The Merritt Timber Supply Area is located in the southwestern interior of British Columbia and covers approximately 1.12 million hectares, of which approximately 19 per cent is private land or parks. The area is characterized by the mountainous terrain of the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Thompson Plateau to the east. Approximately nine per cent of the area is not forested, including many lakes and alpine areas. The two main river systems are the Tulameen-Similkameen in the south and the Nicola-Coldwater in the north. (TSAR page 3)
