Mission Statement
The Kaslo and District Community Forest Society (KDCFS) will manage the diversity of values of the Community Forest in an ecologically responsible and fiscally accountable manner on behalf of the people of Kaslo and Area D.
Woodlands
Lost Ledge Road Upgrades
Sunshine Logging has completed the majority of road upgrades up Lost Ledge, with roughly 1 km of new construction still to be completed. This work positions us with a mostly roaded Standing Timber Inventory (STI), setting up future harvesting access.
CP 47 – Timber Ridge Harvesting
Timber Ridge has finished harvesting in CP 47 and will be shipping wood over the next week or two.
The next project, CP 55, which extends from near Lost Ledge Campground to Lardeau, has received its cutting permit approval. Work is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Lumber markets are currently softening, with Interfor pausing purchases, but Kalesnikoff will be taking the wood from this project.
Powder Bound Ski Club Bridge Repairs
Sunshine Logging assisted the Powder Bound Ski Club with log bridge repairs — great collaborative work by everyone involved!
Timber Development – Lost Ledge
Timber development has wrapped up at Lost Ledge, with approximately 23,000 m³ developed across four blocks. Species profile: Hw6 Lw3 Cw1 (SxFd)
Some blocks contain a high hemlock component, which we may defer until market conditions improve. There is also approximately 12,000 m³ of larch-leading timber with potential for harvesting in 2026.
Timber Development – Cooper Face
Development continues up Cooper Face, building on previous layout and Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) work. Given current market uncertainty, focus is on spruce and larch-leading stands to ensure marketable timber. The permit is expected to cover approximately 60 ha (18,000 m³).
With most road work already completed in the area, only a few short spurs will be needed to access timber.
Scattered pockets of old growth remain on the large bench — including cedar up to 3.2 m in diameter and Douglas fir around 1.5 m. These trees are near the Davis Creek Trail, and KDCFS is considering future trail additions to provide access to these impressive old growth stands.
Looking Ahead
Our standing timber inventory (STI) remains low. With permitting timelines continuing to lengthen, advancing timber development and applying for new permits early is essential.
Our goal by spring is to have 30,000–40,000 m³ of timber permitted. Significant investments in road work over the past few years have improved access to our tenure, supported local contractors, and positioned us for more cost-effective operations in the future.
Safety
No safety incidents were reported from road work, silviculture surveys, logging, or timber development.
Silviculture
Craig has nearly completed silviculture surveys for 2025. Data review is underway, with numerous blocks achieving “free to grow” status. RESULTS reporting and waste survey planning for 2024 and 2025 harvest areas are in progress.
Internal Updates
Forest Stewardship Plan
The updated Forest Stewardship Plan was approved this month.
Firewood Donations
Three organizations applied for firewood this fall, and all three will receive a logging truck load:
- JVH Outdoor Education Class
- Kaslo Legion
- Kaslo Community Services
BCCFA Indicators Report 2025
The British Columbia Community Forest Association (BCCFA) released its 2025 Indicators Report, which highlights community forest performance across the province.
KDCFS is featured twice — on pages 12 and 24 — for:
- Keeping contractors employed during slow market periods
- Collaborating on community recreation initiatives
Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR)
Piles from the spring thinning work around the Wardner Trail and Buchanan Fire Access Trail are now being burned, taking advantage of the cooler and wetter fall weather. Smoke may be visible from Kaslo during this period. The cutting permit for CP 55 (above Lardeau) was received this month, allowing for 10 ha of manual thinning adjacent to the previous RDCK fuel treatment area.
The BCCFA also sponsored a short video highlighting our Bucky Cabin spacing project.
Join Us: KDCFS’s Monthly Board Meeting on October 30th, 2025