A forestry permit holder's erection of a bridge that "was inadequate to withstand significant rainfall or a flood" along a well-travelled forestry road near Squamish was the only major concern identified in a recent audit of activity involving B.C. Timber Sales forest licensees in the Squamish Forest District.
The audit, conducted by the B.C. Forest Practices Board (FPB) covering the period from August 2009 to August 2011, found that "forest planning, silviculture, fire protection, harvesting and road activities were mostly in compliance with legislation," FPB officials said in a statement about the audit, released on Tuesday (Feb. 28).
The Squamish Forest District, which covers a 1.1-million-hectare area in the Sea to Sky Corridor from Lions Bay to north of Pemberton, is a challenging area for foresters, board chair Al Gorley said in a statement.
"The board recognizes that BCTS's operating area includes substantial First Nations interest, high recreational use and natural values that create significant challenges for industrial forestry activities in this area," he said.
"Overall, the audit found that BCTS and the timber sale licensees did a good job at meeting these challenges and the board acknowledges their efforts."
The one instance of non-compliance involved a permit holder's installation of a bridge along the West Main Forest Service Road in the Mamquam River drainage, Gorley told The Chief. The road is well-used by both foresters and the general public, he said.
"To access his sale, he chose to replace a bridge and the auditors had two issues there - he informed the wrong person in government, and of more concern to our auditors was that the bridge was designed in such a way that if there were a major storm, the bridge might wash out and maybe there would be a safety concern there," Gorley said.
According to the report, "The bridge design indicated that the structure could pass the highest water flow expected in 100 years, but in fact the bridge could only withstand the highest flow expected every 10 years.
"A government engineer has since visited the site and determined that the bridge must be removed by November 2012."
Added Gorley, "I think their plans are to pull it out and put in a new bridge or else close that section of the road."
The FPB is an independent watchdog for forestry practices in B.C. The board regularly audits forest and range practices on public land and reports on the appropriateness of government enforcement, practices and existing legislation.
