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Erie Creek Forest Reserve Ltd.

History:

This 4000 property is in a semi-remote location north-west of the Village of Salmo in the Bonnington Range.  The property is noted for its history as a mining area in the late 1800’s, and contains the remnants of the village of Greenwood.  The property became private land in 1888 as a mining grant that included the surface rights. The core activity was mining, and the Second Relief Mine has been one of the most productive gold mines in the Kootenays. It operated continuously from 1889 to 1955.
In 1928, 1934 and 1937, large forest fires destroyed most of the forest cover, which consisted of Cedar-Hemlock old growth with Larch and White Pine. Some areas burned twice and the intensity of the fires impacted the soil fertility.
The property has been purchased by the current owners in 1973 and has been operated as a tree farm since then. Extensive Cedar salvage for cedar shake production took place in the 1970’s.
Infrastructure planning and road building has taken place since the early 1990’s.

Forestry:
2500 ha are stocked with a commercial forest cover. 70 year old post-fire Larch stands are the dominant forest cover, with Lodgepole pine stands in higher elevations. The pine stands are attacked by the mountain pine beetle. Salvage logging and Commercial thinning of the 70 year old Larch stands are the main activities on the property.

Silviculture:
Reforestation of the destroyed pine stands are the main silviculture activity on the property.

Neighbours:
The property boundary is 10km from the Highway 3 and 20 km from the village of Salmo.  A local snowmobile club has developed and maintained a remote cabin on the property over the course of several years.  
Snowwater HeliSkiing is operating a Ski lodge and a Ski operation in the headwaters of Erie Creek and is the most active neighbour of Erie Creek Forest Reserve. Crown land and other private managed forest surround the property.