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Archival description
Only top-level descriptions Nelson Forest District (B.C.)
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Forest Service district invoices

  • GR-3181
  • Series
  • Microfilmed 1953 (originally created 1914-1952)

The series consists of invoices for building rentals, timber mark hammer purchases, and other items for forest districts handled by the central records office of the Forest Branch and later the Forest Service in Victoria. Records are arranged by forest district and then by invoice number. Invoices numbers are assigned chronologically. The records include: Kamloops (number 1 to 400, 1921-1931); Victoria (number 1 to 4400, 1914-1951); Vernon (number 1 to 155, 1921-1925); Cranbrook (number 1 to 39, 1921-1926); Nelson (number 1 to 2399, 1921-1951); Prince George (number 1 to 1300, 1921-1926); Prince Rupert (number 1 to 2800, 1918-1951), Williams Lake (number 1 to 81, 1920-1932) and Vancouver (numbers 1001 to 2000 and 4001 to 16442, 1929-1952).

British Columbia. Forest Branch

Timber investigations files

  • GR-0946
  • Series
  • 1913-1915

This series consists of Forest Branch timber investigations and inspections files, 1913-1915. Records include correspondence and reports from Nelson, Prince Rupert, Vancouver and Vernon Forest Districts. Includes file on early logging railroads, Vancouver Forest District.

British Columbia. Forest Branch

Scale and royalty invoices, ledgers, and reports

  • GR-3347
  • Series
  • 1977-1994

The series consists of records created by the Ministry of Forests (1976-1986), the Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988) and the Ministry of Forests (1988-). Records date from 1977-1994.

The series includes nine different types of computer output microfiche (COM) reports that are arranged by year. Within each year, each type is filed separately, and subdivided by forest district (1977-1978) or forest region (1979-present), if applicable. Districts/regions include: Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Kamloops, Prince George, Nelson and Cariboo.

The records include the following: piece scale invoices, weight scale invoices, weight scale ratio report, appraisal code sheets, mark rate report, mark royalty reports, road ledger, scaler ledger and species ledger. These records are generated by scale and royalty billing activities. It is a requirement of the Forest Act ( SBC 1978, c. 23) that all timber be scaled.

There are two primary methods of scaling used in the Province: piece scale and weight scale. Piece scale involves the measurement of each log harvested. This method is normally used in coastal areas where the logs are larger and not uniform in size. Weight scale is a sampling method where selected loads of logs over a period of time are piece scaled and this data is then used to estimate the volume of all other weighed loads. This method is used primarily in the interior of the Province and was introduced in 1963. It is generally used for large volumes of smaller logs that are uniform in size. Other scaling methods may be used for small volumes of special products, for example, Christmas trees or fence posts.

Until 1985, scalers were employees of the Ministry of Forests, with some limited exceptions. After privatization, the Ministry retained responsibility for examination, appointment, and licensing of scalers. The Ministry is now responsible for authorizing scale sites and conditions, designating which scale timber should go to, establishing scale computation and data controls and ensuring compliance with regulations. The requirements for scaling are outlined in part 6 of the Forest Act and the Scaling Regulations. Additional information is contained in the Scaling Manual and Ministry of Forests scaling policies. The Scaling Manual provides specific instructions on how scale will be measured and calculated and which records must be submitted.

Piece and weight scale invoices are generated from the data collected from the two different types of scaling. They document the amount of royalties owing by each account holder. The two types are kept separately and arranged by forest district/region and consecutive account number. Piece scale invoices are identified with a code beginning with P followed by a letter for the region. Weight scale invoices are identified with a code beginning with W followed by a letter for the region. The letters used for the regions are: V or W (effective May 1982) for Vancouver; R for Prince Rupert; K for Kamloops; G for Prince George; N for Nelson and C for Cariboo. Invoice numbers which are missing were used for manual billing, a practice which ended in the early 1980's.

Ratio reports are the ratios in effect for the month and that are used for processing Weight Scale billing. Ratios are determined by the sample loads that are scaled.

Appraisal code sheets contain information about timber marks. This information is used to determine stumpage rates for billing purposes. These records date from 1979-1982. They have been replaced by the General Appraisal System.

Mark reports include information about rates, appraisals, and other administrative information about each timber mark. These are monthly reports.

Mark royalty reports include rate information for each class of royalty by species/product/grade. Combined with scale data this will determine which rates are used for each royalty type.

Road ledgers were set up to amortise, over time, specific forestry and road costs as part of the timber the late 1970 's and 1980's. These invoices reflect a credit to stumpage associated with the amortisation amount related to either a piece or weight scale invoice.

There are separate ledgers for piece scale invoices and weight scale invoices; each ledger is subdivided by forest district/region. The code used to identify a piece scale road ledger is K followed by a letter representing the district/region. The codes used to identify a weight scale road ledger is L followed by a letter for the district/region. The records date from 1979 to 1985.

There are two types of species ledgers, monthly and yearly. These reports list the log volumes billed by species on each invoice. The monthly report is organized by district/region and timber mark. The yearly report is organized by region and timber mark. The yearly report also includes year to date reports.

A timber mark indicates the property on which the logs were cut. The scalers' ledger is a list of the volume and value scaled by each scaler and is arranged by scaler licence number.

These records are found in secondaries 20340-20, 20390-20, 20390-50 and 21330-20 in the Ministry of Forests ORCS, schedule number 881261.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

Nelson Forest Region tree farm licence records

  • GR-4023
  • Series
  • 1970-1987

This series consists of records related to tree farm licences (TFLs) managed by the Nelson Forest Region and its predecessor the Nelson Forest District. This currently includes records in the Arrow Forest District, which was part of the larger Region. Records date from 1970-1987.

TFLs are a type of timber tenure which grants a virtually exclusive right to harvest timber and manage forests in a specified area. They are issued for a term of 25 years, but can be replaced every 5-10 years. Records relate to TFL 3 and TFL 23.

The records are arranged by TFL number, then by the cutting permit number within the TFL. Each file will contain a variety of records relating to one cutting permit. This includes licences, cutting permits, other legal documents and operations information. Records include correspondence, reports, forms, maps, photos, applications, amendments, approvals, road tight-of-way documents, stumpage records and appraisal records. The majority of files are arranged with stumpage and appraisal records on the right side of the file, and most other records on the left side of the file. This organization may not be consistent for each file.

The records have been classified as 19700-45 in the Forestry Operational Classification System (ORCS). However, these records predate the creation of ORCS. They were originally created under the Ministry of Forests File Directory number 870-3-1 where all records related to a TFL were filed together.

The ministries responsible for these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)

British Columbia. Nelson Forest District (1913-1978)

Project 196 records

  • GR-1382
  • Series
  • 1959

This series contains project files from the Mitchell River Bridge, Invermere Ranger District, Project 196. Types of records includes photographs and brief construction history.

British Columbia. Nelson Forest District (1913-1978)

Nelson Forest District operational records

  • GR-1119
  • Series
  • 1922-1981

This series contains operational records of the District Forester/Regional Manager relating to forest administration and lumber management. Includes annual reports, records relating to cooperation with other resources ministries, Public Sustained Yield Units, range management, and construction and maintenance reports relating to forest roads, boathouses, ranger stations, and other structures.

British Columbia. Nelson Forest District (1913-1978)