Water Stewardship Information Sources

Citation Reese Hansen, L, Nelitz, M and Parkinson, E. 2012. A discussion paper exploring the science, policy, and climate change considerations associated with a TSS designation procedure. BC Ministry of Environment, Fisheries Management Report No. RD123. 75p.
Organization Ministry of Environment
URL http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/_Library/CCAQ_BCRAC/bcrac_report-tss_3b.pdf
Abstract/Description or Keywords In British Columbia, riparian areas are protected from adverse effects of forest harvesting by
applying mandatory no-harvest reserves to all fish-bearing streams > 1.5 m wide (B.C.
Ministry of Forests and B.C. Ministry of Environment 1998). However, there is no regulatory
requirement for riparian reserves on small fish-bearing streams (< 1.5 m channel width) and
on all non-fish-bearing streams regardless of channel width. Section 15 of the B.C.
Government Action Regulations (GAR) 1
provides for the use a regulatory tool that allows
forest managers to designate “Temperature Sensitive Streams” (TSS) to protect critical fishbearing
streams that could be altered by stream heating. A TSS designation could be applied
to riparian class S4, S5, or S6 streams2 which, by definition, do not have mandatory riparian
reserves under the of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA), for example under the
Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.
Stream temperature conditions are critical for fish, and temperature shifts associated with
climate change are predicted to be an important factor in various physical and biological
watershed processes (Pike et al. 2010a). It is envisioned that, by implementing existing and
proposed regulations that help mitigate stream temperature sensitivity and by ensuring that
appropriate management strategies are used at the operational level, maintaining riparian
thermal buffering functions will help mitigate the predicted impacts of climate change.
This paper discusses the underlying science, regulatory authority, evaluation procedures, and
management requirements supporting designation of Temperature Sensitive Streams. The
objectives of this paper are to: (1) summarize the science and consider alternative sources of
information / data for designation; (2) propose a candidate designation procedure, and (3)
present a proposal that can be used to solicit feedback from scientists on the defensibility of
information requirements and managers on the feasibility of the procedure. In pursuing these
objectives, the overall goal of this paper is to raise awareness and encourage support for
designation of Temperature Sensitive Streams in British Columbia, especially in light of the
potential for increased thermal vulnerability due to climate change. stream temperature, riparian, water quality
Information Type report
Regional Watershed Province
Sub-watershed if known
Aquifer #
Comments
Project status ongoing
Contact Name Lars Reese-Hansen
Contact Email [email protected]