Forest Management and Water – A Risk Based Approach

We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto

• There are natural hazards and elements at risk on the landscape.

• Land use activity can affect hazards and hazard levels.

• We need to understand each situation to make informed decisions.

What do we do?• Think about water across the province, TSA, or

operating area using a two-step risk-based approach.

• Risk in simple terms is:– The likelihood of something bad happening to

something you’re worried about….or should be worried about.

The steps– Step 1 – in house review of potential risk

associated with existing or planned activities based on known information and experience.

– Step 2 – more detailed assessment and planning where there is: • a suspected land use contribution to current risk levels,

– legacy items like old roads• an incremental effect is expected as a result of planned

activities, or • confidence is low.

Key questions in a risk-based approach1. What elements are at risk on the landscape and

where are they?2. What can affect them from a hydrogeomorphic

or natural hazard perspective.3. What are the watershed controls or triggers

associated with those hazards.4. What effect has land-use activity had on those

triggers and will future land-use activity affect that situation?

5. What can we do about it?

Case study – East Lake

Start here

Find the elements at risk

Identify natural hazards and vulnerability

Understand the triggers

Plan and manage