Workshop: Post-wildfire Watershed Rehabilitation in BC
Okanagan University College, Kelowna, BC - June 8, 2005

Workshop Objectives:

1. Provide background on the effects of wildfire on ecosystems, watershed processes and vegetation.
2. Present BC case studies on the effects of wildfire on watershed processes focusing on soil (sediment production) and water resources.
3. Exchange information regarding the efficiency and types of rehabilitation techniques applied in BC and examine the efficacy of post- wildfire rehabilitation techniques used in other jurisdictions (i.e., PNW USA).

Resources:
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS SUMMARY (234 KB)
POST WILDFIRE LITERATURE and WEB REFERENCE MATERIAL (153 KB)

Workshop Presentations

FIRE EFFECTS ON WATERSHED PROCESSES
Wildfire Effects on Ecosystems and Vegetation
John Parminter, BC Ministry of Forests

Overview of Aquatic Ecology and Biodiversity Issues Related to Wildfire and the Need for Rehabilitation Practices
Brian Heise, Thompson Rivers University

Effects of Wildfire on Soil and Water - An Overview
David Scott, Okanagan University College

Kuskonook Creek Debris Flow of August 2004: Water Repellent Soils, Erosion and Mass Wasting
Peter Jordan, BC Ministry of Forests
Mike Curran, BC Ministry of Forests

Wildfire Hydrology: British Columbia and Alberta Case Studies
Dan Moore, University of British Columbia
Rita Winkler, BC Ministry of Forests
Uldis Silins, University of Alberta

Effects of Wildfires on Ecosystem Function: A Biogeochemical Approach
Jeff Curtis, Okanagan University College
Adam Wei, Okanagan University College

POST-WILDFIRE REHABILITATION
Tools, Treatments, and Effectiveness: What Managers Need to Know
Peter Robichaud, US Forest Service

Post-Wildfire Recovery: Linking Treatments to the Emergency
Carolyn Napper, USFS, San Dimas Technology and Development Center

Evaluation of Fire Site Rehabilitation Methods in Controlling Erosion and Sedimentation
David Scott, Okanagan University College

Effectiveness of Post-wildfire Rehabilitation in the Cariboo, Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres
Chris Oman, Forest Practices Board

Maintaining Habitat Structure and Diversity During Rehabilitation Operations and Salvage Harvesting of Large Wildfires in the Southern Interior Forest Region
Walt Klenner, BC Ministry of Forests

Post-Fire Rehabilitation Planning Framework
Patrick Daigle, BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

Workshop Posters

Cedar Hills Post-Fire Flood and Landslide Investigation.
Bill Grainger, Grainger and Associates Consulting Ltd., Salmon Arm, B.C. and Kevin Turner, Geotechnical Engineer, BC Ministry of Forests and Range, Kamloops, BC (PDF 873 KB)

City of Kelowna, Okanagan Mountain Fire 2003
Alex Bursac, Watershed Coordinator. City of Kelowna (PDF 262 KB)

Seeding to Control Noxious Weed Invasion on the Strawberry Hill Fire.
Reg Newman, Research Range Ecologist, Ministry of Forests and Range, Research Branch. Kamloops, BC. (PDF 514 KB)

Soil Water Repellency Distribution Following Wildfire in Eucalyptus Plantations, Portugal.
Gemma Leighton-Boyce, Komex International Ltd. Calgary, AB,
Stefan H. Doerr, Rick A. Shakesby, Rory P.D. Walsh Department of Geography, University of Wales Swansea. UK (PDF 1800 KB)

Some Factors to Consider from Recent Fire Seasons, Abnormal Weather and Government Policies - Should hazard assessment reports prepared for subdivision and building permit approvals and the protection of existing residential development consider possible fire effects and climate change?
Dwain Boyer, Senior Flood Hazard Management Engineer, Ministry of Environment, Nelson, BC and
Doug Nicol, Road Geotechnical Engineer, Ministry of Forests and Range, Nelson, BC. (PDF 404 KB)

Managing Downslope Impact from the Strawberry Hills Fire: A case history of natural hazard assessment, mitigation and hydrological response downslope from an urban interface fire.
Greg Reid, Don Funk and Kevin Turner. (PDF 1700 KB)