Coldstream Ranch
The Farmland Advantage (FLA) program is working hard to restore BC’s natural habit. Coldstream Ranch is acting to reduce wildfire risk to the community of Lumby and improve firefighters’ ability to respond. The ranch, specializing in raising working cattle and producing crops including fruit, corn and cereals, is in the targeted area for IAF’s Wildfire Risk Reduction Pilot of the Farmland Advantage (FLA) Program. The FLA Program works with farmers to enhance the natural values of their land by identifying, protecting, restoring or enhancing ecosystem services—valuable benefits nature provides to people—by creating tailored recommendations and action plans.
In 2024, the CEO of the ranch, Trish Balcaen, agreed to participate in the Wildfire Risk Reduction Pilot project to address the dense forests with low tree canopies, thick underbrush and grasslands overrun by encroaching brush. Last Spring, an FLA Advisor and a Registered Professional Forester visited the property to create a site management plan which outlined actions such as pruning and thinning trees, mulching or burning the resulting debris and seeding grass for future foraging.
“The intent is, is that we’re creating a solution that is more of a longer-term solution instead of just trimming back the trees, and the brush, and whatnot, we’re hoping to replace that vegetation with a forage that will be controlling the ingress of brush and timbers.”
This Fall, pruning began on Coldstream Ranch’s forested areas; tree branches near the ground were trimmed to minimize the risk of fire reaching the treetops. Additionally, flammable brush was partially cleared to prevent it from facilitating the fire’s spread upward. The debris from pruning and brush removal was mulched and worked into the soil to create a non-flammable surface that promotes healthy grass growth. In areas with dense brush where the mulch was too thick to mix in, the debris was piled and burned to eliminate fuel.
After the mulching and soil mixing phase, the site was seeded by drone using a reclamation seed blend to prevent the brush from re-establishing itself. The mix was chosen for its resilience in dryland conditions and its ability to support long-term vegetation growth, creating a healthy and fire-resistant landscape.
Once the grass is fully grown this spring and summer, Trish is committed to maintain the area through targeted grazing practices. Fencing will guide cattle to graze specific areas at certain times, helping to reduce dry grasses that could fuel wildfires and inhibit brush from growing back.
“You know, if you’re forestry, you don’t think about cattle. If you’re cattle, you don’t think about forestry. But in bringing us all together, you actually have a chance for that kind of mimicking nature would have done things better than the siloed of approach we took.”
More About Farmland Advantage
Farmland Advantage is working with farmers across BC. In the Lower Mainland, Farmland Advantage has ongoing projects located in the Bertrand Creek Watershed and Little Campbell River. Farmland Advantage partners with landowners, municipalities, and local organizations to undertake restoration work along the creekbank and grasslands on farm sites. Through the program, we hope to restore habitats for species at risk and fish populations, improve water quality, biodiversity, and soil health.
Support for this project was provided by the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, which is delivered by The Real Estate Foundation of BC and Watersheds BC, with financial support from the Province of British Columbia.
