This series consists of forest tenure records from the Northern Interior Forest Region, 1980-2010. The Northern Interior Forest Region was created with the amalgamation of the Prince George Forest Region and Prince Rupert Forest Region in 2003. At this time all open tenure files were transferred to the new Northern Interior Forest Region. The region has included a variety of different forest districts. Records may regard the following Forest Districts: Cassiar, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Fort St. James, Kalum, Kispiox, Mackenzie, Morice, Prince George, Quesnel, Robson Valley, and Vanderhoof. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

Types of forest tenure records include: forest licences, licences to cut, timber licences, timber sale licences, timber licences, records related to Tree Farm Licence 51 (TFL 51) and pulpwood agreements. Pulpwood Agreements allow the continuance, establishment or expansion of a timber processing facility.

Records regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation and extension of forest tenures, as well as operations information. Operations information includes business and planning records regarding the establishment and operations of mills and other forestry related projects. They provide additional context of how and why licences were applied for and approved, as well as relevant administrative history of the companies such as name changes, changes in ownership and financial information.

Records include legal documents, annual reports, licences, licence applications, development plans, management plans, invitations for applications, financial records, briefing notes, correspondence, maps, photographs, agreements, proposals, drafts and procedures.

Some records regard First Nations owned logging operations and consultation with First Nations. Groups include the Tsay Kay Dene, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Takla (Takla Lake Indian Band), Kitwanga, Gitanyow, Gitxsan and others.

The ministries responsible for Forest and Range Districts, 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)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

This series is classified under ORCS numbers 19500-20, 19500-25, 19500-60, 19560-20,19580-20, 19600-25, 19600-20, 19700-60, 19710-45 and 19710-65 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

The series consists of a register, with nominal index, of mining claims recorded (1 Jun 1870 - 10 Aug 1874, 12 Aug 1874 - 6 Oct 1877) and a register, with nominal index, of mining claims transferred (13 Jun 1870 - 27 Aug 1873).

This series consists of three volumes of records of the Water Commissioner, Omineca District, relating to water rights. Volume 1 is a record of Water Grants pursuant to the Water Clauses Consolidation Act (1897), 1898-1905, including determinations by the Board of Investigation, 1917. Volume 2 is a record of Water Grant pursuant to the Water Clauses Consolidation Act (1897), 1909-1917, including determinations by the Board of Investigation, 1917. Volume 3 is Water Record Book No. 1, from 24 June 1898, recorded at the Gold Commissioner's office, Omineca District, including correspondence relating to water rights claims, 1915 and 1917.

Account book kept by various Gold Commissioners in the Omineca district, 1870-1877.

The series consists of records created by the Omineca Gold Commissioner between 1871 and 1906. It includes correspondence outward and miners leave of absence counterfoils.

The series consists of records created by the Omineca Gold Commissioner between 1869 and 1929. It includes correspondence inward, mining leases, register of free miners' certificates and manual of record and accounts.

Collectorate cash books, 1871-1876; receipts and payments, 1898-1904.

This series contains operational records from the Prince George Forest District and consists of property ledgers for "non-expendable property" - see: Operational Manual with instructions to Forest Officers ... (Victoria, 1942), pp. 161-168, 311-327 for definitions and instructions - and a uniform ledger containing records concerning items on charge to personnel who have left the district. Files 1-5, Volume 1 are a property ledger for the period 1953-1955; File 6, Volume 1 through File 1, Volume 4 are a property ledger, 1961-1966; and Files 2-4, Volume 4 contain a uniform ledger, 1950-1970.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [1971?]
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Ted Johnstone, who is the Co-Ordinator of Construction for the PGE, discusses contracting for rail laying, all that is involved in surveying in laying down new railways, the reason for a railroad extension in northern BC, how minerals play a large part in the planning of railway routes, the terrain up to Takla, hauling supplies, more on routing, various contracts, the process of laying ties, and rail beds. Irvin Parr, a location engineer, discusses his experiences working for the PGE over the previous 6 years, work surveying, what he was given as a guideline for the area before he began to survey, and work as a location engineer including what the job entails. TRACK 2: Irvin Parr continues by discussing his work from the stage of preliminary plans and staking the land, and the beginning of deciding how to route the railway. Then Gordon Goodkey discusses the timber licensing for the railway, the PGE's Omineca Division, and the unlimited potential of the Tatla area.

This series contains a paper on recommendations for selective logging in the Prince George District by J.H. Jenkins, junior forester.

This series consists of pre-emption Inspector's notebooks. Vol. 1, Southbank, Pre-emption Field Book, Sec. 16, No. 1 (1944-1949); Vol. 2, Southbank, Pre-emption Field Book, Sec. 28, 29, No. 2 (1936-1947); Vol. 3, Burns Lake, No. 1 (1928-1931).

Series contains pre-emption records, Omineca District, signed by Assistant Commissioner of Lands and Works. (Only seven pre-emption record forms are completed; the remainder are blank).

This series contains records originating from the Prince George District and Omineca - Peace River Region. They include annual reports, 1953-1957; public inquiries correspondence, 1962-1972; correspondence with the Prince George Chamber of Commerce regarding the B.C. Tourist Association, 1961-1962; Forest Service materials regarding forest fire suppression and the Youth Training programme, 1956-1957.

This series contains operational records of the Prince George Forest District relating to forest administration, 1919-1981. Records are arranged according to the Forest Service filing system. These records include annual reports, ranger meeting summaries, records regarding timber exports, forest protection, forest reserves, the Peace River hydroelectric projects, the Mica Dam flood basin, land use, timber cruising, silviculture, aerial photography, rights-of-way, timber sales, timber licenses, Public Sustained Yield Units, tree farm licences, and forest wood lot licenses. Also contains construction and maintenance reports pertaining to ranger stations, lookouts, forest roads and trails, boathouses, telephone lines and other Forest Service facilities. Records consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, licenses, permits, plans, etc.

The ministries responsible for the Forest Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

This series includes range management records of the Prince George Forest District, from 1934-2009. Some records are also included from the Fort George Forest District, Robson Valley Forest District and Kamloops Forest District. Records include correspondence, maps, hay cutting permits, land applications, annual reports, and grazing permits, leases and licenses. Records may regard brands, tenure, cooperation, accounts, range resource improvement, general range administration, range condition resource monitoring, range unit use management, community pasture management, the Creation and management of community pastures and balancing land use for range purposes with forestry, wildlife use, recreation and hunting. Each file relates to a particular topic or range tenure.

The majority of records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits (ORCS 15700-20) as defined under the Range Act, and Grazing Leases as defined under the Land Act, including issuance, amendments, transfers, billing, monitoring, policy administration, plans specific to tenures, such as Grazing System Plans. Also includes records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures. Records include tenure application forms, grazing plans, authorized livestock, correspondence, maps, photos, documents determining range boundaries and use, and information on range improvements and clearing. Note that there may be additional individuals or companies who held the tenure who are not listed in the file list.

Range condition resource management files (ORCS 15420-04, 15420-08 and 15420-09) include files on range seeding and inspections of the condition of certain range units, documented by photos, maps and range use plans.

Range unit files and range unit plans (ORCS 15720-20 and 15720-30) regard measurements of range use, growth and general health. Records include photos, correspondence, range inspections, maps, resource management plans, range management and development plans, photos, user comments, AUM counts, resource analysis, range data, range improvement authorization and range development plans.

Range improvement files (ORCS 15740-20, 15740-35, 15740-30) relate to structural and non-structural resource improvements. Records concerning structural improvements include: fences and cattleguards, water developments and trails. Non-structural improvements include prescribed burns, silvicultural treatments for forage enhancement, grass seeding, fertilization, salting, weed management and timber harvesting. Records include correspondence, improvement authorization, maps of location of planned improvements, invoices, description of improvements, meeting minutes, reports, range use plans, community or stakeholder consultation, pasture use rules, improvement completion reports, water licenses and grazing enhancement fund records.

Community pasture use management files (ORCS 15620-20) include files relating to issues of elk grazing on rangeland and sources of funding for range improvements.

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

Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
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)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

Records in accession 96-4985 are covered by ORCS 15700-20, 15620-20, 15740-20, 15740-35, 15740-30, 15720-20, 15720-30, 15420-04, 15420-08 and 15420-09 of the Forest ORCS (schedule 881261).

The series consists of records created by the Sub-Mining Recorder at Fort Grahame between 1909 and 1939. It contains records of claims, applications for certificates of work, powers of attorney, correspondence outward to the Mining Recorder in Smithers and instructions as to the duties of Sub-Mining Recorders. Records may also relate to the Omineca Mining Recorder.

Series consists of correspondence, financial records, membership rolls, minutes, briefs and newsletters of the branch of this organization of forest officer civil servants in the Prince George Forest District.

The file consists of the reminiscences of Arthur Shelford, a Wistaria farmer. Mr. Shelford emigrated to Canada in 1908 and settled at Ootsa Lake. He served overseas in World War I and then returned to his farm at Ootsa Lake where he remained until he retired to Victoria in 1966. Vol. 2 is a corrected and expanded version.

Reminiscences and autobiographies of pioneer residents accumulated in the course of writing "Vanderhoof, the town that wouldn't wait", 1979.

A report concerning bridges on the Fort St. James - Germansen Lake Road showing structural details and costs. Includes correspondence, drawings, and photographs. File 0244224. Photographs transferred to Visual Records, Accession no. 198605-002.