Watershed Assessment on Island Timberlands Private Managed Forest Land. Presented to WIWAG June 14, 2007

Transcription

1 Watershed Assessment on Island Timberlands Private Managed Forest Land Presented to WIWAG June 14, 2007

2 Island Timberlands Environmental Policy Island forest management activities will: Use and promote responsible practices to protect key environmental values such as fish habitat and water resources, soils and soil productivity, forest health and productivity, critical wildlife habitat and species at risk, special sites and biological diversity; Respect cultural, historical and aesthetic values and manage special sites; Optimize recovery and utilization in forest harvesting; Follow sound planning, road building, harvesting and forestry standards; and Be subject to periodic review through audit processes and third party certification.

3 Private Managed Forest Land Act Protects Key Public Values: soil conservation water quality fish habitat reforestation critical wildlife habitat

4 Island Timberlands Watershed Assessment Process Based on Washington, Oregon, and BC methodologies Assesses effects of forest practices on fish habitat and water quality Collaborative process involving scientists, forest managers, agencies, other landowners, First Nations, and other interested public Voluntary process Augments Private Managed Forest Land Act Supports environmental certification Results-based

5 Completed Assessments: South Fork Nanaimo River Watershed (2001) Englishman River (2002) Langley Lake (2004) China Creek (2005) Stamp-Ash-Somass Watershed Assessment (currently working on)

6 Island Timberlands Watershed Assessment Process: Purpose: To understand the current physical condition of the watershed Objectives: Examine the history of the watershed; Describe the features and processes important to fish habitat and water quality within the watershed; Evaluate various resources within the watershed; Determine how natural processes are influencing those resources; Evaluate effects of land management practices over time; and Identify land management issues within the watershed

7 Watershed Assessment on Island Timberlands Private Land Resource Assessment Process Prescription Process Restoration Opportunities Future Condition Watershed Management Plan Implementation Monitoring Opportunities Continual Improvement

8 Island Timberlands Private Land Watershed Assessment Process Resource Assessment Modules Sediment Sources Mass Wasting Surface Erosion

9 Island Timberlands Terrain Management Code of Practice Objectives Provide guidance to trigger professional on-site assessments Consistency for company and contracting professionals Opportunity to control costs, manage liability, and improve predictions and outcomes

10 Island Timberlands Private Land Watershed Assessment Process Resource Assessment Modules Sediment Sources Mass Wasting Surface Erosion Hydrologic Change Stream Channel Assessment Riparian Condition Fish Habitat Water Quality/Water Supply

11 Island Timberlands Private Land Watershed Assessment Process What we don t assess Wildlife habitat Pesticides, Herbicides, Fertilizer effects Cultural resources

12 Island Timberlands Private Land Watershed Assessment Process: Resource Assessment Technical team may consist of: Fish biologist Geologist Hydrologist Soil scientist Administrative, technical, and GIS support

13 Watershed Assessment: Resource Assessment Data gathered Current resource condition (e.g. channels, riparian, roads) History (natural disturbance, land use) Synthesis Sensitivities to forest practices

14 Watershed Assessment: Key Findings Summary of resource sensitivities to forest practices Statement of problem, effects and consequence Description of physical extent Contributing factors and considerations to take into account when developing prescriptions

15 Watershed Assessment: Prescription Process Process Resource sensitivities presented to team Team composed of foresters, planners, and other stakeholders: MoE DFO Water Purveyor Stream Keeper Groups other Forest Companies First Nations Team develops prescriptions

16 Prescriptions: Fish Passage Before After Examples... Flat or open bottomed culverts Baffled culverts Bridges Prioritized by species and increase in accessible habitat

17 Prescriptions: Oversteepened Fills Before After Examples... Gully Crossings Road Access Plans Road Deactivation Plans Prioritized by risk for workers safety and to the environment

18 Prescriptions: Surface Erosion Road Maintenance Priorities Examples Placement of cross drains Vegetate cutbanks Armour culverts Jump Creek

19 Prescriptions: Training and BMPs Examples

20 Restoration Opportunities: Overlay of key resource sensitivities (e.g., low LWD recruitment, low gradient channels) Assessment products spatially stratify areas where restoration is: beneficial logistically feasible highly likely to succeed

21 Watershed Assessment: Watershed Management Plan Workplan to Implement Prescriptions Work items ( to fix items and to prevent items) Priorities Responsibilities Schedules Monitoring Plan Effectiveness monitoring of specific prescriptions Compliance monitoring of the workplans Visual inspections Map Products Locations of site-specific prescription works Locations of potential monitoring sites

22 Watershed Assessment: What is working well STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT Increased trust (sharing management practices) Improved working relationships Better understanding of forest practices

23 Watershed Assessment: What is working well IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF WATERSHED PROCESSES BY FORESTERS, PLANNERS AND PRODUCTION Educates operations people about the watershed dynamics Better understanding of sensitive areas Help forest managers prioritize where to implement improvements to achieve the most environmental benefit

24 2007 Stamp/Ash/Somass Watershed Assessment: Total Area 65,426 ha: Stamp: 47,700 ha Somass: 13,082 ha Other: 5344 ha ITLP owns: 35,397 ha

25 2007 Stamp/Ash/Somass Watershed Assessment: Analysts: Glynnis Horel, P.Eng. (Ostapowich Engineering Services) Iain Cuthbert, R.P.Bio. (Streamline Environmental Consulting) Technical Team Leader: Shelley Higman, P.Eng./P.Geo. (ITLP)

26 2007 Stamp/Ash/Somass Watershed Assessment: Stakeholder Group: Island Timberlands TimberWest City of Port Alberni Beaver Creek Improvement District Cherry Creek Improvement District Ministry of Health Ministry of Forests Hupacasath First Nation Tseshaht First Nation Federal Fisheries Alberni Valley Enhancement Association Ministry of Environment

27 2007 Stamp/Ash/Somass Watershed Assessment: Prescription Team: Rod Christie, RFT (ITLP) Ken Epps (ITLP) Ally Gibson, RFT (ITLP) Guy Cicon, P.Eng./Norm Meunier (City of Port Alberni) Susan Roth (Beaver Creek Improvement District) Brad Rushton/Al Magnan (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) Rick Avis (Alberni Valley Enhancement Association) Jim Lane, RPBio./Al Ross (Hupacasath First Nation) David Lightly, RPBio. (Tseshaht First Nation) Gary Ardron, Facilitator (Shelterwood Forest Management) Shelley Higman, P.Eng./P.Geo., Technical Facilitator (ITLP)

28 2007 Stamp/Ash/Somass Watershed Assessment: Schedule: September 2006 Kick-Off Meeting (with Stakeholder Group) March 2007 Assessment Report Completed March 2007 Hand-Off Meeting (with Stakeholder Group) July 2007 Prescription Development Completed September 2007 Watershed Management Plan Completed Summer 2008 Carry-out High Priority Watershed Work November 2008 Hold Wrap-Up Meeting (with Stakeholder Group)