Correspondence from Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations re: Timber Supply Review

Timber Supply Review - Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area (TSA)

File: 12820-20/038

November 12, 2015

Sent by Email: info@viewroyal.ca

Mayor and Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Ave. Victoria, British Columbia V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor and Council:

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNR) is in the process of a Timber Supply Review (TSR) for the Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area (TSA). An overview map of the Arrowsmith TSA has been attached for your reference.

The TSR is a strategic, high-level review of the Arrowsmith TSA's timber supply and leads to the chief forester's allowable annual cut (AAC) determination for the TSA. The AAC is the rate of timber harvest permitted each year from a specified area of land, and is expressed in cubic meters of wood. There are several components in the TSR process which may take up to 24 months to complete.

In accordance with Section 8(1) of the Forest Act, the chief forester must determine an AAC at least once every ten years from the date of the last determination. The TSR process is now nearing completion of the initial stage, the data package. The data package is a compilation of the best available information on the definition of the current timber harvesting land base (THLB) including but not limited to net downs for non-timber resources such as wildlife habitat, species at risk, old growth and landscape level biodiversity, riparian areas, stand-level biodiversity, archaeological features, recreation sites and trails, research installations, economically inoperable areas, and roads and landings. The data package also identifies the current forest management assumptions to be applied to the THLB including but not limited to regeneration assumptions and expected growth rates, timber utilization standards and minimum harvest ages, visual quality objectives, community and fisheries sensitive watersheds, and Clayoquot Sound watershed plans.

The data package can be found on the Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch website at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa38/tsr_2015/38tsdp15_final.pdf

The summary of information and assumptions in this package forms the basis of the timber supply analysis (second stage of the TSR process), which the chief forester will use to assist in determining the new AAC for the Arrowsmith TSA (final stage of the TSR process).

As you may be aware, the Arrowsmith TSA is also engaged in an Integrated Resource Management Planning (IRMP) pilot process, running concurrent with the TSR. This process is being led by the Resource Practices Branch (RPB) of FLNRO. To date there have been First Nations and licensee meetings held to introduce and provide input into the plan. Current information related to the IRMP (also referred to as an Integrated Silviculture Strategy) can be found at the RPB website: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HFP/silstrat/index.htm

We understand that the Town of View Royal may have interests that may need specific consideration in the TSR process for the Arrowsmith TSA. On behalf of the chief forester, FLNR would like to provide an opportunity for the Town of View Royal to offer any comments that you may have in regard to the data package for the Arrowsmith TSA TSR, including your suggestions as to any new data or information that you would like to see incorporated into this package that will be used as part of the second stage of the TSR process, the timber supply analysis.

Please provide your comments in writing within 30 days from the date of this letter. Further engagement will be undertaken with the Town of View Royal at the timber supply analysis stage of the TSR process. The draft timber supply analysis will likely be ready in late fall of 2016. Once the AAC determination is made the Town of View Royal will receive notification of this decision along with the rationale. The AAC determination is expected in the winter of 2017.

We acknowledge the technical nature of the draft data package; and therefore, if you have any questions, require further information, or would like to meet please don't hesitate to contact Tracy Andrews, Resource Officer, at (250) 731-3087 or by email Tracy.Andrews@gov.bc.ca. For any other questions, please contact myself at (250) 731-3065 or by email David.Cruickshank@gov.bc.ca.

Yours truly,

David Cruickshank, R.P.F. Resource Forester South Island Natural Resource District

Attachments: Arrowsmith TSA overview map

pc: Tracy Andrews, R.P.F., Resource Officer, South Island Natural Resource District

Arrowsmith TSA Overview Map