Stream Crossings in Community Watersheds - Environmental Trends in British Columbia 2002, State of Environment Reporting, Strategic Policy, Planning and Intergovernmental Relations Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

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Stream Crossings in Community Watersheds

Stream Crossing Density in Community Watersheds

number of stream crossings in community watersheds

SOURCES: Decision Support Services, Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, 2002. NOTES: As of 2001, 467 watersheds were classified as community watersheds under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia. The data for the graph above were taken from 192 watersheds with data for both mapping times.

Does Community Watershed designation protect drinking water sources?

Roads are the greatest source of sediment in streams in developed forest watersheds. Sediment is most often deposited where roads cross the watercourse.
High suspended sediment loads in waterways increase treatment costs for domestic and many industrial uses, damage fish food supplies and habitat, and can injure fish directly.
Of the 175 community watersheds with late 1980s and late 1990s mapping, 16 (9%) had greater than one stream crossing per km of stream in the late 1980s. This increased to 34 (19%) in the late 1990s.
The Forest Practices Code recognizes drinking water as a priority use for community watersheds. A higher level of management is required for community watersheds than for non-designated watersheds.