The fall 2014 edition of Private Forest Matters—a quarterly newsletter distributed to members of the Private Forest Landowners Association. Includes information on: water management tips for forest owners, upcoming municipal elections, rebuilding coho populations in the Englishman River, tribute to Maxine Haley.

1. Private Forest Matters
Water Management
Tips for Forest Owners
Seasonal shifts are inevitable. If you’re a
forest owner with streams on your prope-rty,
minimizing negative impacts to water
quality and fish and wildlife habitat are
crucial forest stewardship objectives.
BC is blessed with abundant streams, rivers,
lakes and watercourses. PFLA is committed
to helping forest owners protect these
valuable resources, as well as the
investments you’ve made in your
access structures.
Road management IS water management.
A well-planned and constructed roadway
will minimize potential problems, but a
regular maintenance program is needed
to ensure the long-term stability of a road
system. In most cases you will be able to
carry out an effective road maintenance
program with hand tools, some gravel,
and a truck.
Regular inspections should be carried
out, with additional checks after heavy
rains. New roads and roads with heavy
traffic should get special attention — a
little shovel work early in the season can
prevent potentially larger problems later
on. Potential trouble areas, such as wet
spots, culverts and steep grades should
be noted.
After storms or heavy rainfall, branches,
leaves and debris can block ditches,
culverts and crossing structures. Once
it’s safe, drive or walk along your roads
and trails. Check to make sure:
• Ditches are functional
• Culverts are unobstructed
• Cross ditches are intact
and operational
Maintenance inspections should check
all drainage structures, removing debris
from ditches and culverts. Watch ditches
for flooding or signs of bank erosion that
may signal the need for more, or larger,
culverts. Check inlets and outlets of
culverts for scouring.
Road grading should be carried out as
needed to maintain road shape and
surface, depending on the size of
operations and frequency of use. Ruts
and potholes should be filled in before
spring rains. Spur roads not needed all the
time, can be put to ‘bed’ by digging short
drainage ditches (water bars) across them
to control winter and spring runoffs.
Water bars can be constructed by
excavator, grader, or hand tools, and are
a very effective means of directing road
run-off away from the running surface of
the road and into drainage structures or
filter strips.
The key is to minimize opportunities for
water to concentrate and gain momentum.
Think about and find ways to disperse
Fall 2014
In This Issue
Water Management Tips 1
Tribute to Maxine Haley 2
Deer Hunting Season 2
Local Government Elections 3
Beaumont Timber – 40 Years! 3
Rebuilding Coho Populations 4
Contact Information
P.O. Box 48092
Victoria, BC V8Z 7H5
Tel: 250 381 7565
Fax: 250 381 7409
www.pfla.bc.ca
Rod Bealing - Executive Director
rod.bealing@pfla.bc.ca
Ina Shah - Office Manager
info@pfla.bc.ca
Lisa Weeks - Communications Manager
lisa@pfla.bc.ca
Continued on page 2

2. Pg 2
water — get it away from where it might
interact with passing equipment, trucks,
and vehicles, or come into contact with
erodible materials.
A slightly cambered road running surface
is also a very effective means to ensure that
water is dispersed in small, slow moving
quantities rather than being allowed to
form rivulets on the road surface.
Grader berms can be used to manage
water. A berm is a wall or mound of dirt
that keeps rainwater within a defined area.
Left entire they direct water and separate
road run off from ditch water for long
distances. With carefully positioned breaks
(gaps) they can be used to collect water
from certain spots and deposit water in
others. With no grader berms, road run
off is less likely to concentrate and gain
velocity, and will leave the road wherever
the slope permits.
Cut banks can be vegetated to combat
erosion. Fast-establishing vegetation,
particularly clovers and grasses, are
probably the most effective and
economical tool for stabilizing fine
sediment sources.
There are several commercial seed mixes
available for varying roadside conditions
(e.g., sunny, shady, wet or dry). If possible,
carry grass seed and hand tools in your
machines and vehicles and seed disturbed
areas when conditions are favourable for
good germination.
“Carry a shovel and fix small problems
before they become major problems”
— Words from a wise forest owner.
Deer Hunting Season
Reminder
Your annual opportunity to influence the
number of black tail deer enjoying your
forest is almost over. The 2014 hunting
season for mule deer ends December
10, 2014. Managing deer populations is
an on-going problem for private forest
landowners. Hunting is an effective
method to protect your forest from
the damage browsing deer (and other
ungulates) can cause. If you’re looking
for expert assistance managing your
deer problems before hunting season
ends, please contact us directly to be
added to our list of private land hunting
opportunities for responsible and
experienced deer hunters.
Tribute to Maxine Haley – Founding PFLA Chair
Continued from cover
On July 26, 2014 Maxine Haley
unexpectedly and peacefully passed away.
The PFLA owes a debt of gratitude to
Maxine Haley and her family.
Maxine’s energy, tenacity and commitment
to managing her land were a founding
force in the early days of PFLA. It’s with
gratitude, appreciation, respect and a
healthy dose of fear we remember
Maxine for her efforts, her contributions
and the remarkable difference she made
to private land forest management in B.C.
Rod Bealing explains, “In the dark days
of the mid-1990s, everyone who had
voluntarily put their land into the
Managed Forest Program woke up one
morning to a letter, from the then forest
minister, saying (paraphrasing of course):
“Welcome to the forest land reserve, we’ve
effectively devalued your land over night
by taking away any potential for higher-value,
better-use opportunities your land
might have had. Watch this space for
more information as we develop
regulations under the already heavily
feared, complex and onerously
prescriptive Forest Practices Code.”
Not surprisingly, this missive sent a shock
wave through the entire forest owning
community. Forest owners — large and
small, coastal and interior, companies,
families and individuals — were united in
their common concern over the impact
government could have on their land and
their operations.
The regulatory proposals at the time were
more ideologically driven than science
based. The group quickly recognized the
need to organize and send messages back
to government about the willingness to
protect environmental values, but at the
same time seek balance and secure
recognition for private property rights
and the freedom to manage our land.
Early on, Maxine Haley distinguished
herself as a strong-minded individual with
a striking capacity to speak her mind and
a seemingly insatiable appetite for combat.
Maxine proudly stepped up to become the
spokesperson for the PFLA and served as
the chair of the association from 1995
through 2008. Maxine’s commitment to
private property rights and her belief in
equity for landowners was an inspiring
reminder that regardless of how good
a job you’re doing on the ground,
sometimes you just have to fight
for what’s right.
While some of us had the pleasure to
watch experienced politicians tremble in
her presence, all of us have the benefits
of her die-hard belief in the importance
of sustainable forestry passed from
generation to generation. Maxine was
a force to be reckoned with and will be
greatly missed. Our deepest condolences
go out to David and family. PFLA hopes to
continue to build on our history with the
Haley family.

3. Pg 3
The next local government elections
in British Columbia are set for
November 15, 2014.
Local government elections now happen
in British Columbia every four years. This
includes elections for mayors, councillors,
regional district electoral area directors,
school trustees, trustees for the Islands
Trust, local community commisioners
and park board comissioners.
Phew. That’s potentially a lot of candidates,
new and returning, vying for voter attent-ion,
soliciting information and hoping to
persuade constituents they have the
ideals and ideas best suited for the job. At
times like these, private forest land often
becomes part of the agenda.
PFLA is dedicated to spreading the word
about responsible forest stewardship
and municipal elections are an excellent
opportunity to educate and inform local
candidates about private forest land and
the Managed Forest Program.
Local governments have control over
zoning, non-forest land use and property
taxation mill rates. Because these powers
can have a significant impact on land
management decisions, it’s important,
and beneficial to everyone, if local
government representatives have a
solid understanding of the present-day
stewardship practices and regulatory
frameworks in place to guide private
forest management in the province.
If you know of any candidates who
might benefit from support in helping
to understand private forestry, please
let us know. If you’re looking for more
information to share with your local
candidate about the Managed Forest
Program, or private forest stewardship in
general, we’d be happy to help. Contact
us at info@pfla.bc.ca or visit pfla.bc.ca
Coming Soon: Local Government Elections
Beaumont Timber Celebrates 40 Years!
Beaumont Timber celebrated their 40th
anniversary this summer. PFLA was
delighted to attend the celebration
and hear, firsthand, some of the stories
and anecdotes about the people and
families who make up Beaumont Timber.
Today, Furst zu Wied (Carl) is the head of
Beaumont Timber. As the son of Friedrich
Wilhelm Prince zu Wied, the founder
of Beaumont Timber, Carl explained the
family’s impetus for buying land in Canada:
“In the early 1970s nobody knew where
the Cold War was leading and my father
thought we’d better find somewhere safe
and far away from Russia. He decided it
was wise to look for a place where you
like to be, and can conduct a business
you know something about it, and
since we knew forestry at home, it
was the easy decision.”
It wasn’t uncommon, in those days, for
Germans recouping from the war to look
for land elsewhere. Henry Roethel was
of German descent and brokered many
deals between Canadian landowners
and German investors, including the
sale of the Revelstoke tree farm to
Prince zu Wied.
Around the time Prince zu Wied
purchased the land, Mel Beaumont was
an entrepreneur working in the Revelstoke
area. With a knack for problem solving, and
a mechanical aptitude, Mel Beaumont was
known as a “Number 1 Logger”. This is the
attitude and ingenuity Mel brought to his
role as president of Beaumont Timber.
Dick Coleman was contracted to provide
forestry, engineering and management
expertise. Because Dick worked on the
Revelstoke lands in the past, his contin-ued
employment with Beaumont Timber
ensured continuity in operations. Dick
Coleman also worked with the provincial
government, and was involved in creating
the legislation that governed tree farms;
the “guts” of which still exists today.
The story goes that Prince zu Wied and
Dick Coleman flew to a rustic camp, only
accessible by boat or helicopter, at Tie.
Once they reached the camp, Prince zu
Wied was introduced and greeted with:
“Hi Fred, how’re you doing?” Quite a
different reception than the prince was
accustomed to in Germany.
This is just a short snippet of the rich history
that knits this tight group of people toge-ther
to form Beaumont Timber Company
Ltd. Today, the company operates 8,998
hectares of forest land in a number of
communities throughout the interior
and southern British Columbia.
A big PFLA round of applause to
Beaumont Timber Company Ltd. on their
40th anniversary, and all the best for another
40 years. Thanks for a great celebration!

4. Pg 4
One Fish, Two Fish
Rebuilding Coho Populations in the Englishman River
One of the highlights from the PFLA 2014
field tour was a visit to the Englishman
River watershed. Resource specialists were
on hand to describe the programs and
processes in place to successfully rebuild
salmon populations in the Englishman
River, as well as some fascinating new
technology used to assess and measure
fish stock levels.
Dave Davies, a community advisor with the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO),
works with over 30 different stewardship
groups from Campbell River to Parksville.
He describes his job as “helping people to
help salmon”.
Dave provided information about fish
populations in the river and some context
for the construction and evolution of the
side channel we visited.
According to Dave, the Englishman River
watershed is a moderate size for Vancouver
Island and fairly small by BC standards.
The river is home to all five species of
salmon — chinook, chum, coho, pink
and sockeye — as well as, cutthroat
and rainbow trout.
In the mid 1990s, measures were taken to
mitigate declining salmon populations. The
construction of the side channel, originally
called the TimberWest side channel, was
a major factor in rebuilding coho salmon
populations in the river.
In the early 2000s, land donated by
TimberWest and Island Timberlands created
a network of protected parkland along the
river that enables the river to rebuild itself.
The side channel was extended in 2006 to
reach 4.6 km in length, one of the longest
side channels on Vancouver Island, and is
now called the Clay Young side channel.
Dave describes the side channel as
“incredibly productive” and explains that
a 2009 through 2011 study determined
42 percent, almost half, of the coho smolt
population for the Englishman River comes
out of this side channel.
Unlike other salmon species, coho salmon
spend an entire year in fresh water before
heading out to sea as 6-inch smolts. Part
of the problem with the main stem of the
Englishman River is low-flows during the
summer and high-flows during the winter
make for unstable fish habitat. Because not
many pools are left in the main stem of the
river, the side channel provides protected
habitat for coho salmon year round.
James Craig, from the British Columbia
Conservation Foundation, described
an interesting PIT tag trial project they
offered the DFO in the fall of 2013 to help
determine the effectiveness and efficiency
of the annual DFO snorkel surveys (people
with snorkels swim in the river and count
the number of coho salmon they see).
What are PIT tags?
PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags
are small, glass-encased coils of copper, of
various sizes, injected into the abdomen of
fish to later track and record information
about the fish.
How does the PIT tag program work?
In the fall, in the lower end of the river,
angling and seining techniques were
used to capture adult coho salmon.
Once captured, PIT tags were injected
into the abdominal cavity of the fish and
they were tagged, on the dorsal surface,
with a piece of plastic designed to show
up easily. Then the tagged fish were
released back into the population
to mix with the untagged fish.
Essentially, it’s an easy mark recapture
study — you get a ratio of how many
tags you put out, how many tags you
see after, and you do the math to come
up with a population estimate. It’s a
simple technique, but the PIT tags
are an added component.
Once the adult fish are tagged, they swim
up the river and distribute naturally to
wherever they might be going. The PIT
tags allow you to detect the fish by
simple antennas.
Using antennas to detect the PIT tags
A plastic frame, with extension cord
wire going through it, is put in a small
creek, horizontally. The wire is hooked
up to a tuning box — essentially, some
capacitors, and resistors and diodes and
chips powered by a deep cell cycle 12-
volt battery with a data logger. When the
antenna detects the adult fish going by,
the data is downloaded into a laptop
and logged.
To summarize: fish are tagged in the lower
river. Several antennas are set up in the
upper river and in the side channel. Adults
coming back in the fall pass the antennas,
the PIT tags are detected and
the information is stored.
The passive part (the P in PIT tags) is that
it’s not battery operated. James explains,
“The tags are inert, there’s no power. The
antenna is what charges the tag. You’re
charging the tag to identify itself, in a split
second, when the fish swims through
the antenna and releases a number
that’s logged into the computer.”
What’s great about the technology?
Using PIT tag technology to analyze and
help guide habitat restoration efforts is an
exciting application. James explains, “The
tags are inexpensive, 2 dollars, and they
last forever. You can put them in a juvenile
Chinook as small as 58 millimeters long,
and they will stay in the fish and grow
with the fish and come back in a 35-
pound Chinook salmon, 5 years later,
swim through an antenna and
be detected.”
“When you get the fish back, as adults, you
can do an analysis of how well each group
of tags survived and identify which habitats
were the most productive and generated
the highest returns and help determine
what restoration techniques are going to
be the most effective at growing fish.”
Thanks to Morgan Kennah and Ken Epps
from Island Timberlands for organizing this
section of the field tour and thanks to Dave
Davies and James Craig for interesting and
engaging presentations.