Amphibians

Tailed frog (Ascaphus truei)

WHA planning objective

Maintain water quality and natural flow regime.

Maintain structural elements of mature forest adjacent to tailed frog streams.

Wildlife habitat area

Establish WHAs on key natal streams/gullies. These streams will be perennial headwater creeks or gullies containing tadpoles. Key natal areas are characterized by:

1. year round water flow
2. stable channel beds
3. coarse rocky substrates
4. forest cover
5. lack of fish

The WHA should cover a minimum of 500 m along the length of the stream. It should extend 50 m from the stream edge on both sides including a 20 m riparian core and a 30 m buffer. It is recommended that WHAs be established on several creeks in a drainage to contribute to the maintenance of viable subpopulations.

Where several streams with these characteristics occur, priority should be given to sites adjacent to mature or old forest, sites with the greatest potential to establish and maintain mature forest connectivity (e.g., near forest ecosystem networks [FENs]), or sites with the highest density of tadpoles.

GWM management objectives

Maintain sediment free, undisturbed breeding areas.

Maintain adjacent mature forest cover to maintain microclimatic conditions for foraging adults.

Maintain coarse woody debris.

General wildlife measures

These practices must be applied within a WHA approved for the species. Access Do not construct roads within 30 m of stream unless the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager are satisfied there is no other practicable option and the variance is approved by the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager. When variance is approved, do not place stream crossing in WHA. Rehabilitate sites with temporary access structures. Silviculture Do not harvest in the core area. Use partial harvesting systems in the buffer that maintain 80% basal area unless variance is approved by the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager. Partial harvest should be oriented towards the creation of old forest characteristics such as large diameter trees, multilayered canopies, snags and coarse woody debris. No salvage should be carried out unless variance is approved by the district manager and regional fish and wildlife manager. Minimize risk of windthrow (see Windthrow Handbook for B.C. Forests). Avoid the use of pesticides. Spot treatments with herbicides may be used in exceptional circumstances (e.g., noxious weeds) where it can be demonstrated that the herbicide will not be harmful to the species or habitat being managed.

Management considerations (not mandatory)

In order to facilitate dispersal of tadpoles and adults, headwater creeks should be kept slash-free and forested riparian buffers should be maintained and restored, especially within fragmented areas (e.g., lower mainland).

Stream reaches adjacent to WHA should be managed according to the recommended "best management practices" from the Riparian Management Area Guidebook.

It is also important to prevent fish introductions and rechannelization of areas supporting tailed frog populations.

Landscape unit planning considerations (not mandatory

Wildlife habitat areas should be included within areas that provide connectivity of riparian forested habitat particularly between WHAs and adjacent stream reaches.

Cross references

Northern goshawk, mountain beaver, marbled murrelet