[Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure Guidebook Table of Contents]

Appendix 14.

Other land uses that potentially affect water quality

In addition to forestry-related land uses, other activities on Crown land can potentially impact aquatic resources, and must be assessed as part of the IWAP.
These include: Grazing animals affect water quality by trampling and disturbing streamside and lakeshore sediments, and by depositing fecal material in and adjacent to streams and lakes. As part of the level 1 IWAP, Forest Service range officers will provide an assessment of whether there are locations in a watershed where livestock potentially congregate near streams or lakes. If such locations exist, they must be examined in the field and assessed for sediment or fecal impacts. Where field assessment indicates that cattle congregation on Crown land could potentially affect water quality, prescriptions must be developed and implemented by the Forest Service and range licensees to reduce and eliminate the impacts.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) recreation is not uncommon in interior watersheds. In forested watersheds, ATV use most commonly occurs along linear rights-of-way, such as for hydro or gas lines. Water quality is affected where ATVs expose mineral soil, allowing surface runoff of sediment-laden water to enter streams. As part of the level 1 IWAP, Forest Service recreation officers will provide an assessment of whether there are locations in a watershed where ATV recreation occurs. If such locations exist, they must be examined in the field and assessed for sediment impacts. Where field assessment indicates that ATV recreation on Crown land is contributing to water quality degradation in a watershed, the Forest Service should develop prescriptions to reduce and eliminate the impacts.

Placer mining can potentially have severe impacts on water quality. Where placer mining is occurring in a watershed, the specific locations must be assessed in the field for sediment impacts. Where impacts are found, the district inspector of mines, B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (effective March 1996 - now Ministry of Employment and Investment - Energy and Minerals Division), should be notified and measures taken to reduce the placer impacts.

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