Reduced Risk Timing Window for Fish & Wildlife



All works in and about a watercourse are high-risk activities, and fish or wildlife populations and their habitats can be significantly impacted at any time. As a result, all instream works require strict mitigative best practices to ensure that fish and wildlife populations and habitats are protected. By managing the timing of works, changes in and about a stream can be limited to periods of least risk.

If you are planning works under Section 9 of the Water Act , please insure that you use the "Region 7 Omineca - Reduced Risk Timing Windows for Fish and Wildlife" (link below).

Work in or around streams can result in harmful effects to fish and fish habitat, including the harmful alteration or destruction of spawning habitat, introduction of sediment and the destruction of fish eggs and alevins prior to emergence from gravels, and displacement or other behavioural impacts on fish. Therefore, such work must be undertaken during times or periods when such harmful effects will be minimized. Using timing windows of least risk reduces the risk of damage to habitat, fish eggs, or juvenile fish and reduces the risk of impacts to adults and juveniles that may be migrating, over-wintering or rearing.

Timing windows vary depending on a site-specific basis, depending on which species may be present and the sensitivity of habitat. Please be advised that for certain species at risk there may be no period of least risk.

Objective:
To reduce the risk of impacts to fish and wildlife populations and their habitats, instream works and vegetation clearing are limited to non-critical periods of the year.

Document
Content
FPC - Timing Windows and Measures (PDF 736KB) Effective date: May 3, 2004 – The purpose of this document is to provide reduced risk timing windows and measures for work related to stream crossings within the Omineca Region, to facilitate compliance with the Forest Practices Code of B.C. Act (FPC). Forest districts to which the document applies include the following: Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Prince George, Headquarters and Vanderhoof. The document has been prepared by Designated Environment Officials (DEOs) within the Omineca Region, using the best information currently available.