[Community Watershed Guidebook Table of Contents]

3 Community watershed planning

Community watershed planning occurs under the Forest Practices Code on two levels: strategic and operational. For the most part, planning for water protection can be done through the long-term forest development plan and the watershed assessment procedure (WAP). However, more detailed planning may be needed because of special management concerns, site sensitivity or resource use conflicts. It may be appropriate for the watershed to be covered by a higher level plan. For additional information on higher level plans, refer to Forest Practices Code Higher Level Plans: Policy and Procedures.

3.1 Strategic planning

3.1.1 Land and resource management plans (LRMPs)

Once a higher level plan is in place, the land use zones within the plan area direct all forest practices. Community watersheds may be covered by a land use zone within such a plan. "Maintaining water quality, quantity and timing of flow" are the primary management objectives of the land use zone covering a community watershed. Most public consultation involving community watersheds takes place at this strategic planning level.

3.1.2 Integrated watershed management plans (IWMPs)

Ten IWMPs were completed in the province before 1995, and another 12 were still under development. These IWMPs can be established as higher level plans by the district manager if they meet the criteria defined in the Forest Practices Code Higher Level Plans: Policy and Procedures. Before being declared a higher level plan, however, an IWMP should be scrutinized for consistency with this guidebook and with the 4(c) requirements in Higher Level Plans: Policy and Procedures. Wherever possible, 4(c) plans should be consolidated as part of the new planning framework. The first consideration should be to integrate the IWMP with landscape units and objectives. If this is not possible, then designate the updated IWMP as a higher level plan.

3.1.3 Landscape units

Landscape units are usually delineated on the basis of physiographic features. They may encompass a single large watershed or a number of smaller watersheds (see the Forest Practices Code Higher Level Plans: Policy and Procedures). Wherever possible, a larger community watershed should be covered by a separate landscape unit or a subzone within a landscape unit. A single landscape unit could be established to cover a number of contiguous community water-sheds. Smaller watersheds can be identified as subzones within a landscape unit.

Areas that do not meet the criteria for designation as community watersheds may still have high domestic water values (such as hillslopes where there is a concentration of individual domestic licences). If so, the district manager may designate the area as a subzone of a landscape unit.

3.1.4 Sensitive areas

Sensitive areas are established to manage and conserve specific resource values at a local scale. Sensitive areas must be less than 1000 ha. They are not subject to integrated resource planning processes.

It is appropriate to designate springs that are community water supplies and their spring source area as a sensitive area. Either the district manager or the designated environment official has the authority to identify a potential sensitive area; the district manager is responsible for establishing the designation.

3.2 Forest development plans

3.2.1 Long-term forest development plans

Requirements for a long-term forest development plan

A long-term forest development plan is any plan covering more than five years. A forest licensee operating within a community watershed is required, after June 15, 1997, to submit a long-term forest development plan for that portion of the area under the plan that is in a community watershed. The long-term forest development plan covers the remaining term of the operating licence. Under the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program, the district manager must submit a five-year plan.

Areas outside a community watershed boundary do not require a long-term forest development plan. In practice this means that most of the plan area will be covered by a five-year horizon. But, for the designated community watershed area, a long-term forest development plan is required.

Content of the long-term forest development plan—first five years

In addition to the content required in a standard five-year forest development plan, the following information is required for long-term forest development plans within community watersheds.

Location of boundaries

Community watershed boundaries must be shown on the plan map. The boundaries are available in digital format through the Hydrology Branch, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks or the regional water management offices (see section 2.3 "Mapping").

Location of water intakes

The location of known community water supply intakes and related water supply infrastructures must be shown on the plan map. The location of community watershed intakes is available on the GIS files from BC Environment.

Individual domestic water intakes do not have to be shown on the forest development plan.

Terrain mapping

For the first three years after an area is designated as a community watershed, the forest development plan map must show the following areas:

areas proposed for harvesting on slopes greater than 60 per cent
areas where roads are proposed
areas potentially affected by roads
other sensitive sites designated by the district manager. These may include areas known to have an erosion hazard because of the soil texture, for example.

Prior to approving a forest development plan on these areas, a field assessment for terrain stability and surface soil erosion hazard must be completed. The method for conducting this assessment is described in section 7 "Terrain and site hazard mapping and assessment."

Three years after designation as a community watershed, terrain stability and surface erosion hazard mapping must be carried out for the area of the first five years of proposed development that is within the community watershed. For example, watersheds designated as community watersheds on June 15, 1995 have until June 15, 1998 to complete terrain mapping requirements. The map must show the location and nature of areas with a moderate or high likelihood of landslides and areas with a high or very high soil surface erosion hazard (see section 7 "Terrain and site hazard mapping and assessment").

If terrain mapping is completed before the three-year date, then a terrain map must be shown in the forest development plan instead of the slope map.

Harvest planning restrictions

The following areas must not be proposed for harvesting in the forest development plan:

an area that has a very high surface erosion hazard and a moderate to very high risk of sediment delivery
an area that is subject to a high hazard for landslides.

These areas are determined from the terrain hazard maps described above. For example, a cutblock cannot be proposed for a class V terrain stability unit (high hazard for landslides). Only if a professional geoscientist or professional engineer does a more detailed terrain stability assessment and determines from the hazard that the area is less sensitive than was mapped, can the area be shown as a proposed cutblock.

Clearcutting must not be proposed in any area within a community watershed that has a moderate hazard for landslides if that could result in a high risk of delivering sediment to streams.

No skidder harvesting that needs excavated or bladed trails can be proposed for any area with a high or very high mass wasting hazard or a high or very high surface erosion hazard, as determined from soil hazard keys. These site-specific keys don't need to be used when preparing a forest development plan. But it is likely that any area with a moderate likelihood of landslides or a high likelihood of surface erosion (as determined from the terrain hazard maps) will be off limits to harvesting systems that use excavated or bladed skid trails.

Riparian classification

The riparian classification must be shown on the plan map for all streams within the forest development plan area. See section 6 "Riparian management" for guidance in stream classification for community watersheds.

Cutblock size and green-up

The Forest Practices Code allows the district manager to require cutblock size restrictions and higher green-up requirements where they are needed for hydrological reasons. Section 8 "Harvest scheduling and cutblock size" describes this situation.

Watershed assessment and rate of cut

Two years after designation as a community watershed, a watershed assessment procedure (WAP) must be conducted before a forest development plan will be approved. For example, if the community watershed was designated on June 15, 1995, then a WAP must be completed on the watershed for any forest development plan submitted after June 15,1997. Notwithstanding the two-year date, the district manager can require a WAP on any community watershed at any time.

Content of the long-term forest development plan—beyond five years

For the portion of the plan after the plan's first five years, the following additional information must be included.

Location and scheduling of blocks and roads

Include the approximate location and harvesting schedule of proposed cutblocks, and whether the proposed silvicultural system is a partial-cut or clearcut system, and whether the proposed harvesting system is cable, aerial or ground-based.

Include an access development proposal for all forest roads associated with proposed harvesting.

Terrain hazard maps of the entire plan area

Five years after a community watershed is designated, terrain stability and surface erosion hazard mapping must be carried out on the whole area under the long-term forest development plan.

The terrain hazard map must show all areas with a moderate or high likelihood for landslides and with a high or very high surface erosion hazard (see section 7 "Terrain and site hazard mapping and assessment").

Riparian classification

Indicate the riparian classification for all streams shown on a forest cover map of the plan area. This classification can be based on air photo interpretation and best guess. Beyond five years into the plan it is not necessary to verify the classification in the field for the streams affected.

Watershed assessment

Update the WAP (level 1) at two-year intervals for the duration of the long-term forest development plan.

3.2.2 Completing a forest development plan for a community watershed

The preceding sections list the content requirements of long-term forest development plans for individual timber licensees in community watersheds. In many community watersheds there is more than one licensee operating and a range of activities occurring, including harvesting, road construction, silviculture activities and range practices. Effective watershed planning requires integrating the individual licensees' plans with other resource development to ensure that the objectives for the entire watershed are being met. There are seven steps in planning for community watersheds:

forming a round table
defining the operable forest
conducting a watershed assessment procedure (WAP) to assess past impacts and establish broad development guidelines
determining watershed restoration requirements
completing the long-term forest development plan consistent with the WAP
establishing a monitoring program
establishing a contingency plan.

These steps are explained in the following pages.

If a community watershed is covered by a landscape unit or sensitive area plan, the process in Higher Level Plans: Policy and Procedures must be followed.

Forming a round table

A key element of a WAP is establishing a round table. The Ministry of Forests organizes a round table composed of appropriate agencies, licensees and resource specialists. The round table is not intended to be a full public-involvement committee. Rather, it is a technical working group that provides technical opinion to the district manager on the WAP recommendations. Included on the round table are:

the water licensee
resource development proponents (forest licensees, range licensees)
the Ministry of Forests
the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (where appropriate)
other government agencies.

Defining the operable forest

This step identifies all the sensitive sites that will be excluded from the operable forest land base or that require special management, and identifies current development sites and activities.

Mapping sensitive sites

The natural characteristics of the watershed must be shown on a single watershed map. These include the location of unstable slopes and areas of high surface erosion potential, the riparian classification and riparian areas sensitive to range activities (e.g., wildlife habitat areas, forest ecosystem networks).

Mapping existing land use

The extent, type and location of existing and approved development in the watershed should be mapped. Table 4 summarizes the watershed characteristics to be assessed and mapped.

Table 4. Community watershed characteristics to assess and map. These are components of the watershed planning process.

Conducting a watershed assessment

The watershed assessment procedure provides the structure for watershed planning. The watershed assessment procedure considers the natural characteristics of the watershed as well as past harvesting rates and hydrological impacts from that harvesting over the entire watershed. Two Forest Practices Code guidebooks, the Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure Guidebook and the Coastal Watershed Assessment Procedure Guidebook, describe the process.

The round table, based on the results of the WAP, may make recommendations to the district manager on rates and locations of future harvesting and road building, or watershed restoration. The outcome of the WAP will be used by the district manager to approve plans for the entire community watershed or for sub-basins within the watershed. Rate-of-cut recommendations are an outcome of this procedure and specific to every watershed.

Brief description of the WAP

The WAP has three levels:

Level 1: a reconnaissance level analysis, identifies watersheds at risk for cumulative effects and identifies specific hazards—peak flows, surface erosion, landslides, headwater or riparian conditions—that need to be addressed.
A level 1 WAP collects information on 15 environmental indicators, including total area logged, height of second growth, length of roads and number of landslides. The indicators show risk of hydrological impacts within the tributary basin. After the information is collected, it is scored and translated into hazard ratings between 0.0 and 1.0.
Level 2: an overview assessment of channel stability (channel assessment procedure) or survey of sediment source is only conducted on watersheds that show high impact in the level 1 analysis.
A high surface erosion hazard triggers a level 2 sediment source survey. Any sub-basin or entire watershed that scores over 0.5 for peak flows, landslides or riparian condition requires a level 2 analysis of the stream channel. A combination of high hazards may result in constraints on short-term development plans for a watershed.
Level 3: a detailed field investigation by a watershed specialist on highly impacted streams. It is used to develop management prescriptions to mitigate hydrological impacts.

The results of the watershed assessment must be reflected in the long-term forest development plan. Once hazard levels for the watershed are determined, the round table can recommend broad watershed constraints for the licensee to use in preparing the forest development plan. Suggested prescription matrices are provided in the WAP to help in this process.

Any of the prescription matrices in WAP can be modified by the round table, if they can think of a more practical way to mitigate the hazard. For example, an intensive road deactivation program could reduce channel stability hazard to the point that additional harvesting can be approved. The round table can also recommend reducing the hydrological hazard over a 10- or 20-year period, rather than trying to reduce all hazards immediately. The rationale for deviating from the suggested prescription matrices must be documented.

In the case of a single licensee in a watershed, that licensee is responsible for carrying out the WAP. Where there are multiple licensees, information requirements are the responsibility of the licensee, but the analysis is coordinated by the Ministry of Forests.

Determining watershed restoration requirements

Once the watershed assessment is complete, the round table recommends watershed restoration work that may be needed in the watershed. Examples of restoration activities include:

undertaking road deactivation and slope stabilization in certain sub-basins
re-establishing riparian forests, where they have been removed by past logging, fire, windthrow, etc.
stabilizing all eroding reaches of stream channels
relocating inappropriate recreational activity (e.g., cabins, corrals, campsites) away from the riparian management areas
removing grazing livestock from any restricted portions of the riparian area; constructing range improvements, as necessary, manage cattle in riparian areas; changing livestock management such as the time, duration and level of use.

The erosion and channel stabilization aspects of the watershed restoration plan should be completed by specialists and reviewed by the round table.

Completing the long-term development plan

The long-term forest development plan can be completed for each forest licence and the range use plan for each range licence once a watershed assessment has been completed. Each licensee receives direction from the district manager about objectives for each sub-basin in the watershed and strategies for achieving these objectives. For example, a sub-basin may have restrictions placed on harvest rates over the next five years. The licensees in the sub-basin will receive direction from the district manager on how the available cut in the watershed will be apportioned over that five-year period.

After preparing the long-term forest development plans, it may be necessary to re-analyze the entire watershed through the watershed assessment procedure. The long-term forest development plans can then be altered, if necessary, to ensure that high risks for cumulative impacts are not produced.

Public involvement

Public involvement in developing community watershed plans varies from referral and review to full participation at all stages, depending on the complexities of issues and the nature of the watershed. The public is involved in full consensus negotiations for strategic land use plans such as landscape unit plans or LRMPs. Therefore, in most cases, public involvement in community watersheds focuses on opportunities to review and comment on the operational plans.

Table 5. Community watershed planning responsibilities

Monitoring

The next step in planning for community watersheds is to set up a monitoring program. On watersheds selected for monitoring, include two kinds of measurements.

Monitor selected water quality parameters to determine whether resource development in the watershed is damaging water quality (see section 5 "Water quality monitoring").
Monitor target conditions described in the operational sections of this guidebook. Target conditions are measurable attributes that indicate whether desirable management practices are being implemented.

Contingency planning

The final step is the development of the contingency plan. Please see section 4 "Contingency planning."

Summary of responsibilities

Responsibilities for gathering and assessing information are as follows.

The Ministry of Forests is responsible for:

establishing landscape unit objectives (district manager)
coordinating the entire community watershed planning process
collecting and mapping all watershed information not the responsibility of resource licensees
coordinating the WAP where there are multiple licensees in a watershed.

The Ministry of Environment is responsible for:

advising on landscape unit objectives
signing the community watershed portion of forest development plans
participating in the watershed assessment process
delineating watershed boundaries
establishing water quality objectives, where appropriate.

Forest licensees are responsible for:

assessing site-specific hazards (i.e., terrain stability mapping) in areas potentially influenced by proposed operations
applying the WAP with the Ministry of Forests and Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks
completing resource development plans (long-term forest development plans) for their licensed areas.

The round table is responsible for:

translating the watershed assessment procedure results into effective recommendations to the district manager
determining watershed restoration
developing a monitoring strategy.

3.3 Community watershed requirements for other operational plans

3.3.1 Logging plans

The contents of the logging plan must always include:

the location of any domestic water intakes
the location of community water intakes and their related infrastructure
the drainage control measures that will be taken to control surface erosion through all phases of the proposed operations, from initial construction of those structures until rehabilitation. Specific measures should include:
- size and location of culverts and cross drains
- a schedule for road and skid trail activation.

The logging plan must also show the results of certain assessments carried out under the forest development plan or silviculture prescription for the area in the logging plan. For community watersheds these include the following:

riparian class and appropriate widths of riparian reserve and riparian management zones
applicable riparian management zone prescriptions, including how debris will be kept out of streams and how the streambanks will be protected around small streams that do not have reserve zones
the timing of any in-stream operations and specific sediment control measures that will be applied (including temporary stream diversion through pipes, temporary settling ponds and pumps, silt fences, etc.)
detailed terrain stability assessment on any area mapped as class IV or class V
risk for landslide debris entering a stream in any area mapped as terrain stability class IV or class V
interpretation of surface soil erosion hazard from the terrain map
detailed surface soil erosion hazard (determined from the site hazard keys) for any proposed cutblocks with excavated or bladed skid trails
gully assessment for coastal gullies or elsewhere as required by the district manager.

Refer to the Logging Plan Guidebook for the general requirements of logging plans.

3.3.2 Silviculture prescriptions

Silviculture prescriptions have the following additional requirements when they pertain to community watersheds:

the boundaries of the "no harvest, no road, no silviculture" zone that lies within 100 m upslope of any community watershed intake must be shown
an assessment of the likelihood for landslides on all treatment units within the proposed cutblock (see section 7.2)
an assessment of the risk of landslide debris entering a stream, if that terrain has a moderate likelihood for landslides (see section 7.2)
an assessment of the surface soil erosion hazard of any treatment unit in the cutblock (see section 7.2)
a description of the riparian reserve zone and riparian management zone widths, and practices consistent with section 6 "Riparian management."

Refer to the Silviculture Prescription Guidebook for a complete description of the content and requirements of silviculture prescriptions.

3.3.3 Range use plans

The information required for a range use plan is specified in the Range Use Plan Guidebook. The following information is also required for an area within a community watershed:

the location of the community watershed boundaries (see section 3.2.1 "Long-term forest development plans")
all streams shown on the 1:20 000 forest cover map (it is not necessary to classify the streams for riparian class)
all known riparian sensitive sites, with strategies for minimizing or restricting livestock use in those areas (see section 10 "Range management" for a description of these areas)
existing and desired plant communities in riparian areas, and the strategies for achieving those communities.

The range use plan must prescribe the levels of use for key plant indicator species and soil parameters. Plant community objectives should be consistent with the "Target conditions" in section 10.

The range use plan should identify:

measures to prevent cattle congregation in riparian areas. This includes the locations of livestock developments such as watering troughs, salting areas and exclusion fencing.
measures to ensure that livestock use does not degrade water quality at a known domestic water intake either by fecal contamination or by sedimentation of streams or lakes (see section 5 "Water quality monitoring")
measures to prevent erosion of streambanks, lakeshores and reservoir shores by livestock, so that the target condition can be achieved.

See section 10 "Range management" for a complete description of target conditions and planning requirements for range use plans.

3.3.4 Access management plans

In addition to the content requirements of an access management plan, the following information is required for access management plans in community watersheds.

Location of community watershed boundaries

The boundaries of the community watersheds and the location of any community watershed intakes and related infrastructure must be shown on the plan map.

Terrain assessments

Terrain stability and surface erosion hazard maps, to identify areas with a high or very high surface erosion hazard or with a moderate or high likelihood for landslides, must be made for any areas where road construction or permanent deactivation are proposed in a community watershed.

The requirement for terrain mapping does not extend to those areas where only road maintenance activities or temporary or semi-permanent deactivation activities are planned.

Riparian classification

Determine the riparian class of any stream in a community watershed that:

will be affected by road construction, modification, or permanent or semi-permanent deactivation
is normally visible on the forest cover map.

These classifications must be shown on the access management plan map. See section 6 "Riparian management."

Riparian classification is not required where only routine maintenance or temporary deactivation of existing roads is planned. Nevertheless, all streams shown on a normal forest cover map must also be shown on the access management plan map.

Level 1:	a reconnaissance level analysis, identifies watersheds at risk for cumulative effects and identifies specific hazards—peak flows, surface erosion, landslides, headwater or riparian conditions—that need to be addressed. A level 1 WAP collects information on 15 environmental indicators, including total area logged, height of second growth, length of roads and number of landslides. The indicators show risk of hydrological impacts within the tributary basin. After the information is collected, it is scored and translated into hazard ratings between 0.0 and 1.0.
Level 2:	an overview assessment of channel stability (channel assessment procedure) or survey of sediment source is only conducted on watersheds that show high impact in the level 1 analysis. A high surface erosion hazard triggers a level 2 sediment source survey. Any sub-basin or entire watershed that scores over 0.5 for peak flows, landslides or riparian condition requires a level 2 analysis of the stream channel. A combination of high hazards may result in constraints on short-term development plans for a watershed.
Level 3:	a detailed field investigation by a watershed specialist on highly impacted streams. It is used to develop management prescriptions to mitigate hydrological impacts.