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Species At Risk (SAR) Database:
SAR Database Version 2.7
2008-09 Project Summary Report
for the
Kamloops and Okanagan TSA Projects
Prepared by:
Astrid M. van Woudenberg, MSc, RPBio
Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 108 – 1383 McGill Road
Kamloops, BC
V2C 6K7
(250) 851 – 2141
Prepared for:
Tolko Industries Ltd.
Thompson Nicola Woodlands and Okanagan Regional Divisions
and
BC Timber Sales
Ministry of Forests and Range
Okanagan-Columbia Business Area
12 March 2009
SAR Database Project 2008-09 Summary Report: SAR Database Version 2.7
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Table of Contents
1.0 Background and Rationale........................................................................................... 3
2.0 Upgrades to SAR Database Application for 2008-09.................................................. 3
2.1 Definition of Likelihood in SAR Database.............................................................. 3
2.2 Special Notes ........................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Batch Feature Programmed...................................................................................... 4
3.0 Maintenance of Existing Species in SAR Database Version 2.7................................. 4
4.0 New Species Added to SAR Database Version 2.7 ................................................... 25
5.0 Feasibility Assessments ............................................................................................. 41
5.1 Inclusion of Plant Species and Communities At Risk in the SAR Database......... 41
5.2 Inclusion of Fish Species At Risk in the SAR Database ....................................... 41
6.0 Recommendations...................................................................................................... 42
Appendix 1. SAR included in SAR Database Ver. 2.7 for the Kamloops, Lillooet,
Merritt, Okanagan, and Arrow TSAs................................................................................ 46
Appendix 2. BEC variants included in SAR Database Ver. 2.7 for Kamloops, Merritt,
Lillooet, Okanagan, and Arrow TSAs .............................................................................. 49
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1.0 Background and Rationale
The Species at Risk Database Project is the development of a database application to
identify Species at Risk (SAR) that occur within a particular TSA by Biogeoclimatic
Ecosystem Classification (BEC) variant. The objective of the database tool is to apply
appropriate management at the stand level based on critical habitat requisites. Users can
query the database for detailed species information as necessary, and produce field cards
for each BEC variant summarizing only retention features necessary at the stand level.
The BEC variant-driven database and associated field card do not put the onus on forestry
practitioners to know and understand the habitat requirements of each Species at Risk in a
given area.
The database is maintained on an annual basis, including addition of new Species at Risk
as they are legislated by amendments to Schedule 1 of the Federal Species At Risk Act.
As well, annual maintenance includes updates of any new habitat, range, or distribution
information that may come available regarding Species at Risk already in the database.
The database has provided a basis for identification of local information gaps in existing
knowledge of individual species and thereby can contribute to prioritizing local Species
at Risk inventory and research needs.
Appendix 1 shows a complete list of the Species At Risk that are included in the current
SAR Database Vers. 2.7 for the Kamloops, Merritt, Lillooet, Okanagan, and Arrow
TSAs. Appendix 2 shows the BEC variants that were applied in the current database
version for each TSA; each TSA list is based on priority operational variants as per each
licensee.
2.0 Upgrades to SAR Database Application for 2008-09
2.1 Definition of Likelihood in SAR Database
The definition of the Likelihood variable in the SAR Database was edited and expanded
from its existing wording to improve its clarity. The following definition is provided in
Version 2.7 of the SAR database itself:
Chance of a particular SAR occurring in a particular BEC variant was assessed as High,
Moderate-High, Moderate, Moderate-low, Low, Very Low, or, in some rare cases where
necessary, Nil was listed. Risk assessment was based directly on IWMS 2004
documentation where possible, expert opinion, or in some cases estimated based on
information available and author experience; peer review was sought in latter situations.
Increasingly as the database has grown, more species are not yet listed in IWMS 2004.
Therefore, a 50-50 threshold was used to assess presense/absence based on suitable
habitat presence ie:
1. Low - rare species may be classed as such; or less than about 25% chance of
occurrence if suitable habitat features are present.
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2. Low-moderate - less than 50-50, >25%.
3. Moderate - generally a 50-50 chance of occurrence if suitable habitat features are
present.
4. moderate-high - better than 50-50, up to about 75% chance of occurrence if
suitable habitat features are present.
5. high - >75%, or good chance of occurrence if suitable habitat features are present.
Very Low and Nil are typically assigned to SAR that may be or are confirmed as
extirpated, respectively. It is important to note that these are based on interpretation of
literature available and sometimes consultation with government biologists. Again, peer
review is recommended, although often too little information is available to be more
accurate than reasonable interpretation.
2.2 Special Notes
In general, only forested BEC variants were included in the SAR Database. Grassland
variants and phases of forest variants were included where relevant and/or specifically
requested by licensees in specific TSAs due to potential access conflicts; alpine
ecosystems, particularly AT (Alpine Tundra) and CMA (Coastal Mountain-heather
Alpine), in general were not included unless there were special circumstances.
2.3 Batch Feature Programmed
In the Adminstrator Mode, a Batch Feature was programmed to facilitate multiple entries
for species that occur across TSAs and in several BEC variants. Often similar
information is required within a species’ range, with specific differences between
variants. The Batch function greatly improved efficiency in editing SAR fields and
expanding existing SAR to new TSAs with similar BEC variants. It has also become a
more efficient tool for entry of new SAR into the database.
3.0 Maintenance of Existing Species in SAR Database Version 2.7
The following documents edits made to existing species already in the SAR Database
Version 2.7 in the Kamloops, Merritt, Okanagan, Arrow, and Lillooet TSAs. It also
includes those existing species expanded in Version 2.7 where relevant to the inclusion of
of new TSAs, specifically Kingcome, Soo, Fraser, Strathcona, and 100 Mile House.
American White Pelican
1. Added to IDFdk2 in the Lilloet TSA.
2. Added to all BEC variants in Lillooet TSA: Elevation Min: sea level; and
Elevation Max: 1220m; this edit was applied to Kamloops, Okanagan, Arrow,
Lillooet, 100 Mile House, and Merritt TSAs.
3. Added to 100 Mile House in the following BEC variants: ICHdk, mk3, mw3;
IDFdk3, mw2, xh2, xm, xw; SBPSmk; and the SBSdw1, dw2, mc1, mm.
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4. Appended to BEC Comment for all ICH variants in all relevant TSAs: “Likely
foraging, and potentially roosting, loafing important in the ICH (during migration,
non-breeding periods)”.
5. Appended to Additional Management Considerations: …as per riparian or
lakeshore guidelines under FRPA; maximize core and buffer adjacent to known
foraging, roosting, loafing sites to maintain quality and isolation of aquatic
habitat; then further appended with: ; reserve area should be min 1km around
aquatic habitat in use. This edit was applied to Kamloops, Okanagan, Arrow,
Lillooet, 100 Mile House, and Merritt TSAs.
Brewer’s Sparrow, breweri subspecies
1. Added to 100 Mile House, only IDFxh2, as per IWMS 2004.
Bighorn Sheep
1. Added to Arrow (ICHdw, mw2), 100 Mile House (ESSFwc3, xc3, IDFdk3, mw2,
xh2, xm, xw, and MSxk2,xk3), and Golden TSAs (ESSFdk, dkp, wc1,wc4,wm,
ICHmk1, MSdk).
2. Added to Lillooet TSA: ESSFdv, xc, xv1; IDFdk1, dk2, dk3, dk4, xh2, xw;
MSdc1,dc2,xk; and PPxh2.
3. Changed Likelihood and Likelihood Comment for IDFmw1 in Okanagan and
Kamloops to ‘Unknown’, and ‘California ecotype=300-2800m; Rocky Mtn
ecotype=500-3000m, although as low as 175m @ Spences Bridge, introduced’,
respectively, since IDFmw1 is not listed as variant with species’ range, yet
IDFmw2 is, as well as other variants below and above in elevation within similar
geographic areas.
4. For all TSAs already in database, Kamloops, Okanagan, Merritt, as well as new
TSAs added, changed/added BEC Comment to California and Rocky Mountain
ecotype (population) where applicable as per IWMS 2004 breakdown of variants
and Forest Districts. Some variants and Forest Districts are listed in both
ecotypes, and these are identified accordingly – both ecotypes present in same
TSA and/or variant. Some ESSF variants listed to occur in Rocky Mountain
ecotype, occur in 100 Mile House TSA, although 100 Mile TSA is listed only as
California ecotype. However, the portion of the TSA that occurs within the
Rocky Mtn ecotype variants also falls within the Souther Interior Mountains
Ecoprovince, therefore 100 Mile House TSA does show both ecotypes as well.
5. Added Min and Max Elevation to 300m and 3000m, respectively. Changed/added
Elevation Comment to: “California ecotype=300-2800m; Rocky Mtn
ecotype=500-3000m, although as low as 175m @ Spences Bridge, introduced”.
6. GWM Range had been cut off for existing TSAs, so expanded and applied to all:
“Maintain native shrub and grass structure by limiting removal of browse to 10%
and retaining 50% old seral stages on winter ranges; restrict livestock Apr15-
Jun30; exclude domestic sheep/goats from seasonally occupied habitat and a
buffer of 16km; prevent soil disturbance, intro invasive species.”
7. Additional Management Considerations: changed and expanded ‘invasive weeds’
to ‘invasive species (non-native plants, weeds)’.
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8. Expanded Key Stand Features from “Snow interception, open” to include “steep
south aspect slopes; talus; mineral licks; watering features”
9. Changed Patch Retention Size from “Not available” to “consult MoE where herds
identified”.
10. Changed Buffer Area from “Not available” to “consult MoE where herds
identified”.
Burrowing Owl
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the following BEC variants: CDFmm, CWHxm1,
CWHdm.
2. BEC Comment missing from Kamloops, Okanagan, and Merritt TSAs, so added
“Not applicable” for all variants.
3. SAR Specialist was “D Low ()” for Kamloops, Okanagan, and Merritt TSAs, so
changed to “D Low (retired)” for all variants.
4. Soil Moisture Regime Comment was blank for all TSAs and variants, therefore
added “Not applicable”.
5. Changed Topographic Feature for all TSAs, all variants from “Not available” to
“riparian or seepage sites”, since some association with riparian or disturbance
sites.
6. Structural Stage Comment changed from “Not applicable” to “Nests typically
located where vegetation is shorter, less dense than surrounding landscape.” for
all TSAs, all variants.
Great Blue Heron
1. Added to 100 Mile House TSA in the following BEC variants: ICHmk3, mw3;
IDFdk3, mw2, xh2, xm, and xw; MSxk2 and 3; and SBSdw1. IDFxm and xw,
and MSxk2 and xk3 were not included in IWMS species account, but were
included in the database because IWMS has errors, and it seems reasonable and
prudent that IDFxm and xw should have suitable habitat, given the other variants
included; whether nesting has been recorded or not, the goal of the database is to
facilitate identification of suitable habitat. Similarly, the species appears to use
dry (x) ecosystems, therefore IWMS’ inclusion of only MSdm is likely
incomplete, and MSxk was included; also, had already been included for
Kamloops TSA.
2. For Elevation Comment, added: typically in lowlands and valley bottoms; can
occur/nest to 1100.
3. Soil Moisture Regime Comment: Riparian/wetland and adjacent forest cover.
4. Deleted Py from Lead, Sub, and Co-dominant in ICH and SBS variants; in all
variants corrected Ct to Act for Black Cottonwood; deleted Sx, Hw, Cw, from BG
and PP variants in all relevant TSAs (Kamloops, Merritt, Lillooet, Okanagan).
5. Changed Home Range Size from 30km from nest to 30km from colony (nests).
6. Added Single Tree Retention Size: depends on single nest tree size.
7. Buffer Area changed to: 200m from edge of core or single nest tree; 300m
management zone beyond
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8. Changed Patch Retention Size: Depends on size of colony; typically 12ha core
(200m radius from edge).
9. Changed Patch Species: Act replaced Ct for all variants; Py deleted from ICH,
MS, CWH, and SBS variants, as well as IDFmw2 (Lloyd et al. 1990), and all
IDFdk subzones; Hw deleted from all BG, PP, MS, SBS, and .IDF variants.
10. Added to IDFdk2 in Lillooet TSA.
11. BEC Comment in Lillooet TSA for IDFdk1,2,3=Not applicable.
12. Changed Likelihood Occurrence Comment from “Likelihood Uncertain” in
IDFdk3 and added to dk2: “Not relevant” based on IWMS 2004: Known to
breed in Cascades FD; also explicitly lists IDFdk3 as BEC variant occurrence.
13. Changed Likelihood Occurrence in Lillooet TSA for IDFdk3 from “Low-
moderate” to “Moderate”, as in 11.
14. CWHms1 in Merritt TSA must be changed to fannini subspecies from herodias.
Coastal Tailed Frog (ASTR)
1. Added to Kingcome, Fraser, Soo, and Strathcona TSAs – CDF, CWH, IDFww,
ESSFmw, and MHmm1 and mm2 where relevant:
Kingcome Fraser Strathcona Soo
CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHds1 CWHds1
CWHds2 CWHds2
CWHms1 CWHms1
CWHms2
CWHvh1 CWHvh1
CWHvh2
CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm2
CWHws2 CWHws2 CWHws2
CWHxm1
ESSFmw ESSFmw ESSFmw
IDFww IDFww IDFww
MHmm1 MHmm1 MHmm1 MHmm1
MHmm2 MHmm2 MHmm2
2. Added to Lillooet IDFdk2.
3. Added to Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs BEC Comment: Not applicable.
4. Added to Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs Soil Moisture Regime Comment:
Not relevant.
5. Added to Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs Elevation Comment: Not
relevant.
6. Added to Lillooet Merritt and Okanagan TSAs Habitat Threat (and included in
coastal TSAs): “reduced summer flows, increased peak discharges”
7. Added to Lillooet Merritt and Okanagan TSAs Disturbance Threat (and included
in coastal TSAs): “reduced summer flows, increased peak discharges, removal of
CWD”
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8. Added to Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs underlined section in GWM
Harvest: Maintain riparian forest: 30m core area where present (ie: at least 30m
wide on both banks), buffered by 20m zone with 70% basal area retention.
9. Added to all BEC variants in Lillooet, Merritt, Kamloops, and Okanagan TSAs:
Elevation Min: 275m; and Elevation Max: 1190m.
10. Changed Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs in Patch Retention Size from ‘Not
available’ to “Core: 30m each side of stream, including riparian forest and
CWD”.
11. Changed Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs in Single Tree Retention Size
from nothing to ‘Dominant, Codiminant’ to best retain riparian structure and
micro-climate, as well as prevent windthrow.
12. Appended to References for Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs: Best
Management Practices for Amphibians and Reptiles in Urban and Rural
Environments in BC. November 2004. WLAP.
Sharp-tailed Grouse, columbianus subspecies
1. Added to Lillooet, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs BEC Comment: Not applicable.
2. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA.
Fisher
1. Added to Kingcome (mainland only), Strathcona (mainland only), Lillooet, Soo,
Fraser, Revelstoke and Golden TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Kingcome Strathcona Fraser Soo Lillooet Revelstoke Golden
ESSFmw MHmm1 CWHds1 CWHds1 ESSFdv ESSFvc ESSFvc
IDFww ESSFdc2 ESSFmw ESSFmw ICHmw3 ESSFwc2
ESSFmw IDFww ESSFmwp ICHvk1 ESSFwc4
IDFdk2 ESSFxc ICHwk1 ICHmk1
IDFww ESSFxcp ICHmw1
MSdm2 IDFdk1 ICHvk1
IDFdk2 ICHwk1
IDFdk2b IDFdm2
IDFdk3 MSdk
IDFxh2
IDFxh2b
IDFxw
MSdc1
MSxk
2. No Broad Ecosystem Units were delineated for the Stratchona TSA (Campbell River
FD), however it was listed as one of the coastal areas within Fisher range. Therefore,
since MH was also listed as one of the BEC zones in which Fishers could occur, only
the MHmm1 with an ‘Unknown’ likelihood was added. Peer review of coastal range
and likelihood entries is recommended. All reports indicate coastal populations are
rare, habitat is scarce and not broadly available as suitable.
3. For these reasons, the MH was not added to the Kingcome TSA (North Island-Central
Coast FD) as occurrence, since ESSF and IDF are furthest NE from Knight Inlet,
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inland toward interior habitat considered suitable on a landscape scale; these zones
were rated within the IWMS/Status report, whereas MH was not mentioned.
4. BEC Comment was empty for existing TSAs, therefore added: “Considered rare in
TSA; suitable habitat limited” to Kamloops, Okanagan, Arrow, and Merritt, as well as
new to Revelstoke and Golden (IWMS 2004).
5. Soil Moisture Regime Comment was empty for existing TSAs except Arrow, where it
was ‘Not applicable’. Changed this and added to all others: “Riparian and adjacent
upland’.
6. Crown Closure Comment was ‘Not Relevant’; changed existing TSAs and added to
new: “Relatively open stand with productive understory for abundant prey”.
7. GWM Recreation was ‘Not applicable’; changed existing TSAs and added to new:
“Not available in IWMS; do not build trails, remove CWD from riparian or wetland
areas where fisher known to occur.”
8. Single Tree Retention size was blank, so added “>40cm DBH, 1-100 stems/ha” to all
TSAs, existing and new.
9. Stand Density expanded from “Existing riparian, wetland” for existing TSAs and
added to new: “Existing riparian, wetland. WTP=Trees with rust broom 1-
20stems/ha; trees>40cmDBH 1-100stems/ha; Sx 401-800stems/ha; cc=21-60%;
CWD>200m3/ha.”
10. Expanded References from just IWMS 2004 for existing TSAs and added to new:
“Status of the Fisher in BC. 2003. WLAP.” BC Conservation Data Centre:
Conservation Status Report – Martes pennanti”.
11. Overlay of BEU (Broad Ecosystem Units) onto BEC (Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem
Classification) to discriminate Likelihood ratings within BEC variants for new TSAs
resulted in changes to existing TSAs where differences were detected; differences
were either due to previous GIS extraction error, or more likely, coverage updates
within the past 2 years since the original TSAs were completed. Therefore, went
through line by line for Okanagan, Merritt, Kamloops, and Arrow and adjusted
Moderate likelihood to Moderate-high where original BEUs were moved to High
suitability value category from Moderate. Also, deleted variants for which there was
no BEU habitat suitability rating; these were originally input due to both variant and
Forest District identified in IWMS, but not together, to indicate which variants within
particular FDs. The detailed BEU overlay analyses was used to identify which
specific variants were relevant to each TSA. As a result, variants deleted from the
Okanagan TSA were ESSFwcw, ESSFdc2, ICHdw1.
12. New overlay also resulted in adding the following variants to the Okanagan TSA:
IDFdk1, dk1a, dk1b, dk2, dm1, xh1, xh1a, xh1b, xh2, xh2a, and PPxh1, PPxh1a.
13. Further as a result of the new overlay, for the Kamloops TSA:
a. the following variants were deleted: IDFmw1, Msun, ICHmk1, mw2,
wk1c.
b. the following variants were added: ESSFmm1, wc3, wcp, wkp; ICHmm,
vk1c, wk2; IDFdk1a, mw2a, xh1, xh1a, xh2, xh2a, xh2b, xw, xwb;
SBSdh1.
c. The following variants were corrected: ICHdk, ICHwk1, IDFdk1, dk2,
dk3; SBSdw1.
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14. Changed Key Stand Feature by expanding the original to: “large, elevated CWD
(>65cm DBH), decay classes 2-6 (logs), largest coniferous and deciduous trees
available, particularly with heart rot and/or cavities, trees with bromes, wildlife tree
classes 2-3 preferred, 2-6 acceptable.”
15. Patch retention size changed from =2ha to >/=2ha for all TSAs, all variants.
Flammulated Owl
1. Added to all variants in Lillooet, Merritt, Kamloops, and Okanagan TSAs BEC
Comment: ‘Dry forest types only; intolerant of humidity’.
2. Added IDFdk2 in Lillooet TSA.
3. Added to all variants in Lillooet, Merritt, Kamloops, and Okanagan TSAs Single
Tree Retention Size: ‘>35cm DBH, if nothing >55cm DBH’.
Fringed Myotis
1. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA
2. For Lillooet TSA, changed all tree species in IDFdk variants from Py to Fd, since
there is no Py in the IDFdk subzone.
Great Basin Gopher Snake, deserticola subspecies
1. Similar to Western Screech Owl, changed name to “Gopher Snake, deserticola
subspecies”.
2. Added to Lillooet, Kamloops, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs BEC Comment: Not
applicable.
3. Added IDFdk2 in Lillooet TSA.
4. Added for Lillooet, Kamloops, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs Elevation Comment:
Dens typically around 400-450m elevation.
5. Changed BEC Comment from “Not applicable” to “Range limits and distribution
within range not well understood”; all variants, all TSAs.
6. Appended Soil Moisture Regime Comment to include ‘riparian’; all variants; all
TSAs.
7. Changed Lillooet, Kamloops, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs Slope Range
Comment from ‘Not applicable’ to ‘S, SE sandy slopes for egg laying’, as per
Recovery Strategy for the Gopher Snake, deserticola Subspecies in BC released
Feb 08.
8. Appended to Additional Management Considerations for final result as:
“Typically 1 primary den with satellite dens in an area is focal point for local
population; avoiding disturbance to single site/area should retain local
populations. Require proximity of critical habitat components: rock outcroppings,
rodent burrows, talus slopes (denning/hibernacula), shrub-steppe & riparian
(foraging), and sandy south aspect slopes (egg laying). Landscape considerations
should be made to maintain/recruit connectivity between habitat areas/potential
populations..” for all BEC variants in Lillooet, Kamloops, Merritt, and Okanagan
TSAs.
9. For all TSAs, changed Critical Aspect 1 and 2 to S and SE, respectively (from Not
applicable).
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10. For all TSAs, changed Home Range Size from 300ha to <20ha as per IWMS 2004
(not sure where that original number came from).
11. For all TSAs, changed Movement & Dispersal to “S Okanagan mean travel fr
winter hibernation-summer foraging/egg laying=934m; Kamloops=275-520m;
<200m summer” as per IWMS 2004, from “1.5km”, again, not sure where that
number came from.
12. Changed Single Tree Retention Size and Species to Not applicable, since buffers
around and connectivity between dens is necessary, not single tree retention, as
per IWMS 2004; changed for all BEC variants in all TSAs.
13. Changed Patch Retention Size to: “200m no harvest core around dens and
connectivity between them and foraging & egg laying habitat; can be 200-
300ha.”; changed for all forested BEC variants in all TSAs.
14. Changed Buffer Size to: “Reserve around connected dens and their habitat can be
200-300ha”; changed for all forested BEC variants in all TSAs.
15. Changed Stand Structure from ‘Not applicable’ to “Existing xeric (if talus/rocky)
and riparian”.
16. Changed Clear Partial Cut field from “clearcut” to “Clearcut with reserves” to
indicate core/dens to be reserved; made this change to all TSAs in all forested
BEC variants.
17. Expanded Key Stand Feature from “CWD” to “CWD and vets (CWD
recruitment), riparian, talus” for all variants, all TSAs (included grasslands to
ensure any large veteran trees that can occur in grasslands would be retained).
18. Changed Patch Species from “Not applicable” to ‘Py’ for all BEC variants in all
TSAs in which Py occurs – ie: BG, PP, IDFxh,xm,xw,ww, and all relevant
grassland phases.
19. Changed Canopy Closure Comment to “open” from Not Relevant for all forested
BEC variants in all TSAs.
20. Habitat Threats: appended (added) “habitat loss due to land conversion from
range to urban development & intensive agriculture uses” for all BEC variants, all
TSAs.
21. GWM Harvesting: expanded to: “CWD retention and recruitment; No harvest
within 200m of den sites.”; all forested BEC variants, all TSAs.
22. Appended to Topographic Features: ‘Riparian nearby’; all variants, all TSAs.
23. Expanded References in all variants, all TSAs to include: ‘Recovery Strategy for
the Gopher Snake, deserticoal Subspecies (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) in BC.
Feb 2008’, ‘BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report –
Pituophis catenifer deserticola’, and ‘BC Conservation Data Centre: Species
Summary – Pituophis catenifer deserticola’.
24. After speaking with Jared Hobbs regarding range and his personal field sightings,
it would appear there are some errors in the CDC online information for Forest
Districts. Chilliwack FD has an old record, but Jared has new records near Darcy,
which actually puts deserticola in the Squamish FD or Soo TSA, not the Fraser
TSA. Jared’s records show potential just north of Boston Bar, nothing west of
Princeton, which puts the species range outside the Fraser TSA (Chilliwack FD).
Therefore, added to Soo and not Fraser, rather than as originally expected.
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Great Basin Spadefoot
1. Added to Lillooet, Kamloops, Merritt, and Okanagan TSAs Soil Moisture Regime
Comment: Not relevant.
Grizzly Bear
1. For Critical Aspect 2 changed N/A to Not available for all TSAs
2. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA
3. Made some changes to all TSAs:
i. Slope Range – changed them all to the same “Steep”
ii. Slope Range Comment – changed from various entries including
Not applicable/relevant to “Generally steep, north aspects
(denning)”
4. Changed Likelihood for PPxh1 and xh2 in Okanagan TSA to ‘Low’ from ‘Low-
moderate’.
5. Changed Likelihood Comment to “Not applicable” for IDF, PP in Merritt,
Lillooet, Kamloops, Okanagan TSAs. (Same applied to Soo and Fraser TSAs
where IDF occurred).
6. Changed Likelihood Comment for all other variants and for all TSAs where
Likelihood is moderate, or better, to: “Although habitat may be suitable,
likelihood can be variable due to human impacts”.
7. Changed BEC Comment for all variants where field was empty to: “As per
IWMS 2004, occur in all BEC variants EXCEPT BG and CDF”.
8. Changed Topographic Feature for all TSAs for PP and IDF subzones from either
nothing or Not applicable to “Riparian/wetland/aquatic systems”; for all other
subzones maintained “Mid-slope (for denning), Slides (avalanche chutes)” and
added “talus slopes, alpine meadows”.
9. For all TSAs in all variants except PP, IDF zones, Appended to Additional
Management Considerations: “At cutblock level, key is to remove bear
attractants, and at watershed level implement agressive access mgmt plan that
deactivates roads asap”.
10. For all TSAs, all variants, changed Elevation Comment from ‘alpine’ (appears to
have been cut-off) to ‘sea level estuaries to high alpine meadows, talus slopes’.
11. Changed Vet Component to ‘Yes’ from no, even though veteran trees per se do
not have specific habitat features themselves, they provide CWD and therefore
should be included (ie: as yes).
12. Added to 100 Mile House, Kingcome, Strathcona, Soo, and Fraser TSAs in the
following BEC variants:
100 Mile
House
Kingcome Strathcona Soo Fraser
ESSFdc3 CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm
ESSFwc3 CWHds2 CWHvm1 CWHds1 CWHds1
ESSFwk1 CWHvh1 CWHvm2 CWHms1 CWHms1
ESSFxc3 CWHvm1 MHmm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1
ICHdk CWHvm2 MHmmp CWHvm2 CWHvm2
ICHmk3 CWHws2 ESSFmw CWHxm1
ICHmw3 ESSFmw IDFww ESSFdc2
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IDFdk3 IDFww MHmm1 ESSFmw
IDFmw2 MHmm1 MHmm2 IDFdk2
IDFxh2 MHmm2 IDFww
IDFxm MHmm1
IDFxw MHmm2
MSxk2 MSdm2
MSxk3
SBPSmk
SBSdw1
SBSdw2
SBSmc1
SBSmm
13. For all TSAs and variants, except Kingcome (all variants) and CWHdm and vm1
in Soo, Fraser, and Strathcona, added ‘wetlands’ to Topographic features.
14. Could not fit anymore into Foraging field, therefore appended this sentence to
Additional Management Considerations for Soo, Fraser, Strathcona, and
Kingcome TSAs, all BEC variants: ‘ Across landscape and over time, early seral
stages that produce herbs and berries critical for foraging; also whitebark pine
seeds.’ ; for all other TSAs and BEC variants appended: ‘Across landscape and
over time, early seral stages that produce herbs and berries critical for foraging.’
Lewis’s Woodpecker
1. Added to Lillooet TSA IDFdk2.
2. Added to Fraser TSA in CWHdm, xm1, and CDFmm: Georgia Depression
population, or Melanerpes lewis pop 1.
3. Added to IDFxh1 in Kamloops and Okanagan TSAs; was not included in IWMS,
but since occurrence listed in IDFxh2a and IDFxh1a, as well as IDFxw, xm, and
PPxh1 and 2, seemed prudent to include IDFxh1; IDFxh2 already included.
4. Added to 100 Mile House, Golden, and Revelstoke TSAs in the following
variants:
100 Mile House Golden Revelstoke
ICHmw3 ICHmk1 ICHmw3
IDFdk3 ICHmw1
IDFmw2 IDFdm2
IDFxh2 MSdk
IDFxm
IDFxw
MSxk2
MSxk3
SBPSmk
5. For Kamloops, Okanagan, Lillooet, and Merritt TSAs, completed empty BEC
Comment field as “Not applicable”.
6. Upgraded all TSAs to Red-listed from Blue-listed.
7. Appended J. Hobbs as Species Specialist to all TSAs.
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8. Changed Slope Range for all TSAs from “Not Relevant” to “Not available”, since
cannot rule out some slopes may be more favourable/preferred (unless proven not
applicable through specific research question, does not seem prudent to say not
relevant).
9. Replaced Structural Stage Comment in all variants and subzones from ‘Not
Relevant’ to “mature, riparian Cottonwood stands, open forest-grassland/burn
interface”; therefore, mature serves as the appropriate adjective for both Act and
coniferous stands at interface. This edit was applied to all TSAs.
10. Changed ‘Critical Aspect 1’ from ‘Not relevant’ to ‘W’ with ‘west side of valleys’
comment, as per 2007-08 updates to IWMS 2004 document. Change applied to
all relevant TSAs.
11. For ‘Single Tree Retention Size’ added: ’55-80cm DBH in general; Py=66-87cm,
Act=68-96cm, Fd=52-66cm; if not available>29cm’. Did not adjust species for
specific BEC variants; may consider this edit when batching option is available in
Administrator Mode. Also, appears that At should be included for most if not all
variants, but only added occasionally. Finally, added single tree retention features
to grassland phases and variants, since those trees need to be retained during any
kind of road construction.
12. GWM Recreation: appended (Not available in IWMS) for all variants within all
TSAs.
13. GWM Range: changed from “Do not graze within 1ha of nest site; avoid grazing
within 5ha of nest site; limit browse use to 10%” to “Limit browse use to 10%
within 5ha or suitable habitat surrounding nests.”
14. Buffer Area: expanded to “Maintain windfirmness; retain 6 standing dead
trees/ha; if nest, buffer 5-50ha of suitable habitat” from “Maintain windfirmness;
retain 6 standing dead trees/ha”.
Northern Pygmy-Owl, swarthi subspecies
16. Added to Kingcome TSA in the CWHdm, vh1, vm1,2,3, and xm2, and MHmm1,
mm2.
17. Added to Strathcona TSA in the CWHdm, mm1, mm2, vm1,2, and xm, xm2, and
MHmm1, mmp.
Peregrine Falcon, anatum
1. Added to all variants in the Fraser and Soo TSAs. Did not add to the Golden and
Revelstoke TSAs because it appears breeding populations are not currently
documented there, although within historic range. However, recommend
including at a later time (when budget/time permit) since migrational features and
potential nesting should be addressed. The difference between confirmed
breeding and migration areas throughout the province may account for the SAR
not specifically being listed under Columbia Forest District, although being listed
under the Columbia-Okanagan Region and references documenting its presence
throughout the province, including Kootenays. The principal breeding areas in
the province known as of 2005 include the entire coast, Fraser Canyon, and
Southern Interior.
2. Strathcona and Kingcome TSAs have subspecies pealei.
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3. Added to 100 Mile TSA in the following BEC variants: IDFdk3, mw2, xh2, xm,
and xw; MSxk2 and xk3; and SBSdw1, dw2, mc1, and mm.
4. Appended to Likelihood Comment for all TSAs, including Fraser and Soo,
“Notable breeding areas: Fraser Canyon, Southern Interior; coastal”
5. Changed Stand Structure for all TSAs from ‘Unknown’ to ‘Open, maintain
existing wetland/aquatic system structure near cliffs/nests’.
6. Changed Patch Retention Size for all TSAs from ‘Unknown’ to ‘Maintain
moisture-receiving sites as WTP’
7. Changed Buffer Area for all TSAs from ‘Unknown’ to ‘Unknown; maintain
integrity of riparian/wetland with surrounding coniferous stand near nests’.
8. Changed Clear Partial Cut for all TSAs from ‘Unknown’ to ‘Unknown; likely
clearcut with reserves’.
9. Changed Single Tree Retention Size for all TSAs from ‘Unknown’ to ‘Unknown;
maintain large trees near known nests that could support nests or roosts’
10. Changed Key Stand Feature for all TSAs from ‘Unknown’ to ‘wetlands, cliffs’.
11. Appended to References for all TSAs: ‘Best Management Practices for Raptor
Conservation during Urban and Rural Land Development in BC. 2005. WLAP’
and ‘Status of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in BC. 2004. WLAP’.
12. Changed Age Class from ‘Not applicable’ to ‘Not available’ for all TSAs, all
variants.
13. Changed Lead Species, Co-dom, and Sub Species and Crown Closure fields from
‘Not applicable’ to ‘Not Available’; likely species is not applicable since SAR
historically occurs throughout the province at various elevations, however there
does not appear to be any readily available documentation to indicate tree species
preferences for habitat.
14. For all CWH variants in Fraser and Soo TSAs Movement and Dispersal:
“Largely sedentary; some partial southern movement fall/winter”.
Prairie Falcon
1. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA.
2. Based on the Status report (Cooper and Beauchesne 2004) added all ESSF
variants for Kamloops, Okanagan, Merritt, Lillooet, and Arrow; also included
ICHmw3 for Okanagan TSA (see table below for new variant entries).
Likelihood was set at Low, for all ESSF and ICH variants, based on comments
regarding historic breeding areas Okanagan Valley and moving higher in
elevation due to urbanization and development in valley bottoms; also, ESSF not
included in IWMS 2004 document, only in Status report and BC CDC Species
Summary reports.
3. Added 100 Mile House TSA in the following BEC variants:
100 Mile
House Kamloops Okanagan Lillooet Merritt Arrow
ESSFdc3 ESSFdc 2 ESSFdc 1 ESSFdv ESSFdc2 ESSFwc 1
ESSFwc3 ESSFdcp2 ESSFdc 2 ESSFmw ESSFdcp2 ESSFwc 4
ESSFwk1 ESSFvc ESSFvc ESSFxc ESSFmw
ESSFxc3 ESSFvcp ESSFwc 1 ESSFxv1 ESSFmwp
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ICHdk ESSFwc 2 ESSFwc 2 ESSFxc
ICHmk3 ESSFwcp2 ESSFwc 4
ICHmw3 ESSFwk 1 ESSFwcp
IDFdk3 ESSFxc ESSFxc
IDFmw2 ESSFxcp ESSFwcw
IDFxh2 ICH mw 3
IDFxm
IDFxw
MSxk2
MSxk3
4. Since first entered into database, appears to have been either added to or
expanded within IWMS, therefore several changes.
5. For example, Elevation data is now available, where detail did not appear to be
readily available before; therefore added to all TSAs and variants.
6. Changed Likelihood from “moderate” to “Low-moderate” based on BC CDC
Conservation Status report comment “historically low levels” which currently the
species may or may not have yet recovered to. Change was made for all variants
except ICH, which was changed to Low.
7. Changed Structural Stage Comment from “not applicable” to “open habitats,
including fields”.
8. Changed Crown Closure from ‘not applicable’ to ‘very low-nil’; changed Crown
Closure Comment from ‘not applicable’ to ‘open’.
9. Changed Home Range from ‘=26km from nest’ to ‘Not available for BC;
elsewhere forage up to 26km from nest’.
10. Expanded Foraging from ‘Open country: grassland, sagebrush steppe’ to ‘Open
country: grassland, sagebrush steppe, early seral stage; patchy, low density
vegetation; predate small mammals, birds’.
11. Appended to Habitat Threat: ‘forest encroachment, fire suppression’
12. Appended to Likelihood Comment: “historically low levels; may or may not have
recovered to those levels yet”.
13. Appended ‘J.Cooper’ to SAR Specialist.
14. Changed Soil Moisture Comment from Not applicable to “cliffs adjacent or
nearby open areas, grassland, sage-steppe”.
15. Appended to GWM Range: ‘Do not burn or mow meadows near aeries (within
1km radius) Mar15-Jul30’.
16. Expanded Additional Management Considerations to ‘Maintain open country
around known nest sites, with grassland/sage structure and/or early seral low
density, patchy vegetation components; avoid human activities within 300ha Mar
15-Jul30’ (underlined phrase was added).
17. As per IWMS, changed Wildlife Tree Class from ‘=1’ to ‘1-4’ (IWMS indicates
2-4, but included 1 as recruitment and since already in database from additional
source/reference.
18. Also, as per IWMS GWM re: ‘largest snags within stand’, changed Single Tree
Retention Size from ‘Not applicable’ to ‘largest trees in mgmt zone’.
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19. Added new information for Buffer Area: ‘300m radius no cut core around nest
(~28ha); buffer area/mgmt zone=remaining area comprising 300ha total’.
20. Added new information for Patch Retention Size: ‘28ha or 300m radius around
nest (aerie): cliff, cave, cliff face, etc.’
21. Appended to Key Stand Feature: ‘cliffs, largest trees in stand, early seral ground
vegetation’
22. Appended to References” ‘IWMS 2004, BC Conservation Data Centre: Species
Summary - Falco mexicanus, BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status
Report - Falco mexicanus, www.natureserve.org (Comprehensive Report Species
- Falco mexicanus)’.
23. Appended ‘meadows’ to Topographic Features.
Sandhill Crane
1. Added BEC Comment: “breeds throughout BC” to all BEC variants in all
relevant TSAs
2. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA.
3. Added to Golden, Revelstoke, 100 Mile House, Kingcome, and Fraser TSAs in
the following variants:
Golden Revelstoke 100 Mile House Kingcome Fraser
ICHmk1 ICHmw3 ICHdk CWHdm CDFmm
ICHmw1 ICHvk1 ICHmk3 CWHds2 CWHdm
ICHvk1 ICHwk1 ICHmw3 CWHvh1 CWHds1
ICHwk1 IDFdk3 CWHvm1 CWHms1
MSdk IDFmw2 CWHvm2 CWHvm1
MSxk2 CWHvm3 CWHvm2
MSxk3 CWHws2 CWHxm1
SBPSmk CWHxm2 IDFdk2
SBSdw1 MSdm2
SBSdw2
SBSmc1
4. For GWM Access for all TSAs and BEC variants, changed “20ha around aquatic
nest site” to “within 50m forest buffer around aquatic nest site (ie:
core=wetland+50m buffer)”.
5. For GWM Harvesting, appears that =40% was missing =/>40%, since IWMS: “at
least 40%”; therefore made correction to all TSAs, BEC variants.
6. For GWM Range for all TSAs and BEC variants, edited as per 4 above, changed
20ha to 50m buffer, and added ‘Fencing may be required’ so now reads in full:
“Retain structural integrity of emergent vegetation and do not graze aquatic
systems used during breeding; do not place livestock attractants within 50m buffer
around nesting aquatic system; do no hay wet meadows until after August to
avoid nestling mortality. Fencing may be required.”
7. Again, for GWM Recreation for all TSAs and BEC variants, edited as per 4
above, changed 20ha to 400m buffer, as per Additional Management
Considerations provided in IWMS.
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8. For all TSAs, BEC variants, changed Buffer Area to: “Mgmt zone=200-350m
surrounding core=wetland + emergent veg + 50m buffer”
9. For Key Stand Features, added ‘wetlands’ to all TSAs, variants.
10. Improved Stand Structure for all TSAs to read: “Maintain structural integrity:
retain =/>40% dominant and codominant trees in mgmt zone surrounding riparian
forest”.
11. Also for clarity, changed Patch Retention Size from “not applicable”, even though
no patch retention is required per se, to better define terms of ‘core’:
“Core=wetland + emergent veg + 50m forest buffer (uncut)”. It would appear that
there may be an error in the IWMS 2004 species account, since nothing is
mentioned for practices permitted within the ‘management zone’, yet partial
cutting is mentioned for the ‘core’. Elsewhere, Additional Management
Considerations’ state no harvest within 400m of breeding wetlands during the
breeding season. Since that statement implies the size, approximately, of the
management zone, and IWMS typically defines a core as an uncut area, assumed
no harvest in core, only partial cut that retains “at least 40% dominant and
codominant” in management zone.
12. Furthermore, received email from CDC confirming ‘glitch’ in BC Species and
Ecosystems Explorer which states Sandhill Cranes as ‘Yellow-listed’, when they
are in fact still ‘Blue’.
Short-eared Owl
1. Added to IDFdk2 in Lillooet TSA.
2. Added to CWHdm, vm1, and xm2 in Kingcome, Fraser and Strathcona TSAs.
For Golden and Revelstoke TSAs, there are similar ICH variants, such as mw1
and mw3 that occur in each TSA respectively, however only mw2 is listed as
occurrence in IWMS 2004. Furthermore, IWMS 2004 lists the Columbia Forest
District (boundary approximates Golden and Revelstoke TSA boundaries) as
questionable for occurrence, however, BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer
includes Columbia Forest District in its occurrence search results for the Short-
eared Owl. Therefore, recommended for future consideration and to specifically
determine which operationally relevant variants are also relevant to distribution
within species’ range; also recommend addressing information gaps in species’
distribution within its range for Columbia Forest District as well as Kingcome and
Campbell River TSAs.
a. As per the foregoing, added to Golden TSA, IDFdm2 only.
3. Changed Key Stand Feature from “Not applicable” to “ground vegetation cover”
for all variants within all TSAs.
4. Added to 100 Mile House TSA to IDFdk3, mw2, xh2, xm, xw;
a. Did not add to ICH because variants, although close, were not the same:
ie: ICHmw2 and only mw3 occurs in 100 Mile House TSA. Occurrence
within similar variants should be peer reviewed.
Spotted Bat
1. Added BEC Comment: “Not applicable” to all variants in all TSAs (no comment
previously).
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2. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA.
3. Added to 100 Mile House TSA in the IDFdk3, mw2, xh2, and xw variants.
4. For all TSAs and BEC variants, expanded Home Range Size to ‘= 10 km from
roost; suggest 10sqkm, but can overlap’.
5. Therefore, changed Movement and Dispersal from ‘Unknown’ to ‘up to 10km
roost to feeding area’.
6. Added Elevation Comment: “Most commonly <500m” as per IWMS 2004 TSAs
(no comment previously).
7. Removed Py from Single Tree Retention Species in all IDFdk variants in all
TSAs; also in Patch Species.
8. Changed Buffer Area from ‘Not available’ to ‘Roost cliff, talus base=core,
buffered by 100m mgmt zone’.
9. Changed Patch Retention Size from ‘Not applicable’ to ‘cliff face, talus base’ (not
really applicable, but better description of feature to retain).
10. Changed Stand Structure from ‘Not applicable’ to ‘Veteran stands base of cliff;
existing riparian structure nearby’.
11. Changed Stand Density from ‘Not available’ to ‘variable: openings and existing
riparian forest’ (best fit of existing definitions with little information that can be
gleaned from IWMS document).
12. Changed Single Tree Retention Species from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available,
may be prudent to retain largest and veteran trees’.
13. Appended to Key Stand Features: ‘parkland’.
Spotted Owl
1. Added BEC Comment: “Not applicable” to all variants in all TSAs (no comment
previously).
2. Added to CWH, MH, ESSF, and IDF variants in Fraser and Soo TSAs.
3. Following Merritt TSA for which J. Hobbs was consulted, designated CWH, MH,
and ESSF variants in the Fraser and Soo TSAs as Moderate for Likelihood;
assigned High to IDFww. Assignments should be peered reviewed/referenced
with J. Hobbs again.
4. For Critical Aspect 1 and 2, changed N/A to Not applicable for all variants in all
TSAs.
5. Changed Topographic Feature from “Not relevant” to “Not applicable” for all
variants in all TSAs.
6. Added MHmm2 to Fraser and Soo TSAs, since shows up as a habitat variant on
page 6 of the IWMS 2004 document, although not in the listed BEC variants on
page 3.
7. For all TSAs, changed Crown Closure from 30-70% to 60-80% for CWHdm,
vm1, vm2, MHmm1 (wetter variants) and 60-85% for CWHds1, ms1, ms2,
MHmm2, ESSFmw, IDFww (drier variants), as per IWMS 2004.
8. Changed Structural Stage from 6-7m to 6-7; unsure what ‘m’ referred to, but
perhaps it was a typo or error from old Excel import in earlier versions of
database.
9. Changed Security from “Multi-species and multi-layered (=2) canopy” to “Multi-
species and multi-layered (>2) canopy” for all variants in all TSAs.
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10. Changed Nesting in wetter variants (see above) to “Cavities in side or top of tree;
platforms; nest structure=50cm diameter;trees >75cm DHB in old or young stands
w old vets” and drier variants (above) to “Cavities in side or top of tree;
platforms; nest structure=50cm diameter; trees>50cm DBH, often abandoned
goshawk nests” from something similar with a smaller DBH size (30cm).
11. Lead Species in MH as Hm (Mountain hemlock) and Sub-dominant Species =
Cw; changed CWH in all variants in relevant TSAs Sub-dominant from Pl and Sx
to Cw and Hw (Western hemlock).
12. Changed Additional Management Considerations from “ Stand level mgmt
strategies described here should be applied in stands adjacent to known owl
territories. Nest trees can be previously-occupied Northern Goshawk nests or
mistletoe brooms” to “Stand level mgmt strategies described here should be
applied in stands adjacent to known owl territories (nest, roosts=80ha core no
harvest, mgmt zone=light volume removal so habitat remains min67%area). Nest
trees can be previously-occupied Northern Goshawk nests or mistletoe brooms”
for drier variants and “Stand level mgmt strategies described here should be
applied in stands adjacent to known owl territories (nest, roosts=80ha core no
harvest, mgmt zone=light volume removal so habitat remains min67%area) ” for
wetter variants in all TSAs.
13. Changed Clear Partial Cut for all variants in all TSAs from “Partial cut” to
“Partial cut: Patch cuts (.05-0.5ha)</=5%cutblock, min 100m fr edge;
</=33%basal area/10cm diam class”
14. Added to Single Tree Retention Size for all TSAs, “when >67% suitable habitat
exists, heavy volume removal permitted in mgmt zone: 5 snags>50cmDBH/ha;
where light volume removal permitted: 5 snags>75cm” in wetter variants (above)
and “when >67% suitable habitat exists, heavy volume removal permitted in
mgmt zone: 5 snags>30cmDBH/ha; where light volume removal permitted: 5
snags>50cm” in drier variants.
15. Changed Buffer Area for all variants in all TSAs: “Total area 3200ha: 80ha core
(nest, roost), surrounding mgmt zone maintain min 67%interior forest conditions”
from “Maintain windfirmness: retain 40 windfirm trees from 80 largest diameter
trees/ha” which was appended to Stand Density (see below).
16. Changed Patch Retention Size for all variants in all TSAs from “>500ha” to
“>500ha unfragmented patches connected by corridors (interior forest conditions)
min 1km wide”
17. Changed Stand Structure for all variants in all TSAs from “Interior stand
conditions, multi-storied, old-growth forest: =2 canopy layers multi-species
dominated by >30cmDBH overstory” to “Interior stand conditions, multi-storied,
old-growth forest: >/=2 canopy layers multi-species dominated by >30cmDBH
overstory” for drier variants and for wetter variants, same except “…>50cm
DBH…”.
18. Changed Stand Density for all variants in all TSAs to “>/=5 trees >50cmDBH
with deformities/ha; >5 snags >50cm DBH/ha; overall stand >247 stems/ha (if lg
trees, 86/ha); 15 windfirm fr 30 largest diam/ha” for wetter variants and “>/=5
trees >30cmDBH with deformities/ha; >5 snags >30cm DBH/ha; overall stand
>247 stems/ha; 40 windfirm trees fr 80 largest diameter trees/ha” for drier
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variants from “=5 trees >30cmDBH with deformities/ha; >5 snags >30cm
DBH/ha; overall stand >247 stems/ha”
19. Appended Key Stand Feature for all variants in all TSAs from just CWD to
include ‘wildlife trees, large diameter trees, variable density, interior stand
conditions, multi-species, multi-layered, mod-hgih canopy closure’, also CWD
was corrected from “=100m3” to “min100m3”.
Swainson’s Hawk
1. Added IDFdk2 to Lillooet TSA
2. Added M. Chutter as SAR Specialist to all variants in all TSAs (was blank).
3. Appended “Best Management Practices Best Management Practices for Raptor
Conservation during Rural and Urban Land Development in BC. 2005. WLAP”
for all variants in all relevant TSAs.
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat
1. Added to Fraser, Kingcome, Strathcona, Soo, and 100 Mile House TSAs in the
following variants:
Fraser Kingcome Strathcona Soo 100 Mile
House
CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm ICHdk
CWHdm CWHds2 CWHmm1 CWHds1 ICHmk3
CWHds1 CWHvh1 CWHmm2 CWHms1 ICHmw3
CWHms1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1 IDFdk3
CWHvm1 CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm2 IDFmw2
CHWvm2 CWHvm3 CWHvm2 IDFww IDFxh2
CWHxm1 CWHws2 CWHxm1 IDFxm
IDFdk2 CWHxm2 CWHxm2 IDFxw
IDFxx IDFww
Western Painted Turtle
The following changes were made to Arrow, Kamloops, Okanagan, and Merritt TSAs
as per entering the Pacific Coastal Population to the Fraser TSA, and including
upgrades:
1. Nesting expanded to: “upland soft, dry, light soil without rocks, roots, and
covered with little-no vegetation 150m from water, south slope”
2. GWM Harvesting; changed from “Not Available” to “Not available in IWMS;
maintain CWD near wetlands in all forested BEC variants”
3. GWM Pesticides; changed from “Not Available” to “Not available in IWMS; Do
not use pesticides”
4. GWM Range; changed from “Not Available” to “Not available in IWMS; keep
livestock away >200m from aquatic systems”
5. GWM Recreation; changed from “Not Available” to “Not available in IWMS; do
not construct facilities, trails within 200m of aquatic systems where nesting
occurs; do not move CWD”
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6. Expanded Additional Management Considerations to include: “…consult MoE
for Best Management Practices (fencing, tunnel may be required)”
7. Expanded Clear-Partial Cut from “Not available” to “Not available; likely
partial/clearcut with riparian/wetland reserves up to 200m fr water”
8. Expanded Wildlife Tree Class from “Not available” to “Not available; likely 8-9”
9. Expanded Buffer Area from “Not available” to “Not available, but will nest up to
150m fr water edge, disperse up to 700m”
10. Patch Retention Size: changed from “Not available” to “Maintain water edge to
>150m, particularly south slopes”
11. Key Stand Feature: appended “wetlands”
12. Also added to Golden and Revelstoke TSAs: ICH (Golden: mk1, mw1, vk1, wk1;
Revelstoke: mw3, vk1, wk1) and IDF (Golden: dm2) variants.
Western Screech-Owl, Interior (macfarlanei) subspecies (WSOW)
1. Added to IDFdk2 in the Lillooet TSA.
2. For all relevant TSAs, for higher elevation variants (all IDFdk subzones),
included BEC comment: lower elevation valleys as per Cannings and Davis 2007
3. Added reference Cannings and Davis 2007 to Reference Field; maintain IWMS
2004 as well.
4. Replaced Structure Stage Comment in all variants and subzones from ‘Not
Relevant’ to ‘mature riparian adjacent to open stands/openings’.
5. Added ‘Abundant riparian deciduous cover 4-8m likely important’ to Additional
Management Considerations.
6. After much consideration of IWMS 2004, Cannings and Davis (2007) and
Cascadia (2006), left all IDFdk variants Likelihood ratings as Low.
7. Changed PPxh2 to Moderate.
8. Appears there may be a moisture/temperature tolerance level for WSOW, when
variants are considered in Cannings and Davis (2007) on page 6: therefore since
IDFdk is not ideal and it is common throughout the North Thompson, this maybe
the reason for few WSOW detected in the N. Thompson, and/or species’ northern
limit.
9. Changed IDFxh2 Likelihood to Moderate, based on Cannings and Davis (2007).
10. Changed IDFxw Likelihood to Moderate, based on Cannings and Davis (2007).
11. Changed “Interior” Western Screech Owl name to Western Screech Owl,
“Interior” so that SAR in database can properly alphabetize.
Western Small-footed Myotis
1. Added to 100 Mile House TSA in the IDFdk3, mw2, xh2, xm, and xw variants.
2. Added to IDFdk2 in Lillooet TSA.
3. Changed Likelihood Comment from ‘not relevant’ to ‘information gaps’
4. Nothing entered into BEC Comment except a few IDFdk variants in Lillooet.
Appended: ‘Cariboo is northern range limit; dry valley bottom species in BC’.
5. Changed second appended comment in Soil Moisture Regime Comment from
‘foraging=riparian, grasslands’ to ‘foraging: over rocks; prefers dry, arid; will use
riparian/lake edge’
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6. Changed Structural Stage Comment from ‘not relevant’ to ‘info gaps
considerable; rocky, arid, valley bottoms; also grassland, hollow snags, vets with
bark’.
7. Expanded GWM Access from ‘Not available in IWMS’ to ‘Not available in
IWMS; avoid road construction near known roost sites’
8. Expanded GWM Harvesting from ‘Not available in IWMS’ to ‘Not available in
IWMS; do not harvest where roosts are known to occur; prudent to avoid
disturbance near cliffs, steep talus; prudent to retain large veteran trees with bark
and/or hollow snags nearby any rocky features, as well as riparian/wetland
forests/edges.’
9. Appended ‘insectivorous’ to GWM Pesticides.
10. Expanded GWM Range from ‘Not available in IWMS’ to ‘Not available in
IWMS; avoid grazing near cliffs, steep talus slopes; prudent to keep cattle out of
riparian areas and away from large diameter veteran trees, snags, and hollow
snags.’
11. Expanded GWM Recreation from ‘Not available in IWMS’ to ‘Not available in
IWMS; avoid cliffs, rocky slopes in dry arid areas’
12. Expanded Additional Management Considerations from ‘Use of standing
snags/hollow trees; forages over talus slopes’ to ‘Use of standing snags/hollow
trees; forages over talus slopes, cliffs; roosts in trees, cliffs, caves, mines.
Information gaps: critical habitat features not well understood or even known.’
13. Expanded Wildlife Tree Class from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available, likely 1-7’.
14. Expanded Single Tree Retention Size from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available, may
be prudent to retain largest and veteran trees’.
15. Expanded Buffer Area from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available; may be prudent to
use natural edges (riparian, contours, etc) to buffer rocky slopes, cliffs’.
16. Expanded Patch Retention Size from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available; prudent to
retain: stands adjacent to cliff face, talus slopes; windfirmness to veteran trees,
snags; riparian corridors.’
17. Expanded Stand Structure from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available; may be existing
forest cover base of talus slope, cliff, also riparian’.
18. Expanded Stand Density from ‘Not available’ to ‘Not available; may be prudent
to retain existing density surrounding talus slopes, riparian density’.
Williamson’s Sapsucker
1. Added to Fraser TSA: ESSFmw (IDFww is likely too moist, sent email to Jared
to confirm).
2. Added to IDFdk2 in Lillooet TSA.
3. Added BEC Comment: “Not applicable” to all relevant variants within all
relevant TSAs (was blank).
4. Changed Soil Moisture Regime Comment to “Not applicable” from “Not
available” which must have been an error.
5. Added Elevation Comment: “Not applicable” to all relevant variants within all
relevant TSAs (was blank).
6. Single Tree Retention Size was blank, so added “>60cm DBH coniferous; >30cm
DBH Act, At, Ep”
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Wolverine
1. Okanagan TSA already had ESSFwcp-- in lieu of ESSFwcp2 and wcp4; also
added IDFdm1, dk1b; ICHwk1c; ESSFxcp, dcp2, vcp.
2. Added to Merritt TSA: IDFdk1b, ESSFxcp.
3. Added to Kamloops TSA: ESSFmm1, ESSFwc3, ESSFwcp3, ESSFwkp, ICHdk,
ICHmm, ICHvk1c, ICHwk2, SBSdh1.
4. Added to Lillooet TSA: CWHds1; ESSFdc2, dcp2, dvp, mwp, xcp, xv2; IDFdk2
and dk2b.
5. Added Wolverine to Golden and Revelstoke TSAs in the following variants:
Golden Revelstoke
ESSFdk
ESSFvc ESSFvc
ESSFwc2 ESSFwc2
ESSFwc4 ESSFwc4
ESSFwcp
ESSFwm
ICHmk1
ICHmw1
ICHmw2
ICHmw2
ICHmw3
ICHvk1 ICHvk1
ICHwk1 ICHwk1
IDFdm2
MSdk
6. Changed Likelihood Comment based on current GIS BEU/BEC overlays for
IDFdk1, dk2 in Kamloops TSA.
7. Added ‘valley bottom, riparian corridors’ to Topographic Features for all variants
in all TSAs.
8. Changed lower elevation variants for all TSAs for Structural Stage Comment
from “Not relevant” to “late successional stage: refugia 6-7, watershed
connectivity 5-7”.
9. For all variants in all TSAs, appended “little use of mid-successional forests (3-
4)” to Habitat Threats.
10. For all variants in all TSAs, expanded GWM Access to: ‘Minimize and control
access (length of time used and distance); plan carefully & deactivate to reduce
mortality (hunting, poaching, roadkill). (No GWM in IWMS 2004, only
recommendations)’.
11. For all variants in all TSAs, expanded GWM Harvesting for improved clarity to:
‘Maintain connectivity between and within watersheds; retain old forest patches
(age class>4; structural stage 6-7); connectivity can be 5-7; maintain mature
riparian forest (structural stage 6-7) along valley bottoms [no GWM in IWMS,
mgmt recommendations]’. Also, appended: “When denning known to occur,
avoid logging near avalanche chutes or late-winter caribou areas Mar-Jun”.
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12. For all variants in all TSAs, changed GWM Pesticides from “Not applicable” to
“Do not use pesticides, Not available in IWMS”. Pesticides could affect forage
for some species of wolverine prey base; until research shows no impact, prudent
to avoid use.
Wolverine vancouverensis subspecies
1. For GWM Range, all variants and coastal TSAs, “Not applicable”. Otherwise,
most other variables similar to Gulo gulo.
2. For all variants in all TSAs, expanded Additional Management Considerations for
improved clarity to: “Landscape planning is very important for wide-ranging
wolverines: adjacency of early and late seral structural stages is important to
provide habitat features across all BEC (elevations); avoid development on both
sides of a watershed at the same time and provide old forest connectivity between
watersheds as travel corridors.”; for AT, ESSF, SBS, SBPS variants, appended:
“Consult MoE for refugia/corridor design in undeveloped watersheds”.
3. For all variants in all TSAs, changed Wildlife Tree Class from ‘Not applicable’ to
‘Not available, likely 8-9’, since wolverines require large amounts of CWD.
(Large information gaps occur in wolverine IWMS 2004 document).
4. For all variants in all TSAs, changed Buffer Area from ‘Not applicable’ to ‘Not
available’.
5. For all At, SBS, SBPS, and ESSF variants in all TSAs, changed Clearcut/Partial
cut from ‘Clearcut with reserves’ to ‘Patch cut’, since “natal and maternal dens
are generally associated with small-scale forest openings <100m across at high
elevations” (p. 6, IWMS 2004 account).
6. For all BEC lower in elevation than AT, ESSF, SBS, and SBPS, in all TSAs,
changed high elevation Nesting comment to “Den only at high elevations”;
comment remained the same for high elevation, relevant denning variants..
4.0 New Species Added to SAR Database Version 2.7
The following are new SAR that have been added to Version 2.7 of the SAR Database,
including the variants they were applied to within each TSA. Several SAR were added as
a result of the inclusion of new TSAs, however new species were also added to existing
TSAs to keep the database current.
Several new SAR that have been added in 2008-09 had very little information available
and have not yet been assigned to the Identified Wildlife list, although they are
provincially listed as Blue or Red. As such, BEC variant information is not available;
only zones are listed in the BC Conservation Data Centre Species Summary reports.
Often the BC CDC Species Summary reports are lacking considerable amounts of
information, as well as contain range errors in Forest Districts. Therefore, for the sake of
due diligence, where government specialist contacts could not provide further
information and professional interpretation was not possible (ie: considering records,
global references, other papers, etc), all variants within the specified zone were included
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for occurrence of that SAR; expert peer review is necessary to eliminate variants not
considered part of the range, or at least indicate rare or low potential occurrence.
Therefore, it has been recommended that for SAR without Identified Wildlife reports
and/or other documentation, and considerable information gaps, peer reviews should be
undertaken to ensure what information is provided is as accurate as possible.
American Avocet
1. Added to Fraser, Kamloops, Okanagan, 100 Mile House, and Merritt TSAs in the
following BEC variants:
Kamloops Okanagan Merritt 100 Mile House Fraser
BG xw 1 ICH dw 1 CWHms1 ICHdk CDFmm
BFxh2 ICH mk 1 IDFdk1 ICHmk3 CWHdm
ICH dk ICH mk 2 IDFdk2 ICHmw3 CWHds1
ICH mk 1 ICH mw 2 IDF xh1 IDFdk3 CWHms1
ICH mk 2 ICH mw 3 IDFxh2 IDFmw2 CWHxm1
ICH mk 3 ICH vk 1 IDFxh2 IDFdk2
ICH mw 2 ICH wk 1 IDFxm IDFww
ICH mw 3 IDF dk 1 IDFxw
ICH vk 1 IDF dk 1a SBPSmk
ICH wk 1 IDF dk 2 SBSdw1
ICH wk 1c IDF mw 1 SBSdw2
IDF dk 1 IDF mw 2 SBSmc1
IDF dk 1a IDF xh 1 SBSmm
IDF dk 2 IDF xh 1a
IDF dk 3 IDF xh 2
IDF mw 1 IDF xh 2a
IDF mw 2
IDF mw 2a
IDF xh 1
IDF xh 1a
IDF xh 2
IDF xh 2a
IDF xh 2b
IDF xw
IDF xw a
IDF xw b
SBPSmk
SBS dw 1
SBS mc 1
SBS mm
SBS un
2. For the Fraser TSA, did not add to CWHvm1, vm2 and although added to ms1,
questionable if terrain is too steep as in the former 2 variants and therefore is there
any potential habitat in these variants? Bare, near flat areas adjacent to lakes,
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ponds do not seem characteristic of these variants and furthermore, there are no
records. However should be checked/peer reviewed.
3. For the Fraser TSA, added CDFmm, although CDC Species Summary does not
include the zone, it is inclusive for most Lower Mainland occurrence SAR, and
there is a record in Surrey. As such, CDFmm has critical habitat characteristics,
therefore included it, assuming it was missed in online reporting.
4. For Kamloops and Okanagan TSAs, PP zone should be examined for inclusion in
potential range with potential habitat since BG and IDF each are.
American Bittern
1. Added to Golden, Revelstoke, Fraser, 100 Mile House, Kamloops, Okanagan,
Merritt, Lillooet, and Arrow TSAs in the following variants:
Arrow Fraser* Golden Kamloops Lillooet Merritt Okanagan Revelstoke 100
Mile
House
ICHdw CDFmm ICHmk1 BGxh2 CWHms1 CWHms1 ICHdw1 ICHmw3 BGxh3
ICHmw2 CWHdm ICHmw1 BGxw1 IDFdk1 IDFdk1 ICHmk1 ICHvk1 BGxw2
CWHxm1 ICHvk1 ICHdk IDFdk2 IDFdk2 ICHmk2 ICHwk1 ICHdk
CWHvm1 ICHwk1 ICHmk1 IDFdk3 IDFxh1 ICHmw2 ICHmk3
CWHvm2 IDFdm2 ICHmk2 IDFdk4 IDFxh2 ICHmw3 ICHmw
3
ICHmk3 IDFxh2 ICHvk1 IDFdk3
ICHmw2 IDFxw ICHwk1 IDFmw
2
ICHmw3 PPxh2 IDFdk1 IDFxh2
ICHvk1 IDFdk1a IDFxm
ICHwk1 IDFdk2 IDFxw
ICHwk1c IDFmw1 SBPSm
k
IDFdk1 IDFmw2 SBSdw1
IDFdk1a IDFxh1 SBSdw2
IDFdk2 IDFxh1a SBSmc1
IDFdk3 IDFxh2 SBSmm
IDFmw1 IDFxh2a
IDFmw2 PPxh1
IDFmw2a PPxh2
IDFxh1
IDFxh1
IDFxh1a
IDFxh2
IDFxh2a
IDFxh2b
IDFxw
IDFxwa
IDFxwb
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PPxh2
PPxh2a
SBPSmk
SBSdw1
SBSmc1
SBSmm
SBSun
2. For the Fraser TSA, occurrence in CWHvm1 and vm2 is uncertain. Consultation
of government biologists early in 2009 eventually led to Dave Fraser, but a
response from him had not been received as of 12 March 2009.
Band-tailed Pigeon
1. Added to Golden, Revelstoke, Kingcome, Fraser, Strathcona, Soo, Kamloops,
Okanagan TSAs in the following variants:
Golden Revelstoke Kingcome Fraser Strathcona Soo Kamloops Okanagan
ICHmk1 ICHmw3 CWHdm CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm ICHdk ICHdw1
ICHmw1 ICHvk1 CWHds2 CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHds1 ICHmk1 ICHmk1
ICHvk1 ICHwk1 CWHvh1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHms1 ICHmk2 ICHmk2
ICHwk1 CWHvm1 CWHms1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1 ICHmk3 ICHmw2
CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm2 ICHmw2 ICHmw3
CWHvm3 CWHvm2 CWHvm2 ICHmw3 ICHvk1
CWHws2 CWHxm CWHxm ICHvk1 ICHwk1
CWHxm2 CWHxm2 ICHwk1
2. Did not include c phase (cold) for interior (ICHwk1c for Kamloops TSA:
Headwaters Forest District). SAR likely occurs in North Thompson ICH within
the Kamloops FD as well as Headwaters, but not listed in Distribution of BC
Species Summary.
Barn Owl
1. Added to Fraser, Strathcona, and Okanagan TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Fraser Strathcona Okanagan
CDFmm CWHxm1 BGxh1
CWHdm BGxh2
CWHxm1
CWHds1
2. CWHds1 in Fraser TSA is questionable, however agriculture fields, large open
areas in valley bottom are present; should be peer reviewed.
Barn Swallow
1. Added to all BEC variants except AT in Kamloops, Okanagan, Merritt, Lillooet,
Arrow, Golden, Revelstoke, Fraser, Kingcome, Soo, 100 Mile House, and
Strathcona TSAs.
2. Large information gaps, including likelihood of occurrence.
3. Threat appears to be in winter ranges (migratory), although numbers rapidly
declining in Canada.
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Canada Goose occidentalis subspecies
1. Added to Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs in the following variants:
Kingcome Strathcona
CWHdm CWHdm
CWHvh1 CWHvh1
CWHvm1 CWHvm1
CWHxm1
CWHxm2
2. Variants should be peer reviewed for completeness since very little information
available on this species.
Coeur d’Alene Salamander
1. Added to Arrow TSA for ICHdw and ICHmw2.
2. Added to Golden TSA for ICHmk1 and ICHwk1.
3. Added to Revelstoke TSA for ICHwk1.
Common Nighthawk
1. Added to Kamloops, Merritt, Lillooet, and Okanagan TSAs.
2. Added to BG and PP zones, and IDFxh1-2, subzones, including grassland
phases.
3. Soil moisture regime: not available therefore used personal experience of
finding nests in sub-xeric, xeric conditions.
Common Water Shrew, brooksi subspecies
1. Added to Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Kingcome Strathcona
CWHvh1 CWHvh1
CWHvm1 VWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm2
CWHxm2 VWHmm1
MHmm1 CWHmm2
CWHxm1
CWHxm2
MHmm1
Double-Crested Cormorant
1. Added to CDF and CWH in Kingcome, Fraser, and Strathcona TSAs:
Kingcome Fraser Strathcona Soo
CWHdm CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHds2 CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHds1
CWHvh1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHms1
CWHvm1 CWHms1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm1
CWHvm3 CWHvm2 CWHvm2
CWHws2 CWHxm1 CWHxm
CWHxm2 CWHxm2
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2. Occurrence in CWHvm2 was included only in Kingcome, Strathcona, and Fraser
TSAs and should be peer reviewed for accuracy; until peer review indicates
presence at this higher elevation and non-marine interface, it will not be included
in Soo TSA. Emailed consultation to Canadian Wildlife Service and received no
expert opinion other than reference back to web sites already currently in use with
information gaps.
3. Similarly for CWHws2 in Kingcome TSA, may be too high in elevation since
“upper valleys and inland drainages in the eastern portion of the central coast,
north of Knight Inlet.” But information gaps regarding upper coastal elevation
limits and definite coastal influence/access, therefore entered into database subject
to peer review.
4. Similarly, included in CWHms1 of the Fraser TSA, but could not find cormorant
records east of the lower Fraser River; should be considered under a peer review.
5. Similarly, CWHms2 in Kingcome TSA, likely wintering as per Status report since
head of Knight Inlet; but should be peer reviewed.
Ermine, anguinae subspecies
1. Added to Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Kingcome Strathcona
CWHvh1 CWHvh1
CWHvm1 VWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm2
CWHxm2 VWHmm1
MHmm1 CWHmm2
CWHxm1
CWHxm2
MHmm1
Gopher Snake, catenifer subspecies
1. Added to Fraser TSA to the CWHxm1. For Likelihood stated Low, and for
Likelihood Comment: “Likelihood uncertain; Rare, potential remnant population;
may be extirpated” as per COSEWIC 2002 report.
Gopher Snake, deserticola subspecies (Great Basin Gopher Snake, deserticola)
1. Added to 100 Mile House and Soo TSAs (not Fraser as originally expected, based
on J. Hobbs pers. comm regarding his field records: no records just north of
Boston Bar or west of Princeton, only at Darcy, therefore placing range in Soo,
not Fraser TSA)
Soo 100 Mile House
IDFww IDFxh2
IDFxm
IDFxw
Great Blue Heron, fannini subspecies
1. Added to the following variants within the following TSAs:
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Fraser Soo Strathcona Kingcome
CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHms1 CWHms1 CWHvh1
CWHms2 CWHvm1
CWHvh1 CWHvm2
CWHvh2 CWHxm2
CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm2
CWHwm CWHwm
2. IWMS document for Great Blue Heron indicates an asterisk beside each coastal
Forest District for breeding. All are marked except “North Island”, which isn’t
correctly labeled (ie: North Island-Central Coast FD). Since adjacent Forest
Districts, including those north and south, with the same BEC variants are marked
as breeding, and given the name error and Jared Hobbs’ concession that the
Species Summary reports have several errors, it is assumed that this is an error
and Great Blue Heron, fannini subspecies breeds in the Kingcome TSA.
Green Heron
3. Added to Fraser, Strathcona, and Soo TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Fraser Strathcona Soo
CDFmm CWHxm1 CWHds1
CWHdm
CWHxm1
2. Little information available, including regarding species range. Not listed in
IWMS, and variants are not provided in available documents, only BEC zones.
Therefore, above listed variants were estimated from available literature and the
broad (provincial) scale map of breeding records provided in 1996 Status report.
Peer review should help to clarify any additional variants or need for corrections.
Horned Lark, strigata subspecies
3. Added to Fraser TSA to the CDFmm, CWHxm1, and CWHdm variants.
Horned Lark, merrilli subspecies
1. Did not add to BG in 100 Mile House because contract is only for forest SAR, not
grassland. If grassland to be revisited, then must include.
2. Did not add to PP or BG for Merritt TSA because instructed by Bruce Beech
originally only to address specific set of variants as per list, which does not
include PP or grasslands. If this should change, need to include.
3. Did not add to Fraser TSA, because there no BG or PP variants in that TSA. The
inclusion of Chilliwack Forest District in the SAR summary must be an error,
since there are no relevant zones in TSA (ie: BG or PP). Chilliwack FD does
include strigata, however, as noted above.
4. Added to Kamloops and Okanagan TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Kamloops Okanagan
BGxw1 PPxh1
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BGxh2 PPxh2
PPxh2
PPxh2a
Keen’s Myotis
1. Added to Fraser, Kingcome, Soo, and Strathcona TSAs in the following BEC
variants:
Fraser Kingcome Soo Strathcona
CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHdm CWHvh1 CWHvm1 CWHmm1
CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm2 CWHmm2
CWHvm2 CWHvm2 MHmm1 CWHvh1
CWHxm1 CWHxm2 MHmm2 CWHvm1
MHmm1 MHmm1 CWHvm2
MHmm2 MHmm2 CWHxm1
CWHxm2
MHmm1
Marbled Murrelet
1. Added to Fraser, Kingcome, Soo, and Strathcona TSAs in the following BEC
variants:
Fraser Kingcome Soo Strathcona
CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHdm CWHds2 CWHds1 CWHmm1
CWHds1 CWHvh1 CWHms1 CWHmm2
CWHms1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1
CWHvm1 CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm3 MHmm1 CWHvm2
CWHxm1 CWHws2 MHmm2 CWHxm1
MHmm1 CWHxm2 CWHxm2
MHmm2 MHmm1 MHmm1
MHmm2
Mountain Beaver
1. Subspecies rainieri added to the following variants within the following TSAs:
Fraser Merritt Lillooet Okanagan
CWHds1 IDFdk2 ESSFmw MSdm2
CWHms1 IDFxh1
ESSFmw ESSFmw
MHmm2 ESSFmwp
MHmm2e ESSFdc2
MSdm2
MSunk
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2. Large information gaps; estimated likelihood of occurrence from numbers of
CDC records.
3. CDC records of subspecies rainieri and rufa were distinguished by TSA and BEC
variant in Arc/Info and likelihood estimated based on numbers of
records/occurrences within each BEC variant; this could be misleading however,
because search/inventory effort of individual variants is unknown. However if
several or many occurred within one variant, likelihood was set at either Moderate
or Moderate-High.
4. NatureServe Explorer (www.natureserve.org) reference indicates south aspects
used in BC, north aspects used in California. Therefore, adjusted S aspect use for
warmer variants so that Critical Aspect 2 was appended to include “warm:
consider E,W,N” in addition to the ‘Not available’ applied to all variants.
Night Snake
2. Added to Okanagan TSA, where it only occurs (S. Okanagan and lower
Similkameen valleys).
3. Very little information available on this SAR.
Northern Goshawk, laingi subspecies
1. Added to Strathcona and Kingcome TSAs in the following variants:
Kingcome Strathcona
CWHdm CWHdm
CWHvh1 CWHmm1
CWHvm1 CWHmm2
CWHvm2 CWHvh1
CWHxm2 CWHvm1
MHmm1 CWHvm2
CWHxm1
CWHxm2
MHmm1
Northern Leopard Frog
1. Added to Golden, and Okanagan, and Arrow TSAs.
a. Golden TSA: ICHmk1, IDFdm2
b. Okanagan TSA: ICHdk1, mw2, PPxh1
c. Arrow TSA: ICHdw, mw2
2. Error found in IWMS report: Arrow Forest District not listed among Forest
Districts of occurrence, however distribution map in report shows historic
occurrence and variant is listed. Emailed Jared Hobbs with observation.
3. Also, questioned whether ICHdw1 should have been included, since it occurs in
the Ok, which is within the SAR’s historic range (others are listed) and ICHdw is
listed. Checked BEC map to see if ICHdw1 occurs anywhere Osoyoos Lake
where historic records exist; ICHdw1 does not occur in the Southern Okanaga,
only mk1 is in this area (mk1 is an historic record). Therefore did not include
ICHdw1 in the Okanagan TSA.
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4. For all variants in all TSAs, likelihood set at “Very Low”, and noted in BEC
Comment: “Historic range”; Likelihood Comment: “Historic range; last
inventoried late 1990s and no records found”.
Northern Myotis
1. Added to Golden, Kamloops (Headwater FD), Revelstoke, and Okanagan TSAs
2. Included all variants relevant to licensees in these TSAs for the ICH and SBS,
since only zones provided in the CDC Species Summary Report, and information
gaps abound. SAR may be moderate where mines, occur, therefore reflected this
in likelihood.
Northern Pygmy-Owl, swarthi subspecies
1. Added to Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs in the following variants:
Kingcome Strathcona
CWHdm CWHdm
CWHmm1 CWHmm1
CWHmm2 CWHmm2
CWHvh1
CWHvm1 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm2
CWHvm3
CWHxm CWHxm
CWHxm2 CWHxm2
MHmm1 MHmm1
MHmm2
MHmmp MHmmp
Olive-sided Flycatcher
1. Added to the following TSAs in the following BEC variants:
100 Mile
House Kingcome Fraser Strathcona Soo Golden
Revelstoke
(TFL56) Kamloops Okanagan Lillooet Merritt Arrow
ESSFdc3 CWHdm CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm ESSFdk ESSFvc ESSFdc 2 ESSFdc 1 CWHms1 CWHms1
ESSFwc
1
ESSFwc3 CWHds2 CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHds1 ESSFdkp ESSFvcp ESSFdcp2 ESSFdc 2 ESSFdv ESSFdc2
ESSFwc
4
ESSFwk1 CWHvh1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHms1 ESSFmm1 ICHmw3 ESSFvc ESSFvc ESSFmw ESSFdcp2 ICHdw
ESSFxc3 CWHvm1 CWHms1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1 ESSFmmp ICHvk1 ESSFvcp
ESSFwc
1 ESSFxc ESSFmw
ICH mw
2
ICHdk CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm2 ESSFvc ICHwk1 ESSFwc 2
ESSFwc
2 ESSFxv1 ESSFmwp
ICHmk3 CWHvm3 CWHvm2 CWHvm2 ESSFmw ESSFvcp ESSFwcp2
ESSFwc
4 IDF dk 1 ESSFxc
ICHmw3 CWHws2 CWHxm1 CWHxm1 IDFww ESSFvv ESSFwk 1 ESSFwcp IDFdk2 IDFdk1
IDFdk3 CWHxm2 ESSFdc2 CWHxm2 MHmm1 ESSFwc1 ESSFxc ESSFxc IDF dk 3 IDFdk2
IDFmw2 ESSFmw ESSFmw MHmm1 MHmm2 ESSFwc2 ESSFxcp ESSFwcw IDF dk 4 IDF xh1
IDFxh2 IDFww IDFdk2 MHmmp ESSFwc4 ICH dk ICH dw 1 IDF xh 2 IDFxh2
IDFxm MHmm1 IDFww ESSFwcp ICH mk 1 ICH mk 1 IDF xw MSdm2
IDFxw MHmm2 MHmm1 ESSFwcw ICH mk 2 ICH mk 2 MS dc 1 MSun
MSxk2 MHmm2 ESSFwm ICH mk 3 ICH mw MS dc 2 MSxk
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2
MSxk3 MSdm2 ESSFwmp ICH mw 2
ICH mw
3 MS xk MHmm2
SBPSmk ICHmk1 ICH mw 3 ICH vk 1
SBSdw1 ICHmw1 ICH vk 1 ICH wk 1
SBSdw2 ICHvk1 ICH wk 1 IDF dk 1
SBSmc1 ICHwk1 ICH wk 1c IDF dk 2
SBSmm IDFdm2 IDF dk 1 IDF mw 1
MSdk IDF dk 2 IDF mw 2
IDF dk 3 IDF xh 1
IDF mw 1 IDF xh 2
IDF mw 2 MS dm 1
IDF xh 1 MS dm 2
IDF xh 2 MS xk
IDF xh 2b
IDF xw
IDF xw b
MS dm 2
MS un
MS xk
SBPSmk
SBS dw 1
SBS mc 1
SBS mm
SBS un
Olympic Shrew
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the CDFmm and CWHxm1, dm, ds1, and ms1 BEC
variants. Little known of this newly recognized species; CWH not included in
Species Summary documentation, but variants derived from geographic
descriptions of occurrences and records.
Oregon Spotted Frog
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the CWHxm1 and dm BEC variants, based on very rare
and restricted known range in SW BC.
Pacific Giant Salamander
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the following BEC variants: CWHdm, ds1, sm1, vm2,
and xm1; and MHmm1 and mm2.
2. There is likely an error in the IWMS 2004 upper elevation of 2160m, since that
elevation occurs in the Alpine Tundra zone and is beyond the MHmm2, which is
documented as the highest variant of occurrence. Furthermore, salamanders
would not likely be able to overwinter at that elevation and they are a sedentary
species. The Wildlife at Risk in BC pamphlet suggests a max elevation of 1050m,
which was cited in the database, although a comment was made that it could be
slightly higher since MHmm2 in the Fraser TSA falls between 1200-1400m.
Some inventory and habitat studies were completed post-1993 when the pamphlet
was originally published. An email message regarding clarification of the upper
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elevation limit, including a reference, and a notification of the error were sent to
Jared Hobbs, MoE, 19 Jan 2008.
Pacific Water Shrew
1. Added to Fraser and Soo TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Fraser Soo
CDFmm CWHdm
CWHdm CWHds1
CWHds1 CWHms1
CWHms1 CWHvm1
CWHvm1
CWHxm1
Pine Grosbeak, carlottae subspecies.
1. Large information gaps – very little known about this rare bird.
2. Added to Kingcome, Strathcona, Soo, and Fraser TSAs in the following BEC
variants:
Kingcome Fraser Strathcona Soo
CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHds2 CWHds1 CWHmm1 CWHds1
CWHvh1 CWHms1 CWHmm2 CWHms1
CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm2
CWHvm3 CWHxm1 CWHvm2 MHmm1
CWHws2 MHmm1 CWHxm1 MHmm2
CWHxm2 MHmm2 CWHxm2
MHmm1 MHmm1
MHmm2
Pelagic Cormorant, pelagicus subspecies
3. Added to Kingcome TSA only: CWHvh1, vm1 where likelihood was Not
available, and added to CWHdm where likelihood was unknown, because
sheltered waters are used less/very little, and only occurrence of dm is top of
Knight Inlet.
Purple Martin
1. Added to Strathcona, Fraser and Arrow TSAs in the following BEC variants:
Fraser Strathcona Arrow
CDFmm CWHdm ICHdw
CWHdm CWHvh1 ICHmw2
CWHds1 CWHvm1
CWHms1 CWHxm1
CWHvm1 CWHxm2
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CWHxm1
4. As per references, did not add to higher elevation CWH variants that are not
adjacent to large lakes, water bodies (ie: CWHmm1, mm2, vm2; these should be
peer reviewed)
Red-legged Frog
1. Added to Fraser, Strathcona, Soo, and Kingcome TSAs in the following BEC
variants:
Kingcome Fraser Strathcona Soo
CWHdm CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHds2 CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHds1
CWHvh1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHvm1
CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1 CWHvm2
CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm1
CWHvm3 CWHxm1 CWHvm2
CWHxm2 CWHxm1
CWHxm2
Roosevelt Elk
1. Kingcome TSA: absent from CWHds2,ws2, dm, and MM2 since these variants
are outside (top of Knight Inlet) areas where elk have been confirmed (Phillips Arm,
Sechelt and Power River). However, elk have the ability to migrate long distances
and inventories are recommended by most authors. Therefore, these variants should
be considered for future potential occupancy.
3. Check into interior population requirement of habitat features 200m from forest
edge.
1. Added Roosevelt Elk to Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs in
the following BEC variants:
Kingcome Strathcona
CWHvh1 CWHdm
CWHmm1
CWHvm1 CWHmm2
CWHvm2 CWHvh1
CWHvm3 CWHvm1
CWHvm2
CWHxm1
CWHxm2 CWHxm2
MHmm1 MHmm1
MHmmp
Rusty Blackbird (RUBL)
1. Added to all ESSF variants in Arrow, Golden, and Revelstoke TSAs
2. Occurrence in Kamloops, Lillooet and/or Merritt TSAs uncertain; conflicting
information (information gaps abound) regarding breeding range (some range
information may be referring to migratory routes; warning in NatureServe
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Explorer not to misclass migration areas with breeding grounds for conservation
purposes).
Southern Red-backed Vole, occidentalis subspecies
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the CDFmm, CWHxm1, and CWHdm BEC variants.
Townsend’s Mole
1. Added to Fraser TSA only in the CWHdm and xm1. Very restricted, limited
range into Canada.
Townsend’s Vole cowani subspecies
1. Added to Kingcome TSA only in the CWHvh1. Not really applicable to database
since endemic to Triangle Island within Anne Vallee Ecological Reserve.
Trowbridge’s Shrew
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the following BEC variants: CDFmm, CWHxm1,
CWHdm, CWHms1, and CWHds1.
Vancouver Island Marmot
1. Added to CWHmm2 and MHmm1, mmp1.
Western Meadowlark
a. Added to Fraser and Strathcona TSAs and the following BEC variants:
Fraser Strathcona
CDFmm
CWHdm
CWHds1
CWHxm1 CWHxm1
CWHxm2
Western Painted Turtle, Pacific Coast Population (pop. 1)
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the following BEC variants: CDFmm, CWHdm, ds1,
ms1, vm1, vm2, xm1, and MHmm1 and mm2.
2. Kym Welstead, MoE Surrey, provided confirmation about the unknown status of
elevation range and likelihood occurrence; also indicated that draft recovery plan
not yet complete/available.
Western Grebe
19. Added to Kingcome (winter only), Kamloops (breeding only), Okanagan
(breeding only), and Fraser (breeding and winter) TSAs.
20. For likelihood for all variants in all TSAs completed as “Unknown” because
NatureServe, BC CDC Species Summary, and 1997 Status report provide very
different information regarding distribution. According to NatureServe, SAR has
been reduced in BC, so current information is likely lacking and SAR may not be
distributed across ‘lower two-thirds of the province’ as indicated in the 1997
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status report. Also, Status report indicates discrepancies between records at
Kamloops Lake; furthermore, information, according to author, is admittedly
observational, idealogical and based upon unpublished information.
Western Pond Turtle
1. Extirpated in Canada, formerly in BC. Therefore did not add to the Fraser TSA
where it was originally listed for input to the database.
2. Recommend consideration by forest planners for next year.
Western Screech Owl, kennicottii subspecies
1. Added to Lillooet, Soo, Merritt, Fraser, Strathcona, and Kingcome TSAs to the
following BEC variants:
Lillooet Soo Merritt Fraser Strathcona Kingcome
CWHms1 CWHdm CWHms1 CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm
CWHds1 CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHds2
CWHms1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHvh1
CWHvm1 CWHms1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1
CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvm2
IDFww CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvm3
CWHxm1 CWHxm1 CWHws2
IDFww CWHxm2 CWHxm2
IDFww
2. Large information gaps, therefore applied management from Interior
(macfarlanei) subspecies.
White-tailed Ptarmigan
1. Added to Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs: CWHvm1,2,3, xm2, MHmm1,2 and
CWHvm1,2,sm,sm2, MHmm1,mmp, respectively.
2. Age class – put 5-9, based on structural stage 6-7 for breeding in mature-old
forest.
3. IWMS document seems to revert back and forth between summer
alpine/subalpine breeding habitat and winter forest habitat within description of
the same WHA; seasonal habitat requirements should be addressed and clarified
for seasonal use (seasonal WHAs likely required).
Wolverine vancouverensis subspecies
1. Added to Fraser, Soo, Strathcona, and Kingcome TSAs in the following variants:
Fraser Kingcome Soo Strathcona
CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm CDFmm
CWHdm CWHds2 CWHds1 CWHdm
CWHds1 CWHvh1 CWHms1 CWHmm1
CWHms1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHmm2
CWHvm1 CWHvm2 CWHvm2 CWHvh1
CWHvm2 CWHxm2 CWHxm1 CWHvm1
CWHxm1 ESSFmw ESSFmw CWHvm2
ESSFdc2 IDFww IDFww CWHxm1
ESSFmw MHmm1 MHmm1 CWHxm2
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IDFdk2 MHmm2 MHmm2 MHmm1
IDFww MHmm2
MHmm1
MHmm2
MSdm2
Yellow-breasted Chat (YBCH)
1. As per correspondence with Jared Hobbs, Ministry of Environment, added to
IDFxh and xm, subzones and up to dk3 variant in Lillooet, Merritt, Kamloops,
and Okanagan TSAs; as well BG in Kamloops, and PPxh2 in Kamloops and
Lillooet TSAs; added to CWHdm in Fraser TSA.
2. Likelihood: unknown in all variants in all TSAs other than Okanagan
3. Likelihood Comment: Occassional breeders; likely historically common, and as
per Jared Hobbs
4. For all TSAs (changed Ok TSA) BEC Comment: Dense shrub component critical
habitat feature.
5. For all TSAs (changed OK TSA) Soil Moisture Regime Comment: from ‘Permits
growth of large, dense shrub patches’ to ‘Dense understory thickets: rose,
snowberry, willow, Columbia hawthorn, and/or Red-osier dogwood.’ [Program
would not permit more characters to qualify Common snowberry].
6. For all TSAs Critical Aspect 1 and 2 to Not Available (changed from Unavailable
for OK TSA).
7. For Topographic Feature: “Moisture receiving sites capable of dense shrub:
riparian, ephemeral, sub-mesic”; for OK TSA replaced ‘Dense shrubby areas in
riparian, ephemeral, sub-mesic’ [or something very similar to this wording]
8. Crown Closure Comment: for all TSAs “ Dense shrub understory is important;
Act, At, or Ew overstory”; changed OK TSA from ‘Dense shrub understory is
important; Ct or At overstory’.
9. Stand Structure: changed to “Not applicable to stand, but retain dense riparian –
sub-mesic shrub patches.” from “….dense riparian shrub patches.”
10. Stand Density: as above, changed “riparian” to “riparian – sub-mesic”.
11. Patch Species: changed “Not applicable” to “Act, At, Ew”.
12. Reference: Added J. Hobbs pers. comm. to IWMS 2004.
13. Patch Retention Size: Changed from “Retain deciduous components in wetlands
and draws.” to “Retain size and integrity of existing deciduous components in
moisture receiving sites.”
14. For GWM Harvesting, appended for all variants, all TSAs: “(GWM Harvesting
not provided in IWMS)”.
15. For GWM Recreation, appended for all variants, all TSAs; “(GWM Recreation
not actually provided in IWMS)”.
Yellow Rail
1. Added to Golden TSA in MSdk only; very limited range in province.
2. Very little information available through BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer and
on the internet in general. Very secretive bird, and limited in BC.
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1. Added to Fraser TSA in the CDFmm and CWHdm subzones and the CWHxh1
variant.
2. Species Summaries show occurrences in CDF and CWH zones, but also indicate
occurrence in Kamloops Forest District. Since there is no CWH in Kamloops,
further investigation should be made since suitable Cottonwood-willow and
hawthorn habitats existed historically throughout the Kamloops TSA and may
have provided habitat to what is now considered extirpated. Also, Merritt and
Okanagan should be considered for potential historical inclusion. However, if
species presumed extirpated, then users in relevant TSAs should decide if they
want the SAR included or not.
5.0 Feasibility Assessments
5.1 Inclusion of Plant Species and Communities At Risk in the SAR Database
The feasibility of including plant SAR and plant communities at risk in the current SAR
Database was explored in a meeting with Michael Burwash, Senior Ecosystem Biologist,
Ministry of Environment, in Kamloops. The discussion resulted in a positive response
for including plants and plant communities in a SAR Database application for two
reasons:
1. Recovery strategies for several plant SAR and communities have been posted on
provincial government websites, indicating increasing information availability
regarding habitat requirements.
2. James Quayle, Manager Conservation Planning, Ministry of Environment in
Victoria, is currently working on relevant plant SAR and communities at risk that
would lend itself to inclusion of plants into the database.
Therefore, a SAR Database that includes plant species and communities at risk is
recommended, not only in consultation with James Quayle but also with Michael
Burwash who is currently working on stand level prescriptions directed at SAR
management.
However, the existing database application would require adaptation to plant species. In
particular, current Version 2.7 database fields for nesting, foraging, and security would
require a change to reflect habitat requisites of plant species and communities.
Topographic features, soil moisture regimes, and stand conditions are suitable, although
may require adaptation to plants. A first version plant-specific database could be
developed with Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) as a trial species; review, feedback,
and discussion could lead to additional species and community inclusion as database
versions progressed.
5.2 Inclusion of Fish Species At Risk in the SAR Database
The feasibility of including fish SAR into the current type of SAR Database was
discussed with Doug Wahl, now Forest Practices Board. The result of the discussion was
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that the inclusion of fish SAR in the current SAR Database format remains unfeasible.
The same reasons that existed in 2006 precluding appropriate management of fish SAR
using the SAR Database continue today.
The nature of the SAR Database is based on the assumption that if suitable habitat occurs
within a SAR’s range, some likelihood exists that that particular species will eventually,
if not currently, utilize a particular stand. The current scale of mapping does not permit
identification of obstacles within fish passages and therefore occurrence cannot be known
or assumed without field inventory of potential habitat. Only detailed mapping based on
field inventory will accurately indicate where fish SAR occur.
6.0 Recommendations
1. Coordinate with Michael Burwash, Ministry of Environment Kamloops, for stand
level prescriptions for individual SAR, groups of SARs (for example, mustelids),
and/or at the ecosystem level. Consider pulling across SAR Database Field Card
information and its potential application and/or further coordination, sharing of
information. Maintain simplicity and clarity of incorporating habitat feature
information into stand level prescriptions to target application by fallers and
operators on the ground.
2. Sharp-tailed Grouse (columbianus subspecies) likelihood assessment for each
BEC variant in each TSA should be peer reviewed; either Ralph Ritcey (private)
or Doug Jury at Ministry of Environment could be consulted.
3. Several SAR occur in the lower elevation, arid BEC variants (BG, PP, IDF) in the
Okanagan TSA that are typically outside regular forestry operations. However,
some of these SAR could be affected by road construction/access issues.
Licensees within the Okanagan TSA should decide whether these SAR should be
included in the database, since grassland BEC variants have been ruled out by
Tolko-Okanagan in the past.
4. Acquire Western Painted Turtle Recovery Plan upon completion, as per Kym
Welstead, Ministry of Environment, Surrey office, for updating database entries in
several TSAs, including the Pacific Coast Population (Fraser TSA).
5. Western Meadowlark, Georgia Depression population should be peer reviewed to
ensure all BEC variants have been included. Information gaps are considerable,
and interpretation from available sources (listed in SAR Database References) and
BEC WEB were used to delineate list of variants (ie: 0-100m elevation, coastal).
6. Band-tailed Pigeon should be peer reviewed to ensure variants are correct,
particularly interior ICH variants in non-breeding region of province. Also, peer
review should recommend if Lillooet and Merritt TSAs are also within the non-
breeding range, since all TSA surrounding are and references indicate that non-
breeders can be found throughout the southern half of the province.
7. Extirpated Species were included in the event classification was due to lack of
inventory, or at least lack of recent intensive survey. Also, there is the potential
for incidental/chance observation of SAR in field. The only extirpated SAR that
was not added was the Western Pond Turtle in the Fraser TSA. The recent
addition of the Olive-sided Flycatcher to the list of SAR was entered in its place.
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Cost of inclusion of the Western Pond Turtle should be part of the annual
maintenance for next fiscal.
8. Peer review is recommended for range and likelihood of coastal Fisher
populations as presented in the database for the Kingcome and Strathcona TSAs;
it may be prudent to review all coastal and transition TSAs (ie: Fraser, Lillooet,
Soo, Merritt).
9. Sensitive occurrences that are revealed in WHA searches should be addressed
potentially with some level of built in security in the database so that adequate
management can be addressed.
10. Recovery Strategy drafts for several SAR are expected to be posted online by
Ministry of Environment by the summer of 2009. These should be reviewed and
applied as updates to existing SAR in the database.
11. A peer review of more recently added SAR is highly recommended. A peer
review could either be conducted independently by independent private biologists
(Dick Cannings), or in consultation with Ministry of Environment
biologists/specialists (Astrid van Woudenberg with government biologists, ie:
Jared Hobbs, Myke Chutter, Dave Fraser, etc.), where relevant, or both. In
particular, variants should be assessed for occurrences and likelihood; some of
these may require basis on expert opinion. IWMS 2004 documents have several
errors; in Kamloops and Okanagan TSAs during original work, where variants
were similar but specific ones in the TSAs were not included, estimates were
made and they were included based on similar variants. For example mw3 would
be listed while mw2 would not; mw2 would be included in the database and
estimated based on mw3 and noted as such in the BEC Comment field. This
approach was discontinued in TSAs added in 2008-09 due to time limits and also
author’s unfamiliarity with either the variant or TSA/location.
12. Lewis’s Woodpecker should be reviewed for variant occurrence accuracy in
existing TSAs within the database. In particular, IWMS 2004 shows no IDFxh2
or xh1, only grassland phases, and yet dk1-4 are listed for occurrence.
Occurrence in the IDFdk subzone and PPxh1, xh2 variants strongly suggest
IDFxh1 and/or xh2 should be occupied. Therefore, considering the number of
errors observed in IWMS, IDFxh1 and/or xh2 were included for occurrence of
Lewis’s in relevant TSAs; peer review of these entries is recommended.
Similarly, ICHmw1 in the Golden TSA and MSxk2 and xk3 in the 100 Mile
House TSA were included and should also be peer reviewed.
13. The Green Heron is not native to BC and has been expanding its range into the
southwestern corner of the province within the past several decades. Records
indicate predation of Red-legged frog, a Red-listed species that is native to BC.
Therefore, non-native listed species predating native listed species should be
carefully considered for management priorities. Prior to any enhancement or
special management planning for the introduced species, perhaps it would be
prudent to consult MoE to ensure there are no potential impacts to any listed,
particularly more at risk, species that are indigenous.
14. Delete WHA Pending since access to this information is very limited (no web
access), and licensees receive notification for it anyway. If it is not to be deleted,
then either Ministry of Environment and/or licensees need to provide that
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information at the time of database maintenance. Currently, direct notification is
only provided to Cascadia for the Thompson from Francis Iredale, Ministry of
Environment. Additional regional requests can be made at the direction of the
database user licensees.
15. Specific WHAs in the database can be assigned to individual BEC variants, rather
than the number applied across the entire TSA; this would require the BEC layer
being applied during the overlay of WHA locations onto TSA boundaries and
would require minimal additional work but provide considerable more detail and
accuracy in the SAR Database.
16. Use of habitat images should be reviewed with user licensees. For example, in
some cases multiple habitat images may be necessary for some species and ‘Ideal’
habitat images are either not practical or not possible; also, owl pellets versus scat
are more important since pellets can be indicative of local nesting/home range
area and can be as helpful in the field for identification as tracks are for some
mammals. Finally, most species images were downloaded from the internet and
any copyrighted images were not included; images without copyright designation
were integrated into the database. User licensees should advise if this is
acceptable.
17. Information gaps occur for almost all SAR, particularly those that are federal
Species At Risk Schedule 1, or just provincially Red or Blue-listed, but have not
yet been included in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy. Some
information gaps that were identified for potential prioritization for attention at
the provincial level included habitat requirements for Swainson’s Hawk,
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat, and specific mature-old growth requirements for
wolverines. In addition inventories for several species should be addressed to
better understand range and distribution for consideration of what might be the
best potential management applications; in particular these include:
a) Rusty Blackbird: range in Kamloops, Okanagan, Lillooet, 100 Mile House
TSAs?;
b) Peregrine Falcon, anatum subspecies: range in Golden, Revelstoke TSAs?
Only non-breeding?
c) Short-eared Owl distribution with coastal range (Kingcome, Strathcona),
interior (100 Mile House) and south-eastern range of the province
(Columbia).
18. The following species should be addressed in 2009-10:
a) Rusty Blackbird should be included in Merritt TSA in 2009-10.
b) Peregrine Falcon, anatum subspecies should be investigated for inclusion
in Golden and Revelstoke TSAs and in what capacity (consult government
species experts).
c) Great Blue Heron, herodias subspecies in Merritt, CWHms1 should be
assessed as to whether it should be changed changed to fannini subspecies.
d) Short-eared Owl should be added to CWHxm1 in Strathcona and Fraser
TSAs; investigate potential inclusion in ICH variants within Golden,
Revelstoke, and 100 Mile House TSAs (Jared Hobbs was unable to
provide expert opinion on specific distribution within range; Dick
Cannings should be considered for private consultation).
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e) Spotted Owl Likelihood assessments for Fraser and Soo should be peer
reviewed by Jared Hobbs, as was completed for Merritt TSA.
f) Coeur d’Alene Salamander should be reviewed for specific variant
occurrence in the Golden, Revelstoke, and Arrow TSAs; it should be
added to the MSdk in the Golden TSA. Jared Hobbs suggested consulting
Penny Ohanjanian, an expert in the Kootenays.
g) Common Nighthawk should be reviewed for occurrence in IDFdk variants
within Lillooet, Kamloops, Merritt, etc. (Jared Hobbs was unable to
provide an answer, not this species’ expert – suggested consulting Dick
Cannings; Dave Low should also be considered for private consultation).
h) Purple Martin should be reviewed for accuracy of occurrence within
variants.
i) Yellow-billed Cuckoo should be reviewed/investigated for accuracy of
range and distribution (ie: conflicting information regarding occurrence in
Kamloops TSA).
19. The current SAR Database should be ground-truthed to test for accuracy and
effectiveness of the application. At the very least, a monitoring program for field
testing should be developed for implementation scheduled over time. Initial field
testing could involve effectiveness to predict habitat capability (terrain) and
suitability (cover: forest and/or vegetation) for select test-SAR.
20. A plant species and communities at risk database should be developed based on
consultation with Michael Burwash.
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Appendix 1. SAR included in SAR Database Ver. 2.7 for the Kamloops,
Lillooet, Merritt, Okanagan, and Arrow TSAs.
Kamloops TSA
American Avocet Grasshopper Sparrow Swainson’s Hawk
American Bittern Great Basin Spadefoot
Toad
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
American White Pelican Great Blue Heron,
herodias subspecies
Western Grebe
Badger Grizzly Bear Western Painted Turtle
Bandtailed Pigeon Horned Lark, merrilli
subspecies
Western Rattlesnake
Barn Swallow Lewis’s Woodpecker Western Screech Owl
(Interior)
Bighorn Sheep Long-billed Curlew Western Small-footed
Myotis
Brewer’s Sparrow Northern Myotis Williamson’s Sapsucker
Burrowing Owl Olive-sided Flycatcher Wolverine
Columbian Sharp-tailed
Grouse
Peregrine Falcon, anatum
subspecies
Yellow-breasted Chat
Common Nighthawk Prairie Falcon
Fisher Racer
Flammulated Owl Sandhill Crane
Fringed Myotis Short-eared Owl
Gopher Snake, deserticola
subspecies
Spotted Bat
Lillooet TSA
American Bittern Great Basin Spadefoot Spotted Bat
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron,
herodias subspecies Spotted Owl
Barn Swallow Grizzly Bear Swainson’s Hawk
Bighorn Sheep Lewis’s Woodpecker Townsends’big-eared Bat
Coastal Tailed Frog
Mountain Beaver, rainieri
subspecies
Western Rattlesnake
Columbian Sharp-tailed
Grouse Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Screech Owl
(Interior)
Common Nighthawk
Peregrine Falcon, anatum
subspecies
Western Small-footed
Myotis
Fisher Prairie Falcon Williamson’s Sapsucker
Flammulated Owl Racer Wolverine
Fringed Myotis Sandhill Crane Yellow-breasted Chat
Gopher Snake, deserticola
subspecies Short-eared Owl
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Merritt TSA
American Avocet Grasshopper Sparrow Townsends’big-eared Bat
American Bittern Great Basin Spadefoot Western Painted Turtle
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron,
herodias subspecies
Western Rattlesnake
Badger Grizzly Bear
Western Screech Owl
(Interior)
Barn Swallow Lewis’s Woodpecker Western Skink
Bighorn Sheep Long-billed Curlew
Western Small footed
Myotis
Brewer’s Sparrow
Mountain Beaver, rainieri
subspecies
White-headed Woodpecker
Burrowing Owl Olive-sided Flycatcher Williamson’s Sapsucker
Coastal Tailed Frog
Peregrine Falcon, anatum
subspecies
Wolverine
Columbian Sharp-tailed
Grouse Prairie Falcon
Yellow-breasted Chat
Common Nighthawk Racer
Fisher Sandhill Crane
Flammulated Owl Spotted Bat
Fringed Myotis Spotted Owl
Gopher Snake, deserticola
subspecies
Swainson’s Hawk
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Okanagan TSA
American Avocet Great Basin Spadefoot
Toad
Tiger Salamander
American Bittern Great Blue Heron,
herodias subspecies
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
American White Pelican Grizzly Bear Western Grebe
Badger Horned Lark, merrilli
subspecies
Western Harvest Mouse
Band-tailed Pigeon Lewis’s Woodpecker Western Painted Turtle
Barn Swallow Long-billed Curlew Western Rattlesnake
Bighorn Sheep Mountain Beaver, rainieri
subspecies
Western Screech Owl
(Interior)
Brewer’s Sparrow Night Snake Western Skink
Burrowing Owl Northern Leopard Frog Western Small-footed
Myotis
Coastal Tailed Frog Northern Myotis White-headed Woodpecker
Columbian Sharp-tailed
Grouse
Olive-sided Flycatcher Williamson’s Sapsucker
Common Nighthawk Peregrine Falcon, anatum
subspecies
Wolverine
Fisher Prairie Falcon Yellow-breasted Chat
Flammulated Owl Racer
Fringed Myotis Sandhill Crane
Gopher Snake, deserticola
subspecies
Short-eared Owl
Grasshopper Sparrow Spotted Bat
Arrow TSA
American Bittern Grizzly Bear Tiger Salamander
American White Pelican Lewis’s Woodpecker Townsends’big-eared Bat
Badger Northern Leopard Frog Western Painted Turtle
Barn Swallow Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Rattlesnake
Bighorn Sheep Prairie Falcon Western Screech Owl
Coeur D’Alene
Salamander Purple Martin
Western Skink
Fisher Racer Williamson’s Sapsucker
Fringed Myotis Rusty Blackbird Wolverine
Great Basin Spadefoot Sandhill Crane
Great Blue Heron,
herodias subspecies Short-eared Owl
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Appendix 2. BEC variants included in SAR Database Ver. 2.7 for
Kamloops, Merritt, Lillooet, Okanagan, and Arrow TSAs.
Kamloops Okanagan Lillooet Merritt Arrow
AT un AT un CWHms1 CWHms1 ESSFwc 1
AT unp AT unp ESSFdv ESSFdc2 ESSFwc 4
BG xw 1 ESSFdc 1 ESSFmw ESSFdcp2 ICHdw
ESSFdc 2 ESSFdc 2 ESSFxc ESSFmw ICH mw 2
ESSFdcp2 ESSFvc ESSFxv1 ESSFmwp
ESSFvc ESSFwc 1 IDF dk 1 ESSFxc
ESSFvcp ESSFwc 2 IDFdk2 IDFdk1
ESSFwc 2 ESSFwc 4 IDF dk 3 IDFdk2
ESSFwcp2 ESSFwcp IDF dk 4 IDF xh1
ESSFwk 1 ESSFxc IDF xh 2 IDFxh2
ESSFxc ESSFwcw IDF xw MSdm2
ESSFxcp ICH dw 1 MS dc 1 MSun
ICH dk ICH mk 1 MS dc 2 MSxk
ICH mk 1 ICH mk 2 MS xk MHmm2
ICH mk 2 ICH mw 2 PP xh 2
ICH mk 3 ICH mw 3
ICH mw 2 ICH vk 1
ICH mw 3 ICH wk 1
ICH vk 1 IDF dk 1
ICH wk 1 IDF dk 1a
ICH wk 1c IDF dk 2
IDF dk 1 IDF mw 1
IDF dk 1a IDF mw 2
IDF dk 2 IDF xh 1
IDF dk 3 IDF xh 1a
IDF mw 1 IDF xh 2
IDF mw 2 IDF xh 2a
IDF mw 2a MS dm 1
IDF xh 1 MS dm 2
IDF xh 1a MS xk
IDF xh 2 PP xh 1
IDF xh 2a PP xh 2
IDF xh 2b
IDF xw
IDF xw a
IDF xw b
MS dm 2
MS un
MS xk
PP xh 2
PP xh 2a
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SBPSmk
SBS dw 1
SBS mc 1
SBS mm
SBS un