Resource Management Plan 2001-2005 Prince Rupert Forest Region

Resource Management Plan 2001-2005 Prince Rupert Forest Region

7.0  FOREST SERVICE ROAD (FSR) MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

7.1  FSR Regional Issues and Priorities

The goals and objectives for Forest Service Roads are to maintain roads and stream crossings to a level consistent with the Forest Practices Code requirements to:

·  Ensure that FSRs are maintained to a level which promotes the safe use for the extraction of timber and the safety of the public users.

·  Protect the structural integrity of the roads, right-of-way, bridges, and culverts.

·  Minimize the impacts of sediment transportation from the road prism on other resources.

·  Ensure that safe fish passage is provided at stream crossings where there has been sufficient information collected to ensure that there is habitat upstream of the crossings.

All FSRs are inspected on an annual basis and more frequently in high risk areas and after major storm events, with annual maintenance plans developed based on the inspections. Maintenance includes: grading, ditch cleaning, removal of danger trees, brushing to maintain safe sight distances, stabilization of unstable slopes, regravelling of roads with inadequate surfacing plus bridge and culvert maintenance.

There is also a major program to replace worn out bridges and culverts on FSRs with new structures. Whereas the ranking for the replacement of structures under the Bridge Replacement Program is based primarily on fibre flow, the ranking for road maintenance is based on the criteria shown on Table 1 below.

Table 1: Priority Criteria

High (H) / Legal requirement under Code. Continuing adverse impacts on public safety and the nature of the use of the road is such that it is not possible to close or to deactivate the road to eliminate the risk; such as:

1. Personal injury due to landslides or mass wasting, washouts, insufficient sight distance;
2. Damage to private property/utilities due to landslides, washouts;
3. Serious long-term damage to fish habitat and water quality due to sedimentation, mass wasting.

Moderate (M) / Legal requirement under the Code. Where:

1. There is an opportunity to close roads or temporarily deactivate roads to reduce risk to public safety, i.e. during heavy rainfall, stream freshets, or where alternate access to the public facility exists.
2. Damage to property/utilities can be readily mitigated.
3. Impacts on fish habitat and water quality are short term in nature.

Low (L) / Legal requirement under Code

1. Where the resources at risk are not present or the potential failures will create little or no impact or resources.

The Forest Development Plan (FDP) will include maps and schedules which indicate the location of all existing FSRs as well as the location of all roads and structures to be constructed and modified. The FDP will also include a road maintenance schedule which indicates which FSRs are maintained by the ministry and which ones are maintained by licensees under road permit.

The district will inspect and prepare inspection reports for all FSRs for which they are responsible at least once a year while major structures will be inspected every three years. Licensee’s maintenance plans will be reviewed while a sample of their maintenance practices will be reviewed or audited annually. Bridge inspections for surface maintenance will be carried out as a component of road inspections while structural inspections will be carried out by region.

Tables will be prepared annually which detail the required maintenance, modification or replacement work along with the cost of completing the work. This work will be ranked in order of the criteria listed under regional issues and priorities.

7.2  Lakes Forest District FSR Issues and Priorities

To date, Lakes Forest District has 1,302 km of Forest Service roads with an average of 40 km of new road added each year. It is anticipated that most roads within the Small Business Chart area are primarily developed, so these numbers may reach a steady state. This plan requires that (unless otherwise specified) most roads be maintained for continued use.

Previous inspections indicate that our District FSR’s are in relatively good shape; however, there is a backlog of pre-code issues that need to be addressed to bring roads up to current standards. After this year's major brushing and gravelling contracts are completed, we have approx. $600,000 in outstanding maintenance (i.e. gravelling).

Replacement structures may be a larger item though, road and stream inventories have shown that many existing structures are undersized, or fish barriers. As surveys continue, replacement structures will be identified. We are currently aware of approx. 20 that need replacement, most of these will be bridges or major culverts.

Our District objective is to ensure all roads meet or exceed minimal standards. New roads require minimum class 5 standard with gravel, for cost effectiveness over the long term.

Currently all FSR’s are being inspected to determine where high risks areas are located, and to define maintenance needs. Inspection sheets are summarized and schedules updated annually. All active roads receive at minimum, annual inspections. As per FPC requirements, all major structures are inspected every three (3) years, bridges are formally inspected by a qualified P.Eng, while Major culverts are inspected by a qualified inspector (usually District Staff). Major storm events require prompt inspection of all medium to high risk roads, and major structures. Aerial flights are combined with visual ground inspections to check for damage or hazards.

As our Access Management Plan indicates, we intend to keep most of our roads open and maintained. Maintenance costs are low because the standard of construction is good. After the backlog is complete, all FSR’s will be gravelled and stabilized. Our District objective is to ensure drainage structures have increased use of rip rap to prevent scouring and down cutting at outlets. Main haul roads should be considered for improved surfacing (calcium) for safety, and reduced long term maintenance costs.

The Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage program has put additional use onto most roads, this requires additional maintenance and inspections (typically, ditches are plugged and culverts damaged).

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Resource Management Plan 2001-2005 Prince Rupert Forest Region

7.2.1  FSR Data Table

FOR YEAR / 2001/2002 / DISTRICT LAKES
ACTIVITY / ACCOUNT / PRIORITY / OUTPUT / OUTPUT / ESTIMATED COSTS / TOTAL / BUDGET / ACTUAL / COMMENTS
UNITS / GOALS / BASE $ / CUMUL. / INCR. $ / CUMUL. / EST. $ / ALLOC. / COSTS
BASE $ / INCR. $
Fixed Costs (region $):
Management Planning / 40801 / 10,000
Right-of-way acquisition / 40802 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
emergency repairs / 40803 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
inspection of bridges/major culverts / 40804 / H / NO. / 75 / 15,000 / 0 / 0 / 0
railway crossing maint. / 40805 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 25,000 / 0
Surface Maintenance / 40805 / H / KM / 25 / 75,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 10 / 0 / 0 / 25,000 / 0 / 0
(e.g., grading, brushing, / L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
ditch cleanout, bridge
deck cleaning and repair)
subtotal / 75,000 / 25,000 / 0
Modification-Bridge and / 40806 / H / NO. / 2 / 140,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / Mt. Colley 14 Km & Maxan 28 Km
Major Culvert Replacement / M / NO. / 2 / 0 / 0 / 90,000 / 0 / 0 / Binta 25.7 Km & Maxan-Equity 24 Km
L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 140,000 / 90,000
Modification-Other Works / 40807 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
(e.g., road relocation, stream / L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
culvert replacement, road
stability repair)
subtotal / 0
Road Deactivation / 40808 / H / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 0
TOTAL / 240,000 / 115,000
FOR YEAR / 2002/2003 / DISTRICT LAKES
ACTIVITY / ACCOUNT / PRIORITY / OUTPUT / OUTPUT / ESTIMATED COSTS / TOTAL / BUDGET / ACTUAL / COMMENTS
UNITS / GOALS / BASE $ / CUMUL. / INCR. $ / CUMUL. / EST. $ / ALLOC. / COSTS
BASE $ / INCR. $
Fixed Costs (region $):
Management Planning / 40801 / 10,000
Right-of-way acquisition / 40802 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
emergency repairs / 40803 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
inspection of bridges/major culverts / 40804 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
railway crossing maint. / 40805 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 10,000 / 0
Surface Maintenance / 40805 / H / KM / 25 / 75,000 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 10 / 0 / 0 / 25,000
(e.g., grading, brushing, / L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
ditch cleanout, bridge
deck cleaning and repair)
subtotal / 75,000 / 25,000 / 0
Modification-Bridge and / 40806 / H / NO. / 3 / 150,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / Francois Ext. 81,82 & 83 Km
Major Culvert Replacement / M / NO. / 1 / 0 / 0 / 50,000 / 0 / Mt. Colley - 1 Km
L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 150,000 / 50,000 / 0
Modification-Other Works / 40807 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
(e.g., road relocation, stream / L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
culvert replacement, road
stability repair)
subtotal / 0
Road Deactivation / 40808 / H / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 0
TOTAL / 0 / 235,000 / 0 / 75,000 / 0
FOR YEAR / 2003/2004 / DISTRICT LAKES
ACTIVITY / ACCOUNT / PRIORITY / OUTPUT / OUTPUT / ESTIMATED COSTS / TOTAL / BUDGET / ACTUAL / COMMENTS
UNITS / GOALS / BASE $ / CUMUL. / INCR. $ / CUMUL. / EST. $ / ALLOC. / COSTS
BASE $ / INCR. $
Fixed Costs (region $):
Management Planning / 40801 / 10,000
Right-of-way acquisition / 40802 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
emergency repairs / 40803 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
inspection of bridges/major culverts / 40804 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
railway crossing maint. / 40805 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 10,000 / 0
Surface Maintenance / 40805 / H / KM / 25 / 75,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 10 / 0 / 0 / 25,000 / 0 / 0
(e.g., grading, brushing, / L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
ditch cleanout, bridge
deck cleaning and repair)
subtotal / 75,000 / 25,000 / 0
Modification-Bridge and / 40806 / H / NO. / 3 / 150,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Major Culvert Replacement / M / NO. / 1 / 0 / 0 / 50,000 / 0 / 0
L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 150,000 / 50,000
Modification-Other Works / 40807 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
(e.g., road relocation, stream / L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
culvert replacement, road
stability repair)
subtotal / 0
Road Deactivation / 40808 / H / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 0
TOTAL / 235,000 / 75,000

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Resource Management Plan 2001-2005 Prince Rupert Forest Region

7.3  Morice Forest District FSR Issues and Priorities

The District strategy is to ensure that all the roads which the District is responsible for maintaining will show up on the SBFEP Forest Development Plan. This will also include a road maintenance schedule which indicates which FSR's are maintained by Licensee's under Road Use Permits.

Over the next three years, our approach to the FSR's, is to bring the roads up to a standard which will require reduced maintenance levels and lower costs in the long term. Some of these roads have had reduced levels of maintenance as the funding levels have been low. We have scheduled aggressive levels of brushing and ditch and culvert repairs in the next three years. If works progress and are achieved at lower costs in the first year, then the production will increase and the next year's cost will reflect the savings at RMP review time.

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Resource Management Plan 2001-2005 Prince Rupert Forest Region

7.3.1  FSR Data Table

FOR YEAR / 2001/2002 / DISTRICT MORICE
ACTIVITY / ACCOUNT / PRIORITY / OUTPUT / OUTPUT / ESTIMATED COSTS / TOTAL / BUDGET / ACTUAL / COMMENTS
UNITS / GOALS / BASE $ / CUMUL. / INCR. $ / CUMUL. / EST. $ / ALLOC. / COSTS
BASE $ / INCR. $
Fixed Costs (region $):
Management Planning / 40801
Right-of-way acquisition / 40802 / H / NO. / 60,000 / 0 / 0 / 0
emergency repairs / 40803 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
inspection of bridges/major culverts / 40804 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
railway crossing maint. / 40805 / H / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 60,000 / 0
Surface Maintenance / 40805 / H / KM / 99.5 / 370,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / Brushing, grading &
M / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / resurfacing
(e.g., grading, brushing, / L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
ditch cleanout, bridge
deck cleaning and repair)
subtotal / 370,000 / 0 / 0
Modification-Bridge and / 40806 / H / NO. / 3 / 285,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / Tochcha E. (8 Km) Hautee (12 Km) and
Major Culvert Replacement / M / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / Hagan (39 Km)
L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 285,000 / 0
Modification-Other Works / 40807 / H / NO. / 0.6 / 100,000 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / Morice - safety related
M / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / road relocation
(e.g., road relocation, stream / L / NO. / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
culvert replacement, road
stability repair)
subtotal / 100,000 / 0
Road Deactivation / 40808 / H / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
M / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
L / KM / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
subtotal / 0
TOTAL / 815,000
FOR YEAR / 2002/2003 / DISTRICT MORICE
ACTIVITY / ACCOUNT / PRIORITY / OUTPUT / OUTPUT / ESTIMATED COSTS / TOTAL / BUDGET / ACTUAL / COMMENTS
UNITS / GOALS / BASE $ / CUMUL. / INCR. $ / CUMUL. / EST. $ / ALLOC. / COSTS