Victoria, B.C. – The Forest Practices Board has made two recommendations to government aimed at increasing protection of watersheds and fish habitat.

 

The audit  examined how well forest and range practices are protecting water in two community watersheds in the Okanagan and it had mixed results. While  forestry operations are complying with requirements to protect water quality, cattle range operations are not.

 

The forest practices of Tolko Industries Ltd, BC Timber Sales and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operation’s small-scale salvage program, as well as range practices of four range tenure holders, were examined in the audit.

 

"Our auditors found low risk to water quality, quantity or timing of flow from current forest practices," said board chair Al Gorley. "Sediment was well managed on forestry roads and harvesting practices protected nearby watercourses quite well. However the audit found range practices caused some impacts to streamside areas, fish habitat and water quality."

 

The audit found there were cattle impacts on riparian areas and fish habitat and “a likely introduction of pathogens from some cattle feces into the source water of the community watersheds.”

 

The watersheds are located next to each other on the east side of Okanagan Lake, south of Vernon, and supply drinking water to the communities of Oyama and Winfield.

 

The report makes two recommendations to government to improve range practices in community watersheds to better protect water resources:

 

1. In the audited watersheds, the risk of harmful substances reaching the water supply intake is much higher downstream of the two storage lakes. However, because of the varying risk in watersheds throughout the province, it can be difficult for practitioners to determine the probability that the harmful material will reach the intake. Government should provide guidance on the implementation of the practice requirement to not cause material that is harmful to human health to be deposited in, or transported to, water that is diverted for human consumption by a licensed waterworks, recognizing the variable risks within and between watersheds, of the harmful material reaching the intake.

 

2. Streams, wetlands and other areas with riparian function require protection from cattle impacts. Government should ensure that all watercourses and areas with riparian function are protected to the extent that range use does not materially impair their function.

 

The Board requests the government advise the Board of its progress in addressing these recommendations by December 31, 2012.