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Hunwadi/Ahnuhati-Bald Conservancy Management Plan August Mamalilikulla- Da'naxda'xw/ ‘Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em Awaetlala 2011 Nation Hunwadi/Ahnuhati-Bald Conservancy Management Plan Approved by: ______________________________ __________________ Harold Sewid Date Hereditary Clan Chief Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em First Nation ______________________________ __________________ Fred Glendale Date Councillor Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation ______________________________ __________________ Don Cadden Date Regional Manager, West Coast Region BC Parks ______________________________ __________________ Brian Bawtinheimer Date Director, Parks Planning and Management Branch BC Parks Acknowledgements Preparation of this management plan for Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy would not have been possible without the involvement of the Mamalilikulla-‘Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em and Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nations. The traditional knowledge provided by the Ninogads (knowledgeable ones), Hereditary Clan Chief Harold Sewid, Hereditary Chief William Glendale, and Councillor Fred Glendale, was invaluable in developing this plan. Planning documents were jointly prepared by Scott Harris, Planner for the Nanwakolas Council, and BC Parks planning staff. Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy Management Plan – Draft August 2011 i Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy Management Plan – Draft August 2011 ii Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Management Plan Purpose .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Planning Area ....................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Legislative Framework ......................................................................................... 3 1.4 Management Commitments ................................................................................ 4 1.5 Adjacent Land Uses and Marine Activities ........................................................... 5 2.0 Roles and Values of the Conservancy ................................................................ 9 2.1 Significance in the Protected Areas System ......................................................... 9 2.2 Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Biological Diversity and Natural Environment ................................................... 15 2.4 Recreation .......................................................................................................... 22 2.5 Development or Use of Natural Resources ........................................................ 24 3.0 Management Direction ................................................................................... 25 3.1 Vision .................................................................................................................. 25 3.2 Recommended Marine Boundary ...................................................................... 25 3.3 Management Objectives, Issues and Strategies ................................................ 26 3.4 Conservancy Zoning ........................................................................................... 30 4.0 Plan Implementation ...................................................................................... 34 Appendix A – Appropriate Uses Table ....................................................................... 35 Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy Management Plan – Draft August 2011 iii Figure 1: Conservancy Context Map .................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Hunwadi/Ahnuhati River, Kwalate Creek and Bald Peak Map ............................. 7 Figure 3. Hada (Ahta) and Kakweiken River Watersheds Map ............................................ 8 Figure 4. View into Hunwadi/Ahnuhati River valley. ........................................................... 9 Figure 5. Lekim – the mountain slide that destroyed Kwalate Village. ............................. 12 Figure 6. Boat nearing Twin Falls (Cascade Falls). ............................................................. 13 Figure 7. Hada Estuary, showing Hada (Ahta) river mouth on the right and Hada (Ahta) Valley Creek entering from the left. .......................................................................... 14 Figure 8. Cliffs on western shore of Knight Inlet opposite Bald Peak. ............................... 18 Figure 9: Zoning Map ......................................................................................................... 32 Table 1. Ecosection and Biogeoclimatic Zone and Representation. .................................. 16 Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy Management Plan – Draft August 2011 iv 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Management Plan Purpose This management plan sets out the long-term, strategic direction for Hunwadi/Ahnuhati- Bald Conservancy and provides guidance for how the conservancy will be managed. In 2006, the provincial government and First Nations across the province initiated a new relationship. On the central coast, a collaborative approach has been taken with regards to management planning and operation of protected areas. This management plan is the result of a collaborative planning process between the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation, Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em First Nation and BC Parks. The management plan identifies the conservancy’s important cultural heritage, natural, and recreational values and presents a vision for the future of the conservancy. As well, the management plan: addresses current issues affecting the long-term vision for the conservancy; guides day-to-day management for the protection of identified cultural heritage and natural values; identifies appropriate types of recreational activities; identifies zones; and, provides management direction related to appropriate uses of the conservancy’s natural resources. 1.2 Planning Area Hunwadi/Ahnuhati-Bald conservancy protects approximately 55, 423 hectares of land in three watersheds (Ahnuhati, Kwalate and Ahta, or Hada) 1 and the mid-upper reaches of a fourth watershed (Kakweiken) between Knight Inlet and Kingcome Inlet in the southern central coast of British Columbia (Figure 1). This management plan also recommends the addition of approximately 80 ha of marine foreshore in Bond Sound to the conservancy (see Section 3.2 and Figure 9). The conservancy is located approximately 100 km east of Port Hardy, 80 km north of Campbell River and 200 km northwest of Vancouver. 1 The gazetted name for this place is the Ahta River. However, the English pronunciation of the word “Ahta” has an inappropriate meaning in the Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em First Nation’s language. The correct place name is “Hada”, which refers to a place of plentiful food. For the remainder of this management plan, the place name Hada will be used alongside Ahta. Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy Management Plan – Draft August 2011 1 Figure 1: Conservancy Context Map Hunwadi/Ahnuhati Bald Conservancy Management Plan – Draft August 2011 2 The conservancy is within the traditional territories of the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala, Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em, and other First Nations of the area. The Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation’s traditional territory includes the Ahnuhati River and Kwalate Creek watersheds on the western side of Knight Inlet, as well as Bald Peak on the eastern side of Knight Inlet. The Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation is negotiating a Comprehensive Treaty with the governments of Canada and British Columbia. This Treaty will establish lands (Treaty Settlement Lands or TSL) over which the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation will have jurisdiction. The First Nation has identified Hunwadi/Ahnuhati-Bald Conservancy in its Treaty Settlement Lands. However, the final shape and area of the TSL remains to be determined through the treaty negotiation process. The Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em First Nation’s traditional territory includes the Hada (Ahta) and Kakweiken River watersheds in the western portion of the conservancy. The Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em First Nation is not participating in the treaty process at the present time. 1.3 Legislative Framework Conservancy Establishment Hunwadi/Ahnuhati-Bald Conservancy was originally established on July 14, 2006 pursuant to the Park (Conservancy Enabling) Amendment Act, 2006. The conservancy is included in Schedule E of the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act and is administered under the Park Act. At the time of establishment, the conservancy included two parcels of land (Site 1 and Site 2) totalling approximately 34,532 ha. Site 1 encompassed the Ahnuhati and Kwalate watersheds on the western side of Knight Inlet, while Site 2 included Glacier Peak and Bald Peak on the eastern side of the Inlet. The conservancy was expanded on June 27, 2008, pursuant to the Protected Areas of British Columbia (Conservancies and Parks) Act, 2008. This amendment enlarged Site 1 to include the upper sections of the Kakweiken watershed, as well as drainages emptying into Bond Sound, resulting in a total land area of approximately 55,423 ha. Purpose of Conservancies Conservancies are set aside for four main purposes: a. The protection and maintenance of their biological diversity and natural environments; b. The preservation and maintenance of social, ceremonial and cultural uses of first nations; c. The protection and maintenance