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