MERRITT – The Forest Practices Board will audit the range planning and practices of the Douglas Lake Cattle Company on range agreement RAN076915 in the Cascades and Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource Districts. The five-day field audit will start on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. The Douglas Lake Cattle Company’s operations are in the southern Interior of B.C., located in the highlands between Kelowna and Merritt to the north and south of Highway 97C (the Okanagan Connector). The range agreement covers an area of more than 200,000 hectares of Crown range, with more than 7,000 head of livestock authorized for grazing. Auditors will examine range activities for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act. Requirements include adhering to the approved range-use plan, ensuring that range activities protect riparian areas, fish habitat and upland areas, and maintaining range developments, such as fencing.