Fisheries
Stream Inventories
Since 1995, CFP has conducted extensive fish and fish
habitat inventories across BC and Alberta. This information
is collected by the company and, in some cases, First
Nations, the Ministry of Environment and the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans. Where such field data are lacking,
a sampling strategy is developed based on the BC Resource
Inventory Committee's Reconnaissance Fish and Fish Habitat
Inventory guidelines.
The first step towards a comprehensive steam inventory
is the completion of a predictive spatial analysis of
all the known streams within a specified forest area.
Using a geographic information system (GIS) and a terrain
mapping application, we determine individual stream
reach breaks based on gradient and stream width.
Identified streams which have a gradient of less than
25% are classified as having good fish habitat potential
and streams greater than 25% are classified as having
poor fish habitat potential. Often, only a limited number
of streams with gradients of greater than 25% will be
ground surveyed.
The next step, during forest development and cutblock
design, identified rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands
have riparian assessments conducted to determine the
actual classification of the prescribed riparian area.
Riparian management areas (RMA) are established and
harvesting prescriptions are developed using criteria
set forth in the Forest Practices Code Riparian Management
Area guidebook.
In addition, on-site fish inventories are carried out
in proposed cut blocks if a stream has potential to
support fish populations but no fish were observed during
the layout stage.
Riparian Management
Riparian habitats occur along streams and around lakes
and wetlands. In order to protect riparian and aquatic
habitats, riparian management reserves that exclude
timber harvesting, and riparian management zones that
restrict timber harvesting, are established according
to detailed stream assessments.
The BC Forest Practices Code defines a riparian management
area (RMA), riparian reserve zone (RRZ) and riparian
management zone (RMZ). The riparian management area
(RMA) is a combination of the riparian reserve zone
(RRZ) and the riparian management zone (RMZ).
The purpose of the RMA is to provide protective cover,
shade, stability, diversity, small organic debris, and
large organic debris depending on the requirements of
the individual RMA for the stream, river, lake or wetland.
The RRZ is a reserve where no timber harvesting is
permitted without authorization from the District Manager.
The RMZ is an area outside the RRZ that may restrict
timber-harvesting practices.
The prescribed widths of both the RRZ and the RMZ are
determined by the appropriate stream, lake or wetland
classification system and are summarized in operational
annual reports.
Timber harvesting practices are prescribed within the
RMA to preserve the functionality of the stream through
windfall protection, stream bank integrity, and water
quality, and secondly to provide additional wildlife
trees.
Stream Restoration
Under Forest Renewal BC's watershed restoration program,
we have conducted fish stream restoration activities
on many of the streams and rivers impacted by past harvesting
operations. Restoration activities include removal of
log jams, stream bank protection, creating pools, diverting
streams back into old channels, and building fish ladders.
|
