Forest & Range Evaluation Program Fish/Watershed Monitoring

Under B.C.'s Forest and Range Practices Act Government Actions Regulation, and the Oil and Gas Activities Act Environmental Management and Protection Regulation, watersheds with significant fish values and watershed sensitivity can be designated as Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds (FSWs).

Effectiveness monitoring and assessment is critical for ensuring that FSW designations succeed in achieving their intended goals of maintaining natural functions and processes necessary for conserving healthy fish habitats populations. Integrated

GIS-based (Tier I) and field-based (Tier II) methods for assessing the habitat status of FSWs have been developed jointly by government and private partners through watershed status evaluation monitoring protocols.