Karst Assessment
43K is Vancouver Island's leader in providing professional karst assessments and cave research. Land managers and forest licensees conducting primary forestry activities within karst ecosystems are often required to conduct a Karst Field Assessment to ensure they are meeting or exceeding Government Actions Regulation (GAR) order requirements.
We support our clients by conducting in-depth assessments that provide you with the information required to make informed resource management decisions.
Our qualified professionals conduct assessments using the Karst Vulnerability Assessment Procedures for British Columbia (2003) and base their recommendations on the best management practices outlined in the Karst Management Handbook for British Columbia (2003).
With 10 years of experience conducting karst assessments we have the knowledge to provide specific, actionable recommendations when working on karst landscapes.
Our Karst Field Assessments are based on the Resource Inventory Standards Committee model. When available, we use LIDAR mapping and appropriate search patterns to ensure the best chance of locating all karst features present. Aside from surface karst assessment, we are also experienced and qualified in providing subsurface assessments of karst caves that may be located within or adjacent to potential development areas.
Our Karst reports contain:
Identification of all karst features within and adjacent to the proposed harvest area
Determination of significant karst features and non significant karst features
GPS Coordinates of all karst features
A written description of each karst feature
Mapping delineating terrain vulnerability ratings and feature location
Site layout recommendations based on the BMPs found in the Karst Management Handbook
Optional pre-layout assessment to minimise constraints to operations
Subsurface assessments and mapping where required
Case Studies
Cathedral Grove
Walkway
Vancouver Island
2015 – present
Paleo Karst
Assessment
Vancouver Island
2017 – 2019
Vancouver Island Campground Assessment
Vancouver Island
2020