predictive ecosystem mapping (pem) of timber supply...

PREDICTIVE ECOSYSTEM MAPPING (PEM) OF TIMBER SUPPLY

AREA (TSA) 40

PROGRESS REPORT (2009-2010)

Prepared for:

Canadian Forest Products Ltd.

RR#1, Site 13, Compartment 2

Fort St. John, BC, V1J 4M6

Attention: Darrell Regimbald and Carole Savage

Prepared by:

Timberline Natural Resources Group Ltd.

Suite 219, 1884 Spall Road

Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 4R1

March 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 OVERVIEW OF TSA 40 PEM STUDY AREA ......................................................................................................1

1.2 OVERVIEW OF PEM METHODOLOGY FOR TSA 40 ...........................................................................................2

1.3 PROJECT COMPONENTS FOR 2009-2010 ...........................................................................................................3

1.4 SUMMARY OF RELEVANT RISC STANDARDS ...................................................................................................3

2.0 PEM PROGRESS IN 2009-2010 .................................................................................................. 5

2.1 DATA ASSEMBLY, ASSESSMENT, AND PREPARATION.......................................................................................5

2.2 MAPPING OF ECOLOGICAL EXCEPTION ..........................................................................................................18

3.0 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................. 22

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Map Entity for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping of TSA 40 ........................................................................7

Table 2. Map Entity for Mapping Ecologically Unique Features and Exceptions..................................................19

TABLE 3. AREA SUMMARY OF MAPPED ECOLOGICAL FEATURES AND EXCEPTIONS..............................................119

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

In February 2010, Canadian Forest Products Ltd. issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to complete Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) for Timber Supply Area (TSA) 40. Timberline Natural Resource Group Ltd. was selected to complete the PEM within a two-year period, contingent on funding availability through the Forest Investment Account (FIA). The purpose of this document is to report on progress during year 1 of the PEM project implementation.

The primary objective of PEM is to acquire thematically accurate and spatially explicit ecosystem mapping products that can be used for a wide range of purposes related to land and resource management. PEM is used, for example, in sustainable forest management plan development, ecosystem representation analysis, forest operation schedule analysis, species and ecosystem at risk management, mountain pine beetle management, oil and gas exploration and development, and wildlife and biodiversity assessment. The ecosystem data may also be used for site productivity estimates for future timber supply analyses.

Over the years, Canadian Forest Products Ltd. has implemented several landbase inventory projects such as integrated Vegetation Resource Inventory (VRI) / terrain mapping, and ecosystem field data collection. The completed VRI / terrain mapping implemented a polygon delineation process that was ecologically oriented. The VRI polygons will form the basis for the proposed PEM base polygons. As the VRI and ecosystem maps are the two most frequently used landbase inventories, the same base polygons for the two inventories would be advantageous for any future applications of the maps in forest management planning and interpretations. It is Canfor’s desire that the TSA 40 PEM will use the ecologically oriented VRI polygons as base polygons.

1.1 Overview of TSA 40 PEM Study Area

The Fort St. John TSA is located in the northeastern interior of British Columbia and is administered by the Peace Forest District. The TSA covers about 4.7 million hectares and is bounded by the Peace River and TFL 48 to the south, the Alberta border to the east, the Fort Nelson TSA to the north, and the Rocky Mountains to the west.

The eastern portion of the TSA is dominated by a plateau (primarily the Alberta Plateau Ecoregion), while the western portion consists of the Rocky Mountains and foothills. Four major Biogeoclimatic (BGC) zones occur in the TSA: Boreal White and Black Spruce zone (BWBS) on the plateaus and lower elevations, the Engelmann Spruce-subalpine Fir (ESSF) and Spruce-Willow-Birch zone (SWB) at medium to high elevations in the mountains and foothills; and the Alpine Tundra zone (BAFA) at higher elevations. The following is a BGC list of subzone / variants and approximate areas (ha) in the TSA:

• BWBSmw: 1,596,739 ha (previously BWBSmw1)

• BWBSmk: 2,019,991 ha (previously BWBSmw2)

• BWBSwk2: 315,812 ha

• BWBSwk3: 4,479 ha

• ESSFmv4: 236,131 ha

• ESSFmvp: 31,717 ha

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• SWBmk: 253,914 ha

• SWBmks: 95,138 ha

• BAFAun: 122,717 ha (previously AT)

White spruce, lodgepole pine, aspen, and black spruce are the dominant tree species in the TSA.

About 48 percent of the Fort St. John TSA (about 2.243 million hectares) is considered productive forest land managed by the Crown. Currently about 47 percent of this area is considered available for timber harvesting under current forest management practices. The current timber harvesting landbase is about 1,058,540 ha, consisting of 733,221 ha dominated by coniferous species and 325,318 ha dominated by deciduous species.

1.2 Overview of PEM Methodology for TSA 40

Timberline has proposed a soil moisture modeling focused method to complete the TSA40 PEM. Refer to project work plan (Timberline 2010) for detailed information about the methodology to be implemented. The following is a brief summary of the main steps in the process:

1) DEM preparation: DEM is enhanced by interpolating to a higher resolution (i.e., from original 75-100 m to 25-50 m resolution). The creation of a ‘pitless’ DEM, removal of artifacts, and compiling water feature layers, for example, are integral parts of the DEM preparation process;

2) The PEM model is raster based (i.e., pixel size of 25 x 25m as the basic unit for analysis), however, the final product will be converted to vector polygons, i.e., ecologically oriented VRI polygons;

3) Site characteristics of a given pixel including landscape position (macro and meso), landscape shape, slope gradients and orientation, and solar radiation are modeled from DEM analysis using a variety of tools;

4) Experiential soil properties are assumed for a given area with exceptions. Depending on the specific mapping areas, deep and medium textured soil may be assumed for some areas while deep and fine textured soils are assumed for other areas depending on their geomorphological origins;

5) Exceptions include ecological characteristics (wetter than expected, drier than expected, surface seepage, cold air basins / valleys, extreme wet climates, wetlands, and grasslands) and materials (coarse and fine if medium is assumed, soil compaction, very shallow to bedrock, and avalanche tracks) are captured through image interpretation and remote sensing;

6) Soil moisture is modeled through hydrological flow models; 7) Field sampling is not a component of the TSA 40 PEM. However, existing field data are to be

investigated and assembled from a variety of sources. The data sources will be used for knowledge base development and quality assurance of modeling results; and

8) PEM results and key PEM inputs are viewed and conceptually analyzed during every step of the PEM process. This is accomplished through the use of 3-dimension visualization tools.

Timberline uses a suite of new PEM software to implement the PEM process of the TSA 40. The new soil moisture modeling focused PEM process was developed in 2005 and has been implemented in several TSA wide operational PEMs. All PEMs completed using the new process have achieved good results in terms of thematic map accuracy.

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1.3 Project Components for 2009-2010

Due to funding constraints for 2009-2010 and the late start of the PEM project, the following process components are to be completed within the fiscal year 2009-2010.

• Data assembly, assessment, and preparation; and

• Mapping of ecologically unique features and exceptions.

The following interim products are to be delivered to Canfor, Fort St. John by March 29, 2010:

• Map entity list for PEM (.PDF format).

• All data assembled and prepared including TRIM and DEM, VRI/terrain, field data, BGC, soil mapping, and any other additional data Timberline has collated;

• Finalized TSA 40 PEM work plan;

• Ecologically unique features and exceptions of the TSA 40 PEM area (.e00); and

• Map legend for mapping ecological unique features and exceptions (.PDF).

1.4 Summary of Relevant RISC Standards

The B.C. Government has been consistently encouraging innovations in PEM. This is also evident in provincial PEM standards (RIC 1999) in which a minimum standard was established for digital data capture, metadata documentation and reporting. Specific requirements for a non-standard inventory that is derived or completed to support PEM were also established. However, there was no specific PEM method assigned or preferred in the standards. Over the past decade, numerous PEM methods have been tested across B.C. and a soil moisture modeling focused PEM method returned the best results. The following list of relevant RISC standards applies to the soil moisture based PEM method as currently applied in BC:

• Draft Quality Assurance Guidelines for PEM and TEM: B.C. Min of Environment (2003)

• Investment Account Data Management Standard - Data Exchange/Submission of Resource Inventories, FIA, PWC;

• Resources Inventory Committee. 1998. Standard for Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping in British Columbia. Terrestrial Ecosystems Task Force, Ecosystems Working Group. Victoria, BC;

• Resources Inventory Committee (RIC). 1999. Standards for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping, Inventory Standard, Version 1.0. Prepared by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping Alternatives Task Force, Victoria, B.C.;

• Resources Inventory Committee (RIC). 2000. Standards for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) - Digital Data Capture Predictive Ecosystem Technical Standards and Database Manual. April 2000, Version 1.0. Prepared by the PEM Data Committee for the TEM Alternatives Task Force, Resources Inventory Committee, Victoria, B.C.;

• Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC). 2003 (revised). Standards for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) - Digital Data Capture in British Columbia, Version 1.0 (2000), Errata No. 1.0. Prepared by the MSRM for the Resources Information Standards Committee, Victoria, B.C.;

• Quality Assurance Guideline for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM)-Draft. 2003

(version 1.0). B.C. Min. of Environment;

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• Provincial Site Series Map Codes List and Typical Environmental Conditions. 2003. B.C. Min. of Environment;

• Provincial Site Series and Map Codes List. 2006. B.C. Min. of Environment;

• Meidinger, D. 2003. Protocol for Accuracy Assessment of Ecosystem Maps. Research Res. Br., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 011; and

• Moon, D., D. Dunlop, K. Iles, and N. Phillips. 2005. A protocol for assessing thematic map accuracy using small-area sampling. B.C. Min. For. Res. Br., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 023. Land Based Investment Program Forest.

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2.0 PEM PROGRESS IN 2009-2010

2.1 Data Assembly, Assessment, and Preparation

As a prerequisite for PEM, all pertinent data including spatial coverage and aspatial databases were investigated and assembled for the project during February and March 2010. Data quality and compatibility were assessed and remedial actions were taken when issues were discovered. Spatial accuracy of the existing data is of special concern in PEM and was closely scrutinized for the purpose of PEM.

The following data sources were investigated and assembled as a result of this step:

• TRIM II DEM of entire project area;

• Orthophotography of entire project area;

• Existing ecosystem field plots from a variety of sources; and

• Vegetation resources inventory.

The following data sources were investigated but have yet to be assembled. Since the data sources are not essential for the completion of year 1 PEM components, Timberline is in the process of compiling the data:

• Terrain and/or soil mapping: there are bioterrain mapping which covers majority of the TSA 40 TSA. The data will be made available by Ms. Deepa Filatow (MoE, currently on vacation leave) in April; and

• Silvicultural prescriptions through Canfor’s operations in TSA 40. The data will be made available by Andrew Tyrrell (Canfor) during the first half of 2010; and

• Purview images: only partial cover of purview images are required for the photo interpretation of random data locations which will be used for the purpose of the PEM quality assurance and internal map accuracy assessment. Since the size of the image files is huge, Timberline will table a list of required images and related files after the final selection of random locations for photo interpretation during next phase of the PEM.

During the data investigation, Timberline has discovered that the Ministry of Forests and Range (MoFR) is in the process of revising ecosystem field guides for the Peace Region. The map entity list for the year-1 deliverables reflects the new site series concepts, definition, and new map codes. The new field guides are currently still in an early draft stage in terms of text and publishing but site units of the respective BGC subzone/variants are considered to be final (Craig DeLong, 2010).

There are also major changes in Biogeoclimatic (BGC) unit classification within TSA 40. Specifically, BWBSmw2, one of the largest BGC units in the TSA, is now classified as BWBSmk. BWBSmw1 is newly classified as BWBSmw. Other changes include the classification of BWBSdk2 to BWBSmk, and BWBSdk1 to BWBSdk. There are also minor changes in BGC boundaries, specifically for BWBSmk and BWBSdk (Craig DeLong, personal comm. March, 2010).

Timberline is committed to work closely with the MoFR Regional Ecologist during the course of the PEM project in order to use the latest information on the BGC boundary changes and site unit revision.

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Deliverables from the completion of this phase include:

• Finalized TSA 40 PEM work plan;

• Prepared and ready to use DEM;

• Map entity list for PEM (.PDF format); and

• All data assembled and prepared including TRIM and DEM, VRI, ecosystem field data, BGC, TEM, ortho phtotos.

Table 1 presents the map entities to be recognized in the TSA 40 PEM. As mentioned, the map entities reflect the new ecosystem field guide developed for the Peace Region.

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Table 1. Map Entities for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping of TSA 40

BGC Unit Site

Series Site Series Name Site Series Description

Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSmk Ro Rock Outcrops

occurs in the forested zones where there is little soil, abundant cover of rock or bedrock, and generally low cover of vascular plants very xeric

BWBSmk Gb Shrub Land

dry and rocky sites; dominated by drought tolerant woody shrubs of moderate stature (Saskatoon, rose, soopolallie, stunted At etc.) very xeric-xeric

BWBSmk Gg Grass Land

deep and productive soils that are excessively dry; graminoid-dominated and shrubs <10%; locally common in Peace River breaks, Grand Canyon, and the Atlin area. very xeric-xeric

BWBSmk 101 Sw-Lingonberry-Stepmoss

common on upland rolling terrain and uncommon in lowland where wetland common; L, M, or FG, tall bluebells and/or trailing raspberry generally present mesic

BWBSmk 102 Pl-Kinnikinnick-Lingonberry

uncommon, small and localized; FGr, FGt, Aeolian; canopy dominated by Pl; Kinnikinnick present and usually >5%; reindeer lichen common Xeric- subxeric

BWBSmk 103 SwPl-Soopolallie-Wildrye

common, FG plain; steeper warm slopes, sparse to open canopy; mixed canopy by Sb absent or <10%; Labrador tea occasionally present; Kinnikinnick absent; wildrye >5%; submesc-mesic

BWBSmk 104 Sb-Labrador tea-Step moss

common where areas with extensive wetlands, small but widespread often as a band of upland to wetland transition; Sb always present and > 20%

submesic-subhygric

BWBSmk 110 Sw-Currant-Horsetail

common in areas of extensive wetland; level site usually not adjacent to water courses; lower to toe slopes; a strip alone small watercourse; horsetail present but red-osier dogwood and mountain alder generally absent

subhygric-hygric

BWBSmk 111 Sw-Mountain alder-Horsetail

common on sites that are subject to flooding along major waterways; upper benches receiving seepage; horsetail and/or red-osier dogwood and/or mountain alder >5%

subhygric-hygric

8

BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSmk 112 Fm02; AcbSw-Mountain alder-Dogwood mid bench fluvial sites; Acb leading

hygric-subhydric

BWBSmk Wb Bog wetland swamp wetland hygric-subhydric

BWBSmk Ws Swamp wetland fen wetland subhydric

BWBSmk Wf Fen wetland marsh wetland subhydric

BWBSmk Wm Marsh wetland marsh wetland Subhydric-hygric

BWBSmk 101$ At-Green alder-Highbush cranberry

very common on upland sites; mostly on level or gentle sites (<10%); variable textures; fuzzy-spiked wildrye absent; false sarsaparilla >5% mesic

BWBSmk 102$ At-Soopolallie-Kinnikinnick Upper to crest slope on warmer aspect; Kinnikinnick >5%; coarse FG deposit xeric-subxeric

BWBSmk 103$ At-Rose-Fuzzy-spiked wildrye

common on west portion of BWBSmk; almost exclusively on warm slope; occasionally on gentle coarse soil; fuzzy-spiked wildrye generally >5% submesic

BWBSmk 104$ At-Labrador tea-Lingonberry common on rolling terrain associated with wetland; level or cool slope; Sb often present; Labrador tea >1%

submesic-subhygric

BWBSmk 110$ At-horsetail-Step moss

uncommon; generally restricted to sites of cultural disturbance; mid to lower or level; At dominated forests; Sb and Labrador tea generally absent; horsetail >1% subhygric

BWBSmk 112$ AcbSw-Mountain Alder-Dogwood

common on mid bench fluvial; Acb dominated canopy; restricted to flood plains along major water courses; horsetail generally present

subhygric-hygric

BWBSmw RO Rock Outcrops


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BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSmw Gb Shrub Land


BWBSmw Gg Grass Land

deep and productive soil that are excessively dry; graminoid-dominated and shrubs <10%; locally common in Peace River breaks, Grand Canyon, and the Atlin area. very xeric-xeric

BWBSmw 101 Sw-Trailing-Step moss

common; variable texture; canopy often a mixture of Sw and Pl or Sw and At; generally on mid to upper slope; oak fern absent; red swamp currant and horsetail usually not both present

submesic-subhygric

BWBSmw 102 Pl_Kinnikinnick-Lingonberry rare; coarse FGt; canopy dominated by Pl; sparse shrub layer; Kinnikinnick present and usually greater than 10% xeric-subxeric

BWBSmw 103 SwPl-Soopolallie-Wildrye

common; most common on FG materials and warm slope; canopy dominated by Pl or Sw; often on warm slopes; fuzzy-spiked wildrye always present and often greater than 10%. Kinnikinick generally absent submesic

BWBSmw 104 Sb-Labrador tea-Step moss common and widespread, on gentle to steep cool aspects; Labrador tea or Sb present and often greater than 10%

submesic - mesic

BWBSmw 110 Sw-Oak fern-Sarsaparilla

uncommon; limited distribution, restricted to foothill area; site generally sloping and on cool aspect; western mountain ash usually present; oak fern greater than 10%

mesic - subhygric

BWBSmw 111 Sw-Currant-Horsetail

common but small in area; level sites adjacent to smaller water courses; or on gentle lower to toe slopes; or on cool lower slopes; horsetail always present and often greater than 10%; red swamp currant common

mesic - subhygric

BWBSmw 112 AcbSw-Mountain alder-dogwood fluvial mid bench sites adjacent to water courses (Fm02) hygric

BWBSmw Wb Bog wetland bog wetland hygric-subhydric

BWBSmw Ws Swamp wetland swamp wetland hygric-subhydric

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BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSmw Wf Fen wetland fen wetland subhydric

BWBSmw Wm Marsh wetland marsh wetland subhydric

BWBSmw 101$ At-Rose-Creamy pea vine

very common, dominates upland sites; level or gently sloping; if slope > 10% then often on neutral or cool aspect; balsam poplar <10% if present

subxeric - submesic

BWBSmw 102$ At-Soopolallie-Kinnikinnick

uncommon; localized and small; steep upper slope with warm aspect; common juniper present; and kinnikinnick generally greater than 10%; soil coarse with greater than 35% CF

subxeric - submesic

BWBSmw 103$ At-Rose-Fuzzy-spiked wildrye

common, especially on hilly areas; generally level or on steeper (>10% slope) mid to upper warm slopes; fuzzy-spiked wildrye generally <4% cover submesic

BWBSmw 104$ At-Labrador tea-Lingonberry

uncommon and localized where cultural disturbance has occurred; level or on gentle lower to mid slopes; Labrador tea and/or dwarf blue >2%; fuzzy-spiked wildrye <10% and absent showy aster

submesic-subhygric

BWBSmw 110$ At-Highbush-cranberry-Oak fern

uncommon, small-patch forest; restricted to areas of past cultural disturbance; generally on cool slope; oak fern>1%; lady fern or spiny wood fern present; Soopollalie and Labrador tea absent

subhygric-mesic

BWBSmw 111$ Acb-Dogwood-Highbush-cranberry

common, small-patch forest; occurs along small water courses; level or lower to toe (<10% slope); balsam poplar and/or red-osier dogwood generally > 10%; mountain alder absent; cow parsnip and meadow rue <10% hygric

BWBSmw 112$ AcbSw-Mountain alder-Dogwood restricted to mid fluvial benches along major water courses; canopy dominated by Balsam poplar

subhygric-hygric

BWBSwk2 Ro Rock Outcrops


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BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSwk2 Gb Shrub Land


BWBSwk2 Gg Grass Land

deep and productive soils that are excessively dry; graminoid-dominated and shrubs <10%; locally common in Peace River breaks, Grand Canyon, and the Atlin area. very xeric-xeric

BWBSwk2 101 SwBl-Huckleberry-Feathermoss common and widespread; mid or cool upper slope; Labrador tea and fuzzy-spiked wildrye not >5% if present mesic

BWBSwk2 102 Pl-Lingonberry-Reindeer lichen

rare, limited extent and localized; coarse textured soil; shallow soils; reindeer and other cladonia/cladina lichen > 1%; herb layer mostly < 20 cm in height xeric - subxeric

BWBSwk2 103 SwPl-Soopolallie-Wildrye

mid to upper slopes on warm aspects; mid to upper slopes on medium and moderately coarse soils; >5% fuzzy-spiked wildrye or Soopolallie; medium to fine texture submesic

BWBSwk2 104 Sb-Huckleberry-Lingonberry

common and extensive stands on level sites, or gentle (<10%) cool aspectslopes; slightly dry to moist sites; Labrador tea and/or Sb and/or lingonberry >5% cover.

submesic-subhygric

BWBSwk2 110 Sw-Currant-Bluebells uncommon but widespread on long slopes; slope generally <20%; common mitrewort often >1%; horsetail<5%;

mesic-subhygric

BWBSwk2 111 Sw-Currant-Horsetail

common but limited extent; flood plains of small watercourses and on longer lower to toe slopes; variable texture but often fluvial

subhygric - hygric

BWBSwk2 Wb Bog wetland bog wetland hygric-subhydric

BWBSwk2 Ws Swamp wetland swamp wetland hygric-subhydric

BWBSwk2 Wf Fen wetland fen wetland subhydric

BWBSwk2 Wm Marsh wetland marsh wetland subhydric

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BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSwk2 101$ At-Sitka alder-Highbush-cranberry

common but restricted to areas with recent disturbance (<100 years); mid slope or level; fuzzy-spiked wildrye < 10%; Labrador tea absent mesic

BWBSwk2 102$ At-Kinnikinnick-Fuzzy-spiked wildrye

rare; limited extent, localized; crest and upper slopes on warm aspects; coarse textured soil; kinnikinnick >1%; highbush cranberry <1% Xeric-subxeric

BWBSwk2 103$ At-Rose-Fuzzy-spiked wildrye uncommon; limited extent and restricted to warm aspects; crest if not coarse soil; fuzzy-spiked wildrye >10% submesic

BWBSwk2 104$ At-Labrador tea-Lingonberry

uncommon; limited extent; localized to where cultural disturbance has occurred; gentle (<10%) cool slopes, slightly dry to moist; Sb and Labrador tea often present

submesic-subhygric

BWBSwk2 110$ At-Highbush-cranberry-Bluebells

uncommon, limited extent, and generally restricted to areas with a history of repeated fires; mid to toe slope; At dominating canopy, tall bluebells>10% and horsetail <10% subhygric

BWBSwk2 111$ AcbAt-Cow-parsnip uncommon, limited extent l; smaller water courses, lower and toe slope; horsetail>10% hygric

BWBSwk3 Ro Rock Outcrops


BWBSwk3 101 SwBl-Huckleberry-Feathermoss

common, widespread and often extensive; mid slope usually on cool aspects; canopy dominated by Sw and Bl; common mitrewort present; medium to moderately fine soil

mesic-submesic

BWBSwk3 102 Pl-Crowberry-Lingonberry

rare, limited extent and localized; ridges, crest, and coarse soils; canopy often dominated by Pl; crowberry >10% and reindeer lichen >2% xeric-subxeric

BWBSwk3 103 Sb-Huckleberry-Lingonberry

common; gentle (<15%) and steeper cool aspect; level to upper slope; Sb or Pl dominated canopy; >3% Labrador tea; medium to moderately coarse textured soil

submesic-subhygric

13

BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

BWBSwk3 110 Sw-Swamp Currant-Horsetail

common but limited extent; lower to toe slope position; canopy dominated by Sw or Pl; horsetail > 5% and cow parsnip present; medium to moderately coarse soil suhygric-hygric

BWBSwk3 111 Sb-Horsetail-Stepmoss

common on lower or level and can be extensive; lower to toe slope positions often with fined textured; canopy dominated by Sb; crowberry and peatmoss present hygric

BWBSwk3 Wb Bog wetland bog wetland hygric-subhydric

BWBSwk3 Ws Swamp wetland swamp wetland hygric

BWBSwk3 Wf Fen wetland fen wetland subhydric

BWBSwk3 Wm Marsh wetland marsh wetland subhydric

ESSFmv4 Ro Rock Outcrops occurs in forested zones where there is little soil, abundant rock or bedrock, and generally low cover of vascular plants very xeric

ESSFmv4 Gb Shrub Land dry and rocky sites; dominated by drought tolerant woody shrubs (saskatoon, rose, soopolallie, stunted At etc.) very xeric-xeric

ESSFmv4 Gg Grass Land


ESSFmv4 01 Bl - Rhododendron - Feathermoss very common and extensive; gentle slope; deep, medium- textured soil mesic

ESSFmv4 02 BlPl - Crowberry - Cladina rare and limited extent; gentle slopes and crest positions; deep, medium- textured soil; poor nutrient regime

subxeric - submesic

ESSFmv4 03 BlSb - Labrador tea gentle slope; deep, medium- textured soil; cool sites submesic - subhygric

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BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

ESSFmv4 04 Bl - Rhododendron - Horsetail common; gentle slopes; lower slope, receiving sites; deep, medium - textured soils, imperfect soil drainage subhygric

ESSFmv4 05 Bl - Alder - Horsetail uncommon and limited extent; level to depressional sites; moisture receiving sites; deep, medium- textured soil hygric

ESSFmv4 Wb Bog wetland bog wetland hygric-subhydric

ESSFmv4 Ws Swamp wetland swamp wetland hygric

ESSFmv4 Wf Fen wetland fen wetland subhydric

ESSFmv4 Wm Marsh wetland marsh wetland subhydric

ESSFmvp4 Fr Bl-Rhododendron-Feathermoss gentle slope, deep, medium-textured soils, upper to middle slope positions mesic

ESSFmvp4 LC BlPl-Crowberry-Cladina coarse textured shallow soils, crest and upper slope positions subxeric - xeric

ESSFmvp4 FW Bl - Rhododendron – Fuzzy-spiked wildrye significant slope, warm aspect, deep, medium-textured soils submesic

ESSFmvp4 RH Bl-Rhododendron-Horsetail gentle slopes; lower slope, receiving sites; deep, medium - textured soils, imperfect soil drainage

subhygric-hygric

ESSFmvp4 FL Alpine fescue - Lichen dry meadow gentle slope, shallow, medium-textured soils xeric-subxeric

ESSFmvp4 AW Mountain-avens - Dwarf willow crest, upper slopes, shallow, coarse-textured soils subxeric - submesic

ESSFmvp4 AD Mountain arnica - Subalpine daisy meadow lower to upper gentle slopes, deep, medium textured soils

mesic - subhygric

ESSFmvp4 WA Willow - Mountain arnica meadow lower to upper slopes, gentle slopes, deep, medium textured soils

subhygric - submesic

ESSFmvp4 Sc Subalpine shrub carr cold-air drainage shrub community and subalpine dry sites; deciduous shrubs dominate

subhygric-hygric

15

BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

ESSFmvp4 Sk Krummholz conifer shrub dominated (<5m) sites sumesic-mesic

ESSFmvp4 Ss Subalpine shrub seepage and draws cold-air drainage and subalpine moist draws; deciduous shrubs often with a forb rich understory

subhygric-hygric

SWBmk Ro Rock Outcrops


SWBmk Gb Shrub Land


SWBmk Gg Grass Land


SWBmk 01 Sw - Grey-leaved willow - Scrub birch common and well distributed; gentle slope; deep, medium-textured soils mesic

SWBmk 02 Sw - Scrub birch - Cladina significant slope, warm aspect, shallow soils over bedrock, coarse textured soil xeric - subxeric

SWBmk 03 Sw - Juniper – Fuzzy-spiked Wildrye common on warm aspect and colluvium soil; significant slope usually greater than 40% xeric - subxeric

SWBmk 04 Sw - Arctic lupine - Step moss common on warm aspects; usually less than 45% slope; deep medium-textured soils

submesic - mesic

SWBmk 05 Sw - Willow - Crowberry significant slope (20-70%), cool aspect; deep medium-textured soils, Sb or Pl dominated;

submesic - subhygric

SWBmk 06 Sw - Willow - Step moss very common; gentle slope (10-20%); warm or neutral; deep medium-textured soils subhygric

SWBmk 07 Sw - Scrub birch - Bluejoint common; significant slope, cool aspect; deep medium-textured soils

subhygric-hygric

16

BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

SWBmk 08 Sw - Shrubby cinquefoil - Horsetail common on fluvial benches; gentle slope, deep, coarse-textured soils (fluvial)

hygric - subhygric

SWBmk 09 Sw - Horsetail - Sphagnum common in depression and cool gentle toe slope, gentle slope or depression, forested wetland

hygric - subhygric

SWBmk Wb Bog wetland bog wetland hygric-subhydric

SWBmk Ws Swamp wetland swamp wetland hygric

SWBmk Wf Fen wetland fen wetland subhydric

SWBmk Wm Marsh wetland marsh wetland subhydric

SWBmks FV Bl - Sitka Valerian significant slope, cool aspect; deep, coarse-textured soils mesic - subhygric

SWBmks SW Sw - Arctic lupine - Step moss gentle slopes, deep, medium-textured soils submesic - mesic

SWBmks SL Sw - Willow - Crowberry significant slope, cool aspect, deep, medium-textured soils submesic - subhygric

SWBmks SH Sw - Horsetail gentle slope; deep, coarse-textured soils subhygric - hygric

SWBmks SK Sw - Juniper - Wildrye significant slope, warm aspect, deep, medium-textured soils subhygric - hygric

SWBmks SS Sw - Willow - Step moss gentle slopes, deep, medium-textured soils subhygric

SWBmks MA Entire-leaved white mountain-avens - Arctic lupine

significant slope, warm aspect; shallow soils over bedrock, coarse-textured soils; herb dominated community

suxeric-sumesic

SWBmks AS Entire-leaved white mountain avens - Sedges

crest slope; shallow soil over bedrock, coarse-textured; dry sites, sparsely vegetated in wind swept positions

subxeric-submesic

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BGC Unit Site


Soil Moisture

Regime

SWBmks AD Mountain arnica - Subalpine daisy meadow lower to upper gentle slopes, deep, medium textured soils mesic-suhygric

SWBmks PA Cow-parsnip - Arrow-leaved groundsel, wet meadow moist herb meadow; gentle slope; deep, coarse-textured soils hygric

SWBmks Sc Subalpine shrub carr cold-air drainage shrub community and subalpine dry sites; deciduous shrubs dominate

subhygric-hygric

SWBmks Sk Krummholz conifer shrub dominated (<5m) sites submesic-mesic

SWBmks Ss Subalpine shrub seepage and draws cold-air drainage and subalpine moist draws; deciduous shrubs often with a forb rich understory

subhygric-hygric

BAFAun At Alpine tundra cold, circum-mesic sites with moderate cover vegetation of mixed composition

submesic-mesic

BAFAun Ae Wind exposed Windscoured sites with low but significant vascular cover, cryptogam/rock xeric-submesic

BAFAun Ag Alpine grassland high cover of grasslands; cold and dry condition xeric-subxeric

BAFAun Ah Alpine heath moderate snowbed areas with prominent mountain heather submesic-mesic

BAFAun Am Alpine meadow moist and seepage sites, relatively lush and productive mesic-subhygric

BAFAun Ar Alpine rock and fell field rocky areas with little or no vascular cover very xeric

BAFAun As Nivation and late snow nivation hollows and areas affected by prolonged snow cover

subhygric-hygric

BAFAun Aw Alpine wetland seeps and marsh-like flats subhydric

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2.2 Mapping of Ecological Exceptions

For a given landscape of sufficient size, such as the TSA 40, a majority of the landscape (approximately 70% to 90%) may be considered predictable within accepted accuracy standards using a well tested PEM approach. This portion of the landscape generally follows documented ecological rules or principles. The remaining portion of the landscape (10% to 30%) does not normally follow the rules or principles and is usually considered an ecological exception or exclusion. The exceptions are usually caused by either climate extremes or variations such as high precipitation, cold air accumulation, wetland, shrub carr, and/or by geomorphological extremes such as very coarse or very fine materials, shallow to bedrock areas, groundwater seepage, soil compaction, fluvial processes, or special bedrock types. Within the portions of a predictable landscape, default conditions are assumed (e.g., moderate and deep soils with medium or fine texture) and a well tested PEM approach usually provides a high degree of consistency while achieving a good level of accuracy.

For portions of the landscape that are considered ‘unpredictable’ based on current technology, information and knowledge availability, it is recommended that qualified professionals manually generate input data by using a customized approach (e.g., focused bioterrain, exceptional ecology/material mapping) based on PEM needs. This customized approach has been implemented in many large PEM projects across B.C. including the recently completed PEMs in the Bulkley TSA, Lakes and Morice TSAs by Timberline (2007, 2009). The approach is functionally a TEM process, that is to say, aerial photo or image based interpretation focused on ‘non-predictable’ portions of the land base. The ‘non-predictive’ portion of a given mapping landscape is usually considered to have a wide range of values such as sensitive/rare ecosystems, critical habitat, and other special sites.

A customized map legend for mapping the ecologically unique features and exceptions was developed for this PEM project (Table 2). There are a total of 41 classes in the map legend, encompassing almost all of the ecologically significant features and exceptions in the project area. The mapping was conducted in a digital environment, using ArcGIS to view the spatial data. Mapping was conducted by viewing digital orthophoto images on-screen in 2-D format using ArcGIS version 9.1™. Data layers such as VRI, soil, partial coverage of TEM, and BGC were projected in an ArcGIS environment to assist the mappers in identifying the unique features and exceptions.

Exception mapping polygons were initially derived from the VRI non-forested and other special site polygons. Based on the exception mapping entity list, the VRI attributes were queried and associated polygons formed the preliminary source of the feature polygons. The mapping ecologists verified and interpreted each of the derived VRI polygons and classified polygon labels using the exception mapping criteria. During the mapping process, some VRI polygons were merged and others were split or completely removed in order to meet the objectives of the exception mapping. All mapped polygons have a simple exception class label (e.g., 100% RO, 32, 43 etc.); some polygons have minor components of other exception classes, but these are not part of the label. There were a total of approximately 1.6 million ha mapped as ecological exceptions in the TSA 40, accounting for approximately one third of the total landbase. Table 3 summarizes areas of each of the mapped exception classes.

Exception mapping efforts were focused mainly on forested BGC units including BWBSmw, BWBSmk, BWBSwk2, BWBSwk3, ESSFmv4, and SWBmk. Less time was spent on the high elevation BGC units including ESSPmvp4, SWBmks, and BAFAun. Based on the ecology of alpine and parkland BGC units,

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substantially more detailed mapping, similar to a large scale TEM, would be required in order to produce reasonably accurate results. This was considered out of the project scope due to project resources and time constraints of the TSA 40 PEM. The next stage PEM process will rely more on existing data such as VRI and terrain mapping for predicting ecosystems of the high elevation BGC units.

Internal quality assurance was completed by organizing internal workshops that were attended by all mapping ecologists. Selected quality reviews were also conducted by lead ecologist and project manager, Shikun Ran. Mapping ecologists engaged in daily discussions regarding issues encountered and mapping approaches to ensure consistency of approach. A quantitative assessment of map accuracy for exception mapping will be conducted in the next phase of the PEM after photo interpretation of random locations is completed. The photo interpretation will be completed by an independent Timberline senior ecologist who was not directly involved in the mapping and who is familiar with the area to be interpreted.

As a result of the mapping, the following is a list of interim deliverables to Canfor, Fort St. John.

• Ecologically unique features and exceptions of the TSA 40 PEM area (.e00); and

• Map legend for mapping ecological unique features and exceptions (.PDF).

Timberline ecologists are continuing our effort in fine turning the mapping of the ecologically unique features and exceptions. If the funding of Phase 2 PEM is not available during the 2010-2011, Timberline will deliver the finalized copy of the mapping to Canfor as well as to MoE data warehouse.

Table 2. Map Entities for Mapping Ecologically Unique Features and Exceptions

Fields Code Description Map

Code

Deep soil (default, >100cm) 99

Shallow to bedrock, frequent bedrock exposure (<50cm) 11 Depth to bedrock

Strong bedrock controlled landform (50-100 cm, infrequent bedrock exposure) 12

Medium & moderately fine texture (default) 99

Coarse texture fluvial/glacial fluvial 21

Very coarse terrace/esker soil 22 Soil Texture

Very fine texture (heavy clay) 23

Forested wetland (Wb, Ws) 30

Non-forested wetland (Wb, Wf, Ws, Wm) 32

Riparian woods associated with wetland 33 Wetland

Known black spruce type (data sources) 34

Non-forested fluvial bench (Fl01; mountain alder-horsetail) 40

Non-forested fluvial bench (Fl03; willow-dogwood-horsetail) 41

Non-forested fluvial bench (Fl06; sandbar willow) 42

Mid-bench flood plain (Fm02; treed deciduous) 43

Flood Plain

High-bench flood plain (treed conifer and/or mixed) 44

Dry brushland (Gb51; saskatoon, prickly rose) 50

Dry grassland (Gg51, slender wheatgrass, pasture sage) 51

Herb disclimax (Xb, forb meadow) 52

Non-forested units

Wet meadow 53

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Fields Code Description Map

Code

Wet shrubland (shrub carr) 54

Avalanche chute 55

Bl-Krummholz 56

Alpine tundra (At; rock with low cover of mixed vegetation) 57

Woodland (meadow dominating with scattered trees 58

Wet seepage (subhygric) 60 Seepage (wetter

than expected) Very wet seepage (hygric) 61

Cutbank CB

Cultivated field and agriculture land CF

Cliff (Rc) CL

Exposed soil ES

Gravel pit GP

Lake LA

Pond PD

Reservoir RE

River RI

Rock outcrop (Ro) RO

Road surface RZ

Snow and ice SI

Talus (Rt) TA

Non-vegetated and

anthropogenic

units

Urban / Suburban UR

Table 3. Area Summary of Mapped Ecological Features and Exceptions

Exception Map Code Code Description Area (ha)

32 Non-forested wetland (Wb, Wf, Ws, Wm) 704,879

42 Non-forested fluvial bench (Fl06; sandbar willow) 42

50 Dry brushland (Gb51; saskatoon, prickly rose) 24,573

51 Dry grassland (Gg51, slender wheatgrass, pasture sage) 18,855

52 Herb disclimax (Xb, forb meadow) 178,478

53 Wet meadow 188,456

54 Wet shrubland (shrub carr) 288,596

56 Bl-Krummholz 1,232

57 Alpine tundra (At; rock with low cover of mixed

vegetation 20,227

58 Woodland (meadow dominating with scattered trees 43,682

ES Exposed soil 15,173

LA Lake 18,067

PD Pond 76

RE Reservoir 6

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RI River 27,947

RO Rock 40,532

SI Snow and Ice 6,567

UR Urban/Suburban 7

Total 1,577,397

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3.0 REFERENCES

DeLong, C.D. 2010. A Field Guide to Ecosystem Identification for the Boreal White and Black Spruce Zone of British Columbia- Draft. 232 pp.

Timberline Natural Resource Group. 2010. Work Plan for Predictive Ecosystem Mapping of Fort St. John Timber Supply Area (TSA). Unpublished report submitted to Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Fort St. John.

predictive ecosystem mapping (pem) of timber supply...

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