This Saturday the 2nd, we were proud to take part in the seasonal opening of the Creston Farmers' Market, where we hosted our Community Forest Open House. It was a great opportunity to connect with residents, answer questions, and share more about the work we do. We were pleased to give away Creston Community Forest t-shirts, ball caps, forest industry items, and National Forest Week coloring books for the kids. This was our most well-attended Open House to date, and we truly appreciated the interest from the community through thoughtful questions and meaningful conversations. Forest Manager Daniel Gratton (RPF)and Forest Technician Erich Endersby (TFT) were on hand to walk visitors through our management areas using large maps, explain Douglas-fir beetle treatments, and provide insight into our ongoing work. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, to the families and kids who joined us, and to our Board Directors for their support. Creston, we thank you.

Starting today (April 28th), the Creston Community Forest will be salvage logging blowdown trees in a cutblock located between 3 and 5 km on the Mt. Thompson Forest Service Road (FSR). This is in response to a wind event that occurred in December 2025. Given the impact that Douglas-fir beetles have had throughout the Kootenays, it is important that these downed trees be removed by late spring at the latest to help mitigate this forest health concern. Douglas-fir beetles prefer downed trees, so they will preferentially attack the felled "trap" trees rather than standing, healthy trees. Timing here is critical. Trap trees must be processed (hauled to a mill, burned, or debarked) before the beetles emerge from the trap trees and infect the healthy standing trees in the area. If traveling up the Mt. Thompson FSR, please exercise caution and if possible, have a two-way radio set to the correct Resource Road Channel. Operations should conclude by Friday, May 1st. With any concerns or questions, please contact our Forest Manager: Daniel Gratton dgratton@crestoncf.com

Meet us at our Open House & Wildfire Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 2nd, from 9:00am - 1:00 pm at the Creston Farmers' Market! Learn how we manage local forests sustainably Get expert FireSmart tips to protect your home Ask questions about logging, recreation & wildfire risks Grab a coffee from a local market vendor and discuss with us: Wildlife & Habitat Protection – Find out how we manage forests to support diverse ecosystems. How We Restore Harvested Areas – Learn about replanting, trail creation, and ecosystem rehabilitation. Local Jobs & Economic Benefits – See how sustainable forestry supports Creston’s economy. Your voice matters! Let’s work together for a resilient Creston Valley. See you there! Creston Community Forest | May 2nd, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Read all the details and additional reasons to attend our Open House on our website here: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/openhouse2026

Spring hiking reminder: Creston Community Forest Trail Etiquette 1. Dirtbikes and Quads are not permitted on any Community Forest Trails designated as non-motorized. 2. Important Notice: No Motorcycles Allowed on the Pack Trail To protect the safety of all trail users, motorcycles are not permitted on the Pack Trail. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our trails safe and enjoyable for everyone. 3. Leash Up! Dogs Must Be on Their Leash A friendly reminder to all dog owners using the Pack Trail: please keep your furry friends on a leash. This helps protect wildlife, other trail users, private land owners in the area and ensures everyone can enjoy the trail safely. ** we love dogs but please pick up after your furry family member to keep the trails enjoyable for other users. 4. Yield to Horses When encountering horses on the Pack Trail, please yield the right of way. Horses can be easily spooked by sudden movements or loud noises, so approach them calmly and give them plenty of space to pass. * Also, please do not take down the signs at each trailhead or in the trailhead Kiosks. Thank you for your cooperation and Happy Hiking!

We are preparing our trails throughout April. Our crews will be out maintaining the listed trails over the coming weeks, clearing debris, updating trail-head kiosks, checking signage, and ensuring the routes are safe and enjoyable for the community. There’s no better way to experience the natural beauty of the Creston Valley than from one of its many hiking trails. Wander through quiet forest stands, listen to birds chirping, cross freshwater creeks, and take in sweeping valley views along the way. Whether you're out for a short walk or a longer adventure, we invite you to explore the CCF trail network and reconnect with nature this spring. We proudly manage and maintain the following trails in the Creston area: Lady Slipper, Thompson Rim Trail, Thompson Rotary Trail, Thompson Pack Trail, Big Bear Viewpoint, Billy Goat Bluffs (photos in post are from this hiking trail), Gliders’ Point and the West Ridge Trail. Please note that trails are not actively maintained until April. During the off-season and until we get through cleanup on each trail, users may encounter: * Fallen trees * Rough or uneven trail surfaces * Other natural hazards Please use caution when hiking these trails. Important: These trails are maintained by Creston Community Forest, not the Trails for Creston Valley Society. If you have urgent safety concerns, please contact the Creston Community Forest by our office phone number: 250 402 0070, NOT through the Trails for Creston Valley Society( Creston Valley Trails ). For all our trail information and maps, visit our Website and head to our Recreation Webpage: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/forest-recreation

Public Announcement: This past week, community forest staff came across a fire that was smoldering unattended at 1 km on the Mt. Thompson Forest Service Road. The fire was extinguished by our staff. The BC Wildfire Branch has already attended to a few calls where fires were needing to be addressed because of the unseasonably drier conditions. This specific location and Forest Service Road was cleared of refuse and yard waste but has recently seen a growing accumulation of yard waste starting last year. We’ve noticed more garbage building up again at this site, even after it was previously cleaned. For those who are attending these gatherings, please note the following: We know this is a popular spot to spend time, but we need your help to keep it safe. • Make sure your fire is completely out (drown it, stir it, feel it. No heat left) • Don’t leave a fire unattended, even for a few minutes • Pack out what you pack in: cans, bottles, everything * Don't forget that tossing a cigarette butt around the area can also start a fire and makes a mess. • Respect the space so it stays open for everyone One small mistake can have serious consequences and a few simple steps can prevent that. If you cannot be certain that the area was left with the fire completely cool to the touch or all bottles, cans, butts, chip bags etc were picked up, head back up early the next morning with a group to clean up. Also we ask that there be no dumping along any of the forestry roads. People who enjoy these areas exercise a high level of vigilance to prevent a wildfire from occurring. Enjoy your long weekend. Clean up and put fires out. Be safe while up there. The Creston Community Forest team.

Forest Activity Public Notice - Burning of Debris Piles - Mt. Thompson. We are planning to burn small debris piles created by our wildfire risk reduction projects starting today and continuing for a few days. * The goal is to remove the small debris piles associated with the wildfire risk reduction work the Creston Community Forest has been carrying out over the last 2 years. This will depend on the area experiencing good or fair ventilation for smoke to disperse well. If conditions permit, expect to see smoke in the area of Mt. Thompson today and in the coming days. We are working to reduce the fuel load near the Town of Creston prior to high fire danger season. Thank you.

A little bit about our ongoing Douglas-fir beetle project and the forest management practices we use to better understand the impact these beetles have in our Creston Valley area: The Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) is a native bark beetle in British Columbia. Mature, unhealthy and stressed-out Douglas-fir trees act as a primary host. Due to the impacts of climate change: less snow, earlier spring weather, the extreme heat during our summers and wildfires, we are seeing an increase in beetle populations. These beetles typically do two flights per year in the Creston Valley, the first flight occurs in late April to early June, while the second flight occurs between July and August. During these flights, the beetles are looking for susceptive hosts to feed off and lay their larvae into, further increasing their populations. To mitigate the impacts of Douglas-fir beetle, the Creston Community Forest has developed forest health management practices that utilize funnel traps. These traps contain a bait which uses pheromones to attract and isolate the beetles, meanwhile the surrounding forest area is protected by an additional pheromone (MCH) which causes the beetles to ‘overlook’ the trees and target the traps where they are collected and measured. We collect the beetles to further our understanding of beetle flight dynamics and present populations and to contribute to further adaptive management practices. Our project is ongoing in the valley. We have 11 trap site locations planned throughout our operating area this season and we ask that the public do not disturb this important project.

To read our MARCH NEWSLETTER click link below. In this newsletter: "This year has already brought an active season in the woods. In this issue, we share updates on the Kidd Creek Salvage Area and other forest management projects currently underway across the community forest. You’ll also find the latest news from our Douglas-fir Beetle monitoring program and information on the Ralph Moore Bursary supporting students pursuing forestry and environmental education. Spring also brings opportunities to connect creativity with nature through the Healing Forest Art Project and a special Artist Walk with a Forester. With trails opening in early April, our community can once again explore the forests we maintain. May also brings in our Open House and Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. As always, ‘Thank You’ for your continued interest in the Creston Community Forest and the work we do together in the valley." IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER View the Newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/53bc77e31744/creston-community-forest-newsletter-10341521

With 10 liters of beetles collected, our year-long program combined traps, research, and collaborations to better understand and slow the spread of the Douglas-fir Bark Beetle. Find the results and what we are doing next by reading the summary below. Summary of the 2024 Creston Community Forests Douglas-fir Bark Beetle Program.      Goal : The program aimed to reduce Douglas-fir bark beetle populations impacting Douglas-fir stands within the operating area. The focus was on slowing the spread of infestations, tracking beetle flight patterns, and monitoring population changes.      Methodology:          Trap Sites: Ten funnel trap sites were strategically selected based on proximity to affected or susceptible Douglas-fir stands and reserve areas. Additional factors like snowmelt timing, aspect, stand age, wind direction, and site accessibility were considered.          Trap Setup: Each site had three 5-piece multitrap systems, placed a few meters apart to enhance mass trapping. The traps used a 3-part lure to attract and collect beetles, aiming to draw them away from vulnerable trees.      Methylcyclohexen (MCH): Over 1000 MCH bubbles were distributed in susceptible stands to prevent beetle infestation.      Research Collaboration: The program contributed to Canadian-wide bark beetle research by sending collected beetle samples to Dr. Christopher Keeling at the Laurentian Forestry Centre. His research on genetic biodiversity helps assess factors like cold tolerance and pest communication in bark beetles.      Partnerships: Collaboration with the Selkirk Resource District and Stewardship allowed for discounted products and materials. The beetle data collected also contributed to monitoring infestations in the Selkirk District.      Monitoring & Data Collection: From May 15 to August 19, 2024, 10 liters of bark beetles were collected. Bear damage at certain sites affected data accuracy, but high volumes were recorded in late May to mid-June and early to mid-July. This data will inform future management strategies.      Future Plans: Funnel traps will continue to be placed at Goat Mountain, Mt. Thompson, and the Arrow Creek drainage to further monitor beetle populations and inform adaptive management.

This past fall and winter, the Creston Community Forest (CCF) completed a 57 hectare block in Russell Creek as part of its wildfire risk reduction (WRR) program. The intent of the project was to reduce the risk of wildfire above the townsite of Kitchener, BC and was done by thinning the dense canopy of trees by removing 50% of the stand. The next step will be to reduce the thick concentrations of smaller trees and shrubs and woody debris covering the forest floor that would otherwise contribute to the spread of wildfire. The community forest has also been focusing on salvage logging the burned timber in the Peterson and Spider Creek drainages. This is in response to the September 2025 Kidd Creek wildfire that burned approximately 450 hectares which included older cutblocks were fully forested. Given the scale and intensity of the wildfire, critical areas of these drainages were however, left untouched by the fire. Examples include timber on either side of creek draws and certain species of trees such as Douglas-fir, larch and yellow pine that can be resilient to scorching due to their thick bark. Not all burned areas are being logged and trees that have a chance of surviving where logging is occurring are being reserved from harvest. Once operations are complete in these drainages, our logging contractor will move to the Birch Creek drainage where the community forest will continue to work into late fall. _________________________________________________________________________________ Wildfire Risk Reduction Since 2019, the community forest has continued to help reduce the risk of wildfire throughout the Creston Valley carried out by its WRR projects. This spring, our local contractor will resume this work in the next few weeks, focusing on Lower Birch, Mt. Thompson and Goat/ Arrow Mtn. All these locations are WRR blocks that were logged/ thinned in 2024. This work continues to be funded by the province’s Forest Enhancement Society of BC program which the community forest is extremely grateful for.

About the Project: The Creston Community Forest, in partnership with the Tilted Brick Gallery, invites artists across the Kootenays to submit work for “Healing Forests: in honour of what forests give us,” a juried exhibition opening in September 2026. The exhibition explores the many ways forests shape our lives : ecologically, economically, culturally, emotionally, and recreationally. Artists ages 16+ and working in any medium are encouraged to participate. We are excited to support BC artists by offering three monetary prizes and partnering with our local Tilted Brick Gallery as well as tying in the Opening Night of the exhibit (Friday, September 18th) as the official kick-off to the National Forest Week. Save that date and join us! This exhibition celebrates the forests and invites artistic reflection on the value of BC forests in daily life. 1st Prize: $500 2nd Prize: $300 3rd Prize: $200 Please share this information with the artist or creative you know. Find all details on our website page: Art Partnership: Healing Forests