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The BC Energy Regulator has completed the 2021 annual update to Area-based Analysis. These changes will come into effect on June 1, 2021.

ISSUE DATE: June 1, 2021

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 1, 2021

The BC Energy Regulator (Regulator) has completed the 2021 annual update to Area-based Analysis (ABA). These changes will come into effect on June 1, 2021.

ABA is an operational program used to support decision making at the Regulator. Since 2015, ABA has monitored changes in surface land on a yearly basis as an indicator of potential cumulative effect risk in the northeast. ABA includes annual updates to riparian reserve zones, old forests, wildlife areas and old growth management areas.

Updated ABA status information will be available on June 1 in the online reports. Spatial data and maps will be available for download from the Regulator’s Data Center and ABA website. Additional information regarding ABA can be found in Supplementary Information for Area-based Analysis and in Area-Based Analysis Frequently Asked Questions.

Below is an update on the status of riparian reserve zones, old growth management areas, old forest, and wildlife areas for 2021. For detailed information, see the appendix at the end of this bulletin.

Riparian Reserve Zones:

As of June 1, 2021, 46 water management basins are normal, 21 are enhanced management and two are regulatory policy.

Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA):

There is no significant change to OGMA. Current analysis shows 193 OGMA are status normal and 47 are regulatory policy.

Old Forest:

This year’s assessment included a full update of baseline old forest from the vegetation resource inventory. There has been an increase in ‘old forest’ in the Boreal Plains natural disturbance unit, as forest cover has reached an age class representative of old forest age as defined by the Province. There is no change to ABA old forest status, with Boreal Plains, Northern Boreal Mountains and Boreal Foothills, remaining ABA status normal, and Omineca, Wet Mountains and Wet Trench remaining enhanced management.

Wildlife Areas:

ABA wildlife values remain unchanged this year, with no new Ungulate Winter Range (UWR) or Wildlife Habitat Areas (WHA) established in the Peace Region in 2020. New oil and gas activity has been minimal in wildlife habitat areas and ungulate winter range over the past year. Current analysis shows 323 wildlife areas are status normal, 20 are enhanced management, and 48 are regulatory policy.

If you have any questions regarding this Industry Bulletin, please contact:

Dean Zimmer
Executive Director, Permitting and Applications
BC Energy Regulator
Dean.Zimmer@bcogc.ca
250 794-5278

Jacqueline Howard
Environmental Specialist
BC Energy Regulator
Jacqueline.Howard@bcogc.ca
250-419-4496

Appendix: ABA Status - 2021

ABA Riparian Reserves

Enhanced Management

Regulatory Policy

Blueberry River

Lower Fort Nelson R.

Middle Beatton River

Pouce Coupe

Cache Creek

Lower Halfway River

Middle Fort Nelson R.

Upper Peace River

Cameron River

Lower Kiskatinaw River

Milligan Creek

Chinchaga River

Lower Muskwa River

Moberly River


Doig River

Lower Peace River

Murray River


Kyklo River

Lower Pine River

Sukunka River


Lower Beatton Riv.

Lynx Creek

Upper Pine River


ABA Wildlife Areas

Enhanced Management

Regulatory Policy

9-047

u-7-005_E-001

9-033

9-116

9-138

9-052

u-9-001_SPE-002

9-034

9-118

9-139

9-058

u-9-001_SPE-013

9-049

9-119

9-140

9-066

u-9-001_SPE-015

9-060

9-120

9-142

9-097

u-9-001_SPE-023

9-063

9-122

9-143

9-105

u-9-002_SPC-018

9-067

9-123

9-144

9-117

u-9-002_SPC-047

9-070

9-124

u-7-005_E-002

9-121

u-9-004_GR-009

9-073

9-126

u-7-006_S-008

9-125


9-099

9-127

u-9-002_SPC-001

9-134


9-100

9-128

u-9-002_SPC-009

9-135


9-104

9-129

u-9-002_SPC-017

9-141


9-109

9-130

u-9-004_GR-007



9-110

9-131

u-9-004_GR-017



9-111

9-132

u-9-004_GR-024



9-112

9-133




9-113

9-136




9-115

9-137


ABA Old Growth Management Areas

Regulatory Policy

FSJ_DC_bea_01

FSJ_DC_gwi_05

FSJ_DC_kis_22

FSJ_DC_ois_11

FSJ_DC_bea_02

FSJ_DC_gwi_09

FSJ_DC_kis_23

FSJ_DC_pbo_13

FSJ_DC_bea_06

FSJ_DC_gwi_11

FSJ_DC_kis_27

FSJ_DC_ppa_15

FSJ_DC_bea_09

FSJ_DC_gwi_13

FSJ_DC_lmo_02

FSJ_DC_pug_05

FSJ_DC_bel_01

FSJ_DC_hhp_12

FSJ_DC_lmo_03

FSJ_DC_pug_09

FSJ_DC_bel_04

FSJ_DC_kin_01

FSJ_DC_lmo_05

FSJ_DC_red_01

FSJ_DC_dck_02

FSJ_DC_kin_06

FSJ_DC_lmo_12

FSJ_DC_red_09

FSJ_DC_dck_03

FSJ_DC_kin_07

FSJ_DC_lmo_13

FSJ_DC_sep_03

FSJ_DC_dck_05

FSJ_DC_kin_10

FSJ_DC_ois_04

FSJ_DC_umo_18

FSJ_DC_dck_07

FSJ_DC_kin_11

FSJ_DC_ois_07

FSJ_DC_wap_06

FSJ_DC_dck_08

FSJ_DC_kis_04

FSJ_DC_ois_09

FSJ_DC_wap_12

FSJ_DC_gwi_01

FSJ_DC_kis_07

FSJ_DC_ois_10


ABA Old Forest

Enhanced Management

Omineca

Wet Trench

Wet Mountain