“GUIDELINES TO MINIMIZE FENCE CONSTRUCTION ANDMAINTENANCE IN RELATION TO BREACHING OF NATURAL

RANGE BARRIERS”

March 15, 2000

Kamloops/Clearwater Forest Districts

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

These guidelines are the results of November 23, 1999 and February 8, 2000 committeemeetings of concerned ranchers, Forest Companies and the Ministry of Forests staff.List of Participants:

Charlie Keller RancherArt Devick RancherGordon Wilson RancherNorm Peters RancherLes Laithwaite WeyerhaeuserKelly Low WeyerhaeuserMike Sivucha TolkoPhil Youwe Ministry of ForestsPeter Lishman Ministry of Forests

INTRODUCTION

Section 69 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act requires that “a personwho carries out a forest practice that directly or indirectly removes or renders ineffectivea natural barrier, that person who removes the natural barrier or who renders itineffective, must take measures specified by the District Manager to mitigate the effect ofthe removal ineffectiveness”.

If a fence is chosen as the mitigating remedy, then the fence construction is done by theForest Licence, and the maintenance done by the associated rancher(s).

PURPOSE

The purpose of these guidelines is to minimize the amount of fence being constructed toreplace a natural barrier, and where it is built, minimize the level of maintenancerequired.

STRATEGIES

Planning:

The first step to minimizing the amount of fence construction is for the rancher andMinistry of Forests range staff to review current Range boundaries. In some cases it maybe possible to make changes to the existing boundaries of range units and/or pastures oramalgamate some areas. This boundary modification could reduce or eliminate theamount of fencing required to replace the loss of a natural barrier. This would requirecooperation between the various ranchers involved and approval by the Ministry ofForests (MOF), but could prove beneficial for the rancher. In the long run Range Unit

boundaries need to keep pace with changes on the landscape as well as make sense froman ecological and economic viewpoint.

Range Unit boundaries and natural barriers should be identified and mapped on theRange Use Plan (RUP). The FDP can then be consulted to identify any possible naturalbarrier breaches. If identified, fencing should be viewed as a last option.

If fencing is required, the whole Range Unit should be reviewed to determine the mostcost efficient and effective locations. Strategic Planning such as this should move usaway from the Cutting Permit by cutting permit approval we are now faced with.

Historically some required appraisal fences have been established prior to understandingthe changes in cattle movement patterns through timber harvesting. In these cases,fencing may have occurred where it was not required or had minimal effect. It may bemore appropriate, where changes in future cattle movement is not known to defer thefencing project for a couple of years to monitor cattle movement and impact. If a fence isnot required, or more fencing is required, then the fencing costs could be deducted oradded at the reappraisal stage. These issues must be dealt with prior to the cutting permitexpiring.

Logging sequence and timing can also play an important role in managing andcontrolling cattle movement. Proper sequence in logging cut blocks, may in itself, allowbetter assessment of livestock movement through reducing or eliminating the amount offence required.

Where a potential breach has been identified in the planning process, the forest companyshould be made aware of it by the rancher or MOF.

Minimizing the amount of road built can also assist in cattle management. Utilizingexisting road systems or using adjacent forest company roads may also help.

Utilizing or upgrading old established fence lines should be the first option, ifappropriate. A new fence should not be established adjacent to an old fence line withoutremoval of the existing fence. The District Manager may require the range tenure holderto remove an old fence line under Section 74(2)(c) of the Forest Practices Code ofBritish Columbia Act

Fence locations should not be tied off to riparian areas as this can concentrate cattle usein these sensitive areas and the high water can pop fence posts.

Ministry of Forests and the Range and Forest Licensees should always try to reachagreement on the fence location prior to construction. If an agreement cannot be reached,then the final location will be determined by the Ministry of Forests.

Operational Issues:

Once a fence location has been proposed there are a number of things that can be done toreduce the level and frequency of maintenance required on that fence line.

The first step is to ensure that a good quality fence is constructed according to Ministry ofForest specifications. A reputable fencing contractor should be used for installation.

Fence location and type of right of way play an important role in the level of maintenancerequired. Locating a fence next to an existing road may be a way of improving accessand minimizing blowdown across the fence line. The width of the fence right of way isalso important to minimize fence maintenance. This will depend on such factors as slope,timber species, blowdown concerns and other values such as riparian, access or visualissues. Where blowdown is predicted and other values addressed, a sufficient right ofway (one tree length either side) should be established to minimize fence maintenance.This does not necessarily mean that a 4WD road is required along the fence line. This infact may have a negative impact on wildlife as it improves road side hunting. A quadtrack may be sufficient for maintenance. In other areas where blowdown is not predictedto be an issue then a minimal right of way should be utilized.

Fencing on the edge of a cutblock (one tree length from the tree line) may also minimizethe amount of blowdown on the fence line. Utilizing smooth wire in high snow areas canalso reduce line breakage and assist in the ease of wire tightening for fence maintenance.

Grass seeding of blocks may also assist in managing cattle in areas where natural barriersare breached and thus reducing the length of fence required. Where grass seeding can beused as a tool to alleviate natural barrier fence construction, then this cost should bereviewed in comparison to fence construction. Appropriate sources of funding should bepursued for grass seeding purposes.

All these operational issues must be discussed with the ranchers and forest licenseesbefore fence construction begins.

SUMMARY

It is in the best interest of all parties to ensure that the minimum of fence is planned andbuilt and that fence maintenance is made relatively easy. This can only be done throughearly strategic planning and communication between the Ranchers, Forest Companiesand Ministry of Forests.

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