Reducing clear-cut logging and paying more attention to where trees are removed will help reduce the flood risk in British Columbia, a researcher says.
A paper published by a team, including University of British Columbia Prof. Younes Alila, found that when 21 per cent of trees were harvested using clear-cut logging, the average flood size increased by 38 per cent in the Deadman River watershed and 84 per cent in Joe Ross Creek area, both snowy regions located north of Kamloops.
At Deadman River, small lakes dot the area to help mitigate melting snow, while the dramatic difference at Joe Ross Creek comes after trees were removed from parts of snow-covered mountains that receive more sun. “And as a result, we amplify the floods downstream and that's just the nature of the beast we call cumulative effects,” he said.
He said he hopes the research is helpful for both provincial and First Nations governments as the province is in the midst of a review of the Forest and Range Practices Act.
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