Blenkin Park - Wildfire Fuel Management Prescription

Community
Area C
Type
Emergency Planning
Status
Completed

About Project

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board passed a resolution (November 23, 2022) that an application to the 2023 Community Resiliency Investment grant program be submitted for FireSmart activities in SRD's 4 electoral areas. This grant was then received on July 4, 2023. One project being funded under this program is the development of a Wildfire Fuel Management Prescription (WFMP) for 17.6 hectares in the Blenkin Park area on Quadra Island.

This WFMP will be completed by a Registered Professional Forester(s) that is accredited with the Association of BC Forest Professionals. It will consider the balance between potential fire behaviour implications and conservation values. The 17.6 hectare Blenkin Park area was identified as a high priority for treatment in the 2022 Quadra Island Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan. This area overlaps the Quadra Island Community Centre's FireSmart Critical Infrastructure Ignition Zones 2 and 3, the forested area comprises both C5 and C3 fuel types. The proposed treatment unit is bordered on its north and east edges by forested Crown Provincial land of similar forest/fuel types, to its south by private land which is forested by a regenerating young mixed wood/conifer stand, and to its west by one of the island's main roads (West Road) and private land.

A wildfire fuel management prescription is a standard document that describes the recommended fuel management activities in an identified area that will reduce fire behaviour. It is expected that the post-treatment stand conditions will result in reduced fire behaviour such as a decrease in fire intensity and the potential for sustained ignition. Fuel management prescriptions must ensure a cost-effective and measurable reduction in expected fire behaviour with the consideration and management of other values on the landscape. A sound fuel management prescription follows three guiding principles: (1) it prescribes specific and measurable targets for fire behaviour reduction; (2) it contains site-specific considerations; and (3) it aligns with other legal, resource management and non-statutory objectives including First Nation consultation requirements.

Following the development and approval of the Wildfire Fuel Management Prescription a 90-minute recorded virtual public information session will take place in order to provide:

  • The details about the Prescription to the community; and
  • Sufficient opportunity for the community to ask questions regarding this project.

To be clear, no modification to the forest is occurring under this stage of the project. The WFMP being developed is for planning only.

Map highlighting Blenkin Park area on Quadra Island with an inset showing location.

Virtual Project Meeting

The SRD invites interested community members to attend a virtual project kickoff meeting about the Blenkin Park Wildfire Fuel Management Project.

  • Monday February 5th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

You can join the meeting using the zoom link below: https://srd-ca.zoom.us/j/81953735364?pwd=4UTczGHfp0zJgIcvzo2Vqhlab9WCa6.1

  • Meeting ID: 819 5373 5364
  • Passcode: 257234
  • Dial by your location 1-778-907-2071

Resources

Image Gallery

Cortes Island Wildfire Fuel Treatment - Before and After Pictures

Before PicsAfter Pics
Forest edge with mossy ground and tall evergreen trees.

Forest with tall trees, mossy ground, and scattered rocks.

Lush forest with tall trees and vibrant undergrowth.

Forest with tall trees and a leafy forest floor.

Forest with tall trees and moss-covered ground, overcast sky.

Forest scene with tall trees and moss-covered ground, under a clear blue sky.

Moss-covered forest floor with tall trees and fallen branches.

Moss-covered forest floor with tall trees in the background.

Foggy forest with tall trees and a mossy floor.

Forest with tall trees and a mossy ground.

Dense forest with tall trees and green moss-covered ground.

Moss-covered forest floor with tall, slender trees.