Forest Harvesting and Water Quality (SCARP Professional Project Presentation)

Patrick J. Bell

M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 School of Community and Regional Planning, UBC

Supervisor: Dr. Jordi Honey-RosĂŠs (SCARP, UBC) Second Reader: Sarah Thomas (Watershed Forest Alliance)

SCARP Professional Project Presentation

June 14, 2016

West Mall Annex 150, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Context • China Creek Community Watershed: Port Alberni’s water supply Vancouver Port Alberni

Nanaimo

China Creek Community Watershed

Victoria

Forest Cover (2000) 0%

100%

0 10 20

40

KM

Sources: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; DataBC

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Context • China Creek Community Watershed: Port Alberni’s water supply • Local concern about logging

Quotes from Influential Stakeholders “Water defines our city. It’s our history and our future. It’s essential, it’s powerful, it’s precious and it’s something we can’t take for granted.” (Slepian 2016) — Mike Ruttan, Mayor of Port Alberni

“Water is a basic human right, and I am gravely concerned about the negative long-term impacts that logging in and above China Creek watershed will have on First Nations and all people with whom we share the Valley.” (Wilderness Committee, 2014) — Judith Sayers, Former Chief, Hupacasath First Nation

They have every right to log. All we’re asking is for the protection of the watershed.”

(Slepian, 2015b) — Denis Sauvé, Port Alberni City Councillor

“Logging on these steep oldgrowth slopes has a high potential to alter the quality and rate of water flow and the streams’ courses. [Cutblocks above China Creek] should never have been logged.” (Hume, 2015) — Scott Fraser, MLA for Alberni-Pacific Rim

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Context • China Creek Community Watershed: Port Alberni’s water supply • Local concern about logging • Study objective

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Water Quality • Ecosystem features and services

OLD GROWTH FOREST

CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT

Queen Charlotte Goshawk Vancouver Island Marmot

Source: TJ Watt

Sources: Center for Biological Diversity; Marmot Recovery Foundation

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Water Quality • Ecosystem features and services

HIGH VALUE FISHERIES

KARST FORMATIONS

Source: Our Children’s Trust

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Source: Vancouver Island University

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Water Quality • Ecosystem features and services

WATER QUANTITY

CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

Source: Sarah Thomas

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Water Quality • Ecosystem features and services

EROSION & LANDSLIDE PREVENTION

CULTURAL & AESTHETIC VALUES

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Source: TJ Watt

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Water Quality • Ecosystem features and services

Low turbidity

High turbidity

• Turbidity

Source: Ehsan Mousavi

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Water Quality • Ecosystem features and services 4-3-2-1-0 Drinking Water Objective

• Turbidity • 4-3-2-1-0 Drinking Water Objective

• 4: 4-log (99.99%) reduction in viruses; • 3: 3-log (99.9%) removal or inactivation of parasites; • 2: Two treatment processes for all surface water or unprotected groundwater, usually filtration and disinfection; • 1: Maintaining a turbidity of less than 1 NTU; • 0: Zero bacterial Indicators (E. Coli, fecal coliform and total coliform) Source: Medical Health Officer & Vancouver Island Health Authority, 2012

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Natural Forest Hydrology • Interception • Impeded surface flow

Sources: PJ Bell (top); TJ Watt (bottom left & right)

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Natural Forest Hydrology • Interception • Impeded surface flow • Absorb & filter • Riparian vegetation

Sources: PJ Bell (top); TJ Watt (bottom left & right)

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Source: TJ Watt

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Logging Impacts • Numerous risks

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Logging Impacts • Numerous risks • Logging roads

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Logging Impacts • Numerous risks • Logging roads • Harvesting

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Other Turbidity Sources • Source identification is challenging

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Other Turbidity Sources • Source identification is challenging • Anthropogenic sources

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Other Turbidity Sources • Source identification is challenging • Anthropogenic sources • Natural sources

Sources: West Coast Edge (top); Joe Zaldivar (bottom)

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Source: TJ Watt

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework

Legend

Bainbridge Lake

Roads Streams Lakes & Rivers

Ch

China Creek Community Watershed

McLa ughl in R idge in a

McFarland Community Watershed

Creek

Municipal Water Intake Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Regional District of Nanaimo

Lizard Lake

Cowichan Valley Regional District Public Land under Tree Farm Licence 44 Private Land

Sources: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; DataBC

0

1.5

3

6

KM

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview Private Ownership 4,188,346 ha

PROVINC EO FB

.C

• Private ownership

.

Total land base: 94,872,896 ha

Crown Provincial 89,512,571 ha

Crown Federal 1,037,102 ha First Nations 134,878 ha

Crown Provincial 387 ha Private: TimberWest 336 ha

CCCW

• Regulatory framework

Private: Island Timberlands 4,958 ha

Total land base: 5,681 ha

Sources: Ministry of Forests, Mines and Lands, 2010; Koers and Associates Engineering Ltd., 2016

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework • Private ownership • Land uses ––Mining

Source: BC Archives

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework • Private ownership • Land uses ––Mining ––Hydroelectric power generation

Source: Butt & Hughes-Adams (2014)

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Source: BC Archives

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework • Private ownership • Land uses ––Mining ––Hydroelectric power generation ––Recreation

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework • Private ownership • Land uses ––Mining ––Hydroelectric power generation ––Recreation ––Logging »» Historical

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Source: Museum at Campbell River

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework

Forest Cover Loss & Gain (2000–2014)

Forest Cover (2000) 0%

• Private ownership

100%

Legen

Bainbridge Bainbridge Lake

Legend

Bainbridge Lake

Gain

Loss

Defined as canopy closure for all vegetation taller than 5m in height

Roads Streams

• Land uses ––Mining ––Hydroelectric power generation ––Recreation ––Logging »» Historical »» Recent

Lakes & Rivers

Ch

in a

Mc La u ugghhli linn RR iiddggee

China Creek Community Watershed McFarland CommunityC hi na Watershed C reek Municipal Water Intake

McLa ugh lin R idge

Creek

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Regional District of Nanaimo

Lizard Lake

Cowichan Valley Regional District

Lizard Lake

Public Land under Tree Farm Licence 44 Private Land Sources: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; DataBC

0

1.5

3

6

KM

Sources: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; DataBC

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

0

1.5

3

6

KM

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Watershed Overview • Regulatory framework

Forest Cover Loss Events by Year (2000–2014)

Forest Cover (2000) 0%

• Private ownership

100%

Defined as canopy closure for all vegetation taller than 5m in height

2000

2014

Legend

Bainbridge Lake

Legen

Bainbridge Lake Roads Streams

• Land uses ––Mining ––Hydroelectric power generation ––Recreation ––Logging »» Historical »» Recent

Lakes & Rivers

Ch

in a

McLa ugh lin R idge

China Creek Community Watershed

McLa ugh lin R idge

McFarland CommunityCh in a Watershed Cree

Creek

Municipal Water Intake

k

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Regional District of Nanaimo

Lizard Lake

Cowichan Valley Regional District

Lizard Lake

Public Land under Tree Farm Licence 44 Private Land Sources: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; DataBC

0

1.5

3

6

KM

Sources: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA; DataBC

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

0

1.5

3

6

KM

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Review of Existing Studies • No impact at the moment • Difficult to identify turbidity sources • Legacy & non-forestry uses as issues • Good water quality

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Questions & Recommendations 1. Are provincial institutions and legislation adequately managing source water and protecting community watershed ecosystems in British Columbia?

• Complex regulations • Potential confusion & inefficiency • Source water protection

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Questions & Recommendations 2. Are the laws governing forestry on private land sufficient to ensure the protection of drinking water sources?

• Negative perception of private regulations • Private considers fewer elements • Community watershed designation • Recommendations

Source: Watershed Forest Alliance (2014)

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Questions & Recommendations 3. Who should have control over a community’s water supply?

• B.C. case studies • Protection does not guarantee water quality • Government concerns • Co-management

Source: Ancient Forest Alliance

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

Forest Harvesting and Water Quality: A Case Study of the China Creek Community Watershed

June 14, 2016

Closing Thoughts

Source: TJ Watt

CONTEXT | SCIENCE & LAWS | WATERSHED | STUDY REVIEW | DISCUSSION | CONCLUSION

Patrick J. Bell M.A. Planning Candidate, 2016 SCARP, UBC

To view the full report, visit: issuu.com/pjonahbell