DOCSLIB.ORG

Review of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Review of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia Review of the Environmental and Socio-economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia March 2008 B.A. Faggetter, Ocean Ecology 1662 Parmenter Ave. Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4R3 Telephone: (250) 622-2501 Email: [email protected] Review of Marine Pollution Review of the Environmental and Socio- economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia Prepared for: Chris Picard, Marine Biologist/Planner Maya Paul, Resource Economist/ Socioeconomic Planner North Coast-Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society 255 West 3rd Avenue Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L2 Prepared by: Ocean Ecology 2 Ocean Ecology Review of Marine Pollution Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3 Table of Tables ................................................................................................................................ 8 Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................. 10 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... 13 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 16 2. Contaminants and Pollutants in the Marine Environment ......................................................... 18 3. The National Pollutant Release Inventory ................................................................................. 22 4. Measuring Effects of Contamination ......................................................................................... 23 4.1. Cellular Responses ............................................................................................................. 23 4.2. Whole Organism Responses .............................................................................................. 23 4.3. Population Responses ........................................................................................................ 24 4.4. Community Responses ....................................................................................................... 24 4.5. Ecosystem Responses ....................................................................................................... 24 5. Overview of the North and Central Coast Environment ............................................................ 26 5.1. Area and Population ........................................................................................................... 26 5.2. First Nations ........................................................................................................................ 31 5.3. Physical Environment ......................................................................................................... 36 5.4. Oceanography .................................................................................................................... 44 5.5. Cimate ................................................................................................................................. 49 5.6. Habitats ............................................................................................................................... 50 6. Persistent Organic Pollutants as Global Pollutants ................................................................... 54 6.1. Pollution Sources ................................................................................................................ 54 6.1.1. Long-Range Transport of POPs in the Pacific ............................................................. 54 6.1.2. Legacy POPs ............................................................................................................... 55 6.1.3. PCBs ............................................................................................................................ 55 6.1.4. Dioxins and Furans ...................................................................................................... 55 6.1.5. PBDEs .......................................................................................................................... 56 6.1.6. PAHs ............................................................................................................................ 56 6.1.7. Organochlorine Pesticides ........................................................................................... 57 6.1.8. Other POP Contaminants ............................................................................................ 57 6.2. Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts ..................................................................... 57 6.2.1. Endocrine Disruption .................................................................................................... 58 6.2.2. Toxic Equivalents ......................................................................................................... 58 6.2.3. Specific Toxic Effects of POPs ..................................................................................... 58 6.2.4. Impacts on Fish ............................................................................................................ 60 6.2.5. Impacts on Birds ........................................................................................................... 60 6.2.6. Impacts on Marine Mammals ....................................................................................... 62 6.2.7. Impacts on Humans ..................................................................................................... 66 6.3. Concerns in the North and Central Coast ........................................................................... 67 6.4. Monitoring ........................................................................................................................... 68 6.5. Mitigation ............................................................................................................................. 70 7. Heavy Metal Pollutants .............................................................................................................. 71 7.1. Pollution Sources ................................................................................................................ 71 7.1.1. Mercury ........................................................................................................................ 71 7.1.2. Copper .......................................................................................................................... 71 7.1.3. Cadmium ...................................................................................................................... 72 7.1.4. Lead.............................................................................................................................. 72 7.1.5. Other Metals ................................................................................................................. 72 7.2. Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts ..................................................................... 72 7.2.1. Mercury ........................................................................................................................ 72 7.2.2. Copper .......................................................................................................................... 73 7.2.3. Cadmium ...................................................................................................................... 73 7.2.4. Lead.............................................................................................................................. 73 3 Ocean Ecology Review of Marine Pollution 7.3. Concerns in the North and Central Coast ........................................................................... 74 7.4. Monitoring ........................................................................................................................... 74 7.5. Mitigation ............................................................................................................................. 74 8. Sewage Pollution ....................................................................................................................... 75 8.1. Pollution Sources ................................................................................................................ 75 8.2. Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts ..................................................................... 77 8.3. Concerns in the North and Central Coast ........................................................................... 80 8.4. Monitoring ........................................................................................................................... 81 8.5. Mitigation ............................................................................................................................. 82 9. Oil Pollution ................................................................................................................................ 88 9.1. Pollution Sources ................................................................................................................ 88 9.2. Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts ..................................................................... 89 9.2.1. Habitat Sensitivity ........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • General Geology
    3 GENERAL GEOLOGY introduction: The Unuk River-Salmon River-Anyox map-area includes partof the con- tact of the eastern Coast Plutonic Complex with the west-central of margin the successor Bowser Basin. Geologically, geographically, and economically the country rocksof the area form a well-defined entity that the writer has called the Stewart Complex. Sedimen- tary, volcanic, and metamorphic rocks bordering the Coast Plutonic Complex range in age from Middle Triassic to Quaternary. The detailed stratigraphy of the entire area is not completely known, principally because of the extensive icefields, the poor accessibility, and the complex nature of the Mesozoic succession. North of Stewart, fossil evidence coupled with certain marker horizons has been to used outline and separate Triassic and Jurassic formations. Permian rocks were not specifically studied, although thick Permian carbonate units occur along the lskut River and immediatelyeast ofthe Bell-Irving Riverat Oweegee Peak (Fig. 1). In the map-area southof Stewart, fossils are rare; in the Kitsault River section, Hanson (1931) and Carter (personal communication) collected undiag- nostic Mesozoic fossils. Southof Stewart, identificationof Hazelton Group formations is still tentative becauseit is based on structural and lithological similarities and homotaxy. The natureof the Permian-Triassic boundarywas not determined in the map-area.To the north toward Telegraph Creek, where both Permian and Triassic rocks are well exposed, the nature of the Permian-Triassic boundaryis still uncertain, even though the Permian rocks which probably underlie part of the Bowser Basin have been studied by several petroleum exploration companies. Fusilinid studies on thick carbonate rocks exposed along the Scud River (Pitcher, 1960) indicate an Early and Middle Permian assemblage.
    [Show full text]
  • The 2005 Coastal Cutthroat Trout Symposium
    THE 2005 COASTAL CUTTHROAT TROUT SYMPOSIUM Status, Management, Biology, and Conservation Major support for the 2005 Coastal Cutthroat Trout Symposium was provided by Oregon Chapter of the Pacific States Marine U.S. Fish and Wildlife American Fisheries Society Fisheries Commission Service Additional support for the symposium and for publication of these proceedings was provided by North Pacific International Chapter AFS Humboldt Chapter AFS Alaska Chapter AFS American Fisheries Society South Sound Flyfishers Clark-Skamania Flyfishers Lower Columbia Flyfishers Washington Fly Fishing Club Port Townsend Chapter of Trout Unlimited Fine Art and Books for Raffle and Auction provided by Washington Trout G. Loomis Bruce Ferguson Les Johnson THE 2005 COASTAL CUTTHROAT TROUT SYMPOSIUM Status, Management, Biology, and Conservation Proceedings of a Workshop Fort Worden State Park Port Townsend, Washington September 29-October 1, 2005 Edited by Patrick J. Connolly, Thomas H. Williams, and Robert E. Gresswell Published by Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Portland, Oregon 2008 Suggested citation formats: Entire book Connolly, P. J., T. H. Williams, and R. E. Gresswell, editors. 2008. The 2005 coastal cutthroat trout symposium: status, management, biology, and conservation. Oregon Chapter, American Fisheries Society, Portland. Article within book Anderson, J. D. 2008. Coastal cutthroat trout in Washington state: status and management. Pages 11-23 in P. J. Connolly, T. H. Williams, and R. E. Gresswell, editors. The 2005 coastal cutthroat
    [Show full text]
  • Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy Management Plan
    Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy Management Plan June 2015 Cover Page Photo Credit: Doug Neasloss Acknowledgements The Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation and BC Parks jointly prepared this management plan. The management planning process was coordinated by: BC Parks Planning Section Head: Volker Michelfelder Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation Representatives: Doug Neasloss, Grant Scott, David Scott and Evan Loveless. Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy Management Plan i Plan Highlights Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy is within the asserted territories of the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation, Heiltsuk Nation, and Gitga’at First Nation. The conservancy is home to the uncommon Spirit Bear, and has high cultural and coastal marine values. The Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy Management Plan identifies objectives and strategies that focus on: • protecting historical and current First Nation habitation, harvesting and hunting areas and activities, and associated cultural, economic and biological values; • providing for and promoting present and future First Nations access to those areas and activities; • maintaining the ecological integrity of the conservancy; • maintaining representative flora and fauna, and protecting at risk plant communities, ecosystems and wildlife species in both terrestrial and marine environments; and • protecting the wilderness values associated with key recreational activities and sites that, in turn, support opportunities for wildlife viewing, wilderness-based boating, kayaking and salt water angling. Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy
    [Show full text]
  • NATURESCAPE BRITISH COLUMBIA Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home
    The Stewardship Series NATURESCAPE BRITISH COLUMBIA Caring for Wildlife Habitat at Home Native Plant and Animal Booklet, Central Interior Naturescape British Columbia IS FUNDED BY For More information, call 1-800-387-9853 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Naturescape British Columbia. Native plant and animal booklet, central interior (Stewardship series) ISBN 0-7726-4333-4 1. Zoology - British Columbia - Cariboo Region. 2. Botany - British Columbia - Cariboo Region. 3. Biotic communities - British Columbia - Cariboo Region. 4. Habitat (Ecology) - British Columbia - Cariboo Region. 5. Nature conservation - British Columbia - Cariboo Region. I. Hemphill, Susan M. II. Naturescape British Columbia. III. Series. QH77.C3H452 2000 578’.09711’7 C00-960275-5 Notice: The information contained in the Naturescape British Columbia Guide and booklets is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantees on the part of the authors and Naturescape British Columbia sponsors. Because the means, materials and procedures followed by home- owners are beyond our control, the authors and Naturescape British Columbia disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this information. Naturescape British Columbia publications are copyright© 1995 by the Government of British Columbia. All rights reserved. Except for use in review, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system is forbidden without the written permission of Naturescape British Columbia and Havitat Conservation Trust Foundation Naturescape British Columbia Havitat Conservation Trust Foundation Suite 107 19 Dallas Road Victoria BC V8V 5A6 www.naturescapebc.ca NAT U R E S C A P E BR I T I S H CO L U M B I A Native Plant and Animal Booklet,Central Interi o r W r itten and compiled by Susan M.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecosystems of British Columbia
    Special Report Series 6 ECOSYSTEMS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA FEBRUARY 1991 BC Ministry of Forests ISSN 0843-6452 Ecosystems of British Columbia Compiled and Edited by Del Meidinger 1 and Jim Pojar 2 1 Research Branch 2 Forest Sciences Section B.C. Ministry of Forests B.C. Ministry of Forests 31 Bastion Square Bag 5000 Victoria, B.C. V8W 3E7 Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 February 1991 BC Ministry of Forests Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Ecosystems of British Columbia (Special report series, ISSN 0843-6452 ; no. 6) Includes bibliographical references: p. ISBN 0-7718-8997-6 1. Forest ecology - British Columbia. 2. Bio- climatology - British Columbia. 3. Biogeography - British Columbia. I. Meidinger, Dellis Vern, 1953- . II. Pojar, Jim, 1948- . III. British Columbia. Ministry of Forests. IV. Series: Special report series (British Columbia. Ministry of Forests) ; no. 6. QK938.F6.E26 1991 581.5'2642'09711 C91-092061-3 1991 Province of British Columbia Published by the Research Branch Ministry of Forests 31 Bastion Square Victoria, B.C. V8W 3E7 Copies of this and other Ministry of Forests titles are available from Crown Publications Inc., 546 Yates Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1K8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Numerous individuals contributed to this report, including not only the authors of the separate sections (see ``List of Authors and Af®liations''), but also their associates who have helped over several years in the research on which the report is based. All the authors are or were employed in the B.C. Ministry of Forests research program or the B.C. Ministry of Environment Wildlife Branch.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia
    Review of the Environmental and Socio-economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia March 2008 B.A. Faggetter, Ocean Ecology 1662 Parmenter Ave. Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4R3 Telephone: (250) 622-2501 Email: [email protected] Review of Marine Pollution Review of the Environmental and Socio- economic Impacts of Marine Pollution in the North and Central Coast Regions of British Columbia Prepared for: Chris Picard, Marine Biologist/Planner Maya Paul, Resource Economist/ Socioeconomic Planner North Coast-Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society 255 West 3rd Avenue Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L2 Prepared by: Ocean Ecology 2 Ocean Ecology Review of Marine Pollution Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3 Table of Tables ................................................................................................................................ 8 Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................. 10 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... 13 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 16 2. Contaminants and Pollutants in the Marine Environment ........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • LNG Canada Export Terminal Section 5 – Assessment of Potential Environmental Effects October 2014
    Environmental Assessment Certificate Application LNG Canada Export Terminal Section 5 – Assessment of Potential Environmental Effects October 2014 The copyright of this document is vested in LNG Canada Development Inc. All rights reserved. LNG Canada Export Terminal Environmental Assessment Certificate Application Section 5: Assessment of Potential Environmental Effects 5 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 5.1 Environmental Background 5.1.1 Geology and Soils The Project is located in an area characterized by the intrusive igneous rocks of the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains (Western System) and the volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Hazelton Mountains of the Central Plateau and Mountain Area (Interior System) of BC (Holland 1976). The surficial geology of the area is a product of its proximity to the Kitimat Arm and the morphology of the Kitimat-Terrace trough along with active and historic sediments from Kitimat River, Skeena River and their tributaries. The valley floor that stretches from the head of Douglas Channel to Terrace is blanketed in glaciofluvial, fluvial, and glaciomarine deposits, ranging in thickness from veneers of 0.5 m, to terraces and deltas more than 10 m thick (Clague 1983). The central trough is bounded to the west and east by the till- and colluvium-mantled Coast (west boundary) and Hazelton (east boundary) mountains. Organic materials, typically in swamps or wetlands, are found throughout the area, particularly in association with the dominantly fluvial, glaciofluvial, and glaciomarine deposits on the valley bottom. The soils in the area are primarily moderately well to well drained, acidic Brunisols and Podzols developed from coarse textured fluvial and glaciofluvial deposits and finer-textured glaciomarine parent materials on the valley bottom (Farstad and Laird 1954).
    [Show full text]
  • <Original Signed By>
    Hillslope and Fluvial Processes Along the Proposed Pipeline Corridor, Burns Lake to Kitimat, West Central British Columbia James W. Schwab P.Geo., Eng.L. Prepared by: James W. Schwab P.Geo., Eng.L. Geomorphologist Prepared for: Bulkley Valley Centre for Natural Resources Research & Management Smithers, B.C. Prepared: September, 2011 THIS DOCUMENT HAS RECEIVED AN INDEPENDENT PEER REVIEW Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................. ii List of Figures ................................................................................... iii Executive Summary .......................................................................... iv 1 Introduction ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Regional Setting ....................................................................... 1 1.2 Physiographic Regions ............................................................. 2 1.2.1 Nechako Plateau ........................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Hazelton Mountains ...................................................................... 3 1.2.3 Kitimat Ranges ............................................................................. 3 2 Hillslope and Fluvial Processes ....................................................... 4 2.1 Nechako Plateau ....................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Burns Lake to the Morice River ....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Kitimat River Estuary Status of Environmental Knowledge To
    -1475 obtx ci MINETTE II .z4 15 / il31 Robiate DFO - Libra / MPO - B bliotheque BA Y „I CJ Is 18 122 Lake 5 II 1 I 11 1 1111 11 11 04012730 02 3 8.0 7 Yo 0 3' Lasha NOTE Aluminum o. of anada Smelter Lake Aids to Navigation at Kitimat FG are privately maintained. / ut if Kitimat FG 11111(P.o.) s 001: (See Chart 3736) FIR 3 FIG 3 5 3 o 1 1611--- -22 •••.t3 ,V •-- W rf 2, 4))4 • l'31 49 40 'od'o B. M. 34;14 2LtsFR 57 1 (61 72 2. 75 M 73 49. I s' • 86 Kitimat 'Mission 5, 84 :.(Indian Settlement) 88 66 :2i: 23/ • / • 4'N T96 RI V 384 95 96 1 ' 32 1 .. .... 34/ 1311 -o STATlfS 61 I / .- M 41 — ,- ........: 0 ioe - o 69 53 L VIA? W ir: TA L, K N 35., 110 v. Itt M -Risk 3 1 462 .. /2 / 2 ■ '..3 CI) t, 18 ,- 75 m 119 I R 116 ' / fl, .;32. 97 / 20 122 • 41 I 38 45-7I ; 58 ' 4Sy 107 38 432 93/ 18, 120 M \38 55: 129 Fl 109 31 143 I R 12 Emsley 25 Cove .;''" 1.13) 71 142 . 37 116 153 /68 150 31 3 8/ 152 \SPECIA 152 114 , . (SY • 62 . 2 133 II 2 Brentzen,9 3 \ .•., 14 MI Coste Pt.,36 RI Rk. 55 72L . II 164 ' /34 153\ 94 P'::. ..'.' t 990M92.>.(a.4-bl\.. 3\0) • 6 .. • i ' *--' 80 \ja .104 56 • 88 :70 108 70l I i 15 4 r , ENVIRONMENT CANADA THE KITIMAT RIVER ESTUARY STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE TO 1976 REPORT OF THE ESTUARY WORKING GROUP DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT REGIONAL BOARD PACIFIC REGION By LEONARD M.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Athapaskan Conference, V1
    NATIONAL MUSEUM MUSÉE NATIONAL OF MAN DE L’HOMME MERCURY SERIES COLLECTION MERCURE CANADIAN ETHNOLOGY SERVICE LE SERVICE CANADIEN D’ETHNOLOGIE PAPER No.27 DOSSIER No. 27 PROCEEDINGS: NORTHERN ATHAPASKAN CONFERENCE, 1971 VOLUME ONE EDITED BY A.McFADYEN CLARK NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF CANADA MUSÉES NATIONAUX DU CANADA O T T A W A 1975 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MUSEES NATIONAUX DU CANADA NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF CANADA CONSEIL D'ADMINISTRATION Mr. George Ignatieff Chairman M. André Bachand Vice-Président Dr. W.E. Beckel Member M. Jean des Gagniers Membre Mr. William Dodge Member M. André Fortier Membre Mr. R.H. Kroft Member Mme Marie-Paule LaBrêque Membre Mr. J.R. Longstaffe Member Dr. B. Margaret Meagher Member Dr. William Schneider Member M. Léon Simard Membre Mme Marie Tellier Membre Dr. Sally Weaver Member SECRETARY GENERAL SECRETAIRE GENERAL Mr. Bernard Ostry DIRECTOR DIRECTEUR NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MAN MUSEE NATIONAL DE L'HOMME Dr. William E. Taylor, Jr. CHIEF CHEF CANADIAN ETHNOLOGY SERVICE SERVICE CANADIEN D'ETHNOLOGIE Dr. Barrie Reynolds Crown Copyright Reserved © Droits réservés au nom de la Couronne NATIONAL MUSEUM MUSÉE NATIONAL OF MAN DE L’HOMME MERCURY SERIES COLLECTION MERCURE ISSN 0316-1854 CANADIAN ETHNOLOGY SERVICE LE SERVICE CANADIEN D'ETHNOLOGIE PAPER NO.27 DOSSIER NO. 27 ISSN 0316-1862 PROCEEDINGS: NORTHERN ATHAPASKAN CONFERENCE, 1971 VOLUME ONE EDITED BY A. McFADYEN CLARK Cover Illustration: Contact traditional Kutchin camp based on a drawing from: "Journal du Yukon 1847-48" by Alexander Hunter Murray, Ottawa 1910, p. 86. NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF CANADA MUSÉES NATIONAUX DU CANADA OTTAWA 1975 OBJECT OF THE MERCURY SERIES The Mercury Series is a publication of the National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada, designed to permit the rapid dissemination of information pertaining to those disciplines for which the National Museum of Man is responsible.
    [Show full text]
  • Sample Pdf Pages
    Exploring The Coast Mountains On Skis A Guide to Ski Mountaineering John Baldwin Third Edition Chapter Reference Map 1 Howe Sound Contents 2 Garibaldi 3 Whistler Using this Guidebook 9 4 Callaghan Trip Planning 15 About the Coast Mountains 21 5 Birkenhead 6 Duffey Lake Pacific Ranges 7 Stein 1. Howe Sound 35 8 Chilliwack River 2. Garibaldi 51 9 Baker 3. Whistler 69 4. Callaghan 87 10 Coquihalla 5. Birkenhead 105 11 Manning Park 6. Duffey Lake 119 12 Ashlu 7. Stein 153 13 Upper Lillooet 8. Chilliwack River 163 14 Chilcotin Ranges 9. Baker 173 15 Lillooet Icefield 10. Coquihalla 191 16 Homathko Icefield 11. Manning Park 203 17 Waddington 12. Ashlu 213 18 Bella Coola 13. Upper Lillooet 233 19 Smithers 14. Chilcotin Ranges 261 20 Terrace 15. Lillooet Icefield 271 21 Stewart 16. Homathko Icefield 287 22 Juneau 17. Waddington 299 18. Bella Coola 333 Kitimat Ranges 19. Smithers 355 20. Terrace 383 Boundary Ranges 21. Stewart 405 22. Juneau 425 23. Extended Traverses 441 Index 445 Metres to Feet 448 34 Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis A Guide to Climbing and Hiking in Southwestern BC, Websites Bruce Fairley www.bivouac.com Scrambles in Southwestern British Columbia, Matt The Canadian Mountaineering Encyclopedia is an excellent Howe Sound Gunn 1 online guidebook that contains route descriptions, photos, A Climber’s Guide to the Coastal Ranges of BC, Dick detailed road information and updates and trip reports. Culbert (out of print) www.clubtread.com Stein Valley Wilderness Guidebook, Gordon White (out Online forum and trip reports. of print) www.turns-all-year.com Alpine Select, Kevin McLane Online forum and trip reports focused on Washington.
    [Show full text]
  • Pacific Maritime Rainforest
    Pacific Maritime Rainforest General Description significant disturbance factors in some areas. In The Pacific Maritime Rainforest zone covers an area general, stand-replacing fire plays a relatively minor of almost 88,000 km² at low to mid-elevations of the role in the disturbance regime. However, fire southern and central British Columbia (BC) coast, as becomes an increasingly important factor in forest well as Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. This zone dynamics where climatic conditions are drier, represents the central portion of North American primarily in the more southern and eastern portions Pacific coastal rainforests, extending from Alaska to of the zone. Otherwise, gap replacement of single or northern California. The maritime climate is cool and small groups of trees is the common regeneration wet. Landcover is dominated by evergreen process. coniferous forests. Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla ) is the Vegetation characteristic tree species. Western red cedar (Thuja plicata ) is the most common canopy Upland vegetation is dominated by temperate associate, except at the northern edge of the zone rainforests characterized by tall, long-lived where it occurs less frequently. Other common evergreen coniferous trees in stands that may trees include Pacific silver fir ( Abies amabilis ), coast persist for centuries. Stand structure is typically Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii ), multi-storied, but can be single-storied after stand- Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ), yellow-cypress replacing disturbance. Cold-deciduous broad-leaved (Callitropsis nootkatensis ), grand fir ( Abies tree species are sometimes present following grandis ), red alder ( Alnus rubra ) and big-leaved disturbance. Understory structure varies from dense maple ( Acer macrophyllum ). Shore pine (Pinus to sparse, and is usually dominated by cold- contorta var.
    [Show full text]