Water Stewardship Information Sources

ID 1783
Citation Timberline Natural Resource Group Ltd. And MJ Milne & Associates. 2010. Fisheries Sensitive Watershed Risk Analysis: Anstey River, Upper Eagle River, Perry River, Seymour River, Yard Creek, Wap Creek. Report to Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
Organization Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
URL http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/fia/2011/LBIP_9216001a.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords This Fisheries Sensitive Watershed (FSW) Risk Analysis project was initiated by LousianaPacific
Ltd. (Malakwa Division) to prioritize watersheds, basins and sub-basins within the project
area for more detailed restoration planning and treatment. The project was funded by the Forest
Investment Account (FIA) program. Watersheds covered by the analysis include: Anstey River,
Eagle River, Perry River, Seymour River, Yard Creek and Wap Creek.
The project used a recognized GIS indicator-based procedure to assign relative potential risk
rankings to each watershed, basin and sub-basin in the study area. The focus was on relative
hydrological risk that could have a negative effect on fish and fish habitat. Relative risk was
determined using 15 different GIS derived hazard indicators that influenced stream flow,
sedimentation and riparian function multiplied by a fish value score for each reporting unit.
The project results identified the Eagle River watershed and Upper Eagle basin as the highest
relative risk reporting units in the project area. These were followed by the South Pass Creek
sub-basin, Yard Creek watershed and Crazy Creek basin.
Watersheds generally scored higher in the process than basins and sub-basins as a result of higher
fish scores in the larger units. This suggests that a watershed level approach is required to
manage for fish and fish habitat. Some reporting units with high or very high hazard scores were
assigned a relatively low risk. This was due to relatively low fish scores in those units and may
indicate a lack of fisheries related information at the basin and sub-basin level, or limited
connection between conditions in these units and higher value habitat identified at the watershed
level. Where high hazard results occur anywhere within a watershed with a high potential risk
rating the connection between the higher hazard areas and high value fish habitat should be an
important consideration in restoration planning.
Recommendations are to establish a Fisheries Sensitive Watershed Planning Team for the project
area and initiate more detailed restoration planning in the high and very high risk reporting units.
One of two FIA eligible watershed level planning procedures is recommended:
1. Watershed Based Fish Sustainability Planning; or
2. Watershed Restoration Planning and Priority Setting.
Finally, the project identified spatial data inaccuracies between designated FSW boundaries and
others with special designation like Community Watersheds, and among FSWs. Government
should be made aware of these issues; a single seamless province wide database for use in
watershed management is recommended. samonids, aquatic habitat, watershed restoration
Information Type report
Regional Watershed shuswap
Sub-watershed if known Anstey River, Upper Eagle River, Perry River, Seymour River, Yard Creek, Wap Creek
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status complete
Contact Name
Contact Email