High value fish-bearing stream

A stream identified as a high value fish-bearing stream for the purposes of sections 225(3)(a) and 226(3)(a) of the Act.

High value stream

A high value-fish-bearing stream, and a stream in a community watershed. Identified threatened or endangered fish. Threatened or endangered fish species as determined by Deputy Minister (MELP), and as identified by Deputy Minister (MELP) and chief forester. Known information identified by inventories or assessments contained in higher level plans, or made available by government a minimum of 4 months before submission of operational plan.

Lake class

Designation by DM for lakes with riparian class of LI that indicates width of lakeshore management zone and allowable practices within zone.

Lakeshore management area (LMA)

Area established adjacent to lake with riparian class of L1, consisting of riparian reserve zone and lakeshore management zone.

Lakeshore management zone

Portion of LMA established by DM around lake with riparian class of LI that is outside any riparian reserve zone or, if there is no reserve zone, adjacent to lake.

Marine sensitive zone

Herring spawning areas, shellfish beds, marsh areas, aquaculture sites, juvenile salmonid rearing areas and adult salmon holding areas.

Riparian management area (RMA)

Area adjacent to a lake with a riparian class of L2, L3 or L4. Area consisting of riparian reserve zone, if any, and riparian management zone.

Riparian management zone

Portion of RMA outside of riparian reserve zone or, if there is no reserve zone, adjacent to stream, wetland or lake.

Riparian reserve zone

Portion of RMA or LMA located adjacent to stream, wetland or lake. Safe passage of fish through culverts for the purposes of spawning, rearing or migration.

Stream culvert

Culvert used to carry stream flow in an ephemeral or perennial stream channel from one side of the road to the other.

Operational Plan Notice, Review and Comment Requirements

Review and comment [s 4(6-8)]

• cultural heritage impact assessments,
• visual impact assessments,
• classification of streams, wetlands and lakes, and
• terrain stability assessments.

Plan Content and Development Requirements for Riparian Management

Longer term FDP (after first 5 years) [s 16(b)(iv)]
Known riparian class for streams, wetlands and lakes.

LP [s 33(3)(b-c)(e)(g)(i)]
For streams and wetlands:

• width of riparian reserve zone,
• width of riparian management zones.

• riparian class,
• known lake class,
• width of lakeshore management zone or riparian management zone.

• felling, yarding and debris management, and
• protecting the streambank and minimizing damage to understory.

SP [s 39(3)(b)(c)] SMP [s 54(2)(a)(b)]
For streams and wetlands:

• riparian class,
• riparian reserve zone,
• riparian management zone,
• proposed forest practices for reserve zone and management zone.

• riparian class,
• known lake class,
• riparian reserve zone,
• width of lakeshore management zone,
• width of riparian management zone,
• proposed forest practices for reserve zone and management zones.

AMP [s 62(3)(c)(d)]
Assessment of riparian class for streams, wetlands and lakes. Classification of lakes, provided by the DM. RUPs for grazing

[s 69(1)(i)(k)(i)]
Strategies for wetlands and riparian areas. Measures to prevent destabilization of streambanks and lakeshores by livestock.

LP [s34(2-3)]
Landings must not be located within 30 m of a streambank; DM may waive this requirement if:

• there is no other practicable location for the landing; and,
• locating the landing closer to the stream will not create a high risk of sediment delivery to the stream.

LP [s 35]
Proposed location and design of stream crossings must:

• protect stream channel and streambank immediately above and below stream crossing; and
• minimize any disturbance to stream channel or streambank.

SP [s 44]
Only remove or modify trees from riparian reserve zone for:

• recovery of windthrown or damaged trees*,
• sanitation treatments*,
• recreational facility management,
• managing fisheries and wildlife values*,
• reducing windthrow potential by topping/pruning;
• full suspension yarding corridors,
• removal of danger trees, or,
• any other similar activity*;

SP [s 45]
Retain sufficient numbers and distribution of trees along:

• class S4, S5, or S6 streams,
• streams which are direct tributaries to S1, S2, or S3 streams, or
• streams flowing directly into a marine-sensitive zone

Establishing RMA Class and Widths

RMA  	Stream		Criteria		Reserve	Mgmt.	RMA
Class 	Width (m)				Zone	Zone	Total

S1	> 20		fisheries stream	50	20	70
			community watershed	50	20	70
S2	5 - 20		fisheries stream	30	20	50
			community watershed	30	20	50
S3	1.5 - 5		fisheries stream	20	20	40
			community watershed	20	20	40
S4	< 1.5		fisheries stream	0	30	30
			community watershed	0	30	30
S5	> 3		non fish bearing stream	0	30	30
S6	<= 3		non fish bearing stream	0	20	20

• over a 1 km length,
• a channel width of 100 m. or greater, and
• an active floodplain width of 100 m. or greater,

For these streams, DM, with agreement of DEO, may require a reserve zone.

DM, with agreement of DEO, may vary the width of reserve zone or management zone for any stream or portion of stream.

If DM, with agreement of DEO, proposes to vary the width of reserve zone or management zone or requires a reserve zone in an area located within the boundaries of a claim, lease, or permit under the Coal Act, Geothermal Resources Act, or Mineral Tenure Act, agreement of a DEMPRO is required.

WETLANDS [s74, 75]:

RMA	Wetland		Criteria			Reserve	Mgmt.	RMA
Class	Size(h)   

W1	> 5	n/a					10	40	50

W2	1-5	Within following biogeoclimatic zones:
			ponderosa pine			10	20	30
			bunch grass			10	20	30
			interior douglas fir 		10	20	30
			(very dry hot, very dry warm,
			 or very dry mild)
			coastal douglas fir		10	20	30
			coastal western hemlock		10	20	30
			(very dry maritime, dry maritime
 			or dry submaritime)		

W3	1-5	Within biogeoclimatic zones other	0	30	30
		than those of W2

W4	0.25-1	Within following biogeoclimatic zones:
			ponderosa pine			0	30	30
			bunch grass			0	30	30
			interior douglas fir		0	30	30 
			(very dry hot, very dry warm,
			 or very dry mild)

	0.5-1	Within following biogeoclimatic zones:
			coastal douglas fir		0	30	30
			coastal western hemlock    
			(very dry maritime, dry maritime,
			 or dry submaritime)

W5	>= 5		consists of 2 or more	
			individual wetlands with	10	40	50
			 overlapping RMAs

• Upland terrain within a bog dominated or muskeg dominated wetland larger than 1000 ha in boreal, subboreal or hyper maritime climates does not require a reserve zone or management zone; the DM, with agreement of DEO, may require a reserve zone or management zone.

• District manager, with agreement of DEO, may vary widths of any reserve zone and management zone.

• If the DM, with agreement of DEO, proposes to vary the width of reserve zone or management zone or requires a reserve zone in an area located within the boundaries of a claim, lease, or permit under the Coal Act, Geothermal Resources Act, or Mineral Tenure Act, agreement of a DEMPRO is required.

RMA	LAKE	CRITERIA			RESERVE	MGMT	RMA
CLASS	SIZE(h)					ZONE(m) Zone(m) TOTAL(m)

L1	> 5	> 5 ha. or so designated	 10   established  RZ + MZ
		by the district manager.		by DM	
		
L2	1 - 5	Within the following 
		biogeoclimatic zones:
		ponderosa pine			10	20	30
		bunch grass			10	20	30
		interior douglas fir		10	20	30
		 (very dry hot, very 
		dry warm, or very dry mild)
		coastal douglas fir		10	20	30
		coastal western hemlock		10	20	30
		(very dry maritime, dry
		maritime or dry submaritime)

L3	1 - 5	Within biogeoclimatic		0	30	30
		zones other than 
		those for L2	

L4	0.25 - 1	Within the following 
		biogeoclimatic zones:
		ponderosa pine			0	30	30
		bunch grass			0	30	30
		interior douglas fir		0	30	30
		(very dry hot, very dry
		 warm,or very dry mild)

L5	0.5 - 1	Within the following 
		biogeoclimatic zones:
		coastal douglas fir		0	30	30
		coastal western hemlock		0	30	30 
		(very dry maritime, dry 	
		maritime or dry submaritime)
					

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Timber Harvesting Practices Requirements

• Mark outer boundary of riparian reserve zones, and riparian management zones if proposed operations for the zone are significantly different than that of the adjacent portion of the cutblock.
  
• The DM may waive these requirements if operations are restricted to minor salvage.

Yarding and skidding [s 8] Timber must not be yarded or skidded through or over streams or fisheries-sensitive zones unless authorized in a LP. If LP not required, DM may waive these requirements and place other conditions on licensee.

Maintaining streambank stability [s 11] Do not remove stable, natural material in streams or embedded in streambanks, or root systems that contribute to streambank stability and fish habitat unless a LP allows it.

Restriction of stream crossings and instream operations [s 13] If LP not required, locate and design stream crossings so they protect stream channels and streambanks immediately above and below stream crossings, and mitigate disturbance to stream channels and streambanks. Carry out construction, repair or removal of stream crossings and other in-stream operations in accordance with timing windows and terms set by resource agencies and approved by the DM.

Retention of streamside trees [s 14] If LP not required, maintain along fish or community watershed streams less than 1.5 m wide (and their tributaries) sufficient numbers and distribution of trees which provide or contribute significantly to maintaining streambank or channel stability, or shade necessary for fish and water quality.

Constraining slash and debris in and around aquatic environments [s 15] Do not deposit harmful amounts of slash or debris where it could be transported into:

• lake,
• wetland,
• fisheries-sensitive zone or a marine-sensitive zone,
• fish stream or stream with known downstream domestic water users, or
• unstable gully or stream capable of transporting debris, and which is direct tributary to above waterways.

Restricted operation of machinery [s 16]
When carrying out harvesting, do not permit ground-based machinery within 5 m of a streambank except:

• for carrying out fire fighting activities,
• in response to natural disasters,
• at stream crossings authorized by district manager, or
• if operations protect streambanks and minimize damage to understory vegetation.

• machinery is operated
• to construct/maintain a range development or utility,
• to construct/maintain a work or to carry out activity within or adjacent to streams
• for purpose of controlling surface soil erosion, protecting streambanks, or managing fisheries or wildlife, or
• for a similar activity; or
• DM agrees
• no other practical option exists for carrying out operation, or
• operating machinery more than 5 m from streambank will create higher risk of sediment delivery.

• hand-held,
• required for fire-fighting,
• broken down and requires fueling or servicing to be moved,
• authorized in a LP to be fueled/serviced in area, or
• in absense of LP, authorized by DM to be fueled/serviced in area.

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Silviculture Practices Requirements

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Range Practices Requirements

• a range development that would encourage livestock to use an area within 50 m of a stream,
• a stream crossing of a livestock trail unless approved by DM,
• a cabin within 50 m of a stream, or
• a livestock corral within 50 m of a stream.

• add "if machinery is operated for livestock management" to list of reasons DM may exempt requirement; and,
• fueling and servicing may be allowed if authorized under a Range Act agreement.

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Road Design, Construction, Maintenance and Deactivation Practices

• riparian class for streams or lakes,
• high water mark of water body,
• stream flow velocity and direction, and,
• description of waterbody bed materials.

• crossings of fish streams that provide safe passage for fish,
• bridges and culverts that prevent or mitigate channel/bank disturbance, and
• culverts that maintain stability of stream channel on all streams.

• directionally fell trees away from the stream or lake, and
• use felling and yarding methods that prevent streambank from destabilizing.

• locate borrow pits, quarries, waste areas and endhaul disposal sites in areas where eroded soil
• materials or other harmful materials will not entering streams;
• protect fill that might otherwise erode if it is located on the active flood plain of a stream;
• do not cross the stream with equipment at more than one location within the clearing width, unless authorized by the DM;
• Do not place ground-based equipment within 5 m of a streambank, unless:
  • required for habitat restoration work,
  • at a designed crossing site, or
  • the DM agrees that:
    • no other practical option exists, or
    • locating the road more than 5 m from the streambank will create a higher risk of sediment delivery;
• remove gravel or fill from RMAs only with the approval of the DM and DEO;
• Do not fuel or service equipment within a RMA unless
  • the equipment is hand held, or
  • the fueling or servicing is:
    • required for carrying out fire fighting activities,
    • required to move broken down equipment, or
    • authorized by the DM.

• construct bridges and culverts to prevent or mitigate streambank disturbance and to avoid adversely affecting downstream water quality;
• construct crossings in fish streams at a time and in a way that provides safe fish passage and protects fish habitat immediately upstream and downstream of the structure; and,
• provide bridge or culvert material storage and equipment turnaround sites outside RMAs identified in operational plans if the normal clearing width cannot accommodate the sites.

• remove existing stream culverts and restore channel and bank stability; and,
• if overflow of the stream channel is expected, back up stream culvert excavations with similarly sized cross-ditches on the downhill side.

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Cutblock and Road Review Regulation

	Stream (m)                     Reserve (m)
   	  >20                                 30
  	  7-20                                20
  	  1.5-7                               10

	Stream (m)	Reserve (m)	Management (m)
  	  >20		50		20
  	  5-20		30		20
	  1.5-5		20		20
  	  <1.5		0		30

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Guidebooks and other relevant documents

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Ministry of Forests
Integrated Resources Policy Branch
1483 Douglas Street, Victoria B.C. V8W 2E7
Any comments? Send to Ben Chatterson (bechatte@mfor01.gov.bc.ca)

Last modified April 23, 1996