News/Reports

Blackwater Creek ER Purpose Statement BC Parks 2003

Posted February 3, 2003 | Categories : 71,Management,Reports |

Blackwater Creek Ecological Reserve Purpose Statement

The Blackwater Creek Ecological Reserve is located between Blackwater Creek and Williston Lake, 43 km northwest of Mackenzie. The ecological reserve is 234 ha in size, and protects a site for research on sub-boreal forest types on a poor site, adjacent bogland, and intermediate vegetation types.

See the Complete 4 page PDF: blackw_ps

The ecological reserve is located on a flat outwash plain about 15 km west of the Parsnip Reach of Williston Lake. It encompasses the southern end of a huge treeless bog. Access is available via logging roads which pass within 1 km of the ecological reserve.

The ecological reserve contains extensive, dense, coniferous forest stands, open bogland, and transitional areas in which tree islands give a parkland appearance. Upland forests are dominated by lodgepole pine, white spruce or black spruce, with some trembling aspen and balsam poplar. Three treeless bog communities are also included, all dominated by scrub birch and mosses.

Primary Role

The primary role of Blackwater Creek Ecological Reserve is to protect a site for research on sub- boreal forest types on a poor site, adjacent bogland, and intermediate vegetation types.

 

Known Management Issues

Response

Attempt to recruit a warden

Boundary assessment

Boundary modification to the east to align with an existing Forest Service road is being reviewed with Ministry of Forests. This boundary modification may proceed in Spring 2003.

No Ecological Reserve Warden

 

CONSERVATION

Contributes minimally to the representation of the very poorly represented Parsnip Trench Ecosection (2.67%); the ecological reserve is one of only 6 protected areas in this ecosection and contributes 2.18% of the overall protected area representation of this ecosection.

Contributes minimally to the representation of the poorly represented SBS mk2 (3.70%); the ecological reserve contributes 2.35% of the overall protected area representation of this variant.