Prince George, B.C. – A Forest Practices Board investigation into how well the Forest and Range Practices Act protects drinking water in community watersheds has identified some issues.

The investigation found that while most forestry licensees were following the legal requirements, there are some problems:

• The requirements to protect drinking water are not clear or well understood.

• Commitments made in forestry plans to protect drinking water are not always enforceable.
• Greater emphasis needs to be placed on erosion and sediment control on forestry roads.
• In many community watersheds, forestry activities from decades ago, and other land uses like mining, recreation and power projects, are affecting water quality. However, the legacy issues and other activities are not subject to the same requirements as current forestry activities.
• Government does not monitor current forest practices to see if drinking water objectives are achieved in community watersheds.

“We also found a disconnect where a number of watersheds are designated, but no longer provide drinking water to a community,” says Board chair Tim Ryan.

 The board makes six recommendations to help improve the legislative framework and ensure government’s objectives for community watersheds are achieved.

1. Clarify FRPA’s requirements for the protection of water.
2. Define the concept of cumulative hydrological effects.
3. Strengthen the content and approval of forest stewardship plans.
4. Ensure the content of professional assessments is meaningful.
5. Monitor achievement of the community watershed objective.
6. Update the status of community watersheds.

“The status and management of community watersheds needs to be reviewed by government to ensure this resource is being properly managed in those places where it needs to be managed, in consideration of all types of development activity” adds Ryan.