Watershed Management Extension

Project Abstract:
The watershed management (WM) community spans many disciplines that include hydrologists, geoscientists, planners, policy makers, fish habitat biologists and researchers. The diversity of the Watershed Management community often leads to conflicting objectives that are often based on different knowledge sets and perceptions. This project is designed to engage the watershed management community in a dialogue to increase the synthesis of information, increase the learning in the Watershed Management community and improve access to relevant and appropriate information that can be applied by the broader forestry community.

Ongoing support and assistance from the Watershed Management Working Group will continue in 2008/09 to assist in the delivery of an effective and efficient watershed management extension program. The working group also increases the interaction between several client groups within the watershed management community. Input from the Working Group and the recently completed Southern Interior and Northern Interior Information Needs Assessments will be analysed by the specialists and used to update extension planning and development.

Several general extension activities will include but not limited to peer assisting client and FORREX team projects; proactive outreach; and filling extension requests relating to watershed management. A core focus of this activity is to provide assistance to FSP researchers with extension delivery related to their projects and with proposals and extension planning for 2009 2010. Outreach with the research and operational communities will be a major focus for the staff to be hired in the Southern Interior WMES position. The annual Forest Hydrology Technical Field Tour will be coordinated by the Southern Interior specialist. In 2008 09, the extension specialists will also assist with the development and delivery of an FSP synthesis project on hydrogeomorphic hazards on fans.

A synthesis product summarizing the characteristics and operational suitability of available hydrologic models, has been identified as a topic requiring extension (Southern and Northern Interior Information Needs Assessments 2007, Watershed Management Working Group 2007). The synthesis of hydrological models provides direct extension support for Sustainability Program Research Strategy priorities 2.3 (Watershed Response) and 3.2 (Indicator Thresholds of Sustainability). In 2008/09 a draft FORREX Series report will be completed, and in 2009/10 it will be peer reviewed and published.

The recent watershed management needs assessments have identified basic hydrologic/geomorphology knowledge as a major need across client groups (including public). Therefore, to build upon the Compendium of Hydrology and Geomorphology in BC, a new focus of work will be the development of a Watershed Management Basics Curriculum. In 2008/09 work will revolve around assessing topical needs and level of information required and coordinating with educational institutions and professional organizations (e.g. ABCFP, BCIA, APEG) to develop the delivery modes and scope of the curriculum through surveys and working sessions. Delivery of portions of the Watershed Management Basics Curriculum will begin in 2009/10.

The partnership between FORREX and UBC Okanagan will continue, with the southern interior specialist providing extension support to watershed research carried out at UBCO. In addition, the specialist will participate in the Okanagan Sustainability Institute and Sustainable Planning for the Okanagan Environment initiatives and assist with the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and Canadian Water Resources Association conferences in Kelowna.

For further information on this project, please contact society@forrex.org.