Midterm Flashcards
What technology and/or inventions increased the stream habitat damage caused by forest harvesting? (2)
Gas engines
Steam engines
List 3 negative consequences of industrialized logging on stream habitat
- Loss of LWD input to stream
- Erosion and sedimentation
- Changed to channel morphology (eg. loss of habitat heterogeneity)
What is the loss rate of LWD to streams (% per decade), and how long will the LWD deficit last in old growth streams that were logged to the banks? (2)
10% per decade
75-150 years because the trees need to grow first and the fall into the channel
List 2 effects of decreased LWD on stream ecology and habitat
Loss of habitat complexity such as in-stream cover and refugia from predators, temperature, and flow
Changes to macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance and general losses of nutrient input to the stream
What 2 changes in urbanized watersheds allow contaminated rainwater to flow overland and into streams, rivers, and lakes, as point, or non-point source pollution?
Mass increase in impermeable area and reduction of riparian vegetation has caused polluted runoff water to enter streams directly through overland flow rather than percolating into the groundwater and being filtered by the soil
Building of culverts and pipes that direct waste water into streams
What are infiltration galleries, created wetlands, detention ponds, swales etc. designed to do in urban watersheds?
They are designed to increased the amount of impermeable area which lets the soil filter contaminants, planted vegetation increases interception,l to decrease overland flow so that there is less run-off. Wetlands are also designed as a nutrient and contaminant containment because the constituents settle at the bottom
What year did riparian logging to the stream bank end in coastal BC?
1988
What year did riparian logging to the stream bank end in interior BC?
1995
What was the Carnation Creek experiment about? (2)
The Carnation Creek experiment was one of the leading experiments that showed the effects of clear-cut logging on salmonid habitat
It showed 3 different levels of logging (eg. clear-cut, retention etc.) and how they increased erosion, sedimentation, and decreased large wood etc.
Studies in the H.J. Andrews Experimentsl Forest on the West slope of the Cascades, Oregon, indicates that the removal of vegetation from a forested watershed caused what kind of change in minimum streamflow? Provide one reason for this observed change.
Removing riparian vegetation causes low flows in the late summer and flashy flows in the winter. These studies showed that the minimum streamflow increases in the rainy period because there is no vegetation to intercept the water
Why is watershed restoration potentially controversial?
Watersheds can span many jurisdictions, municipalities, private lands etc. and everything is connected in terms of the watershed and restoration success, stakeholders, and land-ownership and decision-making
Why do we need to think of restoration within the context of “the watershed” and what timescales are we likely applying? (3)
Landscape-level views of restoration are important because whatever is happening upstream (whether it be pollution or erosion etc.), will affect the success of your restoration efforts
In restoration, we are likely applying a short-term fix such as the addition of LWD as cover, but we also need to take into account the restoration of processes such as planting riparian vegetation for future LWD inputs. We are attempting to accelerate natural recovery of ecosystems that could take anywhere from decades (LWD) to centuries to fix themselves
What are the 3 main requirements for restoration to be successful?
Projects need to be:
- Science-based
- Have a holistic view
- Be professionally delivered
What is needed for long-term and successful restoration? (2)
Focusing not only on short-term fixes such as adding LWD, but focusing on:
- Protection (influencing policies etc.)
- Process-based restoration that focus on providing future desired conditions
Why have LWD complexes become so important in channel restoration efforts? (2)
They mimic a tree that has fallen into a channel with the root wad and all, which is the natural way things would have happened in old growth stands when red cedar or Douglas fir would have fallen in
Root wads are extremely valuable in collecting sediment
Within the context of what threatens ecological restoration, what are the “4 H’s”?
Habitat loss
Harvest
Hatcheries
Hydropower
What are 3 additional factors that can be added to the “4 H’s”?
Invasive species
Pollution
Climate Change
Define COSEWIC (2)
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada
They are an advisory committee made up of wildlife experts from the private sector, NGOs, academia etc. that decide on what species in Canada are in danger and should be listed on the Species at Risk Act (final decision is in the Ministry’s hands)
What species have been declared “endangered” by COSEWIC but not “at risk” in BC in the Thompson and Chilcotin River systems?
The Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead Trout populations
What was the percentage of steelhead decline in the Chilcotin and Thompson watersheds between ~2000 and 2018?
There was a 79% decline in 2017/18 which was the all-time lowest numbers since records began in 1978
What rationale was provided by the government of Canada for not declaring the Chilcotin and Thompson Steelhead as “at risk”? (2)
The Government of Canada ignored recommendations from COSEWIC and stated that an emergency listing would produce “suboptimal ecological, social, and economic outcomes relative to a comprehensive, long-term collaborative action plan with British Columbia”
(this sounds like they are passing the responsibility, and also how can B.C. have a thorough plan if legally the species isn’t listed?)
Meanwhile, populations are still low (4th lowest in 2020)
Over the past 50 years, what is the percentage of estimated wildlife populations decline?
60%
What method of restoration is critical in long-term rehabilitation and success of ecosystems?
Watershed scale, holistic approach
Explain the River Continuum Concept (3)
Based on Equilibrium Theory in that:
- Processes within a drainage basin are linked and dependent on one another from the headwaters to the estuary
- As energy changes from the top to the bottom of a river system, the physical, chemical, and biological processes change (eg. as energy changes, banks might be eroded or sediment and OM might build up, and this affects the biotic community)
- Community structure and function adjusts to changes in: streamflow, channel morphology, detritus loading, size of particulate organic material, characteristics of autotrophic production, and thermal responses
Define “timing”
Refers to the actual timing (i.e. month, week, day) that a certain activity is proposed
Who just be coordinated with to ensure timing can be met?
You must coordinate with contractors, funding agencies, restoration team members, and regulatory agencies to ensure timing is met
How long can a delay be if a work window is missed? (2)
Delays can be a year if you miss a work window
Some other consequences are loss of funding or contractual penalties
Define “sequence”
Sequence is the order of work and specific steps that need to be taken for the project
What is central to your sequencing strategy and why? What is an example? (2)
Planning is central to your sequencing strategy because without planning, you are less likely to have a successful outcome
For example, if you add LWD to the stream without stabilizing upslope banks first, your project will not be successful and you could be wasting a lot of money and time (and it could even be dangerous)
What is the result of a good planning process? (5)
Allocating funds and resource to the proper task
Increasing the likelihood of achieving project goals
Develop a good reputation among colleagues, funding agencies etc.
Ensure life and property is not at risk
Success for project is more likely
When was the “Water Act” updated and what is the new name? What is the primary purpose of this Act? (3)
The Water Act was changed to the Water Sustainability Act and it was updated February 29th, 2016
It’s primary purpose is to regulate water bodies to ensure that a sustainable input of clean, fresh water is provided to all of BC today and in the future
How does the Water Sustainability Act define “stream”, “stream channel”, “changes in and about a stream”, “aquatic ecosystem”, and “fish habitat”? (5)
Stream - any natural watercourse (including lakes, ravines, wetlands, or glaciers) whether or not they contain water or ice BUT does not include an aquifer
Stream Channel - in relation to stream, but including the bed and banks, both above and below the natural boundary, whether or not the channel has been modified, and includes side channels of the stream
Changes in and about a stream - any modification to the land, vegetation, and natural environment of a stream or the flow of water in a stream, or any activity within a stream channel that may have an impact on the stream channel (incl. banks, bed etc.)
Aquatic Ecosystem - the stream channel, the vegetation of the stream, and the water in the stream. Also includes any fish, wildlife, or other living organisms insofar as their life processes are carried out in the stream, depend on the natural environment of the stream
Fish Habitat - streams, ditches, ponds, and wetlands that provide food, water, and nutrients into fish-bearing streams, even if they do not contain fish or if they only have temporary or seasonal flows
How many days prior to commencement of the work must notification information be submitted for a notification and an approval? (2)
For a notification - 45 days prior to work. It a Habitat Officer does not respond, work can commence (although if they do, you must comply with specific terms and conditions for the change)
For an approval - 6 months prior to work. Engineer from the Resource Stewardship Branch should get back to you in 140 days
Where are notification applications submitted and who reviews them?
Submitted to Front Counter B.C. for review by a Habitat Officer from the Ministry
Where are approval applications submitted and who reviews them?
Submitted to Front Counter B.C. and reviewed by an engineer from the Resource Stewardship Division of the ministry
What is an in-stream work window?
Timing during which in-stream works have the least risk on whichever species the work window is for. Generally salmonids are during the summer
What specific level of COSEWIC listed species must be determined? (2)
All species listed with COSEWIC
Red and blue listed species on SARA
What are the criteria of the lowest risk period for fish? (3)
No fish spawning is taking place
No eggs or alevins in the stream gravels
No overwintering juveniles present
What is a sensitive stream, and what is the importance of a sensitive stream designation?
A sensitive stream is a watercourse that warrants particular attention to protect the watershed’s fishery resource (this includes all of its tributaries)
How many sensitive streams are there in B.C.?
15
Who is ultimately responsible for the protection of streams and their habitats through the Water Sustainability Act?
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development (MFLNRD)
