BMP: Qualified Professionals

A registrant in good standing with British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas. Reserved practice areas could include:

• Rangeland and Grazing Management
• Agroforestry
• Land Evaluation, Classification, Mapping, Conservation and Management
• Invasive Species and Pest Management
• Land Restoration, Reclamation and Remediation

OR

A registrant in good standing with

• College of Applied Biologist with self-declared competency in relevant reserved areas of practice. Reserved areas of practice could include:
  • Environment Management
  • Habitat or Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement, Invasive Species Management
  • Wildlife Management

The biodiversity guide defines biodiversity, explains its importance at both local and landscape scales, outlines key principles for managing biodiversity on agricultural operations, and includes sample plans (Pages 101 to 141) to support the development of a Biodiversity Management Plan for farms and ranches in BC.

Plan must include:

• An opportunities assessment, an action plan, identification of potential activities to be implemented, and a monitoring plan.
• A comprehensive list of species present and known occurrences for species at risk (or anecdotal reports from landowner and neighbours if no occurrence data is present)
• Any planning and decision support tools used (e.g., computer software and aerial photos)
• Maps and land resource information costs
• Consultant’s report
• A document covering what was discussed during the producer and consultant’s final plan review

Checklist

The grazing management guide supports BC farmers and ranchers in developing a comprehensive grazing management plan for their operations. The plan checklist is found on page 26.

A registrant in good standing with British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas. Reserved practice areas could include:

• Invasive Species and Pest Management
• Crop Development, Production and Management

For both assessment and design, a Certified Irrigation Designer* in either Agriculture Sprinkler or Agriculture Trickle, registered in good standing with the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia.

*A Certified Irrigation Designer must be certified in Agriculture Sprinkler to be qualified to complete assessments/designs for sprinkler irrigation systems, or certified in Agriculture Trickle to be qualified to complete assessments/designs for trickle irrigation systems used in agriculture.

Checklist

Assessments and/or Designs must include:

• Notes from CID’s initial site investigation prior to action plan and quote preparation
• Identification of areas where maintenance is required
• CID’s signature and seal
• A certified design layout, material list, and operation and maintenance requirements
• CID’s invoice to the producer outlining the services before payment for plan can be made
• For existing irrigation systems:
  • Pre-project (baseline) and post-project energy source,
  • Pre-project (baseline) and post-project annual energy consumption (in kWh), and
  • Estimated annual reduction of fossil fuel consumption (in kWh, if applicable)
  • Assessment to determine whether the design aligns with industry standards and whether the water supply and water licences are adequate to meet crop needs
  • Details on how the system can be improved to increase water use efficiency and performance for all components of irrigation systems, including water delivery and application
• Any applicable worksheets from the BC Government’s Irrigation System Assessment Guide or the farm’s current Environmental Farm Plan
• Details of the current water licence(s) for the farm property, as they appear on the water licence(s), including but not limited to:

1. Maximum irrigated area
2. Maximum quantity of water (annual water use)
3. Maximum withdrawal rate (peak flow rate) permitted, if specified

The BC Sprinkler Irrigation Manual and the BC Trickle Irrigation Manual describe the standards for design, operation and maintenance of sprinkler and trickle irrigation systems appropriate for BC agriculture. Certified Irrigation Designers are required to follow these standards, as established by the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia, when providing professional services of agricultural irrigation system design for producers.

A copy of the water licence(s) must be provided by the funding applicant or retrieved through the Water Licence Search website. If the proposed project requires an additional water licence or amendment to an existing water licence, provide details on additional irrigated area, additional quantity of water, point(s) of diversion, purpose use, and other related information, as applicable, for the applicant to apply for a new water licence or water licence amendment (as part of the action plan).

• A Professional Agrologist (PAg) in good standing with British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas.
  • Note that other registrants with BCIA may have similar duties in developing a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) as a PAg, but are not able to fully endorse as an NMP under the Professional Governance Act or BCIA regulations.
• Has completed a mandatory Nutrient Management Plan training course approved by a director under the Environmental Management Act (currently only the NMP training course offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has been approved; a certificate of completion is provided to course participants upon completion).

Professional Agrologist (PAg) in good standing with British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self- declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas.

• Note that other registrants with BCIA may have similar duties in developing a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) as a PAg, but are not able to fully endorse as an NMP under the Professional Governance Act or BCIA regulations

AND

• Has completed a mandatory Nutrient Management Plan training course approved by a director under the Environmental Management Act (currently only the NMP training course offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has been approved; a certificate of completion is provided to course participants upon completion)

Checklist

Visit the Ministry of Agriculture and Foods website for required elements for Nutrient Management Plans.

The NMP training program will provide trainees with the expertise to use planning tools and produce NMPs as a service to farmers or for their own farm. For more details, please visit here.

A registrant in good standing with British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas such as:

• Rangeland and Grazing Management
• Agroforestry
• Land Evaluation, Classification, Mapping, Conservation and Management
• Land Restoration, Reclamation and Remediation
• Water Resources, Planning and Management

OR

A registrant in good standing with the College of Applied Biologist with self-declared competency in relevant reserved areas of practice. Areas of practice could include:

• Environment Management
• Fisheries Management
• Habitat or Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement
• Species at Risk Management

Checklist

Plan must include:

• Completed Riparian Health Assessment (RHA)
• Detailed farm and site description, including site maps showing riparian areas, proposed project locations, and treatment areas
• Site photos showing existing conditions and proposed project areas
• Any planning and decision support tools used (e.g., computer software, aerial photos)
• Detailed management / restoration plan for the site including recommendations and estimated costs for:
  • Bioengineering solutions for erosion prevention and stream channel restoration, as applicable under BMP 1101; detailed engineering or design plans must be prepared by a QP
    • Habitat establishment and restoration projects (eligible under BMP 1002 and 1003), including:
      • Riparian planting plans (species selection, planting density, seeding recommendations, cost estimates)
      • Fencing plans (type, temporary/permanent, location, length, materials, cost estimates)
  • Infrastructure improvements, new installations, or maintenance (eligible under BMP 1001, 1006,1101), including:
    • Livestock watering systems
    • Stream crossings
• Description of required authorizations (e.g., Section 11 notifications or permits under the Water Sustainability Act)
• Prioritized actions and timelines
• Maintenance plan

Riparian Management Field Workbook outlines the riparian assessment and offers separate factsheet information to guide producers in designing a riparian management plan to support the adoption of BMPs.

A registrant in good standing with British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas.

OR

A registrant in good standing with the College of Applied Biologist with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas. Practice areas could include:

• Ecology, Environment Management
• Environment Impact Assessment
• Habitat or Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement
• Invasive Species Management
• Species at Risk Management

Checklist

Plan must include:

• Any planning and decision support tools used (e.g. computer software, aerial photos)
• Maps and land resource information costs
• Data collection, materials, sampling and analysis costs by consultant or designate
• Design work by consultant for buffer layout, species selection and establishment costs
• Consultant’s report
• A document covering what was discussed during the producer and consultant’s final plan review

The Vegetative Buffer Management guide provides a definition of vegetative buffers, highlights the importance of vegetative buffers for local farms, lists the main principles in using and establishing vegetative buffers, and provides a template for developing a Vegetative Buffer Plan for farms in B.C. Plan requirements are listed in Section 8 of the guide (p. 55-56) and all components listed in the Plan Checklist must be included in the vegetative buffer plan.  For additional guidance, you may reference the two included Sample Plans. (p. 57–88).

A registrant in good standing with the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists with self-declared competency in relevant reserved practice areas (i.e., in Water Resource Planning and Management).

OR

A registrant in good standing with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia with self-declared competency in relevant reserved areas of practice (i.e., in Agricultural Irrigation and Drainage).

OR

A Certified Irrigation Designer in either Agriculture Sprinkler or Agriculture Trickle, registered in good standing with the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia.

Checklist

Plan must include:

• Assessment of water supply to the farm (i.e., how the water is being managed on the farm for irrigation, livestock watering, and other farm water uses), as well as drainage and stormwater management. This includes assessment of existing water storage facilities for all farm water uses (e.g., dugouts), water supply sources, drainage channels/structures, and management of runoff/stormwater
• Recommendations for water management improvements on the farm and specify whether additional water supply, water storage, drainage/runoff control, or water licences are recommended/required
• Details of the current water licence(s) for the farm property, as they appear on the water licence(s), including but not limited to
  1. Maximum irrigated area
  2. Maximum quantity of water (annual water use)
  3. Maximum withdrawal rate (peak flow rate) permitted, if specified

• Design and operation parameters should follow those identified in the BC Irrigation Management Guide, BC Agricultural Drainage Manual, and/or the EFP Drainage Management Guide
• A complete Water Management Plan Checklist. This checklist is designed to support Qualified Professionals in preparing Water Management Plans for agricultural operations in BC. It outlines the essential components of sustainable water management planning to support the adoption of BMPs and ensure alignment with provinvial, federal and municipal regulatory requirements.
• Assessment and design of irrigation systems are funded under Irrigation System Assessment or Design (2901), while assessments of water sources are funded under Agricultural Water Supply Assessment (1102 – Engineering or Technical Design or Assessment: Water/Riparian). Both activities (2901 and 1102) may be funded in conjunction with a Water Management Plan (2902) within the Plans and Designs category.

A copy of the water licence(s) must be provided by the funding applicant or retrieved through the Water Licence Search website. If the proposed project requires an additional water licence or amendment to an existing water licence, provide details on additional irrigated area, additional quantity of water, point(s) of diversion, purpose use, and other related information, as applicable, for the applicant to apply for a new water licence or water licence amendment (as part of the action plan).