Identity area
Type of entity
Government
Authorized form of name
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1962-1975
History
The Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources was established in 1962 as the successor agency to the Dept of Lands and Forests. Its origins go back to the establishment of the Dept. of Lands. The Dept. of Lands, headed by the Chief Commissioner of Lands, was given responsibility for public lands and water rights, and all matters connected therewith. (SBC 1908, c. 31, s. 5). These responsibilities included: (1) the management of all public lands, as per the Land Act, (RSBC 1897, c. 113); (2) administration of water rights, as per the Water Clauses Consolidation Act, (RSBC 1897, c. 191) [in 1892 by means of the Water Privileges Act (SBC 1892, c. 47), the government had reserved to itself the right to manage all water resources in the province that were unreserved and un-appropriated as of April 23, 1892]; and (3) land settlement programs for returned soldiers. In 1909, the enactment of the Water Act (SBC 1909, c. 48) resulted in the creation of the Water Rights Branch of the Dept. of Lands, under the management of the Chief Water Commissioner (re-named Comptroller of Water Rights in 1912). This legislation also resulted in the creation of Water Districts under the management of District Engineers, who would be responsible for management in the field of the Branch’s responsibilities. In 1911, the Timber Department, including Timber Inspectors, forest protection services and log scaling operations, was transferred from the Dept. of Public Works to the Dept. of Lands. In 1912, the management of timber resources was formally added to the department’s responsibilities with the enactment of the Forest Act (SBC 1912, c. 17). To accommodate these new responsibilities, the Forest Branch, under the Chief Forester, was created in the Dept. of Lands. In 1945, the Dept. of Lands was renamed the Dept. of Lands and Forests (Department of Lands Act Amendment Act, SBC 1945, c. 45). At this time, the department was reorganized into two branches, the Lands Service and the Forests Service. In 1962, the Dept. of Lands and Forests was renamed the Dept. of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources (Department of Lands and Forests Act Amendment Act, SBC 1962, c. 22). At this time, the department was reorganized into three branches, the B.C. Lands Service, the B.C. Forest Service, and the B.C. Water Resources Service. On December 23, 1975, the Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources ceased to exist. The government established two new agencies, the Dept. of Forests and the Dept. of Environment, to replace it (OIC 3838/75). All activities associated with the forestry function were transferred to the Dept. of Forests (OIC 3849/75, 3868/75). With one minor exception, the remaining functions of the Dept. of Lands, Forests, and Water Resources were transferred to the Dept. of Environment (OIC 3843/75, 3844/75, 3846/75, 3852/75). In 1976, these organizational changes were reiterated in legislation (SBC 1976, c. 18).
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Mandates/sources of authority
Internal structures/genealogy
A Government Name
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
British Columbia. Water Rights Branch (1909-1979)
Identifier of the related entity
3762
Category of the relationship
hierarchical
Dates of the relationship
1962-1975
Description of relationship
Related entity
British Columbia. Dept. of Environment (1975-1976)
Identifier of the related entity
74
Category of the relationship
temporal
Dates of the relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
Identifier of the related entity
17
Category of the relationship
temporal
Dates of the relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Identifier of the related entity
90
Category of the relationship
temporal
Dates of the relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
18
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAAR(CPF)
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Michael Carter 2008-07-28|KHUGHES 2014-02-11
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Central Name Authority File
Maintenance notes
Created by: Michael Carter