Watershed Management, Fisheries, Small Streams and Fish Forestry Interactions

Project Abstract:
Ecosystem based initiatives such as the Federal government’s implementation of the wild salmon policy and the BC Ministry of Environments mountain pine beetle ecosystem restoration strategies are currently underway. These projects involve numerous organizations such as the federal government, provincial government and NGO’s (e.g., Fraser Basin Council, Pacific Salmon Foundation etc.). Given the scope of these projects and the number of organizations involved there is a need to provide peer assistance to the organizations involved to improve science based management of small streams, fish habitat, salmon species at risk and in the development of sustainable management approaches. A critical component of this project will be to link past scientific knowledge and current research into these integrated watershed management initiatives and to provide extension service support to these varied initiatives.

The goal of this project is to assist in planning strategies, integrating groups and extending current knowledge related to various wild salmon, small streams, ecosystem restoration and integrated watershed management initiatives to bridge the gap between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem management knowledge, policy and practices. As result of this project priority client needs related to several topic areas will be addressed (riparian ecology and management, watershed functions, watershed stewardship, species at risk recovery (e.g. salmonids), watershed response and ecological restoration) (Sustainability Program Advisory Committee Priorities 2005).

Activities will likely include: i) Participation in various discussions around policy and science relating to watersheds. This includes terrestrial, small stream and large river ecosystems and impacts of terrestrial activities on these ecosystems. ii) Identification of existing information related to terrestrial indicators for salmon conservation; iii) participation in an Fraser Basin Council initiative to work towards harmonizing salmon habitat monitoring in the Fraser Basin; and iv) Involvement in developing collaborative projects that include current Watershed Management Extension initiatives such as the Streamline Watershed Management Bulletin, the Compendium of Forest Hydrology and Geomorphology in British Columbia and other best practices. Extension support will be provided to: i) FIA FSP funded Fish Forestry Interactions Program synthesis project; ii) FIA FSP Carnation Creek LTRI project; and iii) MPBI funded joint project between BC Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forests and Range examining watershed modelling at the Fraser River Basin scale. Target audiences for secondary extension products include practitioners and forest managers, planners and operations.

This project will result in increased knowledge and awareness of innovative watershed management research and expertise; increase science based knowledge in management decisions in preparing plans and mitigation strategies.

For further information on this project, please contact society@forrex.org.