RAR Stream Identification

Extracted text (beginning)

RAR STREAM IDENTIFICATION OF THE FORD CREEK 
AND LOWER BEULAH CREEK WATERSHEDS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared for: The Islands Trust 
 
 Suite 200, 1627 Fort Street 
 Victoria, BC  V8R 1H8  
  March 2012 
 
 
Prepared by:  
Mimulus Biological Consultants 
               1135     Arden     Road     
   Courtenay, BC  V9N 9K3 
 
 
 
 
  

Ford and Beulah Creek RAR Stream Identification, December 2011 
Mimulus Biological Consultants                                                                       ii                                                                      
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
The  purpose  of  the  report  was  to  identify  and  map  all  streams  as  defined  under  the  
Riparian  Areas  Regulation  (RAR)  within  two  Hornby  Island  watersheds.    In  order  to  
become  compliant  with  the  provincial  RAR,  the  Islands  Trust  is  in  the  process  of  
adopting  RAR  bylaws  and  other  regulations  to  protect  fish  habitat.    The  Ministry  of  
Environment  completed  preliminary  field  surveys  in  an  attempt  to  identify  island  
watersheds  where  RAR  would  apply.    On  Hornby  Island,  several  watersheds  have  been  
identified as being RAR-applicable, including Ford and Beulah Creeks.  Within the Ford 
and  Beulah  Creek  drainage  areas,  the  locations  of  the  streams  were  identified  and  
mapped  with  a  high  level  of  accuracy  (within  1-5  meters).    This  will  allow  the  Islands  
Trust  to  accurately  identify  the  Riparian  Assessment  Area  (RAA)  for  each  watercourse  
and any proposed development inside a RAA would trigger the RAR process.   
Within  the  Ford  Creek  and  lower  Beulah  Creek  watersheds,  all  watercourses,  wetlands,  
and ditches were assessed as to whether they meet the RAR criteria for a stream.  Field 
surveys of the Ford Creek and Beulah Creek watersheds were conducted November 12 to 
December  11,  2011  in  order  to  locate  streams  as  defined  under  RAR.    No  fish  were  
observed in either drainage area during the field survey. 
Within   the   Ford   Creek   drainage   area,   three   watercourses   (Ford   Creek   and   two   
tributaries),  ten  drainages,  eleven  ditches,  one  large  wetland,  and  four  ponds  were  
observed  that  met  the  definition  of  stream  under  RAR  and  therefore  are  subject  to  the  
RAR  assessment  procedure.    The  many  associated  headwaters  and  pocket  wetlands  
would also be RAR applicable.  Provincial reports suggest that Ford Creek has provided 
habitat for Coho salmon and Cutthroat trout.  Local information indicates that Cutthroat 
trout were introduced in the 1950s and 1990s and are currently present in the system.   
Accessing the Ford Creek mainstem from the estuary would be difficult for fish; it had a 
steep  gradient  and  smooth  bedrock  substrate.    For  most  of  the  creek’s  length,  the  
streambed was composed of bedrock, hardpan, with patches of small gravels and cobbles.  
The  

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