Galiano Island (North) N Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping...5051 5127 5156 5201 5130 5355 5019 5361 5119 5000 5197 5320 5394 5342 5336 5126 5117 5151 5393 5303 5035 5128 5029 5188 36 5251

5098

5384

5389

5084

5104

5378

5348

5037

5379

5346

5388

5015

5370

5013

5280

5048

5036

5330

5082

5347

5368

5267

5353

5448

5032

5099

5083

5031

5012

5115

5249

5343

5302

5205

5206

5216

5011

5350

5155

5369

5014

5356

5196

5193

5116

5113

5281

5034

5359

5033

5357

5017

5373

5317

5125

5463

5169

53645362

5292

5453

5217

5114

5349

5259

5449

5351

5295

5260

5382

5016

5120

5258

5198

5080

5376

5049

5296

5124

5386

5360

5331

5354

5371

5383

5465

5202

5387

5352

5377

5451

5289

5333

5358

5321

5129

5262

5381

5344

5374

5403

5385

50935293

5250

5301

5375

5157

5192

5047

5161

5199

5203

5332

5102

5298

5366

5402

5106

5081

5294

5131

5367

5452

5314

5200

5152

5261

5020

5466

5018

5159

5204

5154

5194

5170

5051

5127

5156

5201

5130

5355

5019

5361

5119

5000

5197

5320

5394

5342

5336

5126

5117

5151

5393

5303

5035

5128

5029

5188

5363

5251

51665167

5287

5291

5168

5335

5107

5300

5334

5118

5153

50305395

5290

5392

5021

5187

5186

5464

5160

5299

5337

5318

5105

5263

5297

5264 5265

5288

5338

458000m.E

458000m.E

460

460

62

62

64

64

66

66

468000m.E

468000m.E

5420

000m

. N

5420

000m

. N

22 22

24 24

26 26

5428

000m

. N

5428

000m

. N

Salt SpringIsland

SaturnaIsland

MayneIsland

GalianoIsland

Vancouver Island

Vancouver

Sensitive Ecosystems Label

Galiano Island (North)Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping

Airphoto - 2009

$ UTM Projection Zone 10 NAD83Scale: 1:15,000

0 0.25 0.5 0.75 10.125Kilometers

Usually conifer-dominated, occasionally deciduous, dry to moist forest types, structural stage 6, generally >80yrs.

Mature Forest (MF):Definition:

Example of a secondary sensitive Herbaceous and tertiarysensitive Woodland ecosystems mixed with a non-sensitive primary ecosystem

Occassionally sensitive ecosystems will mix with non-sensitive ecosystems. In this map a sensitive ecosystems mixed with non-sensitive isidentified by cross-hatched lines with solid white shading.

Example of a primary sensitive Woodland ecosystem with a secondary sensitive Herbaceous ecosystem

Ecosystem composition is complex and often contains a dominant ecosystem with secondary and tertiary ecosystems. In this map thedominant ecosystem has a solid shading and the secondary and tertiary ecosystems are identified by cross-hatched lines.

Ecosystem Map Symbols

Example of a tertiary sensitive Herbaceous ecosystem mixedwith a primary important Mature Forest ecosystem

Sensitive ecosystems can also mix with important ecosystems. In this map a sensitive ecosystem mixed with an important ecosystem is identified by cross-hatched lines with solid green shading.

Other Mapped Ecosystems

Young Forest (YF):

Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Fields (FS):

Non-Sensitive (NA):Limited to areas of annually flooded cultivated fields or hay fields dispersed amongst sensitive and important ecosystems.Definition:

Limited to areas of disturbance or human impact dispersed amongst sensitive and important ecosystems.Definition:

Limited to areas of young forest dispersed amongst sensitive and important ecosystems. Forest is 40 - 80 yrs old depending on species and ecological conditions; canopy has begun to differentiate.

Definition:

Sensitive Ecosystems Label

Sensitive ecosystems are fragile and/or rare, or are ecologically important because of the diversity of species they support.Sensitive Ecosystems

Dry open forests, generally between 10 and 30% tree cover, can be conifer-dominated or mixed conifer and arbutus stands;because of open canopy, will include non-forested openings, often with shallow soils and bedrock outcroppings.

Importance:

Subclasses:

Non-forested ecosystems (less than 10% tree cover), generally with shallow soils. They include bedrock outcroppings, large openings within forested areas, spits, dunes and shorelines vegetetated with grasses and herbs.

Importance:

Subclasses:

Importance:

Areas adjacent to water bodies (rivers, lakes, ocean, wetlands) which are influenced by factors such as erosion,sedimentation, flooding and/or subterranean irrigation due to proximity to the water body. Structural stages 1 - 7.

Areas that are saturated or inundated with water for long enough periods of time to develop vegetation. This may result fromflooding, fluctuating water tables, tidal influences or poor drainage conditions.

Importance:Subclasses:

Importance:

Subclasses:

Very steep slope, often exposed bedrock, may include steep-sided sand bluffs.

Importance:Subclasses:

Freshwater ecosystem includes bodies of water such as lakes and ponds that usually lack floating vegetation.

Woodlands are nationally, provincially and regionally rare and highly fragmented . A rich assemblage of plants, insects,reptiles and birds are drawn to these ecosystems due to the food sources, habitat and proximity to the ocean. Garry oakwoodlands, for example support the highest plant species diversity of any terrestrial ecosystem in British Columbia andare especially vulnerable to rural development.

Terrestrial Herbaceous ecosystems are characterized by thin soils which are easily disturbed. Herbaceous plants can beeasily trampled or dislodged onto bare rock where they cannot re-establish. Thus they are highly vulnerable to a range ofhuman disturbance factors including residential development and various recreational uses.

Subclasses:Riparian ecosystems support a disproportionately high number of vascular plant, moss, amphibian and small mammalspecies for the area they occupy.

Wetland (WN):

Wetland ecosystems are sensitive and important because they exhibit rarity, high biodiversity, fragility, specialized habitat, specialized functions and connectivity.

Open ledges and horizontal fissures on cliffs are known to provide nesting sites. Cliff crevices are used for roosting bats while deep crevices are used for shelter and overwintering of snakes and lizards.

pd (pond) - a small body of water greater than 2m deep, but not large enough to be classified as a lake

Woodland (WD):

Herbaceous (HB):

hb (herbaceous) - non-forested, less than 10% tree cover, generally shallow soils, often with exposed bedrock, predominantly a mix ofgrasses and forbs, also lichens and mosses

cs (coastal herbaceous) - rocky shoreline or islet, influenced by the marine environment and characterized by less than 20% vegetationcover of grasses herbs, mosses and lichens.

sp (spit) - finger-like extension of beach, comprised of sand or gravel deposited by longshore drifting; low to moderate cover of salt-tolerantgrasses and herbs(dunes) - ridge or hill, or beach area created by windblown sand; may be more or less vegetated depending on depositional activity, beachdunes will have low cover of salt-tolerant grasses and herbs

du

(shrub) - >20% of total vegetation cover is shrub cover, with grasses and herbssh

bd (broadleaf) - dominant broadleaf with <15% coniferous speciesmx (mixed conifer and deciduous) - mixed conifer and broadleaf with a minimum of 25% cover of either group is included in the total

tree cover

Riparian (RI):

fm (medium bench floodplain) - flooded every 1-6 years for short periods (10-25 days); deciduous or mixed forest dominated by speciestolerant of flooding and periodic sedimentation, trees occur on elevated microsites

fh (high bench floodplain) - only periodically and briefly inundated by high waters, but lengthy subsurface flow in the rooting zone; typicallyconifer-dominated floodplains of larger coastal rivers

ff (fringe) - narrow linear communities along with open water bodies (rivers, lakes and ponds) where there is no floodplain, irregular floddinggu (gully riparian) - watercourse is within a steep sided V-shaped gullyri (river) - watercourse is large enough to represent >10% of the polygon

fl (low bench floodplain) - flooded at least every other year for moderate periods of growing season; plant species adapted to extendedflooding and abrasion, low or tall shrubs most common

(bog) - nutrient poor wetland, on organic soils (sphagnum peat), water source predominantly from precipitation; may be treed orshrub dominated

bg

fn (fen) - nutrient medium wetland (sedge peat) where ground water inflow is the dominant water source, open water channels common;dominated by sedges, grasses and mosses

ms (marsh) - wetland with fluctuating water table, often with shallow surface water, usually organically enriched mineral soils; dominatedby rushes, reeds, grasses and sedges

sp (swamp) - poor to very rich wetland on mineral soils or with an organic layer over mineral soil, with gently flowing or seasonally floodingwater table; woody vegetation

sw (shallow water) - standing or flowing water less than 2m deep, transition between deep water bodies and other wetland ecosystems (i.e. bogs, swamps, fens, etc.); often with vegetation rooted below the water surface

wm (wet meadow) - periodically saturated but not inundated with water, organically enriched mineral soils; grasses, sedges, rushes andforbs dominate

Cliff (CL):

cc (coastal cliffs) - cliffs with a marine influence, generally near vertical bedrock with accumulation of soil limited to fissures and ledges.

Freshwater (FW):

la (lake) - a naturally occurring static body of water, greater than 2m deep in some portion.

(rock) - rock outcrops not dominated by shrubsro

sh (shrub) - shrub-dominated floodplain or lakeshore

ic (inland cliffs) - inland cliffs: typically formed as a result of erosion, catastrophic failures or mass wastage. Generally characterized byrapid drainage and the accumulation of soil that is limited to bedrock fissures and ledges

Freshwater ecosystems are home to numerous organisms such as, fish, amphibians, aquatic plants, and invertebrates.Lakes and ponds play a vital role in the lifecycle of many species.

Definition:

Definition:

Definition:

Definition:

Definition:

Definition:

Importance:

Subclasses:

Conifer-dominated dry to moist forest types, structural stage 7, generally >250yrs.

Old Forest (OF):

mx (mixed conifer and deciduous) - forests dominated with a mixture of coniferous and broadleaf trees (<75% coniferous and >25%broadleaf)

co (conifer-dominated) - greater than 75% coniferous species

Due to the lack of disturbance, old forest ecosystems are often associated with rich communities of plants and animals thatmay be dependent upon the unique environmental conditions created by these forests.

Definition:

Primary Ecosystem Secondary Tertiary







CDFmm 10HB:cs

5000* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5011 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5012 CDFmm 8WD:mx 2CL:ic

5013* CDFmm 10WN:ms

5014* CDFmm

8CL:ic 2WD:mx

5015 CDFmm 9WD:mx 1HB:cs

5016*

CDFmm 6WD:mx 1HB:cs 1HB:hb

5017* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5018* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5019 CDFmm 10HB:cs

5020* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5021* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5028* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5029

CDFmm 10CL:cc

5030 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5031 CDFmm 10CL:ic


5033* CDFmm 8WD:mx 2CL:ic

5034 CDFmm 10WN:ms

5035* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5036*

CDFmm 10WD:mx

5037* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5047 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5048 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5049 CDFmm

10WN:wm

5051* CDFmm 10FW:pd

5080 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5081

CDFmm 10FW:pd

5082 CDFmm 10WN:sw

5083* CDFmm 10FW:la

5084* CDFmm 10WN:sw

5093* CDFmm 9WN:ms 1WN:bg 1WN:sw

5098* CDFmm 9WN:ms 1WN:sw

5099 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5102

CDFmm 10WN:ms

5104 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5105* CDFmm

10WN:wm

5106* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5107* CDFmm 8WN:sp 2RI:ff

5113* CDFmm 4WN:ms

4FS 2WN:sp

5114 CDFmm 8WN:sp 2WN:ms

5115

CDFmm 10WN:sp

5116 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5117* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5118* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5119 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5120 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5124 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5125*

CDFmm 10WD:mx

5126 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5127* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5128* CDFmm 10WN:ms

5129 CDFmm 10CL:ic

5130 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5131 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5151*

CDFmm 10WD:mx

5152* CDFmm 10WD:mx

5153* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5154 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5155 CDFmm

10WN:wm

5156 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5157 CDFmm 10CL:ic

5159*

CDFmm 10HB:cs

5160* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5161* CDFmm 10HB:hb

5166 CDFmm 10HB:cs

5167 CDFmm 10HB:cs

5168 CDFmm 10CL:ic

5169 CDFmm 10CL:ic

5170*

CDFmm 10HB:cs

5186 CDFmm 10HB:cs

5187* CDFmm 10HB:hb

5188* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5192 CDFmm

9RI:ff 1RI:fl

5193 CDFmm

6RI:ff 4YF:mx

5194 CDFmm 10RI:fm

5195*

CDFmm 10RI:gu

5196* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5197* CDFmm 10RI:fl

5198* CDFmm 10RI:fl

5199 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5200 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5201* CDFmm 10RI:fm

5202

CDFmm 10RI:fl

5203* CDFmm 10RI:fm

5204* CDFmm 10RI:gu

5205* CDFmm

7CL:ic 3WD:mx

5206 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5216 CDFmm 10RI:fm

5217 CDFmm

8RI:ff 2RI:fl

5249*

CDFmm 10RI:ff

5250* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5251* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5253* CDFmm 10CL:ic

5258* CDFmm 10CL:ic

5259* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5260* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5261*

CDFmm 10CL:cc

5262* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5263 CDFmm 10CL:cc

5264 CDFmm 10CL:cc

5265 CDFmm 10CL:cc

5266 CDFmm

9RI:ff 1RI:fl

5267* CDFmm 10WN:ms

5280*

CDFmm 10WN:ms

5281* CDFmm 10HB:hb

5287* CDFmm 10HB:hb

5288* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5289 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5290 CDFmm 10RI:fl

5291* CDFmm

7RI:fl 3RI:ff

5292*

CDFmm 10RI:ff

5293* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5294* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5295 CDFmm

7RI:ff 3RI:fl

5296 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5297 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5298 CDFmm 10WN:sw

5299*

CDFmm 10WN:sw

5300* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5301* CDFmm

9RI:ff 1RI:fl

5302* CDFmm 10RI:fm

5303* CDFmm 10RI:ff

5314 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5317 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5318

CDFmm 10WN:ms

5320* CDFmm 10WN:sw

5321* CDFmm 10WN:ms

5330 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5331 CDFmm 10CL:cc

5332 CDFmm 10CL:cc

5333* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5334*

CDFmm 10CL:cc

5335* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5336* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5337* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5338* CDFmm 7WD:mx 3RW:se

5342* CDFmm 5WD:mx 4RW:se 1CL:cc


3MF:mx

5344

CDFmm 4CL:ic

4YF:mx 2WD:mx

5346 CDFmm 7MF:mx 2WD:mx 1CL:ic

5347 CDFmm

2CL:ic 2WD:mx 6MF:mx


6MF:mx

5349* CDFmm 2WD:mx

2Cl:ic 6MF:mx

5350* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5351* CDFmm


5352

CDFmm 4WD:mx 3CL:ic

3OF:mx

5353 CDFmm

5CL:ic 3WD:mx 2YF:co

5354* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5355 CDFmm

4CL:ic 4MF:mx 2WD:mx

5356 CDFmm


5357 CDFmm

4CL:ic 4MF:mx 2WD:mx

5358* CDFmm 4CL:cc

3WD:mx 3MF:mx

5359

CDFmm 4CL:ic

4WD:mx 2MF:mx

5360* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5361* CDFmm 6WN:sp 4RI:ff

5362* CDFmm 10FW:pd

5363* CDFmm 6WD:mx 2CL:cc 2RW:se

5364 CDFmm 5CL:cc

3WD:mx 2RW:se

5366* CDFmm 8WD:mx 1CL:cc 1RW:se

5367*

CDFmm 8RI:ff

2MF:mx

5368 CDFmm

7CL:ic 3WD:mx

5369 CDFmm

8CL:ic 2WD:mx

5370 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5371* CDFmm 10Cl:ic


5373 CDFmm 8WD:mx 2CL:cc

5374

CDFmm 9WD:mx 1RW:se


5376 CDFmm

8Cl:ic 2WD:mx

5377 CDFmm 6WD:mx 2HB:sh 2CL:ic

5378 CDFmm 6WN:sp 4YF:bd

5379 CDFmm 10Cl:ic


2MF:mx

5381

CDFmm 10WN:sp

5382 CDFmm 8WD:mx 2CL:cc

5383 CDFmm 6WN:ms 4WN:sw

5384* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5385* CDFmm 8WN:sp 2YF:bd

5386 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5387 CDFmm

4CL:ic 4WD:ms 2YF:co

5388

CDFmm 9WN:ms 1WN:sw

5389 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5392 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5393 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5394 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5395 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5402* CDFmm 10WN:sp

5403*

CDFmm 10RI:ff

5448 CDFmm 10WN:sp

5449* CDFmm 10CL:cc

5451 CDFmm 10WD:mx

5452 CDFmm

5CL:ic 2WD:mx 3MF:co

5453 CDFmm

6RI:ff 4RI:fl

5463 CDFmm 10FW:pd

5464

CDFmm 10RI:ff

5465 CDFmm 10RI:ff

5466*

What is a Sensitive Ecosystem?

For the purpose of this study, an ecosystem is considered to be a portion of the landscape with

relatively uniform dominant vegetation.

Sensitive ecosystems are those which are fragile and/or rare, or those ecosystems which

are ecologically important because of the diversity of species they support.

Rationale Intense development pressure fueled by population and economic growth has fragmented and degraded many terrestrial ecosystems. A high proportion of these ecosystems are now designated as ‘at risk’ in BC. Sensitive ecosystems typically have high biological diversity and are a vital part of the landscape. They provide ecosystem services for a healthy economy and for social well being. They regulate climate, clean water, generate and clean soils, recycle nutrients and pollinate our crops. To protect these areas, sensitive ecosystems must be located, identified and mapped. From 1993 to 1999 the Provincial and Federal Governments completed a Sens itive Ecosystems Inventory of East Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. This mapping product is intended as an updated and improved version of that product. Purpose The purpose of this Sensitive Ecosystems map is to identify the location of sensitive ecosystems. The goal of this mapping exercise is to encourage informed land use decisions that will conserve sensitive ecosystems. This map and the accompanying data provide site -specific ecological information that can be used to flag sites of conservation concern, to promote land stewardship and to prompt detailed field surveys and consideration of ecological values before changes to the land are initiated.

Methodology Mapping methods are based on the Standard for Mapping Ecosystems at Risk in British Columbia, An Approach to Mapping Ecosystems at Risk and Other Sensitive Ecosystems Version 1.0., Ministry of Environment Ecosystems Branch. Resources Information Standards Committee, December 5, 2006. This Sensitive Ecosystems map was themed from the Islands Trust Ecosystem Mapping (ITEM) data. ITEM was developed in 2002 with the assistance of BC Ministry of Environment and the BC Conservation Data Centre. The classification scheme was based on Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI) and Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) Standards. Sensitive ecosystems were identified and extracted from the ITEM dataset and updated using 2009 digital stereo imagery and the 2008 CDFmm TEM. Data Limitations The Sensitive Ecosystems map is a tool to alert decision makers to the existence of sensitive ecosystems. However, when land-use changes are proposed, detailed on-the-ground site assessments are necessary . For sites that were not field checked, the accuracy of the data depends heavily on the expertise, local knowledge, and professional judgment of the mapper and the quality and quantity of available source data. Because the area is changing rapidly, reference to the data set(s) used as the information source is advised.

Due to the mapping scale of the aerial photographs, the minimum polygon size is generally ½ hectare. Enlargement of the data beyond the source scale may result in unacceptable distortion and faulty registration with other data sets. What can be done to protect the sensitive ecosystems? Direct and indirect impacts to these ecosystems can be avoided by: Retaining or creating vegetated buffers

around sensitive ecosystems to isolate them from outside disturbances;

Controlling land and water access to fragile ecosystems;

Controlling invasive species; Allowing natural disturbances to occur; Maintaining water quality If development must occur, develop carefully! Conduct an ecological inventory to identify the existing flora and fauna and to locate any threatened or endangered plant and animal species, plant communities, and habitat features needing protection.

Plan and implement all development activities in a manner that will not adversely affect or disturb the sensitive ecosystem. Consult a qualified professional to interpret the ecological inventory data and work to incorporate designs that maintain the functions and values of the natural ecosystem. Acknowledgements: Project Co-ordination: Robert Kojima - Islands Trust, Local Planning Services Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping: Keith Erickson - Galiano Conservancy Association GIS Mapping Support: Mark van Bakel - Islands Trust

The example label above indicates the SEM attributes mapped for polygon 7838. The polygon occurs in the Coastal Douglas-fir Moist Maritime variant; 60% of the polygon is WD:mx - Woodland: mixed conifer and broadleaf (Primary Ecosystem); 20% of the polygon is WD:co - Woodland: conifer dominated (Secondary Ecosystems); and, 20% of the polygon MF:mx – Mature Forest: mixed conifer and broadleaf (Tertiary Ecosystem).

SE Subclass

Biogeoclimatic Unit

% of polygon (as decile)

SE Class

Polygon Number

Secondary Ecosystem Tertiary Ecosystem

Primary Ecosystem

7838* CDFmm

6WD:mx 2WD:co 2MF:mx

* Indicates a field sample

Documents

Galiano Island (North) N Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping...5051 5127 5156 5201 5130 5355 5019 5361 5119 5000 5197 5320 5394 5342 5336 5126 5117 5151 5393 5303 5035 5128 5029 5188 36 5251