Resource roads in British Columbia: Environmental challenges at the site level:

Use of the FREP Water Quality Effectiveness EvaluationBy Dave Maloney and Brian Carson

Cranbrook, B.C.

November 7 and 8, 2012

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Brian CarsonBrian Carson

Les SwainLes Swain

Steve Chatwin,Steve Chatwin,

Martin CarverMartin Carver

Pierre BeaudryPierre Beaudry

FLNRO/MoE regional and district stewardship staffFLNRO/MoE regional and district stewardship staff

FLNRO Resource Practices Branch staffFLNRO Resource Practices Branch staff

For more information on the:For more information on the:FREP program - FREP program - http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/frep/

WQEE protocol - WQEE protocol - http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/frep/values/water.htm

Background: FREP context – FRPA constructBackground: FREP context – FRPA construct

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Policy Realm

FRPA

Professional Reliance

Effectiveness Evaluation

ObjectivesCompliance

andEnforcement

Plan & Practice

Requirements

What are Effectiveness Evaluations / What are Effectiveness Evaluations / FREP?FREP?

A program to;A program to;Determine if forest and range policies and Determine if forest and range policies and

practices are achieving government’s objectivespractices are achieving government’s objectivesAssess the effectiveness of legislationAssess the effectiveness of legislationIdentify continuous improvement opportunitiesIdentify continuous improvement opportunities

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How does it work?How does it work?

Protocols guide the collection of dataProtocols guide the collection of data

Ministry staff collect and analyze the field dataMinistry staff collect and analyze the field data

Results are reported outResults are reported out

Guidance is provided if necessaryGuidance is provided if necessary

Policy changed if requiredPolicy changed if required

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Question:

Are forest and range practices effective in protecting water quality for fish habitat and drinking water purposes

Evaluate:

Effects of forestry and range - score

Identify:

Mitigation strategies

Water Quality Effectiveness Evaluation

Characteristics of the Water Quality Methodology

Simple

Fast (20-30 minutes per site)

Repeatable (two different evaluators working independently will come up with same answer)

Able to address a wide range of terrain characteristics that occur throughout most Forest Regions of B.C

Provide recommendations for better management

While geoscientists and regulators have been quick to recognize and study landslides as a source of turbidity, there has been less attention paid to surface erosion , which can have a substantial effect on water quality. In community watersheds, with ever more stringent levels of sediment tolerance, all sediment sources must be considered.

100 m3 fine sediment over one storm 5 m3 over one

hauling season

The WQ protocol answers 4 simple The WQ protocol answers 4 simple questions associated with a questions associated with a

“disturbed” site“disturbed” site..

1.1. Does the road/site generate Does the road/site generate sediment?sediment?

2.2. How much sediment?How much sediment?

3.3. Does the road/site generated Does the road/site generated sediment reach the stream?sediment reach the stream?

4.4. How would you prioritize How would you prioritize road/site management activities road/site management activities to reduce water quality impacts to reduce water quality impacts from sediment?from sediment?

Most sediment is generated where industrial roads are located over or in proximity to natural drainage ways

Stream Crossings

Concentrated road drainage adjacent to creek

Blowdown in riparian zone

Range activities upstream of domestic water intakes

Mass wasting associated with forest and range activities

The following sites are assessed

Once a sample sites has been selected, the Once a sample sites has been selected, the evaluator determines its drainage contributing evaluator determines its drainage contributing area and the individual components that would area and the individual components that would

contribute runoff and sedimentcontribute runoff and sediment

WQEE Form WQEE Form #2#2

Left cutbank

Right road surface,

Left road surface

?OR

The Evaluator estimates the connectivity or portion of The Evaluator estimates the connectivity or portion of drainage produced on the site that will reach a natural drainage produced on the site that will reach a natural drainage. drainage. This will depend on area of catchment and potential for re-This will depend on area of catchment and potential for re-absorption of storm flow.absorption of storm flow.

The Evaluator then estimates the portion of fine sand, silt and clay in eroded/ erodible material

0.5

1.0

0.2

Glaciofluvial terraceAblation Till

Lacustrine

When observed within the sampling area, volumes of newly failed slopes (or recently incised gullys) are estimated along with the portion reaching a stream

Width

DepthLength

Estimated 20 % of slide material reaches Creek

Estimating the depth of surface erosion expected on road surfaces considers degree of use, slope and quality of surfacing material (units in meters)

Road Use2-10% slope

Road Surfacing Quality

Paved or Coarse Ballast only

Good Average Poor

Heavy use , all season road

0 0.002 0.005 0.01

Moderate use, all season road

0 0.001 0.002 0.005

Light seasonal use (4 x4 and occasional logging truck)

0 0.0005 0.001 0.002

Deactivated (and unused)

0 0.0002 0.0005 0.001

0.25 m3/year

0 m3 /year

0.50 m3/year

0 m3 /year

Left Road ditch

Stream Crossing site (left bank)Stream Crossing site (left bank)

Total estimated annual sediment contribution to stream from this site = 0.75 m3 per year

Volume of Fine Sediment (m3)

Score Description of Site Associated Level of Management

<0.2 m3 Very Low Site does not generate significant amounts of sediment. Site reflects best management practices. Good

Poor

0.2-1 m3 Low Site generating some sediment but would still be within the range that would be considered normal for background levels of stream turbidity. Site reflects good management practices

1-5 m3 Moderate Site generating levels of sedimentation that would be measurable and, under special situations, of interest to watershed managers. Improvements could be considered but are not mandatory.

5-20 m3 High Site generating unacceptable levels of fine sediment and have a significant impact on water quality in a watershed. Action mandatory.

>20 m3 Very High Site very high levels of sediment with major consequences for water quality within a watershed. Action Mandatory.

[1] Note that an increase in discharge of receiving waters will result in a decrease in the magnitude of the turbidity effect .

Scoring

Management option to reduce sediment generationManagement option to reduce sediment generation

Results

2008-20112008-2011

•785 cutblocks785 cutblocks

•3423 assessments3423 assessments

Roads paralleling stream

(usually old alignments)

Too large an area drained by culvert

Long grade approach to bridge with rutted road surface carrying surface water onto bridge

Road surface generated discharge is concentrated rather than diffused from road alignment

Permitting large grader berms that Permitting large grader berms that concentrate water generated on road towards concentrate water generated on road towards

natural drainagesnatural drainages

Designing swale in road before bridge so surface water diverted before reaching stream

Building bridge slightly above road grade and armour disturbed soils subject to concentrated flow

Using coarse material for road surfacing

Armouring culvert outlet and areas where concentrated surface flow is expected

Ensure windfirm trees within riparian reserve zone

Minimizing disturbance of S5 and S6 stream

Reseeding reclamation mix on areas with disturbed soils

Using temporary and permanent water Using temporary and permanent water barsbars

Surface water is deflected off road before it has a chance to concentrate

Staying off roads when wet

Using signage to indicate sensitive stretches of road

Introduce stream discharge: Receiving waters have different rates of discharge, and the dilution effect will vary proportionally

0.1 m3/sec 10 m3 / sec

1 m3 of fine sediment delivered to this stream will raise the turbidity by 10 NTU.

1 m3 of fine sediment delivered to this stream will raise the turbidity by 0.1NTU.

Severity of ill effectsSeverity of ill effects

Thank you