Introduction

Lakes smaller than 5 ha in size do not require a lakeshore management zone unless the district manager and the designated environment official agree that one is required to protect the special values of the lake. Lakes less than 5 ha in size are, however, subject to the establishment of riparian management zones (see the Riparian Management Area Guidebook for further information).

Relationship to other guidebooks

• Riparian Management Area Guidebook protects the values of streams flowing into and out of lakes and wetlands that border many lakes.

• Biodiversity and Managing Identified Wildlife guidebooks protect wildlife habitat within and beyond the lakeshore management zone.

• Visual Landscape Management Guidebook maintains the integrity of visual values within and beyond the lakeshore management zone.

• Forest Engineering Guidebook (Forest Road and Logging Trail Engineering Practices) provides management direction for construction of forest roads and logging trails.

• Silviculture Prescription Guidebook provides direction in terms of amount of site disturbance permitted for harvesting and road construction.

• Coastal Watershed Assessment Procedures and Interior Watershed Assessment Procedures guidebooks address hydrologic impacts from activities in forest lands beyond and including the lakeshore management zone.

Strategic and landscape objectives

This guidebook also recognises that the Lakeshore Management Zone (LMZ) is one important element at the landscape level in supporting biological diversity. Biodiversity requirements for landscape units will be provided for, by a variety of habitats. LMZs can provide some of these habitat requirements. The overall landscape unit objectives will address biodiversity at the landscape level. This guidebook focuses on incorporating biodiversity requirements at the stand level.

In the absence of higher level plans the objective would be to avoid foreclosing future management options. This may require a higher classification until a higher level plan is in place or a full inventory of lake attributes is done. There may be a role for forest proponents in the collection of inventory information to support this process.

Lakeshore management zone (LMZ)

All lakes >5 ha - <1000 ha will have a 10 m riparian reserve zone established around them. In cases where a riparian reserve zone exists the LMZ is applied outward from this zone. Where no riparian reserve zone exists (e.g. lakes >1000 ha) the LMZ is measured outward from the high water mark of the lake or from the outer edge of contiguous wetland vegetation [1]. See Figure 1.

Figure 1. sample of lakeshore management area (LMA=RRZ + LMZ)

This guidebook provides guidance to the Ministry of Forests and to industry in preparing operational plans such as forest development plans. This guidebook recognizes the public recreation, fisheries, and wildlife/biodiversity values of the lake and of the LMZ. The guidebook contains requirements which apply to all classified lakes and specific requirements which apply to certain lakes depending on the lake classification (Class A, B, C, D, and E). Lakes smaller than 5 ha in size will not be subject to classification unless they have values that warrant classification, as determined by the district manager and designated BC Environment official. Generally, those lakes less than 5 ha, and all wetlands will be subject to the Riparian Management Area Guidebook.

Lakeshore management zone classification process

Classification Process:

• Lake management goals are established by MOF and MOE (as a starting point use the LMZ management goals recommended in this guidebook) for priority lakes.

• The LCT agree upon a priority list of lakes for classification, using proposed operational plans and higher level plans as a starting point.

• Preliminary management goals are attached to each lake by considering existing higher level plan objectives and existing uses (Appendix A, Table 1, Lake Data).

• Forest development proponent and/or resource agencies collect lake and LMZ attribute information (as outlined in Appendix A, Table 2 “Lake Attribute Check List”). This table along with Table 1 contain the essential minimum lake attribute information and lake data. Appendix A, Table 3, provides a description of the Public Recreation, Fishery and Wildlife/Biodiversity attributes. Further attribute information may be required to be collected. The following outlines some of the sources for information:

  i. Obtain existing inventory data from appropriate resource agency.

  ii. Contact Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and BC Environment for fisheries information. The fish information must be collected by a method consistent with the inventory sampling standards outlined by the Resource Inventory Committee and the Fish Stream Identification Guidebook.

  iii. Contact BC Environment and the Conservation Data Centre for information on threatened and endangered wildlife species, and on rare habitats.

  iv. Contact Water Branch for information on licensed potable water intakes and community watersheds.

Inventory information should be gathered to Resource Inventory Committee (RIC) standards (see appendix for existing RIC standards).

• The LCT proposes preliminary lake classifications based on the management goal and the ratings of lake attributes. The overall ratings of the lake attributes are not based on the weighted average ratings of the components of an attribute. The components within a lake attribute are separate. They do not all necessarily contribute equally to the overall attribute rating.

  The highest overall attribute rating (VH-VL) for any of the attribute categories (e.g., Public Recreation) should generally dictate the lake class (See Appendix A, Table 4, for an example). This preliminary lake classification should then be weighed by the LCT against the management goal and the technical expertise of the inter-agency team to arrive at a lake classification.

• The forest proponent and or resource agency proposes the LMZ boundary using the direction provided by the management goal and lake class guidelines and the physical and ecological attributes of the LMZ.

• The lake classification is then subject to public review (e.g., operational plan public viewing, public workshops or local planning process), and as a result of the input, the LMZ goal and/or the lake classification may be revised.

Specific responsibility for dealing with workshops, data collection, goal setting will be addressed on a site specific basis.

Figure 2. Forest district lake classification process

Other issues may be identified during the classification process that have to be further addressed at the operational level: e.g., access issues, visual sensitivity issues outside of the lakeshore management area.

Lakeshore management zone goals

1. Wilderness lakes

   The goal is to provide for lakes with natural features in undisturbed areas having non-motorised access:

   • hike, canoe, kayak
   • ROS setting is primitive (pristine wilderness settings)
   • unmodified natural environment
   • no commercial land development

2. Quality Lakes

   The goal is to provide for lakes with quality natural features where limited development and access may occur:

   • access may be limited
   • ROS setting is semi-primitive non-motorised (SPMN) and semi-primitive motorised (SPM) pristine surroundings and natural appearing environment
   • limited or no commercial development

3. General Lakes

   The goal is to provide for lakes primarily used for public recreation in a predominantly rural and natural setting:

   • access is generally good two wheel drive
   • development may vary from none to controlled
   • ROS setting is roaded resource land (RRL) - natural environment may be substantially modified

4. Private Lakes

   Lakes which are completely surrounded by private property are not normally subject to regulation by the Forest Service. Since this is the case, lake management plans have not been developed for these lakes. If the administrative jurisdiction changes, then the lake will be classified.

   The goal is to provide the landowners with the lake classification process and request that they incorporate into their management plans.

5. Large lakes

   A large lake (generally greater than 1,000 ha and less that 5,000 ha) may be sub-divided for management purposes. As determined by the district manager and the designated environment official, the width of the lakeshore management zone and/or riparian reserve zone around a large lake (or in fact, any lake) may be varied for different portions of a lake.

   Lakes greater than 5,000 ha will not have specific guidelines developed for them but should be considered on a case by case basis. The following is the present list of lakes greater than 5,000 ha.

   Kootenay Lake
   Upper Arrow Lake
   Lake Kookanusa
   Kinbasket Reservoir
   Duncan Lake
   Lower Arrow Lake
   Slocan Lake
   Trout Lake
   Christina Lake
   Revelstoke Reservoir

   The intent of management goal selection is to give clear direction of how the lake or group of lakes will be managed. All operational plan proposals must be consistent with the intent of the management goal. This guidebook is one tool that can be used to achieve the management goal for a given lake. Examples of other tools are, access management guidelines, Visual Landscape Management Guidebook, Biodiversity Guidebook, Riparian Management Area Guidebook, recreation inventory, and fishing and hunting regulations.

Requirements for the establishment of LMZs on lakes

Lake classification

• All lakes greater than 5 ha in size require the establishment of a lakeshore management zone. For lakes >5 ha and <1000 ha this is established outward to a distance of approximately 200 m from the riparian reserve zone. Lakes >1000 ha have no riparian reserve zone.

• As determined by the district manager and the designated environment official, the width of the lakeshore management zone and/or the riparian reserve zone may be varied for any lake or for different portions of a lake.

• The lakeshore management area is made up of both the riparian reserve zone and the lakeshore management zone (LMA = RRZ + LMZ). The RRZ is set by regulation and can vary by agreement of the district manager and the designated environment official; the LMZ will vary according to the physical and ecological features of each lake environment.

• Access management strategies should be developed for lakes which have an "A" or "B" classification. These strategies should be incorporated into existing FDPs access development plans and/or existing or future co-ordinated access management plans.

Planning

• The lakeshore management zone should be managed in the context of the larger landscape.

• Where there are lake complexes or chains of lakes, the integrity of the forest cover which connects the lakes should be maintained (refer to Biodiversity Guidebook for discussion of forest ecosystem networks).

• Licensees must establish and maintain communications with resort owners and residents during the Forest Development Plan and Range Use Plan process and during forest and range operations.

• Where seasonal resource values are identified on any class of lake, the Forest Development Plan should make provision for harvesting during other periods.

• All operational plan proposals should be consistent with the intent of the LMZ goal and the objectives of the particular lake classification (i.e. recreation plan, range use plan, commercial development).

• Silviculture prescriptions (SP) including regeneration and site preparation plans (e.g., broadcast burning or windrowing), and forest health management practices, fire management practices and fire control operations, should include consideration of methods consistent with the intent of the LMZ goal and the objectives of the lake classification.

Silvicultural systems and management practices within the LMZ

General: The following requirements apply only to the cutblock or portions of a cutblock that are within the LMZ.

Silvicultural systems

• Refer to Guidebooks such as the Biodiversity and Riparian Management Area guidebooks and the Visual Landscape Management Guidebook for recommendations of choices of silvicultural systems.

• Partial cutting includes selection and shelterwood systems. These systems should be the preferred silviculture systems where soil and stand ecology permit.

• Clearcutting and partial cutting systems should leave wildlife tree reserves within the LMZ.

• Where proposed cutting boundaries include both area within and outside of the LMZ, the LMZ boundary should be marked on the ground, unless the entire block is to be harvested under the same prescription.

• The boundary of the riparian reserve zone should be marked on the ground prior to harvesting or treatment.

• Cutblock shape, size and distribution should be determined according to existing guidelines such as the Visual Landscape Management Guidebook, and the Biodiversity Guidebook. Factors to be considered include visual quality objectives (VQOs), viewing distance, land form shape, size scale, slope, viewing angle, natural openings, vegetation patterns, natural disturbance types, fish and wildlife and biodiversity values and recreation objectives.[2]

Vegetation diversity

• Deciduous trees and shrubs should be retained where possible in large patches or as continuous cover.

• The presence of all naturally occurring shrub and herbaceous species should be encouraged.

• Maintain wildlife trees, where possible. This should be reflected in the silviculture prescription (SP). Consider leaving wildlife tree reserves around hazard trees (Biodiversity Guidebook).

• Residual trees should be windfirm and of sufficient density and composition to have a positive aesthetic influence and wildlife benefit. Windfirmness may be enhanced by edge feathering, topping, limbing, and other practices.

• Native grass seeding and planting of fast growing species such as deciduous trees or shrubs should be considered to enhance green-up, provide screening, and reduce the time required to achieve visual effective green-up (VEG).[3] This practice must be consistent with the silviculture objectives of the site.

• Management of herbaceous and shrub vegetation should facilitate timely establishment of forest cover. Brushing activities must be sensitive to fish and wildlife habitat and should be planned to deliberately leave areas of shrub and herbaceous vegetation and other important wildlife habitat features such as snags. Vegetation management activities should give preference to spot treatments over broadcast treatments.

Roads, landings and skid roads

• Unless no other feasible alternative exists, main haul roads, borrow pits and landings will not be located within the LMZ and construction of spur roads should be restricted. Where no feasible alternative exists, roads, borrow pits, landings, skid roads, and back spar trails should be planned and constructed, maintained, deactivated and/or rehabilitated to minimize site disturbance, surface/ground water flows, colour, and linear contrast in visually sensitive landscapes. Landings and temporary roads that significantly detract from the visual landscape values, should be fully rehabilitated and re-contoured to fit in with the surrounding topography as soon as possible.

• Thorough disposal or removal of right-of-way slash should occur along all roads which will remain open to public use, following logging.

• Where aesthetic values may be compromised, or where there is insufficient distance between the skid roads and the lake to ensure the effectiveness of waterbars, side cast soil and debris should be replaced to its original position on the slope with a back hoe or excavator. Permanent deactivation may be required.

Specific management guidelines for the LMZ on classified lakes

The recommended silvicultural system for classified lakes is related to the natural disturbance types (NDT) as outlined in the Biodiversity Guidebook.[4] The following are the silvicultural systems recommended for each classified lake depending on the NDT:

• NDT 1:

  Single tree or group selection is encouraged when silviculturally appropriate and technically feasible; otherwise clearcut with reserves and/or extend edge of riparian reserve zone.

• NDT 3 & 4:

  Leading species;

  Fd or Py stands - Single tree or group selection with wildlife tree reserves.

  Pl or Sx stands - Clearcut with reserves and/or extend boundary of riparian reserve zone.

Where there are visual concerns, and a VQO must be achieved, the Visual Landscape Management Guidebook provides operational direction in terms of volume and stem removal for particular sites (partial cutting) and cutblock design (clearcutting).

“A” class lakes

Management objective:

• Protection of all key lake attributes.
• Where there are visual concerns then any management activity should meet the Preservation VQO within the LMZ.

Management practices:

• Forest Practises Code regulations and standards will dictate the specific system.

b) Roads, landings and skid trails:

• No new roads should be located in lakeshore management zone unless in consultation with government agencies and user groups.

• All existing roads should be assessed for permanent deactivation

“B” class lakes

Management objectives

• To maintain all key lake attributes (including ecosystem linkages and important stand and landscape attributes).
• Where there are visual concerns then any management activity should meet the Retention VQO within the LMZ.

Management practices

General: Clearcutting is not permitted within the LMZ unless partial cutting is not feasible upon consideration of the soils and/or stand ecology.

Partial cutting logging systems

• A minimum of 50 per cent of the original basal area of the stand should be retained.
• A maximum of 25 per cent of the lakeshore management zone crown closure may be cut during each pass. A higher percentage may be acceptable if significantly more than 50 per cent of the undisturbed crown closure is retained.
• Basal area or volume percentages and age classes to be harvested should be reflected in the silviculture prescription. Preparatory thinning cuts may be required in moderate to high windfall risk situations. The return time for a subsequent harvest should be reflected in the silviculture prescription and must meet stated objectives.

Clearcut and/or clearcut with reserves

• If partial cutting systems are unacceptable, then a maximum five (5) hectare clear cutblock is permitted. Reasons selection harvesting cannot be accomplished must be stated in the proponents forest development plan and silviculture prescription.
• Ninety per cent of the LMZ should be retained in a non-equivalent clearcut state.

• Haul roads are to be located outside the Lakeshore Management Zone (LMZ), where possible. Spur roads and landings are to be located a minimum of 200 m from the Riparian Reserve Zone (RRZ).
• Tail spar trails are not permitted unless a rehabilitation plan has been approved.
• Skid roads with greater than 25 cm cuts are not permitted within the LMZ in areas with potential visual and physical problems unless a rehabilitation plan is approved.
• Spur roads and skid roads may have to be reclaimed or rehabilitated if access constraints are required.

“C” class lakes

Management objectives:

• To provide for a level of management that does not compromise the integrity of any key lake attributes including ecosystem linkages.
• Where there are visual concerns then any management activity should meet the Partial Retention VQO within the LMZ.

Management practices

General: Collectively, partial cutting and clearcutting should not exceed fifty percent (50 per cent) of the lakeshore management zone during each pass.

Partial cutting systems

• A minimum of 50 per cent of the original basal area of the stand should remain.
• Basal area or volume percentages and age classes to be harvested will be determined in the SP. Preparatory thinning cuts may be required in moderate to high windfall risk situations. The return time for a subsequent harvest will be determined in the SP and must meet stated objectives

Clearcut and/or clearcut with reserves

• Up to 25 per cent of the timbered LMZ may be clearcut during each pass.

• Seventy-five per cent of the LMZ should be retained in a non equivalent clearcut state.

• The maximum lateral distance of an individual opening along the LMZ/RRZ or LMZ/lakeshore (in the case of lakes >1000 ha) interface is 400 m provided the VQO can be met.

• Skid roads are not permitted within 20 m of the Riparian Reserve Zone (RRZ).

• Haul roads are to be located outside the LMZ where possible. Spur roads and landings are to be located a minimum of 100 m from the RRZ. These distances may be reduced depending upon topography, etc.

• Tail spar trails are not permitted unless a rehabilitation plan has been approved.

• Skid roads with greater than 25 cm cuts are not permitted within the LMZ in areas with potential visual and physical problems unless a rehabilitation plan is approved.

• Spur roads and skid roads may have to be reclaimed or rehabilitated if access constraints are required.

• Roads and other site disturbances may be visible but should not dominate.

“D” class lakes

• To maintain landscape biodiversity by managing the natural ecosystem connectivity characteristics typical of the surrounding natural disturbance type.
• Where there are visual concerns then any management activity should meet the Modification VQO.

Management practices:

a) Silvicultural systems :

• Partial and clearcut systems should not collectively exceed 70 per cent of the LMZ. This guideline may be waived for lakes less than 10 hectares.

Partial cutting systems

• A minimum of 50 per cent of the original basal area of the stand should remain.

Clearcut and or clearcut with reserves

• Up to 30 per cent of the timbered LMZ may be clearcut during each pass.

• Seventy per cent of the LMZ should be retained in a non-equivalent clearcut state.

• The maximum lateral distance of an individual opening along the LMZ/RRZ or LMZ/lakeshore (in the case of lakes >1000 ha) interface is 500 m.

• Skid roads are not permitted within 20 m of the Riparian Reserve Zone (RRZ).

• Haul roads are to be located a minimum of 75 m from the RRZ where possible. Spur roads and landings are to be located a minimum of 40 m from the RRZ. These distances may be reduced if topography or other factors necessitate.

• Tail spar trails are permitted.

• Roads and other site disturbances may be visible and may initially dominate.

• Where there is denudation from logging within a LMZ or landscape unit, the total area of visible disturbance should be less than 10 per cent of the area denuded.

“E” class lakes

Management objective:

• To manage landscape biodiversity by maintaining ecosystem linkages to adjacent landscape features where they exist.
• Where there are visual concerns then any management activity should meet the Maximum Modification VQO within the LMZ.

Management practices

Partial cutting systems

• A minimum of 50 per cent of the original basal area of the stand should remain. The intent is a light cut with minimal visual impact.

Clearcut and/or clearcut with reserves

• Up to 50 per cent of the timbered LMZ may be clearcut during each pass. Lakes less than 10 hectares may be exempt.

• Fifty per cent of the LMZ should be retained in a non-equivalent clearcut state.

• The maximum lateral distance of an individual opening along the LMZ/RRZ or LMZ/lakeshore (in the case of lakes >1000 ha) interface is 500 m.

Amount of overall disturbance

• Roads and other site disturbances may dominate.

• Where there is denudation from logging within a LMZ or landscape unit, the total area of visible disturbance should be less than 20 per cent of the area denuded.

• Haul roads are to be located a minimum of 75 m from the RRZ where possible. Spur roads and landings are to be located a minimum of 40 m from the RRZ. These distances may be reduced if topography or other factors necessitate.