Meeting the Challenge of FRPA and Sustainable Forest Management

Dates/Locations TBA

This 1-day workshop provides an introduction to the recognition of hydrogeomorphic hazards and the development of appropriate forest management and forest engineering prescriptions for fans.  This is an applied workshop that is designed to assist forest practitioners in meeting the challenge of FRPA and Sustainable Forest Management.

Fans are cone-shaped landforms that are found where streams emerge from mountains.  They are formed by the deposition of sediment from floods, debris floods and debris flows (hydrogeomorphic processes).  Most of our fans in British Columbia were formed after glaciation but contemporary hydrogeomorphic processes are still influencing many fans.  These hazards are frequently not recognized and as a result there have been impacts to forest roads, drainage structures, plantations and private property on fans. Inappropriate forestry activities on fans and in their watersheds, exacerbate natural disturbance leading to degradation of fish habitat and

destabilization of fan surfaces.  It is clear that we are falling short of FRPA expectations, and in our efforts to undertake forest management on fans in a sustainable manner.

This workshop presents results from a 4-year study of fans in west central British Columbia.  Fieldwork in other areas of the province indicates that the key results are widely applicable.  The central theme in this workshop is to be able to identify the evidence of hydrogeomorphic activity on fans, and use this information to develop appropriate forestry prescriptions, both on fans and in their contributing watersheds.

This workshop is also for the development of post-fire restoration plans.

MATERIALS:

Land Management Handbook 57 will be provided at the workshop, and can also be viewed at:

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Lmh/Lmh57.htm