Mountain Pine Beetle and Water Management – Implications for Water Users
Co-sponsored by the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC)
Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, Kelowna, BC, June 2, 2009

Workshop Background
The current mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation in western North America, and more specifically the Southern Interior of British Columbia, will produce demonstrable environmental effects following tree mortality and salvage harvesting. Some of the most significant effects may occur to water quality and quantity, posing a risk to watershed integrity. In the Southern Interior, water quality and quantity are potential limiting factors in community prosperity and diversity.

The following potential effects of MPB and post-beetle land management activities have been repeatedly identified as principal issues:

1. Disturbances (MPB and salvage harvesting) increasing Equivalent Clear-cut Area (ECA) of watersheds.
2. Increased frequency of flood events (e.g. increased likelihood and/or frequency of more extreme events) due to loss of forest canopy.
3. Existing infrastructure incapable of handling increased peak flow events.
4. Increased sedimentation and turbidity.
5. Increased treatments costs to meet water quality guidelines (e.g. increased filtration and ultraviolet treatments).
6. Increased storage capacity required to ensure consistent water supplies.
7. Environmental impacts on fish habitat.

Workshop Objectives
The objectives of this workshop are to link science and knowledge with practitioners, the people engaged on a day-to-day basis in managing water delivery systems. This workshop will present results of ongoing and recently completed research projects on the hydrologic and geomorphic effects of mountain pine beetle and post-beetle salvage logging. This information will set the context for the presentation of information/new knowledge to assist individuals involved in managing water delivery systems.

The primary goals of the workshop are to:

1. Increase awareness and knowledge of potential impacts of MPB and salvage logging on hydrology of consumptive use watersheds,
2. Identify concerns, and actions to address the concerns, regarding MPB and salvage logging impacts on a range of water values,
3. Bring together water purveyors (including municipalities, local governments, First Nations, private utilities) to develop new collaborative opportunities to help address the challenges associated with MPB,
4. Develop issue-specific action plans that incorporate workshop results, and
5. Provide operational information for water purveyors (water users, purveyors, regional districts, communities, community watersheds) in an effort to answer: What do they need to be planning for?

Who Should Attend
The target audience includes all individuals involved in managing water delivery systems on a day-to-day basis who need information/knowledge on the potential hydrologic impacts of MPB and post-beetle land management activities. This includes water purveyors, First Nations, individual water users, and municipal, regional, and provincial governments. The event will also be of interest to foresters, academia, researchers, industry, consultants, watershed stewardship groups, and interested public.

NOTE: This workshop will be held in conjunction with the Wildfire and Watershed Workshop on June 3-4, 2009.

Workshop Agenda: Download the Agenda. [PDF - 73 KB]

Workshop Handout: Download the workshop handout. [PDF - 694 KB]

Workshop Evaluation Summary: Download the workshop Evaluation Summary [PDF - 164 KB]