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VICTORIA – A pilot audit of two community watersheds in the Arrow Boundary Forest District has determined that forest practices are in compliance with legislated requirements in all significant respects, the Forest Practices Board reported today.

“The board determined that current forest practices are effective at minimizing impacts to water quality,” said acting board chair Geoff Battersby. “I am pleased to see that licensees are managing their forestry practices in ways that do not damage water supplies.”

The pilot audit examined forest practices carried out by four licensees during the course of operations in the Norns Creek community watershed near Castlegar and the Springer Creek community watershed near Slocan. The licensees audited were Atco Lumber Ltd., Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd., Pope & Talbot Ltd. and Springer Creek Forest Products Ltd.

The pilot audit assessed licensee performance using criteria and assessment methods developed by the board and the Ministry of Forests and Range. The criteria address water quality, quantity and timing of flow, as well as licensees’ planning, monitoring and risk management processes.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent public watchdog that reports to the public about compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and the achievement of its intent. The board’s main roles under FRPA are:

• Auditing forest practices of government and licence holders on public lands.
• Auditing government enforcement of FRPA .
• Investigating public complaints.
• Undertaking special investigations of forestry issues.
• Participating in administrative appeals.
• Providing reports on board activities, findings and recommendations.