Do the different types of streamside harvesting practices result in apparent impacts to fish habitat?
The survey investigated the extent of forest harvesting potentially affecting small fish-bearing streams, the prevalent riparian silviculture treatments and levels of tree retention, the evidence for stream channel disturbance after forest harvesting, the degree of shade loss over the stream, and the extent of windthrow and windthrow-related impacts to the stream. The review of 2989 cutblocks harvested between 1997 and 1998 in six forest districts in the central interior plateau of British Columbia revealed that only 2.4% of these cutblocks contained a designated S4 fish stream or were immediately adjacent to one. A wide range of riparian silviculture treatments was implemented: 68% of these S4 streams had some type of unharvested riparian reserve, 10% were given partial-retention treatments, and 22% of riparian management areas were clearcut. The different riparian treatments are generally meeting the objectives of the Forest Practices Code Riparian Management Area Guidebook. Eight pe
