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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

Cascadia Natural Resource Consultants Inc. 2

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



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.



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.



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)’.



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



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


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”



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,



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.



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).



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.



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


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



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.



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.



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


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



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’.



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


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.



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


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).




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.



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



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


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”



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.


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’



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).


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”



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”.



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



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


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,



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



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.



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:


CWHdm CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm

CWHds2 CWHdm CWHmm1 CWHds1

CWHvh1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHms1

CWHvm1 CWHms1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1

CWHvm2 CWHvm1 CWHvm1


CWHws2 CWHxm1 CWHxm

CWHxm2 CWHxm2



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:



Fraser Soo Strathcona Kingcome


CWHms1 CWHms1 CWHvh1

CWHms2 CWHvm1

CWHvh1 CWHvm2

CWHvh2 CWHxm2



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



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:


CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm CWHdm

CWHdm CWHds2 CWHds1 CWHmm1

CWHds1 CWHvh1 CWHms1 CWHmm2

CWHms1 CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1


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



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.



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



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



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:



CWHds2 CWHds1 CWHmm1 CWHds1

CWHvh1 CWHms1 CWHmm2 CWHms1

CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1


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



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:


CWHdm CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm


CWHvh1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHvm1

CWHvm1 CWHvm1 CWHvh1 CWHvm2


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



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



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


Lillooet Soo Merritt Fraser Strathcona Kingcome

CWHms1 CWHdm CWHms1 CDFmm CWHdm CWHdm


CWHms1 CWHds1 CWHmm2 CWHvh1

CWHvm1 CWHms1 CWHvh1 CWHvm1


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:


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



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.



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



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.



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



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).



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.



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


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


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


Grouse Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Screech Owl

(Interior)

Common Nighthawk


subspecies

Western Small-footed

Myotis

Fisher Prairie Falcon Williamson’s Sapsucker

Flammulated Owl Racer Wolverine

Fringed Myotis Sandhill Crane Yellow-breasted Chat


subspecies Short-eared Owl



Merritt TSA

American Avocet Grasshopper Sparrow Townsends’big-eared Bat

American Bittern Great Basin Spadefoot Western Painted Turtle


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


subspecies

Wolverine


Grouse Prairie Falcon

Yellow-breasted Chat

Common Nighthawk Racer

Fisher Sandhill Crane

Flammulated Owl Spotted Bat

Fringed Myotis Spotted Owl


subspecies

Swainson’s Hawk



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


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


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



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



SBPSmk

SBS dw 1

SBS mc 1

SBS mm

SBS un

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