VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit forest planning and practices on the 100 Mile House Community Forest and the Clinton Community Forest during the week of Sept. 16, 2019.
Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning carried out between Sept. 1, 2017, and Sept. 20, 2019, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
Community Forest Agreement K2W is held by 100 Mile Development Corporation and is located to the east of 100 Mile House. The community forest is approximately 18,500 hectares in size. Community Forest Agreement K4F is held by Clinton and District Community Forest of BC Limited and is located in the area surrounding the town of Clinton and Marble Range Provincial Park. The community forest is approximately 62,400 hectares in size.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An investigation of the impacts of forestry activities on drinking water from the Peachland and Trepanier community watersheds has found that forest licensees did a good job of minimizing the impacts of logging on water and that natural processes played a much larger role in the boil water advisories that Peachland has experienced in recent years.
"There was high snow accumulation and significant rainfall events during the spring snowmelt of 2017 and 2018 that led to increases in the amount of sediment in the water," said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board. "The investigation also confirmed that a landslide that led to a boil water advisory was the result of natural stream dynamics and saturated soils and was not caused by forestry activity."
In addition to natural processes, the investigation found other developments and activities that may be contributing sediment to streams and potentially affecting water quality. These include roads built prior to current road construction standards, logging, ranching, mining and agriculture, as well as commercial and public recreation, private properties, a power line and Highway 97C.
"While forestry and range activities are regulated by the Forest and Range Practices Act to minimize impacts to water quality and quantity, no one is responsible for managing the cumulative impacts of all activities in these watersheds," said Kriese. "The auditor general's recent report on drinking water protection points out systemic gaps in accountability and coordination for drinking water protection."
The District of Peachland has initiated a technical advisory group to co-ordinate and manage uses in the watershed. The board commends this action and encourages improved monitoring
of the watershed to better assess potential impacts on water.
The investigation was done in response to a complaint from a member of the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance who suggested forestry activities were impacting water quality and leading to a number of boil water advisories. The Peachland and Trepanier watersheds, along with Okanagan Lake, supply drinking water to Peachland.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board investigates public complaints about forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VANDERHOOF – The Forest Practices Board will examine the forestry activities of Saik'uz First Nation on non-replaceable forest licence A91154 in the Stuart Nechako Natural Resource District during the week of Aug. 19, 2019.
Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning carried out by Saik'uz First Nation between Aug. 1, 2017, and Aug. 23, 2019, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit area is located in the Prince George timber supply area, near Vanderhoof and Fraser Lake. The licence is held by Saik'uz First Nation and managed by Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
CHILLIWACK – Three non-replaceable forest licences (NRFLs) in the Chilliwack Natural Resource District — NRFL A75807, held by Leq'A: Mel Forestry Limited Partnership; NRFL A79504, held by Ts'elxweyeqw Forestry Limited Partnership; and NRFL A90380, held by Skwah — will be audited starting the week of Aug. 19, 2019.
Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning carried out between Aug. 1, 2017, and Aug. 23, 2019, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit areas are located in southwest B.C. near Chilliwack. The area is also located close to Cultus Lake Park, Chilliwack Lake Park and International Ridge Park, which are popular
recreation sites for campers, boaters and hikers.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The Forest Practices Board's final
report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government.
The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of forestry activities on tree farm licence (TFL) 61 in the South Island Natural Resource District has found compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act, according to a new report.
"Our audit found that Pacheedaht Andersen Timber Holdings LP (PATH) did a good job meeting all of its legal requirements, including maintaining visual quality and protecting the Kludahk Trail and the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail," said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board.
TFL 61 is managed by PATH, which is a partnership between Pacheedaht First Nation and Andersen Timber. The audit area is located on southwestern Vancouver Island, north of Highway 14 between Port Renfrew and Jordan River. The Kludahk Trail and Juan de Fuca Marine Trail are in and adjacent to the TFL and the area receives high recreation use given its location near Greater Victoria and surrounding communities.
The audit included harvesting of 14 cutblocks, construction of 12 kilometres of road and 6 bridges, maintenance of over 400 kilometres of roads and 64 bridges, as well as silviculture and fire protection activities carried out by PATH between May 2017 and May 2019.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of Northern Engineered Wood Products on non-renewable forest licence A85566 in the Nadina Natural Resource District during the week of July 23, 2019.
Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning, carried out by Northern Engineered Wood Products between July 1, 2017, and July 25, 2019, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The forest licence is located in the Morice Timber Supply Area, which includes the communities of Houston, Topley and Granisle. The area provides a wide range of natural resource benefits, such as forest products, minerals, grazing, recreation and tourism amenities, as well as fish and wildlife habitat.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have an opportunity to respond. The board's final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – In a new report, the Forest Practices Board recommends that government adopt a tactical forest planning process to direct forestry operations on Crown land.
"For more than 20 years, the board has called for improved planning and objectives at the landscape and watershed scales," said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board. "Recent board work has confirmed that forest stewardship plans, despite considerable energy and effort to develop and approve, do not address the need for planning for multiple forest values across the landscape."
The board recommends a planning process that takes broad objectives from land-use plans and translates them into a plan for achieving the desired future forest on a specific area of land. The report goes on to say such a process must:
"The need for landscape-level planning is more critical now than at any time in the past, as forest resources are increasingly affected by the cumulative effects of multiple developments and natural disturbances due to climate change," said Kriese.
Currently, government is consulting with the public on potential amendments to the Forest and Range Practices Act. The board recommends that the amendments include a requirement for tactical forest plans throughout the province.
"Planning is a complex process, and there is limited experience with this form of planning in B.C.," said Kriese. "It will take time to build the appropriate models and tools to implement, and we encourage the public and all stakeholders to bring their creativity and innovation to bear on efforts to improve forest planning in B.C."
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the forestry activities of Tolko Industries Ltd. in the Cascades Natural Resource District during the week of July 8, 2019.
Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning carried out by Tolko between June 1, 2018, and July 12, 2019, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit area is located in the Merritt timber supply area, near the communities of Merritt and Princeton. The area has a diverse landscape that provides habitat to a variety of wildlife.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of forestry activities on a woodlot in the Peace Natural Resource District has found a significant non-compliance with the Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation, according to a report.
The audit found the licensee misclassified a stream and as a result harvested in the riparian reserve zones for six cutblocks. Under section 36 of the WLPPR, a woodlot licence holder must not cut, modify or remove trees in these zones, except in limited circumstances.
"Due to the number of occurances and the significance of riparian reserve areas in the maintenance of stream health, this is a significant non-compliance," said Kevin Kriese, chair of the Forest Practices Board. "However, the licensee did meet all other requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and Wildfire Act."
The audited activities included harvesting timber, constructing and maintaining forestry roads, reforesting logged sites, wildfire protection and associated planning carried out between September 2016 and September 2018.
This audit is part of a larger audit of five woodlots in the Peace Resource District. A report on the results of the other four woodlots can be found on the board's website.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the Quesnel Natural Resource District portion of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Business Area during the week of June 24, 2019.
Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning carried out from June 1, 2018, to June 28, 2019, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit area is located in the Quesnel Natural Resource District, in the northern part of the Cariboo Region. The district lies in the Fraser Basin and the Interior Plateau between the Coast Mountains on the west and the Cariboo Mountains on the east. It includes the communities of Quesnel, Wells and Barkerville, and the villages of Nazko and Kluskus.
This BCTS program was chosen randomly for audit from among all the BCTS programs in the province. The board normally audits two BCTS programs each year.
Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
