Restoration & Rehabilitation

Aquatic Activity Area Expectations

All restoration activities should be integrated within a watershed, and should be linked to strategic plans, sustainable forest management plans, and the Land Base Investment Rationale.

The highest priority is inspection and maintenance of existing structures where there may be a risk to human safety, aquatic habitat, and or loss of investment. The second highest priority is maintenance and improvements to existing structures or aquatic systems where considerable investment has been made, and where the additional works will result in achieving aquatic targets and goals specified in plans.

The expectations for this Activity Area are that investments will result in:

• the completion of high priority aquatic restoration projects initiated under Forest Renewal BC's (FRBC) Watershed Restoration Program (WRP);
• the implementation of new restoration projects as developed under Watershed Based Fish Sustainability Plans or Watershed Restoration Plans;
• the completion of high priority fish passage restoration projects determined from assessments, as described in Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection Procedures - Watershed Restoration Technical Circular #11;
• the improvement of fish passage along streams and across watersheds;
• inspections (monitoring) and maintenance of moderate and high risk stream crossing structures constructed or altered under former Forest Renewal BC programs or FIA and related to fish passage objectives;
• inspections (monitoring) and maintenance of moderate and high risk instream structures constructed under the former program or under FIA; and
• improved effectiveness based on results from conducting treatment effectiveness evaluations.

Areas of specific concern include:

• effective investments/treatments implemented in conjunction with terrestrial treatments that improve the functioning of watersheds;
• works approved under a Water Act authorization which pose a risk to down stream forest resources, improvements or private property; and
• treatment effectiveness evaluations in support of adaptive management, especially in partnership with MOE.