South Shuswap Scoop March 2022

Watershed Moments

By Barbra Fairclough

In January, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) board received correspondence from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Development (FLNR) confirming an update from BC Timber Sales (BCTS) of the proposed logging on Bastion Creek on the Salmon Arm reach of Shuswap Lake.

BCTS has completed a debris flow assessment for the Bastion creek Community Watershed. This study is an update to the 2000 Debris Flow Assessment for the Bastion Creek Community Watershed. It is with respect to three proposed cut blocks that straddle the north boundary of the watershed representing a combined 13.67 ha.

The overall objects of the assessment were to determine the hazard and risk to public safety and infrastructure from future damaging debris flow/debris hazard, channel avulsions, and/or landslide events on Bastion Creek. The other purpose of the study was to comment on the incremental risk of the proposed BCTS forest development activities on debris flow/ debris flood hazard.

This study was proposed in response to a CSRD request for a moratorium on logging in the watershed.

Early in 2019 Catherine Spanevello and the residents of Bastion Bay became aware of the potential risks when BC Timber Sales put out call to referral regarding cut blocks K0WG, K5M7, and K5MG located on the south ridge slope of the watershed.

Ms. Spanevello attended a CSRD board meeting as a delegation requesting a moratorium on logging in the Bastion Creek Watershed. Bill Granger a retired professional geoscientist assisting residents, said BCTS due diligence to manage risks was based on outdated analysis. Ms. Spanevello said that BCTS had not been cooperative and a request through freedom of information was made to obtain information.

The CSRD in response to the significant concerns expressed by the residents of Bastion Bay regarding the high potential for debrisflow hazards in the area prior to a comprehensive risk assessment study is complete, wrote a letter in April to Katrine Conroy Minister, FLNR.

The letter was to request a moratorium on logging in the watershed until a full risk assessment study is completed and the mitigative requirements of the area to protect life and property are known.

June letter from Gerry MacDougall, Regional Executive Director (FLNR) in response to the request says that “Given the considerable measures to ensure operations can be conduct- ed in a safe manner, a moratorium is not considered necessary at this time.” The letter says the “Plans for the Bastion Creek Community Watershed have thoroughly considered potential impacts to downstream users. Qualified registered professionals have completed hydrology and terrain stability assessments. Their guidance continues to be followed to ensure the risk of landslides as a result of timber harvesting continues to be low.” Previous reports were referenced and the letter went on to indicate an update on the Bastion Creek Watershed Channel and debris flow assessment will be completed summer of 2021 prior to the timber sale auction anticipated in the late summer early fall.

The CSRD responded in July by asking the province to provide copies of these technical reports and the cut block boundary areas original and proposed as outlined in the June 3 letter.

January 22, 2022, letter FLNR stated that the boundaries of the cut blocks in question have been redrawn to exclude areas within the watershed, based on the finding on the newly completed assessment.

The province is also developing BC’s first Watershed Security Strategy and fund. Governance, climate change, ecosystems and sources of drinking water and community economic stability are being explored through the release of a discussion paper for feedback. (Watershed Security Strategy and Fund-January 2022)

In addition to feedback generated from the discussion paper, the strategy will align with several government commitments relating to climate preparedness, improving drinking water management, and modernizing land use planning and considering cumulative effects. The deadline for public comment on the discussion paper is March 18, 2022. Feedback will inform a draft strategy to be released in the fall. The final strategy is expected to be released in 2023.

CSRD Photo from the 2019 Geomorphic study into the future landslide risk on Bastion Mountain