WHA Data Form – Multiple Proposals
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
Location Sensitive
Yes
No
If yes, please do not disclose or distribute this package without prior consultation with MOE or the
CDC.
WILDLIFE HABITAT AREA (WHA) DATA FORM
MULTIPLE PROPOSALS
STEP 1. WHA PROPOSAL
(ALL fields in Step 1 to be completed by proponent unless otherwise indicated)
PROPONENT INFORMATION
Contact Name:
Title:
Organization:
Mailing Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Alicia Goddard, M.Sc.
Ecosystem Biologist, Peace Region
Ministry of Environment (MoE)
400 – 10003 110th Avenue
Fort St. John, BC
250-787-3568
Alicia.Goddard@gov.bc.ca
Postal Code:
Fax:
V1J 6M7
250-787-3490
PROPONENT INFORMATION
Contact Name:
Title:
Organization:
Mailing Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Richard Weir, R.P. Bio
Biologist
Artemis Wildlife Consultants
4515 Hullcar Road
Armstrong, BC
250-546-0531
rweir@artemiswildlife.com
Postal Code:
Fax:
V0E 1B4
250-546-0532
Postal Code:
Fax:
V8W 9M1
Postal Code:
Fax:
V1G 3C8
250-782-3310
PROPONENT INFORMATION
Contact Name:
Title:
Organization:
Mailing Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Eric Lofroth
Meso-carnivore Provincial Biologist
Ministry of Environment
400 – 2975 Jutland Road
Victoria, BC
250-356-0224
Eric.Lofroth@gov.bc.ca
PROPONENT INFORMATION
Contact Name:
Title:
Organization:
Mailing Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Mark Phinney
District Biologist, LP Forest Resource Division
Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
116 116th Avenue
Dawson Creek, BC
250-782-3302
Mark.Phinney@lpcorp.com
GENERAL SITE INFORMATION
Identified Wildlife Common Name:
Fisher
Scientific Name:
Martes pennanti
Forest Districts:
Peace Forest District
Date Submitted (YY/MM/DD):
Final proposals submitted
2008/01/01
Landscape Unit
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
WHA
Tag #
WHA Name
Kiskatinaw
Dawson Creek
9-107
Jerome Road 1
X
9-108
Upper Cutbank 1
X
9-109
Bear Mountain 1
X
9-110
South Dawson 1
X
Describe how the sites meet the requirements for WHA designation. Describe whether species were observed at
the sites or other evidence to support WHAs. Include time and date of observation(s). Where different sites meet
the requirements differently please list these separately, grouped by WHA#.
Jerome Road 1 WHA #9-107: The proposed WHA incorporates a natal den that was used successfully by an adult female
(F08) in 2006 and 2007, 2 maternal den sites used during 2006 and 2007, and important foraging areas used by the female
during both rearing seasons (April – August) of 2006 and 2007. Den sites were located in large-diameter trembling aspen
trees.
Upper Cutbank 1 WHA #9-108: The proposed WHA includes a natal den used by an adult fisher (F09) in 2006. The WHA
also includes potential rest sites (spruce with rust brooms, other cavity trees) and provides late-successional
features that fishers utilize.
Bear Mountain 1 WHA#9-109: The proposed WHA includes a natal den site (large-diameter balsam poplar) and a maternal
den (trembling aspen) used by an adult female fisher (F02) during 2005. This polygon also incorporates numerous winter
rest sites for this adult female.
South Dawson 1 WHA #9-110: The proposed WHA incorporates the natal den (large-diameter balsam poplar) of a radiotagged adult female fisher (F13) that successfully produced 2 offspring during 2007. The area surrounding the natal den
was heavily used by the female for foraging during the rearing period. This natal den and foraging area was used from April
– August 2007.
UTM co-ordinates of features and nearest Gazetted Location.
WHA
Centroid UTM
WHA Name
(NAD 83, Zone 10)
Tag #
Nearest Gazetted Location
Easting / Northing
9-107
Jerome Road 1
657144 / 6172365
9-108
Upper Cutbank 1
658048 / 6166435
9-109
Bear Mountain 1
661175 / 6178794
9-110
South Dawson 1
666921 / 6174826
Reference maps:
NTS Mapsheets: 093P
TRIM Mapsheets: 093P.078, 093P.069, 093P.068
Kiskatinaw River
Kiskatinaw River
Bear Mountain
Bear Mountain – South Dawson Creek
The following maps are included in this WHA proposal package:
1) Appendix 1: Proposed Fisher WHAs Overview Map (1:25,000)
Reference Air Photos (optional): N/A
Directions to the sites (describe access to the sites, list by WHA Tag):
WHA #
Fisher WHA Name
Directions to Site
Located ~20 km southwest of Dawson Creek, BC; ATV access to the
site via Jerome Road.
Located ~22 km southwest of Dawson Creek, BC; ATV access to the
9-108
Upper Cutbank 1
site via Upper Cutbank Road.
Located ~13 km southwest of Dawson Creek, BC; ground access
9-109
Bear Mountain 1
directly to the site via 233 Road.
Located ~11 km southwest of Dawson Creek, BC; ground access
9-110
South Dawson 1
directly to the site via Bear Mountain FSR or 227 Road.
Was species site data obtained from the BC Conservation Data Centre (CDC)?
Yes
No
9-107
Jerome Road 1
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
If yes, existing CDC Feature ID (Aero_tag). Please list:
Describe area and surrounding land use.
The proposed WHAs occur within the Boreal Plains (BOP) ecoprovince of the Peace River Basin (PRB) and Southern
Alberta Upland (SAU) ecoregions. The proposed WHAs are located within the Peace Lowlands (PEL) and Kiskatinaw
Plateau (KIP) ecosections. Elevations range from 700 m to 900 m. The proposed WHAs are located in the Boreal White
and Black Spruce (BWBS) biogeoclimatic zone.
Proposed WHA polygons fall within a combination of 3 resource management zones (RMZ) under the Dawson Creek LRMP
(DC LRMP 1999), including Kiskatinaw Watershed RMZ, Beaverlodge Lake RMZ, and Bear Mountain Grazing Reserve
RMZ.
A total of 98 hectares is encompassed in these proposals, all of which are within the BWBS biogeoclimatic zone. These
proposals are located in the Peace River and Kiskatinaw River watersheds within the Peace Forest District.
WHA #9-107 occurs within the Bear Mountain Grazing Reserve. Considerable grazing occurs in other areas of the Grazing
Reserve, however, relatively little occurs near the proposed WHA. WHA #9-110 occurs immediately adjacent to the South
Dawson subdivision. As such, it is bordered on its north and west sides by private land. Forest harvesting occurs in the
vicinity of all 4 WHAs through the primary licensee (Louisiana-Pacific Canada) and BC Timber Sales, but no recent
harvesting has occurred in the immediate vicinity. Oil and gas exploration is currently underway in this area. Seismic
activity is currently a significant threat to fisher habitats. Large-scale three-dimensional seismic programs are being
undertaken in the Kiskatinaw area, which results in the removal of large-diameter balsam poplar and trembling aspen trees,
important habitat attributes for den sites.
STEP 2. BIOLOGICAL REVIEW (TO BE COMPLETED BY MOE REGIONAL DESIGNATE)
Are the proposals 100% on Crown Land:
Yes
No
Do the proposals meet the minimum requirements of the WHA description?
Are the sites previously unknown?
Yes
No
Have sites been field checked?
Yes
No
If yes, provide the date:
Ongoing research study initiated in 2005
Proposal accepted?
Yes
No
Rationale for decision. Include reasons for accepting/rejecting the proposal:
Yes
No
Fisher (Martes pennanti) are blue-listed (special concern) provincially (BC Conservation Data Centre 2007) and identified as
a species requiring fine-filter management under the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (IWMS 2004) of the Forest
and Range Practices Act (FRPA). Based on declines in the number of fishers harvested by trappers, it is believed that
fishers are declining across the province. Knowledge of habitat use by fishers in British Columbia suggests the importance
of large cottonwood trees and coarse woody debris for denning and thermal cover, respectively. However, the lack of these
habitat features in northeastern British Columbia suggests that the current habitat management guidelines identified under
FRPA may be irrelevant or ineffective for populations in the Peace Region.
The research that has been conducted since 2005 on fishers in the South Peace area of the Peace Region has provided
valuable information on habitat use by fishers. Large trembling aspen and balsam popular trees have been identified as
important habitat attributes for maternal and natal dens. The proposed WHA polygons encompass known den sites as well
as habitats and structures that have the potential for den sites (e.g., other cavity trees). In addition, these areas are used
regularly by radio-tagged adult female fishers for foraging and resting, and incorporate suitable habitat features for these
activities (e.g., spruce trees with rust brooms).
Conservation concern for these species, coupled with increasing industrial exploration and development within their local
ranges, makes protection of important habitats used by fisher a regional priority. Identification and mapping of important
habitat features, including maternal and natal den sites, and resting and foraging areas is a prerequisite for development of
an effective fisher management strategy to mitigate the impacts of industrial developments in the Peace Region.
These proposed areas are consistent with habitat attributes and required evidence of use specified in the fisher species
account (IWMS 2004). Radio-telemetry and monitoring of approximately 15 fishers provide sufficient evidence to support
the designation of these polygons.
Name: Alicia Goddard, M.Sc.
Date: August 31, 2007
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
Signature:
STEP 3. AFFECTED PARTY REVIEW OF PROPOSAL (TO BE COMPLETED BY MOE
REGIONAL DESIGNATE)
Consultation Initiation Date (i.e. date Regional Committee sent WHA package for distribution):
Date comments due back from affected parties: February 4, 2007
Existing or tenured activities (please check)
Access
Forestry
Range
Mining
Oil & Gas
Recreation
Describe other: wind power tenures
December 3, 2007
Other
AFFECTED PARTY CONSULTATION SUMMARY
NOTE: for contact names, dates contacted, specific proposal numbers, comments and other information, please refer to the
South Peace Fisher Consultation Spreadsheet (SPeace Fisher Consultation List.xls).
Co-Proponent(s): 3 total
Support WHA
(NR=No Response)
Louisiana-Pacific Canada
Artemis Wildlife Consultants – Rich Weir
Ministry of Environment – Eric Lofroth
Forestry Tenure Holder(s): 3 total
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
NR
NR
(NR=No Response)
Canfor Chetwynd
BCTS (Peace-Liard)
West Fraser Mills Chetwynd
Range Tenure Holder(s): 4 total
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
NR
NR
(NR=No Response)
RAN073326 – Bear Mountain Grazing Association
RAN073609 – Brent Kinnear
RAN074306 – Jimmy Gigger
RAN076502 – Scott White
Oil and Gas Tenure Holder(s): 3 total
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
NR
NR
NR
(NR=No Response)
CAPP
Encana Corporation
Encana Oil & Gas Company Ltd.
Coal/Mining Tenure Holder(s): 0 total
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
NR
NR
(NR=No Response)
First Nations Communities: 9 total
Support WHA
(NR=No Response)
Treaty 8 Tribal Association
Prophet River FN
Fort Nelson FN
Halfway River FN
Doig River FN
Blueberry FN
West Moberly Lake FN
Saulteau FN
McLeod Lake Indian Band
Trappers: 2 total
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
(NR=No Response)
TR0720T017 – Garry Loiselle
Yes
No
NR
Comments
Attached
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comments
Attached
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comments
Attached
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comments
Attached
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comments
Attached
Comments
Attached
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comments
Attached
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
TR0721T015 – Bob Biegel
Guide Outfitters: 1 total
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
(NR=No Response)
701223 – Wapiti River Outfitters (Stefan Fuchs)
IAMC: 8 total
Yes
No
Support WHA
NR
(NR=No Response)
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Forests
Oil and Gas Commission
Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources
Integrated Land Management Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts
IAMC
Wind tenures: 0 total
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Support WHA
(NR=No Response)
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
Yes
Comments
Attached
Yes
Comments
Attached
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Comments
Attached
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
Operational Impacts:
Forestry: The 1% impact budget associated with WHAs is directed at the short-term and long-term timber supply. The
short-term timber supply budget represents 1% of the total mature timber harvesting land base (THLB) in age classes older
than 80 years in the Peace Forest District, which is equivalent to 13,785 hectares. The long-term timber supply budget
represents 1% of the total timber harvesting landbase, which is equivalent to 21,560 hectares for the Peace Forest District
Prior to the four proposed areas described herein, WHAs for mountain goat (9-001 to 9-017) and bull trout (9-018, 9-025 to
9-031) have been established within the Peace Forest District. In addition, WHAs for northern caribou (9-032 to 9-073, 9102 to 9-106; Graham River herd, Moberly herd, Burnt-Pine herd, Kennedy-Siding herd, Quintette herd, and BelcourtNarraway herd) are also proposed. There is no THLB impact from the previously established goat and bull trout WHA areas
in the Peace Forest District; however, northern caribou WHAs account for a reduction of 10,576 ha from the long-term
THLB budget. The 4 proposed fisher WHAs result in an additional 73 ha being removed from the long-term THLB allocation
for the Peace Forest District. The total long-term THLB budget remaining is, therefore, 10,911 hectares. Refer to
Appendix 2 (SP_Fisher_THLB_table_summary_nov26_2007.xls) for calculation of THLB impacts on an individual polygon
basis.
The WHA timber supply impacts are within allowable limits. Since the total THLB impact requirements for the proposed
WHAs fall below the short-term budget allotments in the Peace Forest District, specific short-term mature impact figures
have not been calculated to date. These impacts will be calculated and tracked by Forest District as the 1% threshold is
approached, and these impact figures will be available from the MoE.
Range: Four ranges tenure holders overlap with the candidate WHA units in this proposal. One range-specific GWM has
been included in this proposal. This purpose of the GWM is to avoid drawing large congregations of livestock to attractants
such as salt and artificial watering sources. This will result is less disruption of ground vegetation and coarse woody debris
within the proposed WHAs.
Mineral: The WHA proposal does not affect mineral or oil and gas activities, as not under FRPA jurisdiction.
Other: The WHA proposal does not affect wind, guide outfitting or trapping tenure holders, as not under FRPA jurisdiction.
Unresolved issue(s):

GWMs and proposed management guidelines need to apply to all users on the landscape, not just applicable to
forest and range practices under FRPA,

The proposed GWMs may be considered as a starting point for the development of industry-specific Best
Management Practices within these critical areas,

Update policy to require that First Nations are involved earlier in the WHA designation process (i.e., prior to
consultation) in order to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
Management considerations used to reduce impact and/or resolve issues (e.g., boundary adjustments):

Created partnerships with licensees,

Considered operational constraints when developing GWMs and locations of WHA polygons,

Minimized THLB impacts to extent possible – supported by recent research,

Accommodated cutblocks,

WHAs are consistent with direction in Dawson Creek LRMP.
Wildlife habitat area:
WHA # – Name
Total area (ha)
9-107 – Jerome Road 1
24
9-108 – Upper Cutbank 1
3
9-109 – Bear Mountain 1
5
9-110 – South Dawson 1
65
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
Provide justification for choice of WHA boundaries. Include reasons for any variation from that recommended in
Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife:
Boundaries for the proposed WHA polygons were chosen based on:

habitat requirements outlined in the Fisher species account in Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified
Wildlife

documented den sites and foraging/resting locations from approximately 2 years of radio-telemetry monitoring

providing buffers to minimize disturbance

using TRIM features, forest cover polygons and input from licensees.
The size of the proposed WHA polygons is consistent with the recommended size in the Accounts and Measures for
Managing Identified Wildlife (2 - 60 hectares). These polygons were delineated with support from licensees and are
consistent with scientific data.
General wildlife measures:
Adopted as outlined in IWMS
Modified measure(s) recommended
Specify the modified measures (use exact wording to be used for signed Order):
GWM #4:
Range activities will not result in the placement of livestock attractants within the boundaries of the proposed Wildlife Habitat
Areas polygons.
Is there a potential for future exemptions?
Yes
No
If yes, describe:
WHA proposals: 9-107 – 9-110
Fisher
Additional management considerations related to but not directly a part of this candidate WHA:

Given the considerable overlap with other non-forestry tenures within these proposed WHA units, and the potential
for adverse effects to fisher habitats associated with other industrial activities (such as mining, oil and gas, wind
power, seismic activities, etc), it is essential that legal mechanisms be applicable to all industries, and limited solely
to those activities legislated under FRPA. In the absence of legal tools, government should develop or adopt
effective guidelines or Best Management Practices that benefit ungulates and their habitat.

Some recommendations for all industrial and recreational activities within and adjacent to the WHA units are
provided below.





Maintain critical habitat features within the WHA units (e.g. unfragmented habitats, large-diameter trembling
aspen and balsam poplar trees, riparian corridors);
Follow government endorsed timing windows to reduce disturbance to fisher during the physiologically
stressful maternal period (April to August);
Minimize disturbance to fisher by managing road access:
a) Avoid access construction, or
b) Coordinate and manage access development for industrial users both temporally and spatially;

Develop access to the lowest possible standards, do not develop new permanent access in
these areas;

Retain visual buffers along access routes;

Apply access management measures to avoid induced recreational access;

Deactivate unused roads seasonal and temporarily; leave in a condition to discourage
motorized access, reclaim linear disturbance (reclamation, rehabilitation, recontouring, and
bridge removal) on completion of activities;

Do not develop recreational sites or hiking trails.
Avoid situating industrial or recreational facilities within or immediately adjacent to the WHA units;
Maintain connectivity and riparian corridors to support fisher movements.
Literature Cited:
BC Conservation Data Centre. 2007. Species Summary: Martes pennanti. British Columbia Ministry of Environment.
Available: http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/ (accessed Nov 26, 2007).
IWMS (Identified Wildlife Management Strategy). 2004. “Fisher” in Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified
Wildlife. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC.
IWMS (Identified Wildlife Management Strategy). 2004a. Procedures for Managing Identified Wildlife – Version 2004.
Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC.
QUALIFIED REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Submitted by (please print): Alicia Goddard
Agency: Ministry of Environment
Signature:
Date: November 26, 2007