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INVESTIGATION SUMMARY

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What is this investigation about?

The Board received a complaint from a resident of Midway, BC, about the impact of range practices and government enforcement on public land in the Ingram-Boundary range unit located west of Grand Forks. The complaint involves two range agreement holders and the Ministry of Forests (the ministry).

The Board considered the following questions:

1. Did the range agreement holders comply with Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) requirements when grazing livestock?
2. Was government enforcement appropriate?

What did the Board find?

The complainant raised concerns about the condition of riparian areas, overgrazing and invasive species in upland areas. The two range agreement holders complied with FRPA requirements when grazing livestock in the 2023 grazing season. However, some riparian and upland areas are at risk of becoming non-functional if cattle movement and invasive species are not properly managed.

The actions specified by the range agreement holders in their range use plans to control the spread of invasive plants were unmeasurable and could not be evaluated. In previous Board reports, the Board has emphasized the importance of government ensuring that the actions outlined in the range use plan are measurable and enforceable.

The Board found that government enforcement was appropriate. Government conducted site visits and took enforcement action in response to the complainant’s concerns.

Key Takeaways

1. Range agreement holders complied with FRPA requirements when grazing livestock in the 2023 grazing season, and government enforcement was determined to be appropriate in this complaint investigation.
2. Approval of range use plans should include measurable actions to address issues identified by the district manager.
3. The range agreement holders should manage cattle movement and invasive species in the riparian and upland areas that are at a high risk of becoming non-functional.
4. Government should monitor these areas and the agreement holders’ management to prevent the at-risk areas from becoming non-functional.

Acknowledgement

The Ingram-Boundary range unit is located west of Grand Forks. It lies within the territories of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Okanagan Indian Band, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Penticton Indian Band, the Splatsin First Nation and the Upper Nicola Band. The board recognizes the importance of the Indigenous Peoples’ historical relationship with the land, which continues to this day.