilling. A Habitat Management Plan was developed in 2004 to guide the CVWMA into the future. The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area also operates a large interpretive centre from spring through fall providing information for visitors, educational programs for school groups, and summer childrens programs. Access is controlled to parts of the site to limit the impacts of human use. Hikers, ATV users and drivers have all requested an increase in accessibility.