Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 110 |
|---|---|
| Citation | BC Forest Practices Board. 2005. Post-Fire Site Rehabilitation: Final Report, Special Investigation. BC Forest Practices Board. FPB/SIR/12. |
| Organization | BC Forest Practices Board |
| URL | http://www.bcfpb.ca/sites/default/files/reports/SIR12.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | After experiencing the unprecedented 2003 fire season, most British Columbians are aware of government's role in fighting forest fires.ﾠﾠHowever, the public may not know that after fires are out, significant work may be required to rehabilitate sites impacted by fire suppression activities.ﾠﾠ The Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) permits the Forest Practices Board to conduct special investigations to determine compliance with FRPA, including the Forest Fire Prevention and Suppression Regulation (FFPSR).ﾠﾠIn light of the significant public interest in fire and its widespread impact, the Board decided to conduct a special investigation of post?fire site rehabilitation to fulfill its role as an independent public watchdog. In early 2004, the Board began an investigation of post?fire site rehabilitation.ﾠﾠThe investigation considered whether: 1. comprehensive and effective rehabilitation plans are prepared for every fire where required; 2. FFPSR rehabilitation requirements are being implemented in the field; and 3. rehabilitation treatments are effective in controlling water and erosion. The Board released an interim report in June, 2004, detailing the results of its review of fire rehabilitation plans1.ﾠﾠThe interim report concluded that the majority of plans were submitted to the designated forest official in accordance with the requirements of FFPSR subsection 36(3).ﾠﾠ The Board found there were legitimate reasons for not submitting the remaining plans for approval within the required timeframe.ﾠﾠ FFPSR requires the person who carries out fire control or fire suppression operations to stabilize all fire access trails, fire guards and other fire suppression works to ensure that natural drainage patterns are maintained and surface soil erosion is minimized.ﾠﾠTo determine if these requirements were being implemented in the field, we visited a sample of fires.ﾠﾠThe Board also observed whether common rehabilitation treatments effectively managed water and controlled erosion.ﾠﾠTreatments are considered to be effective if suppression works were stabilized, natural drainage patterns maintained and surface soil erosion minimized.ﾠﾠ This report focuses on the field portion of the investigation. erosion, terrain stability, landslide, sediment, water quality |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Okanagan, Shuswap, Thompson |
| Sub-watershed if known | |
| Aquifer # | |
| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
| Contact Name | BC Forest Practices Board |
| Contact Email | [email protected] |