the salmon river watershed - Learning Centre

Anticipated Trends
The Salmon River watershed falls within two timber supply areas (TSAs): Okanagan and
Merritt TSAs. By law, B.C.'s Chief Forester must reassess the allowable cuts for all provinciallymanaged
commercial forest areas at least every five years. The current Timber Supply Review
(TSR) process was initiated in 1992 to examine the impact of current forest management
practices on the timber supply. The TSR also examined the economic, environmental, and
social conditions in each TSA as they relate to timber supply, under a variety of harvest
scenarios.
The Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) for the Okanagan TSA is currently 2,615,000 m 3 . This level of
harvest was confirmed by the Chief Forester in January 1996. The BC Forest Service timber
supply analysis shows that this level of harvest can be maintained until 2010, followed by a
decline at a rate of 10 percent per decade, reaching the long-term projected AAC of 2,022,000
m 3 . (This harvest level incorporates the reality of losses from fire and other causes, and the
fact that stands are almost always harvested at ages other than those which maximize volume
production due to protection of non-timber values.) However, in his determination, the Chief
Forester also outlined a number of factors which could exert a downward influence on the
timber supply over the short to medium term and which could also reduce the length of time
the initial harvest level can be maintained. These include:
• inventory information used in the BCFS analysis does not reflect forest depletion due to
harvesting and natural causes since 1990. This means that 5 years of timber supply used
in the base case has been used;
• new modelling procedures for visual quality objectives and requirements for visual quality
were not incorporated in the BCFS analysis;
• new Forest Practices Code requirements for riparian habitat will restrict harvesting;
• new Forest Practices Code requirements for the retention of wildlife trees were not fully
represented in the BCFS timber supply analysis.
In his report, the Chief Forester also notes that hemlock in stands over 140 years old
(composed of less than 60 percent hemlock) provide the ability to stabilize the timber supply to
the levels indicated in the base case scenario. He also notes that site productivity could reduce
green-up and minimum harvestable ages, thereby producing a long-term timber supply.
However, he goes on to say that these changes are uncertain and should be assessed. He
states “Given all the current assumptions, it is highly unlikely that harvesting could continue at
the AAC I have determined for more than 5 years if harvesting performance does not comply
with these conditions (i.e., to resemble more closely the existing forest inventory particularly in
the Interior-fir biogeoclimatic zone and the harvesting of hemlock stands). The assessment of
performance in this regard will be a significant factor in the next timber supply analysis and
AAC determination for this area.” He goes on to state that the recently initiated LRMP for the
Okanagan TSA will be an important factor in determining a harvestable land base and hence,
future harvest levels.
The AAC set for the Merritt TSA is 1,204,250 m 3 , which is the current harvest level. The Chief
Forester estimates that this harvesting level can be maintained for 110 years.
A Land and Resource Management Planning (LRMP) has begun in the Okanagan TSA. This
process will cover crown lands within the watershed. It will be organized by provincial
government agencies and will involve consultation with the public. The plan will establish
direction for land use and specify broad resource management objectives and strategies. The
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