André Arsenault

Silviculture Systems Researcher
Kamloops

André has been working in the area of plant ecology and silviculture systems in Kamloops since 1995. He has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biology/Ecology from UQAM and a Ph.D. in Botany from UBC. André's current research program focuses on: multi-century reconstruction of fire and defoliation history in dry forest landscapes, post-havest response of vegetation in silviculture systems, distribution ecology of lichens in old-growth forests, and on the ecology and management of coarse woody debris. He has been involved in assisting industry and government on a variety of issues including: BEC training, coarse woody debris, protected areas, rare species, riparian area management, old-growth ecology and management, prescribed burning, and silviculture systems. He contributed to the development of regional and provincial ecosystem management strategies (dry forests and coarse woody debris). André is currently co-ordinating the Opax Mountain silviculture systems study, a long-term multidisciplinary study of the ecology and management of dry Douglas fir forests.

Consulting areas: Plant ecology, disturbance ecology and forest dynamics, lichen ecology, conservation biology, and silviculture systems.

Mike Ryan

Research Ecologist
Kamloops

Research ecologist responsible for BEC classification, interpretation and training and Biogeoclimatic and ecosystem mapping. Research activities also include impacts of logging and site preparation on bryophytes, predictive ecosystem mapping and reliability assessments, terrestrial ecosystem mapping, photographic manuals for the identification of bryophyes, identification, distribution and autecology of bryophytes and vascular plants, and the identification and description of rare ecosystems.

Tim Giles M.Sc., P.Geo.

Geomorphologist
Kamloops

Tim has a B.Sc. in Geology and an M.Sc. in Quaternary Geology, with an emphasis on sedimentology and stratigraphy. Tim has been the Research Geomorphologist in the Kamloops Forest Region since 1995. His interests include research on the effects of forest development on water quality, sediment production and transfer processes in small drainage basins in the Upper Penticton Creek Experimental Watershed; stream channel forms and processes in a wide range of biogeoclimatic environments; hillslope processes, mass wasting and slope stability; and the relationships between hydrological and ecological processes in floodplain environments.

Consulting areas: Operational consulting and technical advice on landslide and debris flow investigations, terrain stability mapping, terrain stability field investigations for cutblocks and roads, stream channel processes, channel and watershed assessments.

Graeme Hope Ph. D., P.Ag.

Soil Scientist
Kamloops

Graeme has been working in the Interior of BC since 1980. He has been a soil scientist for the Ministry of Forests in Kamloops since1991. Graeme has a Ph. D in soil science from Massey University in New Zealand. Graeme's research projects focus on the impacts of forest operations on long term soil and site productivity. He manages studies looking at the impacts of skid roads, prescribed fire, mechanical site preparation, stumping, organic matter removal, and compaction on long-term productivity. His other studies are looking at the impacts of alternative silviculture systems on soil productivity and nutrient cycling. He is also involved in operational training for soil disturbance, soil rehabilitation, and forest soil properties.

Consulting areas: Soil disturbance assessment and severity, soil rehabilitation requirements; impacts on soil of site preparation and silvicultural systems, soil fertility, soil properties and BEC classification.

Walt Klenner, M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Ag.

Wildlife Habitat Ecologist
Kamloops

Walt has worked on wildlife habitat ecology research in Kamloops since 1991. His primary research focus has been to: (1) monitor the consequences of forest harvesting and site preparation on several indicators of biodiversity at the Opax Mt., Sicamous Ck. and Isobel Lake Silvicultural Systems trials, and (2) to develop stand structure and landscape modelling tools that help identify operational approaches to maintaining diverse habitat conditions at the stand and landscape level. A recent initiative, the review and analysis of historic managed and natural disturbances in NDT4 forests, is an example of applying a science-based approach to extension and the development of management recommendations.

Consulting areas: forest management effects on stand structure and landscape pattern, habitat supply modelling at the stand and landscape level, indicator species and species at risk habitat supply models.

Ken Soneff P. Eng.

Forest Science Officer
Kamloops

As the section head Ken manages the forest science program, including financial, staffing, program planning, and co-ordination of responsibilities. Ken is a Civil Engineer with experience in water resources and roads. Ken has been with the Ministry of Forests as Research Manager in Williams Lake since 1996. Before joining the Forest Service he worked in the Water Management Program of BC Environment for 14 years. Previous experience includes project management, statutory decisions, conflict resolution and program management. In addition to the section head function, Ken will be helping the principal researchers with research extension functions.

Consulting areas: General program enquiries, requests for forest science information, consulting, research and extension co-ordination.

Rita Winkler Ph.D., R.P.F.

Research Hydrologist
Kamloops

Rita has been the B.C.F.S. Research Hydrologist in Kamloops since 1991. She has a BScForestry, a MSc, and a PhD in Forest Hydrology and professional experience in forestry, applied hydrology, and water-related research. Rita co-ordinates the Upper Penticton Creek Watershed Experiment and her research there focuses on the effects of forestry practices on water supplies and their quality, with a current emphasis on the interrelationships between forest structure and snowpack processes. She is also actively involved in operational and academic extension and training. Rita is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and teaches Watershed Management at Thompson Rivers University.

Consulting areas: forest management effects on streamflow and water quality, forest effects on snow accumulation and melt, watershed assessment.

Mike Curran, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. , P.Ag. Also Adjunct Professor, Agroecology (Forest Soils), University of B.C.

Soil Scientist
Nelson

Areas of Responsibility: Soil conservation aspects of the Forest Practices Code; specifically, soil disturbance criteria, managing disturbance effects on soil properties and tree growth. Collaboration with UBC on student projects and teaching related to MoF priorities.

Current Program: Examination of seasonal soil constraints to timber harvesting, rehabilitation of soil disturbance, soil disturbance on calcareous soils, and soil disturbance associated with root rot control treatments, and cooperating with Bill Chapman on a possible "biological control agent" for Armillaria root rot. Also involved in international collaboration on soil disturbance criteria and correlation of various systems, with the aim to help simplify reporting requirements under international protocols.

David Gluns B.Sc.F. (UNB), RPF.

Research Hydrologist
Nelson

Areas of Responsibility: Development of hydrology research and monitoring projects to address complex problems in forest land management. Provide consultation and training to forest personnel on the effects of forest harvesting on water resources.

Current Program: Evaluation of the H60 concept for the IWAP (Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure) methodology. Management of climate and snow monitoring stations as part of the West Arm Demonstration Forest. Analysis of data on snow accumulation and melt on forest and clearcut sites, and on cattle and fire impacts on water quality. Ongoing consulting services to the districts on matters relating to forest development in watersheds.

Peter Jordan B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Geo.

Research Geomorphologist
Nelson 

Areas of Responsibility: Slope stability, erosion and sedimentation, watershed issues, terrain mapping.

Current Program: Research studies of sediment budgets in West Arm Demonstration Forest and Cranbrook City watersheds; landslides and the predictive value of terrain stability mapping in five forest districts; an extension project on snow avalanches and forest management, and a study of erosion from forest roads. Ongoing consulting services to Districts and SBFEP on terrain, avalanche, and watershed issues.

Deb MacKillop

Research Ecologist
Nelson

Harold Armleder, M.Sc.F., RPF., R.P.Bio.

Wildlife Habitat Ecologist
Williams Lake 

Harold has worked on wildlife habitat ecology research in Williams Lake since 1980. His focus has been on developing integrated management solutions to various wildlife and timber management conflicts, including the development of management systems for mule deer and caribou. Extending research to clients, for example, by developing strategies to implement the best available science into operational solutions, has been a key focus of Harold's work. In recent years he has been heavily involved in developing forest management approaches for mule deer, caribou and biodiversity for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan.

Consulting areas: forest management on mule deer winter range, and mountain and northern caribou habitat; managing for biodiversity; maintaining wildlife habitat in managed forests (while juvenile spacing, thinning and applying other stand tending techniques).

Bill Chapman, Ph.D., P.Ag.

Soil Scientist
Williams Lake

Bill has a B.Sc. in plant science and Ph.D. in Forest Soils, with an emphasis on soil biology. He has been the research Soil Scientist in the Cariboo Forest Region since 1992. Bill is currently conducting work on alternate approaches for controlling Armillaria root disease, landing rehabilitation, long term effects of soil disturbance on forest productivity, pine mushrooms in the West Chilcotin, nitrogen fixation on pine roots and the importance of woody debris in marginal forest types.

Consulting areas: Assessment of the severity of soil disturbance related to timber harvesting; slope stability assessment and alternated logging practises and road design in relation to slope stability, alternate silviculture prescriptions to deal with Armillaria root disease, rehabilitation plan review and development.

Ray Coupé

Plant Ecologist
Williams Lake

Ray has worked in the Research Section since 1977 and has principally been involved in the development, extension and application of the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. Ray provides technical support to field staff through training and consultation in ecosystem identification and interpretation. He also provides technical support to ecosystem mapping projects in the region. An important role of this position is ensuring quality implementation of BEC by assisting the development and maintenance of BEC expertise within the ministry, forest industry and the consulting/contracting community. Ray also provides technical input into the Managing Identified Wildlife Guidebook, the CCLUP protected area strategy and the Cariboo-Chilcotin grassland strategy. He also has a strong interest in plants and their ecology, has co-authored plant identification and plant indicator guides and maintains a regional herbarium representing plant taxa of the Cariboo-Chilcotin.

Consulting areas: BEC implementation and interpretation; forest and grassland vegetation response to management practices, identification and management of rare plants and ecosystems; and ecosystem mapping.

Teresa Newsome M.Sc., R.P.F.

Research Silviculturist
Williams Lake

Teresa has been the Research Silviculturist in the Cariboo Forest Region since 1989. Teresa's areas of work have varied over the years from studies involving site preparation and sheep grazing as a vegetation management tool to broadleaf conifer interactions and height repressed pine. She also has been involved with a variety of alternative silviculture systems studies where options other than clearcutting are assessed.

Consulting areas: Site preparation options, vegetation management, treatment options for repressed pine, regeneration in high elevation group selection harvesting systems.

Pat Teti M.Sc. P. Geo.

Research Hydrologist
Williams Lake

Pat has been the Research Hydrologist with the MoF in Williams Lake since 1992. He received his M.Sc. in Physical Geography from UBC in 1979. His current research projects include the effects of group selection on snow accumulation and snow melt, and the effects of riparian vegetation on stream temperature.

Consulting areas: Watershed assessments and issues relating to domestic water supplies and fish habitat are specific topic areas that Pat can assist District staff on. He should be contacted for consulting in any of the Districts in the former Cariboo Forest Region.

Michaela Waterhouse R.P.F., R.P.Bio.

Silvicultural Systems Researcher
Williams Lake

Since 1997, Michaela has co-ordinated and administrated several multidisciplinary silvicultural systems projects. These projects have focused on the use of partial cutting to meet a range of resource objectives such as maintaining mountain and northern caribou habitat, conserving mule deer habitat and growing Douglas-fir. Michaela has worked previously in the Wildlife Habitat and Plant Ecology programs.

Consulting Areas: biodiversity (birds, small mammals), mule deer and caribou habitat, silvicultural systems, lichen ecology, wind throw management, forest establishment and growth