Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | Dunkley, J, Wise, M, Leslie, M and Collins, D. 2004. Effectiveness evaluation of road deactivation techniques on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Forest Research Extension Note EN-020, Coast Forest Region. |
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| Organization | FLNRO |
| URL | https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/rco/research/wrp/En-020.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Long-term forest development on the west coast of Vancouver Island has resulted in extensive networks of forest roads, mostly constructed using cut and fill techniques. To reduce the environmental impact of landslides initiating from these roads, the forest industry since the late 1980s has been permanently deactivating roads after harvest in order to prevent further landslides. Over time, road deactivation objectives and methods have evolved. This study investigated the effectiveness of various deactivation methods, using a combination of satellite imagery, low-level helicopter observation, and ground traverses to examine a crosssection of deactivation sites in the Clayoquot Sound region of western Vancouver Island. The study found that, while landslides initiating from deactivated roads do occur, they occur primarily on roads that were deactivated to earlier, pre-1995 standards. Later, more aggressive operational techniques (particularly full roadfill retrieval using benching, and innovative water management methods) appear to have made significant improvements to the stability of deactivated roads. Although these higher deactivation standards are more expensive to implement initially, in general they are more effective in preventing landslides, and reduce the likelihood of having to revisit a previously deactivated road for costly and dangerous remedial work. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Vancouver Island North, Vancouver Island South |
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| Project status | complete |
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