| Resource Purpose |
Using various statutes the provincial government can set land-use management objectives to protect the health and integrity of watersheds with high fish values. For example, under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA), the province is developing policy and procedures that will guide a program for evaluating and legally designating basins as fisheries sensitive watersheds (FSW). FSW designation includes setting specific objectives aimed at directing management activities in a manner that maintains and protects habitat conditions over time that are essential for supporting healthy fish habitat and in turn fish populations (e.g., hydrology, stream bed dynamics, channel integrity, water quality and quantity, and cumulative hydrological effects). Under the Land Act watersheds intended to provide a comparable level of protection have received similar designations (e.g. "important fisheries watersheds") |
