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This series consists of resource management and other operational records from the Rocky Mountain Forest District for the years 1944-2005. This series may also include records created by the Cranbrook, Kootenay Lake and Invermere Forest Districts, as well as the Nelson and Southern Interior Forest Regions. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

This series includes a wide variety of types of records and subjects. Each record type has been assigned an ORCS number of the Ministry of Forests records schedule (number 881261). The ORCS number is included at the beginning of each file code in the finding aid. These are the file numbers used by the creator. In order to search for a particular file type, try searching for all or part of the ORCS number in the file list.

The following types of records are included in this series:

Integrated resource planning guidelines. They include specific guidelines, and records used in their development, for particular geographic areas or watersheds. Records include photos, maps, aerial photos, lake classification information, lake characteristics and uses, lake management guidelines and correspondence. ORCS 12210-30.

Other resource management records relate to the development of Integrated Resource Use Plans which are designed to resolve resource use conflicts in specific areas at the local level. Includes records relating to data concerning a specific area - usually a watershed or other distinct resource management unit. Types of Local Integrated Resource Use Plans include: Local Resource Use Plans (LRUP) and Coordinated Resource Management Plans (CRMP), coordinated access management plans, and integrated watershed management plans. Files address issues such as the construction of infrastructure, land management and various kinds of land use in the areas, particularly managing grazing land. Records include maps, correspondence, range improvement records, range inspection reports, range management plans, meeting minutes, final plans, and the review of plans. Plans cover various areas in the Kootenay and Rocky Mountain area, including the Libby Dam. ORCS 12600-20, 12600-25, 12600-30, 12600-40, and 12600-60.

Forest planning public meeting files relate to public involvement in the process of planning for the future uses of Provincial Forest resources. ORCS 12080-20.

Range program management records relating to co-operation and liaison with other ministries in the BC Government and with the federal government; most regarding the 1977 agriculture and rural development subsidiary agreement. ORCS 15120-25 and 15120-55.

There are also files on a variety of miscellaneous topics, most of which only contain one or two files. These include: Forest Service projects with old trail improvement progress reports, damages to roads, district program management files, regional resource planning files, Integrated Watershed Management Plans (WMP), integrated weed plan, riparian guidelines recreation system plans, water survey of Canada, recreation maps, a forest planning study related to the Rocky Mountain trench, a research study on range use interactions between livestock and wildlife, information on guide outfitters, archaeological sites maps, and other local resource plans. ORCS 10740-50, 11200-08, 12090-20, 12210-30, 12380-25, 12380-30, 12430-20, 15380-03, 15600-06, 16350-40, 16400-20, 16660-20, 16700-05 and 17340-40.

The series also includes the following administrative records: approved legislation, ombudsman investigations related to range use complaints, and compliance and enforcement year end reports. Transferred under schedule 100001, ARCS numbers 00140-60, 00155-20 and 00400-02.

There are also policy and procedure files regarding a variety of additional topics and issues.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

This series consists of resource management plans created primarily by the Kootenay-Boundary Inter Agency Management Committee (IAMC), from 1994-2010. IAMCs coordinate and direct all aspects of the development of resource management plans, as well as coordinate the implementation of the plan. This work can involve a variety of different government Ministries and stakeholders.

Resource management plans include regional land use plans (RLUP). RLUPs span large geographic regions and generally provide: broad land use zones defined on a map; objectives that guide management of natural resources in each zone; and strategies for achieving the objectives.

The majority of files in this series are specifically related to the protected areas strategy (PAS) and caribou management. Protected areas are set aside in order to protect the province’s natural features and diversity, including rare and endangered species, critical habitats, and outstanding or unique botanical, zoological, geological, and paleontological features, as well as outstanding or fragile cultural heritage features and recreational features such as trails. Records relate to planning, conducting studies of the area, consulting with interested parties and creation of the strategy. Records include correspondence, maps and reports. There are also meeting minutes and other records from the Southern Rocky Mountain Advisory Committee.

This series is classified under ORCS numbers 17670-30 and 17730-30 of the Resource Management ORCS (schedule 144100).

This series consists of timber tenures from the Kootenay Lake Forest District from 1976-1992. Some early records may have been created by the Nelson, Creston and Kaslo Forest Ranger.

Forest tenures in this series include non-replaceable timber sale licence cutting permits. Records regard the application, issuance, maintenance, administration, monitoring and cancellation of these tenures pursuant to the Forest Act.

Record types include legal documents such as permits and licences, correspondence, appraisals, stumpage rates and maps.

Records in this series are covered under ORCS numbers 19620-25 and 19620-45 in the Ministry of Forests records schedule (number 881261).

The ministries responsible for the creation of these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

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)

This series consists of a variety of records related to timber tenures predominantly created from 1975-1998 by the Columbia Forest District, a division of the Nelson Forest Region. The series also includes records from the Revelstoke Forest District, Golden Forest District, Kootenay Lake Forest District, and Mica Creek Forest Station. All files were managed as part of the Columbia Forest District when the files were closed.

The series includes the following types of timber tenures: forest licences, timber licences, timber sale licences, timber sale harvesting licences, cash timber sale licences, licences to cut, timber marks, timber berths, woodlot licences, special use permits and road permits. There are also records related to tree farm licences (TFL) 23, 55 and 56. The majority of files relate to cutting permits. Licensees were required to apply for a forest licence or similar tenure and cutting permits in order to harvest timber. Records regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of these timber tenures.

The records include legal documents, operations information, correspondence, forms, reports, maps, photos, licences, permits, permit amendment or renewal documentation, applications, logging plans, reports, silviculture prescriptions, major licensee silviculture audits, stumpage adjustment, salvage information, and financial records.

Additional types of records include: subject files on weather, mining and oil exploration, tree seeds, resource analysis program, and forest road planning; a timber tenures ledger; files regarding audits of licensees to ensure compliance with guidelines for managing and preserving fish habitat; and a few silviculture opening files.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 18765-20, 18750-20, 19500-45, 19540-25, 19565-25, 19570-25, 19580-45, 19600-45, 19620-25, 19700-45, 19720-20 and 19910-20 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of timber tenures from the Rocky Mountain Forest District for the years 1946-2008. This series may also include records created by the Cranbrook, Invermere and Kootenay Lake Forest Districts, as well as the Nelson and Southern Interior Forest Regions. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

Timber tenures include replaceable forest licences, licences to cut, replaceable timber sale licences, non-replaceable timber sale licences, woodlot licences, special use permits and Christmas tree permits. There are also records regarding tree farm licence (TFL) 13, TFL 14, TFL 26, TFL 36 and TFL 37.

Files contain cutting permits, legal documents, operations information, charts, applications, development plans, annual reports, management plans, an “A” number bid deposit register, correspondence, maps, reports, amendments, logging inspection reports, logging plans, licences, policy, procedures, and a variety of other documents.

The series also includes some records related to silviculture. These include silviculture openings, obligations, as well as silviculture experiment (SX) files regard trials completed under the jurisdiction of the silviculture program. Includes records detailing silviculture trials conducted, working plans, results, evaluations, reports, models, maps and data. Silviculture obligations may relate to major licensees, woodlot licences or the small business program.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

Records in this series are classified under ORCS numbers 18750-20, 18765-20, 18765-25, 18765-30, 18990-20, 19440-25, 19500-20, 19500-45, 19500-60, 19540-25, 19570-25, 19600-30, 19600-45, 19620-25, 19620-45, 19680-20, 19700-25, 19700-45, 19700-60, 19710-20, 19710-30, 19720-20 and 19720-45 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

This series consists of records related to land use, management and alienation in the Nelson, Revelstoke and Kootenay land districts. The records date from 1892-1980. Records include certificates of purchase and various land registers.

There are two survey systems used in the land registers: the district lot system and the township section system. Registers may also be arranged by plan number. The registers record the alienation of land from the Crown by purchase, pre-emption, lease, mineral claims, timber use, etc. Information may include the name of the purchaser, dates and numbers of certificates issued (including Crown Grants), dates and amounts of payments, and reference numbers to correspondence files and field books.

The series also includes several paper subject files and correspondence files with settlers discussing the pre-emption, lease and purchase of specific parcels of land with Government Agents in Nelson, Kaslo and Revelstoke. Most of these files have "O" file numbers assigned to them.

This series consists of registers used to record land assessment values from 1900-1912. All records are likely related to the Kootenay, Similkameen and Okanagan areas, primarily around Osoyoos to Trail. The registers were likely created by the local Government Agent or Assessor for the provincial Surveyor of Taxes as part of the creation of property tax assessment rolls. The registers list the property description, owner, value. Some volumes may also describe the property’s assets, such as buildings, cultivated land, orchards, available water, available timber land, roads, distance to schools or post offices.