Crown Land - the Woodlot

College Woodlot Licence 400

Since 1985, faculty and students of the School of Renewable Resources have managed 590 hectares of forested crown land under a Woodlot Licence agreement with the British Columbia Ministry of Forests. The Woodlot Manager, Stu Deverney, oversees the day-to-day operations at the woodlot.

The woodlot consists of two operating areas: Blueberry Creek (360 Ha.), West of Castlegar, and McPhee Creek (230 Ha.), East of Castlegar. The two operating areas offer a wide range of resource values and management objectives such as water, wildlife, recreation, visual quality, and timber.

The woodlot provides a crucial role in Renewable Resources programs by connecting student learning directly to a land base. Students participate in virtually all aspects of management of the woodlot from data collection, road location, and prescription development to conducting planting, brushing and spacing work. Several students have worked for the summer on the woodlot.

There are a number of examples of partial cut and variable retention silviculture systems, innovative road building, interpretive hiking trails, and watershed restoration activities that serve as demonstration areas for the College and community at large. The School of Renewable Resources is also developing a long-term Soil Productivity research trial in partnership with the Ministry of Forests.

Clients and contractors have included:

• Atco Lumber Ltd.
• Kalesnikoff Sawmills
• Columbia Power Corporation
• West Kootenay Power
• Blueberry Creelk Technical Committee
• Forest Renewal B.C.
• Ministry of Forests - Arrow District and Nelson Region
• Renewable Resources Student Club