Forest Drought Risk Assessment Tool

Forest Drought Risk Assessment Tool (ForDRAT) provides estimates of stand-level drought risk for various BC tree species (Interior only at this point). Drought risk estimates are provided across different biogeoclimatic units and relative soil moisture regimes for both current and future climates. The data are currently provided in a spreadsheet, with the following columns: 1. BGC: Biogeoclimatic zone, subzone and variant. 2. Period: Data are provided for three historical periods: (i) 1961-1990 climate normal period; (ii) 1971-2000; and (iii) 1981-2010. Projected drought risk is provided for three future periods: (i) 2020 (2011-2040); (ii) 2050 (2041-2070); and (iii) 2080 (2071-2100). 3. SMR_text: Text description of relative soil moisture regime. 4. SMR: Integer code of relative soil moisture regime. 5. AET_PET: Mean annual ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration. 6. The remaining columns provide estimated drought risk by species. Species codes are as follows: (i) Pl = lodgepole pine; (ii) Sx = hybrid white spruce; (iii) Fd = Douglas-fir (interior variety); (iv) Bl = subalpine fir; (v) Cw = western redcedar; (vi) Hw = western hemlock; (vii) Lw = western larch; (viii) Py = ponderosa pine; (ix) Ac = black cottonwood; and (x) At = trembling aspen. More species will be added over time. Details on ForDRAT development are provided in the following resources: DeLong et al. 2022: http://library.nrs.gov.bc.ca/digipub/Tr141.pdf DeLong et al. 2019: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/Tr/TR125.pdf Foord et al. 2017: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/pubs/Docs/En/En119.htm Nitschke and Innes. 2008: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304380007004061?via%3Dihub

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 20:28 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 20:28 (UTC)
contact_email Hardy.Griesbauer@gov.bc.ca
contact_person {"en": "Government of British Columbia; Government of British Columbia; Forest Carbon and Climate Services Branch", "fr": "Gouvernement de la Colombie-Britannique; Gouvernement de la Colombie-Britannique; Forest Carbon and Climate Services Branch"}
criticality_level []
data_dictionary unknown,unknown,unknown
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection fgp
open_canada_date_published 2025-02-21 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"en": ["Climate", "Drought", "Soil Moisture", "Government information"], "fr-t-en": ["Climat", "Sécheresse", "Humidité du sol", "Information gouvernementale"]}
open_canada_subject ["society_and_culture"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr
update_frequency as_needed