Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Willmott, T, Lange, J and Morgen, J. 2013. Salt Spring Island riparian area regulation stream identification - Bullock, Fulford, Maxwell, Stowell, and Weston Watersheds. Prepared for Isalnds Trust. |
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| Organization | Islands Trust |
| URL | http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/media/241677/13.0030%20FINAL%20Saltspring%20Island%20Riparian%20Area%20Regulation%20Stream%20Assessment%20SSI%20reduced%20size.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | The Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) is the basis of streamside protection in British Columbia. The RAR was enacted in 2004 under Section 12 of the Fish Protection Act. The RAR is a joint initiative with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and local government. The RAR uses a sciencebased approach to help ensure land development activities do not result in a harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat. In BC, the definition of fish habitat includes all aquatic and terrestrial areas that affect fish life processes. Fish habitat, therefore, includes the area directly adjacent to a stream (i.e., the riparian area) because it provides food, nutrients, and other functions vital to fish survival. In order to become compliant with the provincial RAR, Islands Trust contracted Madrone Environmental Services Ltd. (Madrone) to conduct fieldwork to identify RAR-applicable drainages in 5 watersheds on Salt Spring Island – Bullock, Fulford, Maxwell, Stowell and Weston. Islands Trust will use the stream-mapping data to develop a process that recognizes focus areas adjacent to applicable streams (e.g. by incorporating Development Permit Areas or implementing other regulations). The primary objective of the project was to map the centre-line of streams with a high level of accuracy (within 1 m – 5 m), to allow Islands Trust to accurately identify RAR applicable watercourses. As per the RAR, any development within the Riparian Assessment Area (RAA) triggers the requirement for an assessment completed by a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP). The RAA occurs within 30 m of applicable watercourses, and is measured from the Top of Bank (TOB), or in the case of ravines, from the High Water Mark (HWM) to a point that extends either 10 m or 30 m back from the Top of Ravine Bank (TORB), depending on the width of the ravine. The RAA for wetlands is measured from the HWM. The scope of this project did not include locating the TOB, TORB, or HWM, but ravines were identified during the fieldwork. In order to help determine the extent of riparian setbacks under the RAR (referred to under the regulation as Streamside Protection and Enhancement Areas – SPEAS), bankfull stream width measurements were taken during fieldwork. The objective of this exercise was to supply Islands Trust with additional data to help with the implementation of planning tools to manage riparian areas. As per the RAR, SPEAs are measured as horizontal distances from the HWM. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Vancouver Island South |
| Sub-watershed if known | Salt Spring Island |
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| Project status | complete |
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