Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: Selkirk Natural Resource District – Woodlot Licence W0438
As part of its 2015 compliance audit program, the Forest Practices Board selected woodlot W0438, held by Jeffrey Mattes, in the Selkirk District, for audit. The woodlot’s operations are located on south of Kaslo, along Highway 31.
The audit found that planning and practices generally complied with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. However, the audit also identified two areas requiring improvement related to fire hazard assessments and annual reporting.
Selkirk Natural Resource District – Woodlot Licences W1644
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: Selkirk Natural Resource District – Woodlot Licence W1644
As part of its 2015 compliance audit program, the Forest Practices Board selected woodlot W1644, held by Rojo Logging Limited, in the Selkirk District, for audit. The woodlot’s operations are located east of Creston, along Highway 3.
The audit found that planning and practices generally complied with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. However, the audit also identified an area requiring improvement related to silviculture obligations and annual reporting.
Auditors found Rojo is in non-compliance with annual reporting, regeneration delay and free growing requirements, because the previous licensee did not meet these requirements. However, because Rojo recently took over the woodlot, identified these deficiencies and is implementing a plan to correct them, the finding is considered an area requiring improvement.
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: BCTS and Timber Sale Licence Holders – Boundary TSA and Kootenay Business Area
In May 2015, the Forest Practices Board audited the activities of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) and timber sale licence holders in the Boundary timber supply area (TSA). The TSA covers approximately 659 000 hectares of the southern interior, north of the international border. The TSA includes the Kettle River and Granby River drainages and the communities of Grand Forks, Midway, Greenwood, Rock Creek, Beaverdell and Christina Lake.
The audit found that BCTS’ planning and activities complied with legislated requirements. However, the audit found that a timber sale licence holder did not maintain natural surface drainage patterns on a road above unstable terrain. The Board considered that to be a significant non-compliance. The Board also found that all but one timber sale licensee need to improve their fire hazard assessment practices.
Audit: BCTS and TSL Holders – Boundary TSA and Kootenay Business Area
Follow-up Report on Wildlife and Cattle Grazing in the East Kootenay
The Rocky Mountain Trench is rich in ecological diversity. It is the low-elevation grassland and open forest ecosystems that support the greatest biological diversity and the greatest concentration of forage use, and human settlement and development. Maintaining a healthy grassland ecosystem in the Rocky Mountain Trench is important, but challenging.
In 2008, the Board published the complaint investigation report Wildlife and Cattle Grazing in the East Kootenay. The report addressed concerns that: forest in-growth on grasslands had caused forage supply to decline; elk and deer numbers had been allowed to increase causing forage to be overgrazed; and individual ranchers had to reduce the number and duration of cattle grazing on Crown lands. The report recommended that the Ministry of Forests and Range and the Ministry of Environment direct reductions of forage use to achieve a positive and continuing trend in grassland ecosystem condition.
Government responded in March 2011 and outlined actions they had taken to address the recommendations from the 2008 report. This report examines progress by government to implement those actions.
Follow-up Report on Wildlife and Cattle Grazing in the East Kootenay
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: RMR Acquisitions Inc. – OLTC L49318
As part of the Forest Practices Board’s 2014 compliance audit program, the Board randomly selected the Selkirk District as the location for a full scope compliance audit. Within the district, the Board selected occupant licence to cut (OLTC)1 L49318, held by RMR Acquisitions Inc. (RMR).
Established in 1912, Red Mountain Ski Resort is western Canada’s original ski resort. In 2007, the resort was incorporated into the Red Mountain CRA to recognize that any land use decision that may be made in relation to the CRA is for long term all season resort development purposes.
Over the past two years, approximately 52 000 cubic metres of timber was harvested from the OLTC as part of a ski hill expansion plan. Harvesting focused mainly on ski hill design objectives, but also addressed forest health and watershed interests.
