The intent of this project is to collaboratively, with the established Stuart/Takla Fisheries Sensitive Watershed (FSW) Team, identify and recommend FSWs within the Stuart-Takla watershed. In order to maintain watershed hydrologic function, proactively identify and prepare plans/prescriptions for where restoration and/or silviculture enhancement activities would be suitable.
DESCRIPTION
The goals of this 3 year project are to:
* Establish relationships and partnerships with stakeholders and First Nations to facilitate a successful, efficient process.
* Through an applied pilot approach, test and refine the development of a proactive, collaborative, science-based and community-oriented process.
* Collect the necessary level of data required to confirm values and sensitivities required for establishment of a FSW.
* Establish Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds (FSWs) in the Stuart Takla watershed.
* In order to maintain watershed hydrologic function, proactively identify and prepare plans/prescriptions for where restoration and/or silviculture enhancement activities would be suitable
* Provide, through the preparation of these plans for treatments, employment & capacity building opportunities for First Nations communities that are members of the Stuart-Takla FSW team.
Background:
Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds (FSWs) are a legal designation under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and provide additional legislated requirements over and above those currently required through FRPA. They are intended to be established over those very special watersheds (e.g. ‘the gems’) that have both high fisheries values and inherent geomorphic and hydrologic sensitivities to landscape level disturbances. They provide measurable thresholds that will result in a higher probability that forest development activities will conserve natural hydrological conditions, bed dynamics and channel integrity, as well as the quality, quantity, and timing of water flow.
The overall intent of this project is to refine a FSW designation process, in which a team proactively and collaboratively creates meaningful and measurable objectives within specific sensitive locations of each watershed and leads to successful FSW designations. Specific to the Stuart-Takla watershed, these designations will result in increased levels of protection to the overall functioning of the spawning and rearing habitats for early Stuart sockeye salmon stocks. The designations will also contribute to an integrated, strategic watershed approach for salmon sustainability and ecosystems within the Upper Fraser basin. This project has in place an existing team of local First Nations, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, provincial government agencies (Ministries of Environment, and Natural Resource Operations) and stakeholders (e.g. forest licensees). Upon completion of the work involved with this project, a package with a minimum of 9 FSWs in the Stuart-Takla watershed should be ready to submit to the Statutory Decision Maker (SDM).
The key issues that this multi-year project addresses include:
1. Enable effective tracking and management of cumulative effects on very sensitive and high value aquatic ecosystems used by early Stuart sockeye salmon stocks (e.g. Gluskie, Bivouac, Forfar, Kynock (One’eil), Tildesley, Ankwill, Narrows, Van Decar and Sidney Creek).
2. Establish specific limits on disturbance on spatially defined areas of geomorphic instability and/or sensitivity within identified watersheds.
3. Establish thresholds for harvesting activities such that any potential negative impacts on hydrological values and/or fish and fish habitat are minimized.
Begin to identify areas in FSWs where restoration and/or silviculture enhancement activities would be suitable and would maintain watershed hydrologic function while minimizing the potential negative impacts of these activities on sensitive and high fish value ecosystems.
OBJECTIVES
Relationship Building: Establish relationships and partnerships with stakeholders and First Nations to facilitate a successful, efficient process. Increase the knowledge of stakeholders and First Nations on the FSW tool
Process Development: Continue to refine this applied pilot approach to inform and influence the development of a provincial ‘FSW Procedures and Implementation’ document. Through use of a continuous improvement model, the resultant learning and recommendations can be used in future processes
Delivery of Workshop 3: Completion of Workshop 3: FSW team to regroup and continue with ongoing FSW work in the Stuart-Takla watershed
Determine appropriate level o f ‘science’ necessary for FSW designation:
Collect the necessary level of data required to confirm values and sensitivities required for establishment of a FSW
Looking forward - Maintenance of hydrologic function: Begin proactive, operational level planning to ensure restoration/silviculture enhancement activities maintain watershed hydrologic function
Delivery of Workshop 4: FSW team to review detailed assessments and determine which values and sensitivities objectives should be created for
Increase capacity of Tl’azt’en Fisheries staff: To provide training opportunities to fisheries staff that build capacity for involvement/hosting of similar collaborative, results-based processes (e.g. Facilitation, Building Teams, Difficult Conversations, etc). Increase involvement of fisheries staff in administrative tasks associates with this project
Increase participation of First Nations:
Provide travel re-imbursement to First Nation participants
To provide economic opportunities to members of Tl’azt’en Nation: Host Workshop 3 & 4 in the community of Tachie
METHODS
1. April 2011: Existing and new FSW Team participants will be contacted and brought up to speed on where things are at and invited to participate in Workshop 3 is being set up. First Nations that need to travel to the workshops will be made aware of the funds available and associated criteria for travel re-imbursement for First Nation participants.
2. May 2011: Liaise with FSW team to determine if additional watersheds should be added to list of watershed of interest. Attachment 1 presents an overview map of the study area and the watersheds where work has begun or is scheduled to begin. Attachment 2 provides a list of the data and desired watershed conditions that will be used to inform the discussion, decisions and recommendations.
3. June 2011: Set up and delivery of Workshop 3 (hosted in Tachie). FSW team to regroup. Refresh participants on process and summary of work completed during Year 1 and 2. Review and prioritize list of Watersheds of Interest. Provide direction to hydrologist regarding which watersheds are to receive detailed review.
4. July-Sept 2011: Production of a report that contains a detailed review of remaining candidate watersheds in the Stuart Takla watershed (spring 2011) and recommended management objectives. Attachment 3 is an excerpt from the hydrologists’ report (a deliverable from Year 1 {2009-2010}) and outlines the methodology that will be used for the assessment of the potential for cumulative impacts in each watershed.
5. Oct/Nov 2011: Set up and delivery of Workshop 4. FSW team to review detailed assessments and determine which values and sensitivities objectives should be created for
6. Nov 2011 to Jan 2012: MNRO staff responsible for FSW implementation to prepare and distribute referral package to stakeholders and First Nations for formal 60 day Review and Comment period.
March 2012: MNRO staff responsible for FSW implementation to review and consider comments received and incorporate into package for submission to the Statutory Decision Maker (SDM).
BENEFITS
Designation of watersheds as FSW’s will provide extra protection above baseline requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act, and will also preserve cultural values of said streams. This will ensure the negative effects of logging practices on the quality of salmon habitat will be minimized. The spatial line work and objectives identified for FSWs will also be provided to Land users/developers as Best Management Practices (BMPs) with the recommendation that they be incorporated into their planning and activities.
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