The paved airstrip is 5,000 feet long by 60 feet wide. The airstrip is available throughout the spring, summer and fall months but is limited by snowfall in the winter. The community of Avola is located 40 km south of Blue River. The community is almost entirely dependent on the forestry industry with Weyerhaeuser and Slocan lumber mills being the major employers. Businesses in Avola include a restaurant and gas station, motel, restaurant and pub.
Home based businesses consist of logging and trucking companies.
Although the home based businesses deal almost exclusively with Weyerhaeuser and Slocan, Scarff Trucking is also available for general hauling purposes. The Avola Improvement District operates the reservoir water system in Avola. The Community of Vavenby is located 27 km northeast of Clearwater. Forestry is the primary industry with a large portion of its approximately 700 residents working for Weyerhaeuser or Slocan Lumber Mills that are in Vavenby. Home based businesses in Vavenby consist of two auto repairs, one dog grooming salon, four logging and eleven trucking businesses.