| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
A risk analysis has been completed on the Pennask Creek watershed for the BC Ministry of Environment with funding provided by the Government of Canadas Environmental Damages Fund. Pennask Creek drains an area of approximately 9,000 ha upstream of Pennask Lake in the larger Nicola River watershed. The watershed is roughly bisected by the Coquihalla Highway. Two basins are defined for discussion purposes -Sunset Creek and Pennask Creek proper. There are two major forest licensees operating in the watershed -Gorman Bros Lumber Ltd. (Gormans) and the Westbank First Nation (WFN). The latter holds roughly 70% of the Pennask Creek watershed within its community forest license established in 2004. At least two range tenures are also present. Pennask Creek has no formal designation under current legislation but is one of several brood stock source systems supplying the provincial fish stocking program. Rainbow trout eggs are collected annually from a station located approximately 1.5 km upstream of the mouth. Pennask Creek and its tributary Sunset Creek are considered some of the most valuable systems in the province in this regard. Water Survey of Canada (WSC) also operates a long term hydrometric station (08LG016) immediately upstream of the egg collection station. watershed assessment, mountain pine beetle, streamflow |
