Ministry of Environment

Science and Research

The detailed assessment methodology was developed through consultation with a number of provincial and federal scientists and review of the pertinent literature. In the detailed assessment, potential fish habitat impacts are examined in a 30 metre riparian assessment area. The focus of the assessment is on riparian vegetation and its functional role in maintaining fish habitat. It involves a determination of whether or not (and how) the site provides those features, functions, and conditions that maintain fish habitat.
The main functions addressed in the assessment are:

• the role of riparian vegetation in providing wood for in stream channel and fish habitat structure;
• the role of rooted vegetation in stabilizing the stream banks; and
• the role of the a sites vegetation in providing shade and maintaining stream water temperature, in providing food and nutrients for fish, and in filtering sediment.

The assessment also describes developing measures to maintain the integrity of the area providing these functions at the site from proposed development.

A review of empirical source distance data for the recruitment of large woody debris to forested streams (PDF 365KB)

Riparian Area Regulation (RAR) Scientific rationale: The technical basis of zone of sensitivity determinations under the detailed assessment procedure of the Riparian Areas Regulation (PDF 446KB)