| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
This report presents the results of an overview hydrologic assessment of the Broom Creek sub-basin, located west of Merritt. Aspen Planers Ltd. (Merritt Division) initiated the study, partly in response to results of the Merritt Forest District IWAP completed in 1997, and partly to address concerns from the Ministry of Forests. Concerns included peak flows, surface erosion, and the impact of the five-year forest development plan. Fieldwork was carried out in September 1998. Broom Creek sub-basin, with an area if 2, 486 ha, drains east into Guichon Creek which is part of the Nicola River watershed. The sub-basin treated in this report is Broom Creek above its confluence with Guichon Creek. Mining, forest harvesting, grazing, and recreational uses were identified in this sub-basin. Forest harvesting dates back to the early 1900s. This entire sub-basin has active mining claims (B. Madu, Min. Energy & Mines, pers. Comm..). Two stock watering licenses are associated with Broom Creek and no BCFS recreation sites are located within the sub-basin boundary. The Merritt District IWAP delineates the main stem of Broom Creek as fish bearing up to its source (taken from the BC MOELP sub-basin atlas). For the purpose of this assessment all streams are assumed to be fish bearing. Part of the Broom Creek mainstem is located within a steep-sided valley with slope gradients up to 70%. Most of the watershed is located on moderate to gentle terrain with slope gradients ranging from almost flat to 25%. Surficial materials are generally sandy to silty loam with 20% to 30% coarse fragment content. watershed assessment, erosion, sediment, peak flow, range |
