Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 102 |
|---|---|
| Citation | BC Forest Practices Board. 2000. Did logging flood the hayfield? Forest practices on Mt Rose Swanson near Armstrong, BC, Complaint Investigation 980199. BC Forest Practices Board. FPB/IRC/26. |
| Organization | BC Forest Practices Board |
| URL | http://www.bcfpb.ca/sites/default/files/reports/irc26.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | The watershed above the complainants' property is a 441 hectare mix of private and Crown land on Mt. Rose Swanson. Logging has taken place on the complainants' property, other privately owned land and Crown land. A number of old roads and trails cross the area. Part of the complainants' property, immediately above their hayfield, was selectively logged about 15 years ago by a previous owner. The logged area is heavily disturbed with numerous trails and roads. John Brook is a small stream that used to flow down the slope in a defined channel. However, logging and agricultural activities over the years have obliterated the channel of the brook. The water now disperses across the slope and runs onto the hayfield at the base of the slope. In the early 1990s, the Ministry of Forests asked Tolko Industries Limited (the licensee) to begin planning operations to address a severe root rot problem on Crown land on Mt. Rose Swanson above the complainant's property. In 1996, the ministry approved the licensee's forest development plan and that year Tolko clearcut approximately 75 hectares, in five cutblocks. At about the same time the cutblocks were harvested, the complainants purchased the property. They took hay off the field that year. However, in 1997, they assert that they could not access part of the field because it was saturated with water. The complainants contacted the Vernon Forest District with their concerns. In the fall of 1997, the ministry's regional hydrologist and regional geomorphologist visited the site at the request of the district. These specialists visited the site separately and each prepared a report. The specialists decided to view the site together during the summer, which they did in June 1998. Their observations and conclusions will be discussed in more detail later in this report. According to the complainants, part of the field remained wet and inaccessible in 1998, and again in 1999. The complainants continued to pursue the matter with the ministry, but the ministry responded that it was not responsible. Dissatisfied with the ministry's position, the complainants filed a complaint with the Board in June 1999. In July 1999, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's provincial soil specialist visited the hayfield. He provided the complainants with a report describing the site and water movement, and he gave advice for improving the drainage of the field. Board staff viewed the complainants' hayfield, the logging on Crown land and the logging on the complainant's private land in August 1999. The Board investigation focused on whether the requirements of the Forest Practices Code were met, specifically: ﾕ Did the public, including previous landowners, have an opportunity to comment on plans and were any concerns raised? ﾕ Did the planning of these activities comply with the Code? ﾕ Did logging and road upgrading in 1996 comply with the requirements of the Code? ﾕ Did logging in 1996 cause the problem identified by the complainants? forest harvest, groundwater, waterlogging, water yield, |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Shuswap |
| Sub-watershed if known | John Brook |
| Aquifer # | |
| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
| Contact Name | BC Forest Practices Board |
| Contact Email | [email protected] |