A recent Forest Practices Board audit found that road building and upgrading by a Timber Sale License holder (the TSL holder) had, or had the potential to, adversely affect fish streams in the Lamb Creek area of the Rocky Mountain Forest District. British Columbia Timber Sales’ (BCTS) attempt to repair damage from the TSL holder’s roadwork was well-intentioned but only partly successful.
Compliance and Enforcement district staff of the Ministry of Forests and Range investigated and found that road drainage systems were inadequate, and sediment from roadwork had entered a fish-bearing stream. The district manager determined the TSL holder contravened the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and imposed a penalty of $5,000.
Two separate complaints arose from proposed timber harvesting and road construction in the Elmer Creek area, near the community of Yahk. The complainants asserted that BCTS had not implemented the recommendations of a hydrology assessment and that the proposed road construction, improved public access and clear-cut harvesting would adversely affect domestic water supplies and other resources.
Atco Lumber Ltd., Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd., Pope & Talbot Ltd. and Springer Creek Forest Products Ltd.’s forest practices in the Norns and Springer Creek Community Watersheds, located in the Arrow Boundary Forest District, complied with legislative requirements. The companies’ current forest practices are effective in minimizing the impacts to water quality.
In summer 2005, the Forest Practices Board conducted a compliance audit of forest planning and practices of the British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) program, and timber sale licence holders, in the Rocky Mountain Forest District. BCTS’s operating areas are located in the Invermere and Cranbook Timber Supply Areas.
The Board notes that, with one exception, planning and practices undertaken by BCTS and its timber sale licence holders complied with legislative requirements in all significant respects.
The significant non-compliance noted in the audit relates to sediment from road building and upgrading by the holder of timber sale licence (TSL) A69888—that has, or has the potential to, adversely affect fish streams. Of particular concern is that the TSL holder, independently from BCTS, sought and got approval from the Ministry of Forests and Range for a road use permit to upgrade a long section of forest service road (FSR), adjacent to a fish stream to access a timber sale, but did not follow the permit conditions designed to minimize the amount of sediment entering the stream.
After a wildfire, the likelihood of natural hazards such as landslides , severe surface soil erosion and flooding can increase significantly. In wildland–urban interface areas (i.e. fires near populated areas), these hazards can increase the risk to life, property and infrastructure.
This issue came to the Board’s attention during its 2004 special investigation into repairing damage caused by fighting forest fires. Of 12 wildfires sampled, 6 experienced landslides or flood events since our field visits. In three of these cases, provincial highways were affected; houses were destroyed or damaged in two cases. In its report, the Board stated its intent to examine the process and responsibilities for identifying and managing post-wildfire risks to life, infrastructure and forest resources.
The Laird Creek Water Users asked the Board to investigate approval of an amendment to a BCTS forest development plan. The complainant says that BCTS disregarded public input and proper planning procedures.
