Event Summaries and Presentations
Here are summaries and presentations from some of FBC's partnership events:
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011
2018
May 11 | Green Homes, Warm Home: Energy-Efficient First Nations Housing
2017
March 15 | Floods and Drought: Tackling Wild Weather February 16 | Live Green, Save Green: Taking Action on Energy Efficiency February 9 | Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate Workshop
2016
April 27 | Training in Energy Efficient Housing at Vancouver Island University Webinar March 8 | Accessing Financing for First Nations Energy-Efficient Housing Webinar January 28 | Dzawada'enuxw First Nation's Solar Hot Water Project January 26 | Saving Dollars on Energy: Increasing Energy Efficiency for First Nations Housing Workshop
2015
December 2 | Planning for a Resilient Waterfront at Qualicum Beach Webinar November 24 | Exploring Funding Opportunities for First Nations Energy Efficient Housing Webinar November 3 | Assessing Climate Change Risks to Build a Resilient Energy Sector October 29 | Kitasoo Energy-Efficient Housing Policy and Implementation October 27 | Forecasting and Responding to Storm Surge in BC Webinar October 21 | Warming Oceans and Rising Tides: Coastal Adaptation in Northwest BC Workshop July 9 | Assessing Climate Change Risk for BC’s Highway Infrastructure Webinar June 23 | Renewing First Nations Housing: Saving Money and Energy Webinar June 10 | Together Shuswap June 10 | Youth@Together Shuswap April 15 | Advancing Watershed Sustainability in BC (2015) March 25 | New Sea Level Rise Projections in British Columbia Webinar March 31 | Extreme Precipitation on the West Coast
2014
Mar 18 | Advancing Watershed Sustainability in BC (2014) Jan 27 | Watersheds 2014
2013
Dec 4 | Planning for Climate Change on the Coast: A Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer Webinar Nov 14 | Preparing for Climate Change: An Implementation Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia Webinar Oct 29 | Plan2Adapt: Online Tools for Assessing how Climate Change will Affect your Community or Region Webinar May 30 | Water Issues in BC's Peace Region May 7-8 | BC Interior Stewardship Workshop April 16 | Stewardship Legacy Workshop (Salmon Arm) March 20 | Financing and Financial Management of Clean Energy Projects Webinar February 20 | Community Energy Planning in Remote Communities Webinar February 15 | Water Quality and Euarasian Watermilfoil Workshop (Chilliwack and Merritt) February 14 | Stewardship Legacy Workshop (Langley)
2018
Green Homes, Warm Homes: Energy-Efficient First Nations Housing
May 11, 2018 | Hope, BC
Hosted in partnership by the Fraser Basin Council and Yale First Nation, this workshop offered an opportunity for First Nations communities to learn about improving energy efficiency of homes on reserve. The workshop provided an introduction to energy efficient buildings, highlighted how First Nations are building or retrofitting for energy efficient homes, helped connect communities to funding organizations, showcased an interactive demonstration of air sealing, and showcased Yale First Nation's Passive homes through a field visit.
2017
Floods and Drought: Tackling Wild Weather
March 15 | Workshop: Fort St John
Climate change is exposing Northern BC communities to changes in weather patterns and an increase in extreme events. These changes place local and regional critical infrastructure at risk, which the Northeast region has witnessed in recent flooding. This introductory workshop addressed the future climate trends for the Northeast region and highlighted existing online tools for adaptation. Presenters shared their experiences with climate risk assessments of highway infrastructure, community flood response and collaborative drought management. The workshop also offered an overview of available funding opportunities and learning resources for climate change adaptation and asset management.
Presentations:
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Live Green, Save Green: Taking Action on Energy Efficiency
February 16 | Workshop: Vernon
Hosted in partnership by the Fraser Basin Council and Okanagan Nation Alliance, this workshop offered an opportunity for First Nations administrative managers, elected leaders and community champions to hear from other First Nations communities about their work in planning for energy efficiency, community engagement on energy, and building community through clean energy projects. In addition, the workshop provided an overview of the upcoming energy step code and how it will support energy efficient building practices.
Presentations:
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Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate Workshop
February 9, 2017 | Workshop: Prince George
This introductory workshop, hosted by Fraser Basin Council and Engineers Canada, addressed the future climate trends for the Upper Fraser region and how these trends will impact infrastructure. The workshop provided an overview of new practice guidelines for highway infrastructure adaptation, and also explored case studies of assessing climate risk for road transportation and wastewater infrastructure. Participants also learned information about, and practice with, the PIEVC Protocol. The Protocol is a practical tool and process that uses standard risk assessment science to assess and document the vulnerability of infrastructure to the impacts of current and future climate.
2016
Training in Energy Efficient Housing at Vancouver Island University
April 27, 2016 | Webinar
This webinar provides an overview of the content and structure of the energy efficiency course that will soon be offered at the Vancouver Island University. The training will be tailored towards First Nations administrative staff, elected leaders, and community members. The presenters, Nancy Hamilton, the Administrative Coordinator for Professional Development and Training, and Sylvia Olsen, the Course Instructor, discuss what participants can expect in terms of registration, course themes and the online learning format. In addition, this webinar highlights Vancouver Island University’s process in designing the course, including a description of its stakeholder engagement as well as lessons learned.
Check out the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Accessing Financing for First Nations Energy-Efficient Housing
March 8, 2016 | Webinar
Financial institutions in British Columbia are working closely with First Nations to facilitate access to financing for housing construction and renovation projects. These partnerships help contribute to the economic self-sufficiency of First Nations communities. In this webinar, Stewart Anderson from Vancity Credit Union and Candace Dennis from the Bank of Montreal will speak about the process of obtaining a housing loan, key considerations for First Nations communities, and the financial services and programs of their institutions for on-reserve housing projects.
Check out the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Dzawada'enuxw First Nation's Solar Hot Water Project
January 28, 2016 | Webinar
This webinar focuses on the energy-saving, money-saving steps taken by Dzawada'enuxw First Nation (DFN), a small off-grid community about 120 km northwest of Campbell River, BC. Capital Projects Manager Robin Dawson explains how DFN embraced a number of changes that included solar hot water demonstration projects – and helped to reduce the community’s dependence on diesel generators. It is a story of success and collaboration, thanks to mentorship support from George Colgate of Xeni Gwet'in First Nation, and funding from the Remote Communities Implementation program, Solar BC and DFN.
Check out the webinar recording on YouTube.
The webinar PowerPoint presentations are also available to read:
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Saving Dollars on Energy: Increasing Energy Efficiency for First Nations Housing Workshop
January 26, 2016 | Workshop: Vancouver
This workshop featured the experiences of First Nations communities in building new energy-efficient homes, renovating existing homes and creating housing policy with best practices for energy efficiency. Workshop participants — First Nations housing managers, senior staff and elected leaders — discussed priority actions for housing energy efficiency and connected with funding agencies, community leaders, consultants and training opportunities.
The workshop was hosted by the Fraser Basin Council as part of the First Nations Home EnergySave program.
Presentations:
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2015
Planning for a Resilient Waterfront at Qualicum Beach Webinar
December 2, 2015 | Webinar
This FBC webinar explores work undertaken by the Town of Qualicum Beach to develop a Waterfront Master Plan that addresses various impacts from increasingly intense coastal storms. Those impacts include foreshore ecosystem degradation, wave overtopping, damage to the town's sea wall and loss of beachfront.
The Waterfront Master Plan project has two major components: 1) a scientific assessment of the meteorological, oceanographic and geomorphological factors that shape the Town’s waterfront and 2) the development of planning approaches to support a sustainable waterfront that is resilient to climate change impacts. This phase will emphasize public consultation and a plan for a restored shoreline that sustains the ecological integrity of the foreshore, maintains the beach, protects infrastructure and prepares the community for climate change and rising sea levels.
Presenters in the session were Luke Sales, Town of Qualicum Beach, Director of Planning and John Readshaw, SNC-Lavalin Inc, Manager - Coastal Marine & Dredging, Water Interface Engineering.
Here is the webinar recording.
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Exploring Funding Opportunities for First Nations Energy Efficient Housing Webinar
November 24, 2015 | Webinar
This webinar is part of a series of monthly peer mentorship sessions to support First Nations housing managers and other senior staff in reducing home energy use.
This session features Rick Sabiston (AANDC) on the New Approach for Housing Support program and Lindsay Wood (BC Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation) on the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund. See how these two funding sources complement each other to support energy improvements in First Nations housing.
Here is the webinar replay and presentations:
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Assessing Climate Change Risks to Build a Resilient Energy Sector
November 3, 2015 | Webinar
One in a series of Canada's Adaptation Platform webinars, this session focuses on climate change risks and adaptation in the energy sector. FBC's Jim Vanderwal was one of the presenters.
The presentations and webinar recording are available on the Adaptation Platform website.
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Kitasoo Energy-Efficient Housing Policy and Implementation
October 28, 2015 | Webinar
This video presentation on the Kitasoo Xai’xais Energy Initiative is one in a series of 2015-2016 webinars in the First Nations Home EnergySave program. The Fraser Basin Council is working with First Nations communities and support organizations in BC to help conserve energy, share success stories, build local capacity, and encourage economic development. The work is possible thanks to financial support from the Real Estate Foundation of BC, BC Ministry of Energy & Mines, BC Hydro and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Check out the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Forecasting and Responding to Storm Surge in BC Webinar
October 27, 2015 | Webinar
FBC hosted the webinar “Forecasting and Responding to Storm Surge in BC” in October, 2015.
In British Columbia, low-lying coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to storm surge during winter due to the combination of active Pacific storms and seasonal spring (high) tides. The webinar presentation gives an overview of the BC Storm Surge Forecasting System that provides warnings of extreme water level events through numerical model forecasts, online bulletins and alerts issued through social media.
Missed the webinar? No worries — here's the recording on our YouTube channel.
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Warming Oceans and Rising Tides: Coastal Adaptation in Northwest BC Workshop
October 21, 2015 | Workshop: Prince Rupert
This workshop focused coastal climate change adaptation and climate impacts on resource sectors in Northwestern BC. The workshop drew participation from local governments, First Nations communities, consulting companies and non-profit organizations. The focus was on exploring climate issues, successful adaptation case studies from north coast communities and tools for local government to integrate climate adaptation into planning processes.
Here is the agenda and the presentations:
Agenda
Coastal Adaptation
Adapting BC’s Flood Guidelines to Sea Level Change — Tina Neale (BC Ministry of Environment)
Flood Risk Analysis at Port Metro Vancouver — Sean Smith (Port Metro Vancouver)
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer: PDF | PPT with Notes — Kari Tyler (Climate Action Secretariat)
Green Shores Approaches to Coastal Development — DG Blair (Stewardship Centre for BC)
Climate Risks and Adaptation in the Resource Sector
Adaptation Planning for Northwest Skeena’s Forests — Dirk Brinkman (Brinkman Group)
Impacts of Climate Change on the Fisheries at the Northwestern Coast of BC — Vicky Lam (University of British Columbia)
Gitga’at Climate Change Adaptation Project — Michael Reid (Gitga’at First Nation)
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Assessing Climate Change Risk for BC’s Highway Infrastructure Webinar
July 9, 2015 | Webinar
This webinar ocuses on future warming and precipitation trends from climate change and the expected impacts on British Columbia's highway infrastructure. The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure recently conducted climate change risk assessments for a number of BC’s major highways: Coquihalla, Yellowhead, Bella Coola, Stewart and Pine Pass. In the webinar, Chief Engineer Dirk Nyland offers an overview of the risk assessments and case examples.
Speaker: Dirk Nyland, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Renewing First Nations Housing: Saving Money and Energy Webinar
June 23, 2015 | Webinar
This webinar explores a project, co-implemented by Kwadacha First Nation and Quality Program Services, to reduce the electricity usage in 11 pilot homes and educated the community on how to reduce their energy consumption. The project helped the pilot households save an average of $2,000 annually by focusing on upgrades that would make a substantial difference to bills.
Speakers: Areef Abraham, President and CEO, Quality Program Services Dawn Bursey, Executive Director, Kwadacha First Nation
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Together Shuswap June 10, 2015

This event is all about building bridges for a better future in the Shuswap! It was an opportunity for community members to come together to discuss collaborative regional planning processes, enhance cooperative relationships between aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities, hear perspectives from youth, and learn about projects to build a more sustainable region.
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Youth@TogetherShuswap June 10, 2015

This event welcomed youth participants (aged 16-24) interested in community well-being and quality of life. This was a chance to connect with other youth and community leaders from the region.
This event was held in conjunction with the forum Together Shuswap (see below).
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Advancing Watershed Sustainability in BC
April 15, 2015 | Workshop: Vancouver
This workshop, co-hosted by the Fraser Basin Council and BC Wildlife Federation, centred on keys to collaborative governance, financial mechanisms and models, natural resources practices boards, BC's Water Sustainability Act, Assessing and Managing Cumulative Effects, Managing for Water Shortages and a discussion of watershed-relevant policies.
The agenda, workshop and presentation slide decks can be found on the project page.
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New Sea Level Rise Projections in British Columbia Webinar
March 25, 2015 | Webinar
This webinar presents new projections on sea-level rise in BC based on the latest science from the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The projections incorporate global sea-level rise from glaciers and ice sheets, warming of the oceans, groundwater extraction, and impoundment of water in reservoirs, and include local factors such as vertical land motion and dynamic oceanographic changes.
Speaker: Thomas James, Research Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Extreme Precipitation on the West Coast
March 31, 2015 | Webinar
This webinar reviews the results of a study that examined trends in Atmospheric River (Pineapple Express) events in BC, as well as actions that may help minimize the damage and harm caused by these events. The study was carried out by the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PICS), in partnership with the BC Climate Action Secretariat. Also in this webinar, the City of Chilliwack shares its experience in managing a 2009 extreme precipitation event in the Greendale area that damaged over 50 homes and washed out roads. Speakers: Thomas White, Manager, Adaptation, BC Climate Action Secretariat Frank Van Nynatten, Assistant Manager of Environmental Services, City of Chilliwack
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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2014
Advancing Watershed Sustainability in BC (2014)
March 18, 2014 | Workshop: Vancouver
This workshop, co-hosted by the Fraser Basin Council and BC Wildlife Federation, focused on recent research and consultations on collaborative options in watershed management, funding and delivery models, and approaches to measuring and assessing ecosystem health. See the agenda and presentations:
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Watersheds 2014: Towards Watershed Governance in BC & Beyond
Jan 27-29, 2014 | Forum: Duncan
The Fraser Basin Council Watershed and Water Resources Program team was pleased to participate in this forum, which was presented by POLIS Project on Watershed Governance, University of Victoria and Brock University Environmental Sustainability Research Centre. The event drew participation from watershed groups, natural resource managers, researchers and decision-makers in all orders of government, including First Nations. It took place at the Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre.
In addition to presenting a session at the forum, FBC hosted a number of satellite events for livestreaming of Day One.
Forum agenda
Background material and related resources
Forum presentations
Watershed Governance and Water Attitudes
Successes & Challenges: From the Front Lines of Watershed Governance
Watershed Governance in the Cowichan
Water Law & B.C.’s Water Act
First Nations & Water Governance
Resilience & Climate Change Adaptation
Watershed Planning
Watershed Assessments, Report Cards & Indicators
Water-Use Reporting
Community Engagement
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Advancing Watershed Sustainability in BC
March 18, 2014 | Workshop: Vancouver
This workshop, co-hosted by the Fraser Basin Council and BC Wildlife Federation, focused on recent research and consultations on collaborative options in watershed management, funding and delivery models, and approaches to measuring and assessing ecosystem health. See the agenda and presentations:
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2013
Planning for Climate Change on the Coast: A Sea Level Rise Adaptation Primer Webinar
December 4, 2013 | Webinar
This webinar is designed to help communities identify, evaluate and compare options for adapting to the impacts of sea level rise and associated coastal hazards. A total of 21 adaptation tools are outlined in the primer, including planning tools, regulatory tools, land use change or restriction tools, structural tools (flood protection works) and non-structural tools (soft armouring).
Speakers: Thomas White, Manager Science and Adaptation -- Climate Adaptation, Climate Action Secretariat, BC Ministry of Environment Graham Farstad, Director, The Arlington Group
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Preparing for Climate Change: An Implementation Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia Webinar
November 14, 2013 | Webinar
This webinar canvasses practical, on-the-ground adaptation solutions for local government elected officials and staff. The Implementation Guide for Local Governments covers a wide range of topics, including Official Community Plan (OCP) policies, zoning, liability, infrastructure, asset management and emergency planning, along with hundreds of community examples, resources and checklist questions. Speakers: Cathy LeBlanc, Senior Planner, BC Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Deborah Carlson, Staff Counsel, West Coast Environmental Law Corien Speaker, CAO, Squamish
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Plan2Adapt: Online Tools for Assessing how Climate Change will Affect your Community or Region Webinar
October 29, 2013 | Webinar
This webinar introduces the Plan2Adapt online tool, which allows practitioners to generate information (maps, graphs and data tables) to better understand climate change specific to their region, how the region will be impacted, and what they can do to prepare. Visit the Plan2Adapt website for more about the tool. Speakers: Tamsin Mills, Climate Change Adaptation Planner, City of Vancouver Trevor Murdock, Lead, Regional Climate Impacts, Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium
Here is the webinar recording on YouTube.
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Water Issues in BC's Peace Region
May 30, 2013 | Workshop: Fort St. John
Final workshop report
Workshop agenda
Here are some of the workshop presentations:
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BC Interior Stewardship Workshop
May 7-8, 2013 | Workshop: Vanderhoof
Here is the workshop report and presentations:
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Stewardship Workshop Legacy Workshop (Salmon Arm)
April 16, 2013 | Workshop: Salmon Arm
One in a series of stewardship workshops, this event explored agriculture and stewardship, drinking water source protection and highlights of regional work. Here is the workshop summary and two of the presentations:
Thanks to the BC Ministry of Health and BC Living Rivers Trust Fund for supporting this workshop.
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Financing and Financial Management of Clean Energy Projects Webinar
March 20, 2013 | Webinar
The Fraser Basin Council and Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of BC (AFOABC) co-hosted a webinar on March 20 to offer timely information to remote communities on creating a financial plan and finding sources of funding for clean energy projects.
Here is the webinar audio recording and presentation files:
Thanks to our sponsors of this event: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Vancity and BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas.
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Community Energy Planning and Implementation in Remote Communities Webinar
February 20, 2013 | Webinar
The Fraser Basin Council and Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of BC (AFOA BC) co-hosted a community energy planning webinar on February 20 to support those exploring projects in remote communities. The event included an overview of a diesel-battery hybrid system at Uchucklesaht First Nation that is more efficient than stand-alone diesel generators, and makes integration of renewable energy straightforward.
Here is the webinar audio recording and presentation files:
We thank our event sponsors: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Vancity and BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas.
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Water Quality and Eurasian Watermilfoil Workshop
February 15, 2013 | Chilliwack and Merrit (via webconference)
FBC's Fraser Valley and Thompson regions coordinated a workshop in Chilliwack and Merritt (via videoconference) to explore water quality in Cultus Lake and Nicola Lake and to consider the impact of Eurasian Watermilfoil, as well as other milfoil species. Experts presented on lake health and current milfoil management strategies.
Turnout was strong, and members of CLASS and the Nicola Lake Working Group were part of this event.
Here is the workshop summary, agenda and presentations:
Appreciation to our event funders: Cultus Lake Park Board, FVRD Electoral Area E, Parks Enhancement Fund, Fraser Valley Invasive Plant Council, BC Living Rivers Trust Fund and Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
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Stewardship Legacy Workshop
February 14, 2013 | Stewardship Legacy Workshop (Langley)

FBC coordinated a workshop and field tour in Langley on February 14, focused on current water management and watershed stewardship actions in the Fraser Valley and beyond.
Over 80 people attended, representing various agencies and orders of government, including First Nations, and many stewardship groups.
The draft workshop summary is posted below, along with the agenda and presentations:
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2012
Rethinking our Water Ways Workshop Series 2011-2012: Prince George, 100 Mile House, Salmon Arm, Chilliwack and New Westminster.
Eighth Annual BC Interior Stewardship Workshop February 28-29, 2012: Cache Creek
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2011
Eco-health, Ecosystems and Watersheds Workshop October 19-20, 2011: Merritt
Fostering Collaborative Responses to Hydrological Changes in the Nicola Watershed Workshop March 30-31, 2011: Merritt
Summary of Hydrological Changes as a Result of Mountain Pine Beetle and a Changing Climate in Interior Watersheds: Current Findings and Lessons Learned from Two Years of Workshops April, 18 2011
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