| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (SBFEP) of the Merritt Forest District has a number of operating areas which is of concern to past and proposed forestry activity and related impacts (current and potential) to fish-bearing streams. Broad objectives of the study are to satisfy concerns of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Ministry of Environment (MoELP) that: 1) Impacts from past forestry practices are mitigated to minimize sediment delivery to fish bearing streams and to restore watershed health; 2) Proposed forestry developments will not impact stream ecosystems. Specifically, the objectives of this assessment, are to: 1) Field verify the results of the Merritt District Level 1 IWAP indices; 2) Inspect stream channels at strategic points to determine stream sensitivity and the presence of logging-related channel impacts; 3) Identify and inspect logging related problems in the watershed that may affect the stream channel, with recommendations for land or channel-based rehabilitation or further study; 4) Review the implications of SBFEP's five-year development plan with regard to channel stability in the study area; 5) Integrate field results with the potential hydrological impact of all proposed forestry development in the study watersheds. |
