Coast Information Team

c/o Cortex Consultants Inc., 3A–1218 Langley St. Victoria, BC, V8W 1W2 Tel: 250-360-1492 / Fax: 250-360-1493 / Email: [email protected]

May 14, 2004

The Coast Information Team is pleased to deliver the final version of the CIT Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism (May 2004).

The Coast Information Team (CIT) was established to provide independent information for the central and north coasts of British Columbia and Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands using the best available scientific, technical, traditional and local knowledge. The CIT was established by the Provincial Government of British Columbia, First Nations, environmental groups, the forest industry, and communities. It is led by a management committee consisting of representatives of these bodies; and is funded by the Provincial Government, the environmental groups and forest products companies, and the Federal Government of Canada. The technical team comprises nine project teams consisting of scientists, practitioners, and traditional and local experts. CIT information and analyses, which include this CIT Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism, are intended to assist First Nations and the three sub-regional planning processes to make decisions that will achieve ecosystem-based management (as per the April 4th 2001 Coastal First Nations— Government Protocol and the CCLRMP Interim Agreement).

In keeping with the CIT’s commitment to transparency and highly credible independent analysis, the CIT Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism underwent an internal peer review and the CIT’s independent peer review process chaired by University of Victoria Professor Rod Dobell. Peer reviews of the draft document and the authors’ response are found at http://citbc.org/anaecon.html. The final document reflects changes made by the authors to address peer review comments.

We encourage all stakeholders involved in land and resource management decision-making in the CIT area to use the information and recommendations/conclusions of the CIT Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism in conjunction with other CIT products as they seek to implement EBM and develop EBM Land Use Plans. We are confident that the suite of CIT products provides valuable information and guidance on the key tenets of EBM: maintaining ecosystem integrity and improving human wellbeing.

Sincerely,

Robert Prescott-Allen, Executive Director on behalf of the CIT Management Committee: Ken Baker, Art Sterritt, Dallas Smith, Jody Holmes, Corby Lamb Graem Wells, Gary Reay, Hans Granander, Tom Green, Bill Beldessi

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EGSA-Tourism Ltr Transmittal_ may04 Page 2 Coast Information Team

Coastal British Columbia Economic Gain Spatial Analysis Tourism Sector Report

Prepared by: The Economic Planning Group In association with: Juan de Fuca Environmental Consultants Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants

April 2004

Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Table of Contents

List of Figures...... 3 List of Tables...... 3

1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 5 1.1 BACKGROUND ...... 5 1.2 OBJECTIVES...... 5 1.3 SCOPE AND STUDY AREA...... 6 1.4 METHODOLOGY ...... 9

2.0 SITUATION ANALYSIS ...... 11 2.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION ...... 11 2.1.1 CENTRAL COAST ...... 11 2.1.2 NORTH COAST ...... 13 2.1.3 HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS ...... 15 2.2 TOURISM PROFILE ...... 16 2.2.1 HISTORY AND STATUS OF TOURISM...... 16 2.2.2 BRITISH COLUMBIA IS DISTINCTIVE ...... 17 2.2.3 SOME MARKET TRENDS...... 18 2.2.4 TOURISM PROFILE BY PLANNING REGION ...... 21 2.3 SUMMARY ...... 23

3.0 TOURISM ASSESSMENT APPROACH ...... 24 3.1 RESEARCH PROCESS BACKGROUND ...... 24 3.2 RESEARCH PROCESS TECHNIQUE ...... 26 3.2.1 Identified Planning Units ...... 26 3.2.2 Developed an Assessment Process...... 26 3.2.3 Developed Coding System...... 29 3.2.4 Mapped the Information ...... 30 3.2.5 Verified the Information with Other Maps...... 31 3.2.6 Created Digital Maps...... 31 3.2.7 Rated the Tourism Attributes...... 31 3.2.8 Created a Relative Rating...... 31 3.2.9 Determined Sites with Tourism Development Potential...... 32 3.3 SUMMARY ...... 32

4.0 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS ...... 33 4.1 ANALYSIS PROCESS...... 33 4.1.1 BACKGROUND...... 33 4.1.2 SCENARIO SELECTION PROCESS ...... 33 4.2 LODGES ...... 35 4.2.1 BACKGROUND...... 35 4.2.2 LODGE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ...... 36 4.3 NON-BUILT ACTIVITY PRODUCTS ...... 37 4.3.1 BACKGROUND...... 37 4.3.2 PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES...... 41

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4.4 ECONOMIC GAIN CONSIDERATIONS ...... 43 4.4.1 ANALYSIS PROCESS ...... 43 4.4.2 DEVELOPMENT ASSUMPTIONS...... 43 4.5 SUMMARY ...... 47

5.0 FUTURE TOURISM OUTLOOK...... 48 5.1 TOURISM PAST AND PRESENT ...... 48 5.1.1 TOURISM VOLUME AND VALUE 1980 VERSUS 2000 ...... 48 5.1.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF COASTAL TOURISM 1980 VERSUS 2000...... 48 5.2 TOURISM OUTLOOK BY SECTOR ...... 49 5.2.1 CAUSAL FACTORS ...... 49 5.2.2 TOURISM SECTOR OUTLOOK...... 49 5.3 TOURISM OUTLOOK TO 2020 ...... 51 5.4 SUMMARY ...... 52

6.0 CENTRAL COAST ...... 54 6.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION ...... 54 6.1.1 PLANNING UNITS...... 54 6.1.2 PLANNING UNIT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 55 6.2 PLANNING AREA ANALYSIS...... 60 6.3 REVENUE ESTIMATES...... 64 6.3.1 Lodges...... 64 6.3.2 Adventure Tourism Activity Products...... 65 6.4 EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATE ...... 70 6.5 ECONOMIC GAIN DESCRIPTORS ...... 72

7.0 NORTH COAST...... 73 7.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION ...... 73 7.1.1 PLANNING UNITS...... 73 7.1.2 PLANNING UNIT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 74 7.2 PLANNING AREA ANALYSIS...... 78 7.3 REVENUE ESTIMATES...... 82 7.3.1 Lodges...... 82 7.3.2 Adventure Tourism Activity Products...... 83 7.4 EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES ...... 89 7.5 ECONOMIC GAIN DESCRIPTION...... 92

8.0 HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS ...... 94 8.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION ...... 94 8.1.1 PLANNING UNITS...... 94 8.1.2 PLANNING UNIT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 95 8.2 PLANNING AREA ANALYSIS...... 97 8.3 REVENUE ESTIMATES...... 100 8.3.1 Lodges...... 100 8.3.2 Adventure Tourism Activity Products...... 101 8.4 EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES ...... 105

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8.5 ECONOMIC GAIN DESCRIPTION...... 107

9.0 CONCLUSIONS ...... 109 9.1 Background...... 109 9.2 Tourism Outlook...... 109 9.3 Revenue ...... 110 9.4 Employment...... 111

APPENDICES...... 112

APPENDIX A CENTRAL COAST PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES...... 113

APPENDIX B NORTH COAST PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES ...... 147

APPENDIX C HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES...... 169

APPENDIX D INFORMATION SOURCES...... 182

List of Figures

Figure 1-1 Coastal Information Team Study Area ...... 8 Figure 6-1 Map of the Central Coast Tourism Planning Units ...... 54 Figure 7-1 Map of North Coast Tourism Planning Units ...... 73 Figure 8-1 Map of Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands Tourism Planning Units...... 94

List of Tables

Table 3-1 Distribution of Tourism Products by Category...... 25 Table 3-2 Tourism sector data summary template ...... 28 Table 4-1 Description of Resource Features and Related Activities...... 34 Table 4-2 CIT Tourism Opportunity Analysis–-Tourism Product-Market Match Evaluation Matrix...... 40 Table 6-1 Central Coast Tourism Ratings by Planning Area ...... 61 Table 6-2 Tourism Suitability Rating and Potential Development Sites...... 63 Table 6-3 Lodge revenue projections...... 68 Table 6-4 Activity revenue projections ...... 69 Table 6-5 Employment Impacts of Tourism Economic Gain Scenarios - Central Coast ...... 71 Table 7-1 North Coast Tourism Ratings by Planning Area...... 79 Table 7-2 Tourism Suitability Rating and Potential Development Sites...... 81 Table 7-3 Revenue projections ...... 87 Table 7-4 Activity revenue projections ...... 88 Table 7-4 Employment Impacts of Tourism Economic Gain Scenarios - North Coast...... 90

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Table 8-1 Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii Tourism Ratings by Planning Area ...... 98 Table 8-2 Tourism Suitability Rating and Possible Development Sites...... 99 Table 8-3 Lodge revenue projections...... 103 Table 8-4 Activity revenue projections ...... 104 Table 8-4 Employment Impacts of Tourism Economic Gain Scenarios – Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii...... 106

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

The central and north coast regions of British Columbia and the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii are developing land use plans. These Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs) are currently in the information collection phase.

A multidisciplinary and independent advisory group — The Coast Information Team (CIT) — has been tasked with providing information and developing decision-making processes to support these land use plans. Key objectives of the CIT are to develop a framework for consistent decision-making based on a system known as Ecosytem-based Management (EBM). Part of this process involves assessments and spatial analysis of ecological, social, and economic conditions in the study area. Also to be assessed are trends, development potential, and economic values.

Assessment of the economic issues related to development of the coastal region is described as the Economic Gain Spatial Analysis (EGSA). For analysis, the research has been separated into a number of economic sectors including:

• timber

• non-timber forest products

• fisheries and fish farming

• tourism

• minerals, oil, and gas

• hydro power and water supply

• aquaculture

• agriculture and horticulture

• wind generation and other alternate energy

The focus of the study described herein is the tourism sector.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The EGSA project intends to develop alternative “portfolios” of land that could be allocated to economic development. This information can then be used by the CIT and the LRMP planning tables to explore options around alternative combinations of biodiversity conservation, maintenance of cultural values, and economic development.

The specific objectives of this project, as described in the Request for Proposal dated July 3, 2002, are to:

1. Identify and map sites of current or potential economic gain. Sites may be points, lines, or polygons.

2. Estimate the value of sites or group of sites (megasites), based on a defined economic gain scenario. Economic value is to be expressed in terms of dollars and jobs.

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3. Rate sites or megasites for irreplaceability and vulnerability.

The request for proposals (RFP) specifies that economic gain scenarios are to be defined by the analysts for each economic sector. Economic gain scenarios are intended to specify how the characteristics of the site will be translated into economic gain. Scenarios are to include assumptions about products, markets, and investments. Suggested units of analysis are watersheds or other contiguous landscape units. Sites within these units are to reflect concentrations of features/resources for each sector.

Topics to be addressed for each economic gain scenario within the tourism sector analysis are:

Topics Description Type of gain Tourism developments or products based on the region’s features and resources Measurement of the gain Measured in terms of revenue and employment Potential size and structure of the gain Total annual revenue with estimates of employment income Distribution of the gain Estimated split between local and non-local impacts Levels of activity Minimum and maximum levels of activity to be viable and sustainable Requirements to realize the gain Factors crucial to success of the developments, including items such as resource ownership/tenure, markets, infrastructure, staffing, and financing Vulnerability to external events Changes in markets, competition, policies, and the environment Compatibility with other uses Descriptions of uses that could impair or enhance the tourism developments Anticipated impacts on the ecosystem Description of impacts created by the tourism developments.

1.3 SCOPE AND STUDY AREA

The purpose of the analysis is to provide information to the three coastal LRMP processes. Information on all the key economic sectors is intended to be collected in a consistent manner, to a similar level of detail, and over the same time period. This analysis process is intended to allow comparisons of the potential impacts of various economic activities that may be competing for the area’s resources.

The level of detail is intended to be at the watershed level providing a strategic focus. The Terms of Reference specify that planning units should be in the range of 50,000 hectares, while site analysis should be in the range of 500 to 1,000 hectares.

The level of detail for the scenarios is intended to be strategic as opposed to fully developed impact studies. Given the timeframe, all analysis is based on secondary sources and on input from agency representatives.

In describing the project scope, it is important to note what this CIT Tourism Analysis is not. It is not intended to be an inventory of tourism facilities nor a strategy for tourism development. It also does not address all aspects of possible tourism development (such as urban hotels, events, festivals, conventions, etc.), but focuses entirely on physical resource-based tourism opportunities.

It is anticipated that the mapped information and the estimated impact figures will be helpful to those agencies dealing with resource allocation issues. It is also intended to be helpful in the

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future preparation of tourism development strategies designed to capitalize on the identified resource potential on the B.C. coast.

The core CIT study area encompasses approximately 8 million hectares (Figure 1-1). It includes all the area covered by the Central Coast and North Coast LRMPs, plus the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands. It also includes portions of the Nass, Kalum, and Lower Mainland LRMPs. A 2 million hectare supplementary area includes northeastern Vancouver Island.

Note that the non-coastal LRMP areas have been included to reflect a broader region. It is not intended that resource information be collected for these non-coastal LRMP areas. However, their inclusion in the CIT project recognizes the economic linkages between these portions of other LRMPs and the coastal LRMPs.

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Figure 1-1 Coastal Information Team study area.

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1.4 METHODOLOGY

As noted, the research techniques used have involved existing information supplemented by agency representative opinion. The following process has been followed:

• Accessed Existing Information

Key secondary sources were the Tourism Opportunity Studies (TOSs) conducted within the study area. These include the Mid Coast and North Coast Forest District Projects conducted in 2001 and 2000, respectively. These sources provided information on the location of existing tourism developments and use areas. Spatial information on tourism features and activities was obtained from the analyst’s file/library information, plus BC Parks’ maps, Ministry of Forests Recreation maps and Recreation Features Inventory (RFI), and Canada Land Inventory (CLI) maps. See Appendix D for a complete list of information sources.

• Prepared Tourism Feature and Facility Maps

The above information on features and facilities was mapped onto 1:250,000 topographic map sheets. Each of the three LRMP areas was separated into a number of smaller zones or planning units. The information was plotted as points, lines, and polygons — and the attributes coded. This hand-drawn information was digitized to provide an electronic spatial record. (Analysts digitized features, activity areas, and potential development sites as part of the tourism reporting process.)

• Developed Economic Gain Scenarios

Economic gain scenarios were developed, which allowed the broad range of tourism opportunities to be summarized. These scenarios described the kinds of activity or development that could be pursued based on the specific features of the selected zones. This information allows tourism development comparisons among zones, and comparisons of tourism benefits with other economic sectors. The two scenarios or categories of development that were used for tourism were built facilities (lodge/resort) developments and non-built tourist products (commercial activities) developed around backcountry or rural resource- based products.

• Assessed Sites

The methodology described above was used to assess the zones or planning units. Potential development sites or areas within the planning units were identified. This information was vetted with the Tourism Value maps prepared for the Central Coast, North Coast, and Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii (QCI/HG) LRMPs. These sites were areas having a concentration of features that would be of significance to tourists, and could form the basis of resource-based tourism development.

• Accessed Economic Gain

The measures developed above were used to assess the economic gain that could be created from implementing the tourism development possibilities. The result was a defined number of tourism developments, with descriptions of the scale, and the likely timing. The measures of economic gain were revenue generation and employment.

• Prepared Draft Analysis

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Based on the above analysis, a draft report (titled Draft III and dated January 2003) was prepared and delivered to CIT management. This report was accompanied by digitized presentation style maps delineating features, activities, and sites deemed to have high potential for development based on resource values.

• CIT Review

The draft report was reviewed by the CIT. Edits were requested in a number of areas including: data uncertainty ratings, rationale for planning area ratings, recalculation of planning area ratings, rating of activity impacts, and inclusion of new information on lodge revenues and employment. An internal and external peer reviewer subsequently assessed this revised version, dated September 2003.

• Final Reporting

Based on incorporation of CIT peer review comments, this final report was prepared and delivered in April 2004. Although the final report is dated 2004, virtually all of the analysis was conducted during late 2002 and early 2003.

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2.0 SITUATION ANALYSIS

2.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION

The CIT region is approximately 8 million hectares, comprising the Central and North Coast Land and Management Plan areas, and the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands. It also includes the coastal portion of the Kalum LRMP, plus a supplementary region encompassing northeastern Vancouver Island. The key purpose of the analysis is to provide information for the Central Coast, North Coast, and Haida Gwaii LRMP processes. Our analysis has focused on these regions.

2.1.1 CENTRAL COAST Biophysical1 The Central Coast Plan Area is approximately 4.8 million hectares (land and freshwater) and extends from the top of Princess Royal Island in the north to southern Johnstone Strait in the south. Its landscape is characterized by a crenulated shoreline, coastal plains with wetlands, temperate rainforests, and large, rugged ice capped mountains dissected by rivers, wide floodplains, fjords, and estuaries. The climate is generally very wet and mild, although temperatures become more extreme to the east as the elevation rises.

Coastal temperate rainforests in the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone at the low and middle elevations of the Central Coast are replaced by subalpine forests of the Mountain Hemlock, Engelmann Spruce–Subalpine Fir, and the non-forested Alpine Tundra zones at higher elevations. The eastern portions of the plan area also include sub-boreal and Chilcotin Plateau ecosystems. In the southeast, the ecosystems range from Douglas-fir–dominated forests at lower elevations to subalpine forests and non-forested alpine areas and glaciers. In the northeast, the ecosystems ranges from pine-dominated forests of the Montane Spruce zone at lower elevations to spruce–pine forests of the Sub-Boreal Spruce to subalpine forests of the Engelmann Spruce– Subalpine Fir zone to non-forested Alpine Tundra zone with increased elevation. The Douglas-fir areas are located in the south. Glaciers are found on the upper mountain slopes, and in some cases almost reach down to sea level. The productive, low-elevation, old-growth temperate rainforests (CWHvm) support numerous fish and wildlife species. Migratory waterfowl and seabirds use the coastal wetlands, estuaries, islands, cliffs, and marine waters extensively.

Social Profile2 The Central Coast is a large, remote, and sparsely populated region of the province. The Central Coast LRMP area covers approximately 4.8 million hectares and has a population of approximately 4,000. BC Stats figures show that the population has been declining over the last decade. The key communities or settlement areas in the region are the Bella Coola Valley (Bella Coola, Hagensborg, Firvale, and Stuie), Nuxalk, Klemtu, Waglisla (Bella Bella),

1 B.C. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Central Coast Protected Area Strategy. May 1997. 2 Information on the northern portion of the LRMP was from: B.C. Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture, Tourism Opportunity Study for the Mid Coast Forest District of British Columbia. Marlyn Chisholm & Associates et al. July 2001. Information on the southern portion of the LRMP was from: B.C. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, North Island Straits Integrated Coastal Plan, June 2002. and the BC First Nations Bands Web site - http://www.bcfn.org/profiles.htm

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Shearwater/Denny Island, Ocean Falls, Oweekeno, Kingcome, Gilford Island, Hopetown, Hope Island, and Village Island.

The First Nations that inhabit the area are:

• Kitasoo/Xai’xai – Klemtu

• Heiltsuk – Waglisla

• Nuxalk – near Bella Coola

• Oweekeno – Rivers Inlet

• Tsawataineuk – Kingcome

• Kwicksutaineuk – Gilford Island

• Kwa-Wa-Aineuk – Hopetown

• Tlatlasikwala – Hope Island

• Mamaleleqala-Qwe’qua’Sot-Enox – Village Island

Profiles of the communities in the area are as follows:

Klemtu is located on the southeast side of Swindle Island beside Finalyson Channel. Klemtu has a population of about 325. Commercial fishing and forestry each represent about 15–20% of the jobs, while health, education, and Band administration make up nearly half the community’s employment.

Waglisla (Bella Bella) is located on Campbell Island beside Seaforth Channel. It is the largest community on the outer coast and has a population of about 1,250. Government services provide about half the employment while forestry and fishing employ just over one-quarter of the jobs. About 18% of the labour force is in the retail, wholesale, transportation, and construction sectors.

Shearwater, located on Denny Island near Bella Bella, is a non-native community administered by the Central Coast Regional District. Built as a reconnaissance site for the military in World War II, it has a population of about 120.

Oweekano is located at the east end of Rivers Inlet at the entrance to Oweekano Lake. The community has a population of about 100. Employment opportunities are limited but include forestry and fishing, plus watershed and habitat restoration.

Ocean Falls, located at the head of Cousins Inlet, has a population of about 50. Employment is mainly related to jobs with the power company.

Bella Coola Valley communities are located along the Bella Coola River and along Highway 20. Bella Coola itself is located at the head of Bentick Arm. The valley has a population of approximately 2,400. The labour force totals approximately 850 persons with about 20% involved with forestry, 18% in government service, 12% in retail/wholesale, and 10% in transportation and construction.

Nuxalk is located near the mouth of the Bella Coola River. It has a population of about 900. Government services provide employment for about 35%, while another one-third are employed in the resource sector. About 10% of the labour force is involved in retail, transportation, and construction.

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Kingcome is located at the head of Kingcome Inlet. Five reserves total 218 ha, with a population of 172. The village has a band office, community hall, and longhouse.

Gilford Island is located in the Broughton Archipelago, north of the entrance to Knight Inlet. The band has 10 reserves totalling 178 hectares with a population of 235. The village has a band office, long house, and community hall.

Hopetown, located on Watson Island in the Broughton Archipelago, has a population of 27.

Hope Island is located opposite the north end of Vancouver Island at the entrance to Queen Charlotte Strait. It has a population of 41

Village Island is located at the entrance to Knight Inlet. It has a population of 228.

2.1.2 NORTH COAST Biophysical3 The North Coast LRMP area is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Coast Mountains in the east. The Skeena River bisects the mainland, while ocean straits, channels, and inlets cut through the rugged landscape and separate the mainland from numerous islands. Small to mid-sized lakes dot the coastal lowlands and numerous streams and small rivers originate in the mountains in the east.

The North Coast LRMP area has three biogeoclimatic zones: Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH: 67%), Mountain Hemlock (MH: 26%) at higher elevations, and non-forested Alpine Tundra (AT: 7%). Reflective of the area’s geography, the climate is coastal. The ocean moderates temperatures and prevailing westerly winds deliver large amounts of rain. Winters are mild and summers are cool relative to areas further inland. Temperatures range from an average of 15.5°C in July to – 2.2°C in January. Precipitation is common throughout the year, although late spring tends to be the driest season. Prince Rupert averages 1408 hours of sunshine and more than 250 centimetres (98 inches) of precipitation per year. Snow is not uncommon at sea level, although it does not tend to accumulate. Deep accumulations of heavy, wet snow are common at high elevations. This combination of cool and wet conditions supports a lush and diverse vegetation typical of temperate rainforests along the coast of British Columbia.

Social Profile4 The communities of the North Coast region are all situated along the coast. Most of the smaller communities are remote and are accessible only by air or water (and most of these communities are First Nations villages). The populations of the more remote First Nations communities have fluctuated largely over time, mainly due to people moving on and off reserve for employment. Approximately 20,100 people live in the North Coast LRMP area, of which over 80% live in Prince Rupert.

Most of the communities within the North Coast lie within the Skeena–Queen Charlotte Regional District (SQCRD). The Regional District includes the mainland and islands adjacent to Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii. The portion of the Regional District in the LRMP includes Prince Rupert and area, Port Edward, nearby rural islands, and several native

3 Prince Rupert Interagency Management Committee, Current Conditions Report: North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan, G.C. Tamblyn and H. Horn. March 2001. 4 Ibid.

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villages, including six First Nations inhabited reserves. Part of the LRMP area is also in the Regional District of Kitimat–Stikine.

Prince Rupert is located on Kaien Island, near the mouth of the Skeena River. It is the administrative hub of the LRMP area and the largest community in northwestern British Columbia with a population of 14,643 in 2001 (a decline of 12% since 1996). The labour force of the city was 9,240 in 1996 (BC Stats, pers. com.). Many people are employed in the public service or in trade professions (e.g., construction, manufacturing). Employment in the area is heavily resource-oriented, with fishing and forestry both playing significant roles in the regional economy.

Port Edward is located 15 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. The townsite lies along Inverness Passage and is linked by road to Highway 16. The population of the town was 659 in 2001 (a decline of 6% since 1996). The District covers a large area (18,387 ha) of predominantly undeveloped forested land and includes an ecological reserve, two provincial parks (Prudhomme Lake Park and Diana Lake Park), and a major historical site at North Pacific Cannery. Most of the residents of this community are employed in the processing associated with the fishing and forestry industries.

Metlakatla is a small community located at the south end of the Tsimpsean Peninsula, 5 kilometres boat from Prince Rupert. The Metlakatla Band Council oversees 16 reserves comprising 162 hectares. Approximately 100 people from the Metlakatla Band live in the community. Over 400 members of the Band live off reserve, mainly in Prince Rupert, returning to the reserve at various times of the year. Most of the working residents are employed seasonally in commercial fishing, either on fish boats or at fish processing plants in Prince Rupert.

Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson) is located at the north end of the Tsimpsean Peninsula. The village is connected by road to Tuck Inlet, from which a ferry to Prince Rupert runs twice a week. There are approximately 1,050 on reserve residents, while a further 1,300 members of the Lax Kw'alaams Band live off reserve. The Lax Kw'alaams Band Council administers 72 reserves covering 1050 hectares.

Kitkatla, off the southern end of Porcher Inlet, on Dolphin Island, is accessible by floatplane and boat. The Kitkatla Band Council administers 21 reserves on 1885 hectares. Approximately 400 people from the Kitkatla Band live on reserve in the community. Another 900 members of the band live off reserve. The main employers in Kitkatla are administration and commercial fishing.

Hartley Bay is located 150 kilometres south of Prince Rupert at the confluence of the Greenville and Douglas channels. The Gitga’at First Nation manages 14 reserves totalling 520 hectares. Hartley Bay village is located on Kulkayu Indian Reserve No. 4 and 4A. The population of Hartley Bay is approximately 600, of which some one-third live full-time on reserve. Most of the working residents in the community are employed in commercial fishing or the administration of various programs.

Other communities in the plan area include Dodge Cove, Ooan River, Kitsault, and Alice Arm. The community of Stewart is located just outside the plan area on Portland Channel.

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2.1.3 HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS Biophysical5 The Queen Charlotte Islands–Haida Gwaii is an archipelago of 150 islands and hundreds of islets with a total land area of approximately 1,017,000 hectares. The terrestrial portion of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve is 147,500 hectares and encompasses the southern portion of Moresby Island and its surrounding smaller islands. The group of islands comprising the Queen Charlotte Islands or Haida Gwaii are approximately 250 kilometres long and 80 kilometres wide. There are about 4,700 kilometres of shoreline and 4,000 water bodies of varying sizes.

The geography of the Islands, with mountainous terrain, deep fjords, bog lowlands, temperate rainforests, subalpine tundra, and salmon spawning streams, is similar to that of the coastal mainland of British Columbia. However, the ecology of Haida Gwaii is unique. At least 243 species and subspecies of birds live on or visit the Islands and at least 306 species of fish occur in the waters around Haida Gwaii. At least 39 species and subspecies of plants and animals are unique to the Islands and about 116 exotic (introduced) species. Of the 30 primary watersheds (drainages greater than 5,000 hectares), 11 remain undeveloped; of these, three are protected under the Park Act in Naikoon Provincial Park.

The Queen Charlotte Ranges are the backbone of the Islands. The ranges represent positive up- faulted blocks and now stand as rugged dissected mountains between 900 and 1200 metres high. They are more impressive than this modest elevation might suggest because of their steep slopes and great degree of dissection.

The west coast of Moresby Island is particularly forbidding in character with steep mountains and few anchorages. The shoreline is deeply indented by frequent fjords. On the east coast of Moresby Island the mountains are less formidable, with wave-cut benches, beaches, and smaller islands occurring frequently. In general, the east coastal zone of Moresby Island consists of the archipelago–fjord terrain, with a multitude of islands, islets, bays, inlets, fjords, passages, narrows, coves, lagoons, and sheltered anchorages. The east coast zone of Graham Island is more representative of the sand-shingle flats, with well-developed beaches, deltas, mudflats, shingle beaches, and salt marshes.

Social Profile6 Haida Gwaii (or “islands of the people”) is the ancestral home of the Haida people. The Islands are sparsely populated, with a population density of less than 1 person per square kilometre. About 5,900 (2001 estimate) people reside on the Islands, and this population has remained relatively constant over the past two decades. Most residents live on the two largest islands – Graham Island to the north and Moresby Island to the south. Graham Island has six main settlement areas: Old Masset, Masset, Port Clements, Tlell, Skidegate, and Queen Charlotte City– Skidegate Landing. Sandspit is the main settlement area on Moresby Island.

Masset and Old Masset account for roughly 40% of the population of Graham Island. The public sector is the major employer in these communities. Fishing (including three processing plants) and forestry (including a small sawmill, other cottage-style manufacturing, and silviculture) are also important employers for Masset and Old Masset.

5 Queen Charlotte Islands–Haida Gwaii LRMP, Background Report. December 1999. 6 Ibid.

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Port Clements is located in the centre of Graham Island on Masset Inlet, near the mouth of the Yakoun River. It is the most forestry-dependent community on Graham Island with about two- thirds of the employment being accounted for in logging, a small sawmill, and related construction and transportation. Tlell, a small, rural community near the mouth of the Tlell Rive, features a number of artisan studios, small retail outlets, B&Bs, and lodges. Farming also supplements income for a number of residents.

Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate Landing, and Skidegate are located at the south end of Graham Island. The public, forestry, fishing, and service sectors are the main employers of the area. Most of the offices of federal and provincial agencies and the Skidegate Village office are located locally. Primary and secondary schools, Northwest Community College, a hospital, and other community and commercial services are in the area. The museum and Gwaii Haanas Visitor Centre have also been built in the area since 1991.

Sandspit, the main community on Moresby Island, also depends significantly on the forestry sector. Sandspit has the major airport, an elementary school, community centre, and a golf course. An hourly ferry to Graham Island services Sandspit. A small craft harbour was recently constructed as part of the agreement with the federal government over the creation of the Gwaii Haanas Park Reserve.

2.2 TOURISM PROFILE

2.2.1 HISTORY AND STATUS OF TOURISM Internationally, tourism is the world’s largest industry (as measured by export earnings). In 1999, international tourism generated over $455 billion (US) based on about 664 million cross-border trips. Receipts from international tourism have historically increased by an average of 9% annually since the 1950s, while international arrivals have increased by nearly 7%.7

Directly and indirectly, tourism is reported to make up 11% of global gross domestic product, and supports about 230 million jobs. Despite the large size of the industry, tourism has been growing faster than the general economic growth throughout much of the developed world. However, the events of September 11, 2001 ended this growth. Longer term, growth is expected to continue, based on the aging baby boom generation in North America and a growing middle class in many developing regions.

Tourism is a relatively young industry in Canada and British Columbia. It is only in the last 50 years that tourism has become a mass market and family oriented activity. Over this period — but particularly in the last two decades — tourism has changed dramatically in British Columbia. In one generation, tourism has evolved from a predominantly summer activity to one which is multi-season with a wide diversity of activities.

A generation ago, typical summer activities involved camping, beach activities, fishing, and automobile touring. Tourism facilities consisted of small hotels, campgrounds, auto courts, and some original roadside attractions. Today, tourism is splintered into numerous specialty niche markets based on activities such as outdoor sports (summer and winter); arts, theatre, and cultural attractions; agriculture; and wildlife viewing. Tourism facilities now include commercial attractions, themed restaurants, strata-titled hotels, timeshare resorts, and ecotourism lodges.

7 World Tourism Organization.

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At the provincial level, events of the 1990s combined to significantly change the B.C. economy. These included changes to timber harvesting practices, declining export markets, historic lows in base metal and other commodity prices, and the virtual collapse of the commercial fishing industry. The provincial economy struggled, with performance levels below the national average. Outside of the urban areas of Vancouver and Victoria, rural economies were particularly hard hit.

One of the positive sectors in the struggling economic mix has been tourism. By encouraging non-residents to visit British Columbia, and residents to travel within the province, revenues can be realized. The diverse nature of tourism spending — and economic spin-off effects — causes tourism to have a significant impact on local economies. By expanding and improving the range of tourism facilities and products, the tourism industry can help build and diversify local economies.

Tourism is particularly relevant for the CIT study area because of the quality of the natural resources and the area’s international reputation as a high quality backcountry destination. Although much of the area is not road accessible, it is readily accessed by water and by air out of gateway cities such as Vancouver, Port Hardy, and Prince Rupert. Several of the area’s lodges and other tourism products are world class, and potential exists to add to this base. Also of note are cruise ships, which transit the Inside Passage through the Study Area en route to and from Alaska.

2.2.2 BRITISH COLUMBIA IS DISTINCTIVE Compared with other international destinations, British Columbia is a distinctive place as the province has a large and diverse range of tourism assets. These include:

• a large land mass of 95 million hectares and a relatively small population of about 4 million, largely concentrated in the southwest corner of the province

• over 200,000 lakes and over 400,000 rivers and streams

• about 6,000 islands and 7,000 kilometres of coastline

• the largest island on the west coast of the Americas – Vancouver Island

• home of more animal species than anywhere in Canada, including 143 mammal species and 454 bird species

• about 75% of the world's stone sheep, 60% of the mountain goats, 50% of the blue grouse, at least half of the trumpeter swans, and 25% of the grizzly bears and bald eagles.

• highly diverse and distinctive landscapes of high scenic value.

• in addition to these natural resources, British Columbia has some of the best tourism resources and facilities in the world. These include some of the world’s best:

• boating and sailing (Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, Central and North Coast)

• cruising (Inside Passage cruise ship route to Alaska)

• heli-skiing (Monashee, Selkirk, and Coast mountains)

• river rafting (numerous rivers including the Fraser, Thompson, Skeena, and Tatshenshini rivers)

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• salmon fishing (Gulf of Georgia, inlets and sounds on Vancouver Island and the Central and North Coast, and the Fraser River)

• scuba diving (locations around Vancouver Island and the Central and North Coast)

• skiing (Whistler is regularly voted one of the world’s best ski destinations)

• whale watching (orcas throughout the coast and the 20,000 strong gray whale migration to and from Alaska)

British Columbia also has several tourism facilities and infrastructure that are of international stature. These include:

• several Vancouver hotels ranked among the best in North America (Michelin Guide)

• Wickininnish Inn and Sooke Harbour House are rated among the best small inns in the world (Travel and Leisure Magazine)

• Victoria and Vancouver regularly ranked among the most popular travel destinations in North America (Conde Nast Magazine)

• one of the largest ferry fleets in the world (BC Ferries)

• wide array of fine dining establishments (Victoria is second only to San Francisco in restaurant seats per capita in North America)

• one of the world’s most popular show gardens (Butchart Gardens)

• one of the world’s most scenic rail tours (Rocky Mountaineer)

Many of the features that make the province a unique tourism destination are depicted in the resources of central/north coast study area. They are made desirable from a tourism perspective by their relative scarcity and their lack of development.

The study area is characterized by its dramatic coastline, inlets, rivers, and mountains. Although this combination of features is not duplicated in many places in the world, the province still competes internationally for adventure tourists with many other destinations. Some of the most well known destinations include the developed countries of New Zealand, Australia, Norway, and the state of Alaska. Less developed areas competing for the adventure tourism market include Costa Rica, Nepal, and Kenya.

2.2.3 SOME MARKET TRENDS Impact of the Baby Boom Generation Age, life stages, and earning power are key determinants for the purchase of travel products. Now and in the future, the group having the most dramatic impact on the travel industry is the baby boomers — those persons born between 1946 and 1964. This nearly two decade long period of population growth produced nearly 10 million Canadians and 75 million Americans. In fact, approximately 30% of all Canadians and 28% of Americans are baby boomers.

This group has been very dominant throughout their life stages and has transformed the market based on their numbers. They created a boom in school construction, in housing starts, in clothing sales, in automobile sales, and in tourism. Their impact on the travel industry will likely

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become even more dramatic over the next two decades. This is because boomers, more than any other group in the recent past, have the financial means and the interest in travelling. Boomers typically travelled when they were younger, both on family holidays and as young adults, and are expected to remain avid travellers as they grow older. As of the mid-1990s, about 40% of all domestic travel in Canada was by baby boomers, and they spent about 50% of all the domestic travel money.

The first baby boomers to enter the peak income earning years (typically 45 to 54) did so in 1991 and the last will come through this period in 2018. Persons in this age group typically have increased incomes, and with children leaving home, the boomer parents will have the ability and the financial means to travel.

The older boomers are saving more money now that their families are growing up — and a portion of this money will be used to travel. Additional future family wealth will be driven by the trend towards two income families through the 1980s and 1990s, which that should become two pension families in the current millennium.

An additional financial windfall is anticipated due to the inheritance likely to be passed on by the parents of today’s boomers. This group survived two world wars, and the last century’s major economic depression. These events caused boomer parents to be financially cautious through the post-war boom of the 1950s and 1960s. Much of this wealth (estimated to exceed $10 trillion throughout North America) will be passed on to today’s boomers in the form of inheritance. Boomers will spend a portion of this money on travel.

Characteristics of the Soft Adventure Market8 Of the approximately 200 million adults in the United States, about 35 million (18%) are soft adventure enthusiasts. About 20% of these have travelled to Canada in the past two years. Over one-third of these travellers have been to British Columbia. Of the nearly 24 million adults in Canada, about 5.3 million or 23% are soft adventure enthusiasts. About 80% have travelled within the country in the last two years on a leisure trip.

Soft adventure travellers tend to be younger, better educated, and more affluent than the typical traveller. Over half of the Americans and about three-quarters of Canadian soft adventure travelers are between 18 and 45 years of age. The proportions of soft adventure travellers over 65 is smaller than the overall population demographic, but this older group is particularly travel savvy.

The main activities pursued by this group is wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking, and cycling. Americans tend to rate Canada particularly highly as a place of scenic beauty. Soft adventure travellers are also interested in other types of leisure experiences, including heritage and visual arts. About 40% of Americans were interested in heritage and about 30% were interested in visual arts. The Effects of September 11 on Tourism As noted many times, September 11 changed everything. Its effects on the travel industry worldwide have been dramatic. The huge declines in travel that immediately followed the terrorist attacks have gradually trended back up. In fact, some segments of the industry and travel markets have returned to their pre-September 11 levels, partially produced by deep

8 The Canadian Tourism Commission, US Soft Outdoor Adventure Enthusiasts – A Special Analysis of the Travel Activities and Motivation Survey. September 2002.

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discounts offered by tourism businesses. However, other downturns are now being looked at as permanent trend changes and the declines will not likely be reversed.

Some of the travel changes that have occurred are as follows (all of these figures represent changes in 2002 over 2001, January to July):

• Travel to Canada from the United States has returned to its pre-September 11 levels.

• Travel to Canada from the United States by car is up 6% while travel by air is down 7%.

• Travel to Canada from overseas is down 11%. Individual country declines of note range from –14% for England to –17% for Japan and Germany.

• Travel by Canadians to the United States is down over 10%.

• Travel to B.C. from the United States is off 12% although most of this decline is for same-day travel.

• Travel to B.C. from Europe is down 9% and from Asia the volumes are down over 3%.

A number of travel trends have occurred as a result of September 11. Some of these are expected to be temporary but many are structural and will become the norm. Some of the most notable trends are:

• much increased security, inconvenience, and delay for persons travelling internationally and/or by air

• increased preference for travel by automobile and recreational vehicle as opposed to airlines

• significant declines in airline travel both domestically and internationally

• significant decline in all kinds of travel but particularly business travel

• increased airline fares to make up for lower demand and the costs and inconvenience of security, which are in turn causing reduced demand

• increase in tourism trips closer to home

• increase in shorter duration trips and in spontaneous travel

• increase in discounts, deals, and bargains to get people travelling again.

Some trends that have occurred as a result of September 11 that may benefit tourism development in the coastal British Columbia study area are:

• increased interest in family-related trips

• increased interest in nature-based trips

• increased interest in rural and back-to-basics travel

• shift towards destinations that are considered safe

• continued interest in travel by older travellers

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2.2.4 TOURISM PROFILE BY PLANNING REGION The characteristics of the tourism industry in the CIT region are unique, and are a function of the area’s features, facilities, communities, access, and their remote locations. The following is a brief profile of each of the three LRMP areas. This information has been gleaned from the relevant Tourism Opportunity Studies and the LRMP Current Conditions reports. Central Coast Tourism is a significant and growing component of the Central Coast economy, particularly during the summer. Traditionally, most tourists to the area have arrived for the fishing, either to the outer coast salmon fishing lodges or to fish the Dean and Bella Coola rivers. The peak of the season is from late June to early September, while some activity occurs in April and May, and into October. Winter tourism has been virtually non-existent.

The Discovery Coast Passage BC Ferry route has become a popular trip. It carries about 8,000 passengers either to or from the Central Coast each summer. Highway 20 is an adventurous 450 kilometre, six-hour drive through the Coast Mountains into the Cariboo at Williams Lake. Two- way vehicle traffic is about 30,000 annually, with over half of these in the 100-day summer period. Approximately 8,000 of the vehicles travelling in the summer are deemed to be tourists. Visitors also arrive in the region by air, mainly to the fishing lodges, and by private boat.

The area has approximately 160 businesses that cater to tourists, either exclusively or for part of their revenue. This includes resorts, lodges, motels, restaurants, campgrounds, equipment rentals, and guide outfitters. Increases have occurred in tourism as measured by room revenues. Between 1996 and 2000 room revenues increased from $946,000 to over $1.3 million, an increase of nearly 40%. This revenue was generated by only 13 properties with 169 rooms. North Coast Tourism in the North Coast is dominated by Prince Rupert. The city contains most of the region’s population and much of the area’s tourism infrastructure. The area is accessed by water (BC Ferries, Alaska Marine Highways, cruise ships, and private vessels), by road (Highway 16), by air (scheduled services to Digby Island and float plane services), and by rail (VIA Rail).

Outside of Prince Rupert, most of the non-urban tourism is water-based. Key attractions are the dramatic scenery of the coastal marine environment and the cultural heritage — both First Nations and European. In addition to the well-established saltwater fishing sector, activities supported by the area’s resource features include, cruising, sailing, kayaking, and scuba diving. There are two road-accessible provincial parks (Diana Lake and Prudhomme Lake and one municipal park (Oliver Lake). Five Ministry of Forests recreation sites are also located in the region. The area is particularly popular for large vessel recreational boating and designated anchorages are located in about two-dozen coves, harbours, and bays.

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The North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study identified 140 tourism businesses or operators. This includes the following distribution:

Accommodation 30 Accommodation and touring 16 Charter boats (liveaboards) 26 Touring and fishing charters 36 Transportation services/tours 5 Scheduled transportation only 9 Museum/cultural attractions 8 Other (including marinas) 9

The North Coast Development Region (larger than the LRMP region) generated a tourism room revenue of just over $20 million in 2000, up from $18.5 million in 1996, an increase of nearly 10%. This revenue was produced by 87 properties with 2,268 rooms.

Most visitors to the region do so as part of a tour, typically involving a ferry trip into or out of Prince Rupert. The key destination draw to the area has traditionally been for saltwater fishing. With reductions in salmon stocks and increased restrictions, the sports fishing industry has declined significantly. Based on the scenic quality and proximity of remote wilderness experiences, a variety of adventure tourism products have increased in popularity.

Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands • Tourism has been growing steadily over the past decade and currently represents about 8% of the Islands’ economic activity. The tourism sector is centred around four main categories: commercial food and accommodation, fresh and saltwater angling, hunting, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

• The main draws to the Islands are camping and beach activities (particularly Naikoon), wilderness and cultural tours in Gwaii Haanas, fishing, hunting, and wildlife and scenic viewing. The isolation, wilderness, scenery, low numbers of people (including tourists), the Islands’ mystique, artisans, Haida culture, and scenery all combine to create a character that attracts visitors.

• Saltwater fishing has traditionally been the main attraction on the islands, although a mix of commercial facilities and activities exist. These include:

Accommodations (roofed) 55 Overnight charters 17 Saltwater charters (fishing and touring) 50 Freshwater charters 4 Sea Kayaking 14 Museums 4 Marina 1

In addition to these businesses, a number of other operators offer a range of commercial touring activities. These include wildlife viewing (40), bird watching (38), nature viewing (29), heritage viewing (27), scenic viewing (26), and hiking (24). About 20 businesses are licensed to operate

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commercial trips in Gwaii Haanas. The Council of BC Yacht Clubs has identified 15 safe harbours or anchorages throughout the Islands.

Naikoon Park caters to approximately 100,000 visits annually, although most are day visits by local residents. About 4,000 camper-days are recorded annually. Visits to Gwaii Haanas are low, ranging between 1,200 and 2,000 annually. Hunting remains a popular activity, with about half of the hunting effort contributed by non-Island residents.

The estimated room revenue was about $3.5 million in 2000. This revenue was generated from about 25 properties with a total of approximately 420 rooms.9 2.3 SUMMARY

The CIT study area is large and diverse with a variety of very high quality resource features. The rugged outer coast and the myriad of coastal waterways and inlets are unique in the world. The Coast Mountains are also some of the highest peaks in Canada.

The area is sparsely populated, with Prince Rupert being by far the dominant centre. Numerous other small settlements exist throughout the coast, many of which are First Nations communities. Most are accessible only by air or water.

Tourism is particularly relevant as an economic activity for the CIT study area because of the quality of the natural resources and the area’s international reputation as a high quality backcountry destination. Many of the area’s resources are of very high quality and significance. They are also broadly based geographically throughout the coast, and broadly based in terms of including both water and land features. The area’s reputation is based both on the high quality tourism products that cater to a relatively small number of outdoors enthusiasts, and on the Alaska cruise market that exposes the study area to as many as 700,000 persons each cruise season.

Although much of the area is not road accessible, it is readily accessed by water and by air out of gateway cities such as Vancouver, Port Hardy, and Prince Rupert. Several of the area’s lodges and other tourism products are world class, and potential exists to develop additional properties.

The area has been catering to tourists for decades. Traditionally, visitors have been hardy outdoors enthusiasts who value the beauty and remoteness of the area. Fishing has been by far the single biggest activity for tourists, but growth has been occurring recently in non- consumptive activities. Although only of minimal direct economic impact to date, the Alaska cruise, and a possible B.C. only cruise market, offer great potential.

9 These figures were calculated by subtracting the Prince Rupert total from the Skeena–Queen Charlotte Regional District total.

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3.0 TOURISM ASSESSMENT APPROACH

3.1 RESEARCH PROCESS BACKGROUND

The analysis process used for this assessment involved a number of steps. These were designed to produce spatial and database information descriptive of the tourism features and facilities in the area, and to provide a basis for estimating the future outlook. This process is based on the premise that tourism developments in the study area will be linked to the physical resources of the area. That is, developments will be resource based as opposed to facility or market based. This resource base includes a range of land and water features that characterize the study area. It is necessary to understand the location, significance, and quality of these features to determine the potential for future tourism development.

In applying this research process, it is also necessary to understand the composition of “tourism” and its link to the landbase. Statistically, tourism is not an industry. Unlike other economic sectors, there is no Standard Industrial Classification (or North American Industry Classification) for tourism. What is referred to collectively as the “tourism industry” is in reality, a diverse group of businesses that have in common the provision of goods and/or services to travellers. Recently some success has been registered in monitoring the performance of tourism through the Tourism Satellite Account — a statistical monitor of tourism trends.

The tourism industry is typically separated into a number of sectors including:

Accommodation hotels, motels, inns, lodges, resorts, campgrounds

Adventure travel Land-based: camping, hiking, cycling Snow-based: skiing, heli-skiing, snowmobiling Water-based: fishing, boating rafting, kayaking

Attractions Commercial attractions, interpretive centers, museums, heritage attractions, parks

Services Food and beverage outlets, conference centers, information centres

Transportation Air: airlines and airports Marine: ferries, cruise ships, and recreational boaters Road: automobiles, recreational vehicles, and buses Rail: trains and rail lines

Travel trade Tour operators, tour wholesalers, and travel agents

A “tourist” is someone who is temporarily visiting a location away from their usual place of residence. Definitions vary among different jurisdictions, but typically involve a distance from home factor (often over 80 km), and a length of stay criteria (usually at least one night away). Travellers are considered tourists no matter what their trip purpose, which includes pleasure,

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business, and personal trips. However, crew members who travel for work, and students who are temporarily away to attend school, are not included as tourists.

In analyzing the potential of an area to support tourism development it is necessary to separate tourism into its component parts. The tourism industry refers to specific outdoor activities or tourism products. Key generators of travel are typically an area’s natural resources and the tourism facilities and products that are developed to generate income. The resources typically include the natural and physical features of the area including land- and water-based resources.

A “tourism product” is a type of commercial recreation for which a fee is charged. This can take the form of an actual built facility such as a lodge, or an activity such as a tour, skiing trip, or fishing trip. The range of leisure or non-business tourism activities or products is depicted in the following list.

Table 3-1 Distribution of tourism products by category

Land-based tourism: Cultural tourism: Camping agri-tourism Golfing historic attractions Hiking commercial attractions Hunting events/festivals Lodging (resort/lodge) First Nations Trail riding health/spa Wildlife viewing learning

Snow-based tourism: Touring: Alpine skiing automobile Cross-country skiing bus Heli/cat skiing cycling Ski touring rail Snowmobiling water - cruise water - ferry Water-based tourism: Freshwater fishing Saltwater fishing River kayaking/canoeing River rafting Wildlife viewing Diving Ocean kayaking/canoeing

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3.2 RESEARCH PROCESS TECHNIQUE

To determine the potential of the study area for tourism development, a series of steps were followed. These were summarized in the methodology section and are described here in more detail. 3.2.1 Identified Planning Units The CIT Economic Gain Spatial Analysis process did not provide a predetermined series of analysis zones or planning units. Due to the variety of sectors to be assessed (i.e., forestry, mining, fisheries, tourism), and their differing resource needs, this was considered restrictive. Consequently, each sector created their own units.

For our tourism planning purposes, areas with concentrations of similar resource features, access corridors, and/or landscape character were the defining factors. The units delineated generally follow watersheds, landscape units, and heights of land. Because this study focuses on the coastal area where most travel and activities take place on marine waterways and coastline, marine waterways formed a major basis for identifying these planning units.

These units were delineated on 1:250,000 scale topographic maps. Twenty-nine such areas were identified for the Central Coast LRMP area. Another 22 planning zones were outlined for the North Coast LRMP area, plus an additional seven zones for the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands.

Key maps of the planning unit boundaries for the three LRMP study areas are shown in their respective chapters of this report. 3.2.2 Developed an Assessment Process A matrix chart was developed allowing information to be recorded about each planning unit. For each zone the following attributes were identified and described:

Attribute Description General characteristics An overall description of the landscape and biophysical features and characteristics. Features A description of the physical features of the unit grouped into water, land, biological, and cultural. Activities A description of the tourism activities that are supported by the features. The categories include water based, snow-based, fishing and hunting, land-based, and viewing and interpretation. Facilities A count of the number of facilities grouped into categories of accommodation, touring, transportation, attractions, miscellaneous, and protected areas. Tourism use Use of the area including estimates of the volume of use, the number of commercial users, the areas that are used, and the proportion of the area used. Development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for lodges and non- built/tour activities. Irreplaceability A combination of the significance of the area’s features and the uniqueness or rarity of the features. This analysis has been applied to a relative comparison within each LRMP area. Vulnerability A combination of the sensitivity of the tourism features to change or resource alteration, and the risk or likelihood of changes occurring. This a relative measure against other zones in the planning area. Relative rating A summing of the development-focused ratings described above including features, activities, irreplaceability, lodge suitability, and activity suitability. (Vulnerability was also recorded but it is not an additive attribute and is not included in the total.)

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The attribute descriptions have been rated in terms of their overall quality, frequency, and significance. The ratings used a four-point scale including Very High, High, Moderate, and Low. To facilitate an overall rating and a comparison among zones, these qualitative descriptions have been converted into a four point numeric scale, as follows:

Quality description Numeric value Very high (VH) 4 High (H) 3 Moderate (M) 2 Low (L) 1

This provides for a summing of the ratings to produce a single “score.”

The following table is a template illustrating the topics that were addressed for each planning unit.

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Table 3-2 Tourism sector data summary template

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: NAME OF ZONE

General Characteristics Frequen Signifi- CATEGORY TYPES Quality -cy cance FEATURES WATER LAND BIOLOGIC CULTURAL Score ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE SNOW-WINTER FISH/HUNTING LAND VIEW-INTERPRET Score FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION (A) TOURING (R) TRANSPORTATION (P) ATTRACTION (T) MISC (F) PROTECTED AREAS Score USE USE NUMBERS COMMERCIAL USERS AREA(S) USED % AREA USED Score DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE TOUR

Score IRREPLACEABILITY

VULNERABILITY

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 IRRIPLACE- VULNERAB- LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES ABILITY ILITY* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY

FINAL SCORE *Vulnerability is not included in the additive total.

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3.2.3 Developed Coding System Based primarily on the Ministry of Forests’ Recreation Features Codes, an abbreviated list of codes was developed for this project. This was done to focus on the key features from a tourism development perspective. The Features, Activities, and Facilities were coded as follows: FEATURES

Code Feature group Examples A0 Aquatic fish, aquatic habitat B0 Shore Feature lagoon, points, rock formation (shore) B5 Estuary B6 Beach C0 Cultural (modern) village, structure, use site, lighthouse D0 Hydrologic tides, waves, surf, water colour D4 Spring thermal, freshwater, mineral D9 Waterfall E1 Alpine and sub-alpine E3 Old Growth E8 Wetland G0 Glacial Feature glacier, icefield, crevasses, esker, cirque, H0 Historic site, petroglyphs K0 Cave, Karst M0 Waterbody fjord, lake, stream, river, tarn L0 Landform canyon, cliff, hoodoo, peak, ridge R0 Bedrock Feature bedrock exposures, mineral deposit, fossils T0 Trail trail, route U0 Harbour anchorage, protected moorage V0 Volcanic basalts, cone, lava W0 Wildlife terrestrial and marine Y0 Use Site camping, boat launching

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ACTIVITIES

Code Activity group Examples b Water Sports beach activity, kayaking, canoeing, diving d Snow Activity skiing, skating e Caving f Fishing g Gathering berry, mushroom, fossil, mineral, rocks, vegetation h Hunting i Hiking backpacking, riding, orienteering k Camping picnicking, cottaging m1 land, summer m2 land, winter Motorized Activity m3 water, boating m4 air, plane, helicopter n Nature Study photography q1 fish runs q8 Viewing wildlife q9 scenic r Climbing

FACILITIES

Code Facility type Examples hotel, motel, campground, lodge, resort, huts, cabins, guest ranch, B&B, A Accommodation condos, cruise ship, vessel lodge, float camp, etc. guide outfitter, river rafting, boat charters, air tours, geology, kayak tours, R Tour bus/van, heli-ski, hike/nature, diving, caving, snowmobile, cycling, climbing, horse/trail, ski, etc. P Transportation marine, air, bus, rail, taxi, car rental museum, arts/culture, recreation, industry, winery, science/technology, T Attractions nature, sports, golf, marina, ski facility F Miscellaneous facilities wharf, float, store, fuel, MoF recreation site, park facility

3.2.4 Mapped the Information The features, activities, and facilities were plotted as points, lines, and polygons on 1:250,000 topographic maps. The sources for this information were:

• Ministry of Small Business, Tourism & Culture, Tourism Opportunity Strategy for the Mid Coast Forest District of British Columbia, Marlyn Chisholm & Associates et al., July 2001.

• Ministry of Small Business, Tourism & Culture, Forest & Fisheries Tourism Opportunities Study for the North Coast Forest District, Clover Point Cartographics Ltd., March 2000.

• Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, P.O.R.P. North Coast Study - South Section Assessment, Northern B.C. Region. Juan de Fuca Environmental Consultants, 1984

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• Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, P.O.R.P. North Coast Study II - North Section Assessment Northern B.C. Region, Juan de Fuca Environmental Consultants. Prepared for Prince George Region, B.C., 1985.

• BC Parks, Planning and Conservation Services, Special Features for B.C. Parks. Don Benn, Victoria, B.C., 1990.

• Environment Canada, Lands Directorate, Land Capability for Recreation, Canada Land Inventory maps, 1980.

• Ministry of Forests Recreation maps for coastal Forest Districts. various dates.

• Ministry of Forests Recreation Features Inventory (RFI) hardcopy and digital maps.

3.2.5 Verified the Information with Other Maps The maps referred to above were used to create draft project maps for this analysis. The locational information vetted against other available sources including:

• Ministry of Small Business Tourism and Culture, Mid Coast and North Coast Tourism Opportunity Study Tourism Capability maps (used both individual capability maps for eight products and a roll-up of all the high capability areas into one map.)

• Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Central Coast Region Tourism Priority Zones–North and South sections, September 2002.

• Outdoor Recreation Council Central Coast LRMP North and South Features and Activities maps for the Central Coast, February 2002.

• Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Central Coast LRMP, Interaction between Tourism Priority Zones and Timber Harvesting Land Base – South and North, July 2002.

• Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Central Coast LRMP, Visually Sensitive Areas – South and North, October 2002. 3.2.6 Created Digital Maps The tourism project maps were digitized. This process captured the boundaries of the planning units, and the locations of features and facilities as points, lines, and polygons. Presentation style maps were plotted.

3.2.7 Rated the Tourism Attributes Based on the evaluations, letter grade ratings were established for the attributes (VH, H, M, and L). These included a rating of planning area attributes under the headings of features, facilities, current use, and development suitability. A four-point scale as described was used. Each attribute was assessed in terms of its quality, frequency, and significance. The resource issues of irreplaceability (significance and rarity) and vulnerability (sensitivity) were also described and rated. 3.2.8 Created a Relative Rating The letter grade rating describe above were transcribed into numeric scores. The scores were totalled for features, activities, irreplaceability, lodge suitability, and activity suitability. This technique was intended to produce a relative rating of the development potential of each unit

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based on attribute scores. Note that the vulnerability was rated but this sensitivity measure was not an additive attribute and was not included in the total. 3.2.9 Determined Sites with Tourism Development Potential Based on the features analysis ratings of significance and frequency, sites within the study area were selected as having development potential. These sites were selected based on the quantity and quality of the resources. These potential developments were described in terms of economic gain including potential annual revenue and potential job creation.

3.3 SUMMARY

Considerable effort has gone into designing the system and inputting the resource information. This process has provided a rigorous evaluation framework upon which to base the economic gain analysis. However, the information used and the resulting evaluations are still highly subjective.

The information used in this analysis has included resource description, location, quality, frequency, and significance. Information has also been provided on resource irreplaceability, vulnerability, and both lodge and activity suitability. A systematic rating system was developed to allow relative comparisons to be made among the planning units and between the LRMP zones.

This process has produced detailed mapped information about the locations of resource features that are important to tourism. This information has provided the basis on which to allocate potential developments. These have been delineated as areas or sites for potential lodge development and tour or cruise routes that are depicted linearly.

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4.0 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS

4.1 ANALYSIS PROCESS

4.1.1 BACKGROUND This Economic Gain Spatial Analysis project requires that resource values be translated into specific measures — namely revenue and jobs (economic gain). For the traditional resource sectors of forestry and mining, there is a long history of estimating economic values based on commodity volumes and market prices.

In the case of tourism the process has much less history and is much less well defined. However, it is based on a similar premise to the consumptive resource industries, in that the landbase has a “value” to tourism. Analyzing tourism involves a process of linking the resource value of the landscape to a particular tourism activity, product, or development. Due to the broad range of tourism activities, the actual tourism products that could be developed need to be specified.

Unlike the physical resource industries, tourism’s use of the resource is not finite. That is, a number of tourism developments or activities can be pursued in the same area, or on the same terrain subject to carrying capacity impacts (see carrying capacity comment on p. 36.) Also, the related economic gain can vary dramatically depending on a number of related factors such as prices, competition, access, marketing, quality of service, etc.

In the parlance of this EGSA project, these development opportunities are described as “scenarios.” A scenario is defined as “how the characteristics of the site can be translated in economic gain.” The following general procedure has been followed:

• Economic gains have been estimated based on the locations and the descriptions of potential tourism developments.

• Economic gain has been measured in terms of income (revenue) and employment.

• General discussions have been provided on a number of assumptions that affect the analysis. These include general information on size of facilities, capital costs, markets, and seasonality.

• Assessments are provided on the distribution of employment impacts, performance levels, and infrastructure requirements.

• Also addressed are topics of vulnerability to external changes, compatibility with other uses, and impacts on the ecosystem.

4.1.2 SCENARIO SELECTION PROCESS As outlined in the previous chapter, tourism can create economic gain in numerous ways depending on the kinds of products that are developed. A basic premise for this analysis is that resource features are linked to activities, which in turn provide the opportunities for commercial tourism development. The following table lists features and activities that illustrate the linkage.

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Table 4-1 Description of resource features and related activities

Feature Related activities

Sports fish (salmon, cutthroat, steelhead, halibut, ling Saltwater, stream, lake, fly, and ice fishing; crabbing; cod, others) harvesting prawns and oysters; fish run viewing Intertidal, tide pools Collecting (e.g., clams), nature study Marine mammals (whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea Wildlife viewing, nature study otter) Fauna (rare/endangered, big game, waterfowl, raptors, Wildlife viewing, hunting, nature interpretation small game, small mammals, shore birds, upland birds) Beaches (fine-textured, sand, pebbles, rubble, cobbles, Small boat landing, canoeing, water–land access, tombolo, barrier beach, etc.) swimming, camping, kayak camping, beach combing Estuary (and salt marshes, lagoons) Wildlife viewing, nature study, hunting Other marine shoreline features (rock formations, sea caves, sea stacks, spit/hook, arches, platforms, bars, Viewing, wildlife viewing, nature study crenulated shore Marine water features – surf, tides, tidal falls/rapids, Viewing, sailing, cruising, boating, water skiing, fishing, currents, inlets, cove, bays, natural moorages, fjiord, open surfing, hang gliding, wind surfing, diving, snorkelling ocean, islands Vegetation features – cover type, attractions, zonation and structure (closed forest, open forest, meadow, Walking/hiking, collecting (mushrooms, berries, floral grassland, wetland, cultivated, rare plants, old growth arranging), viewing, nature study forest, flowers, edible plants, decorative plants, alpine/subalpine, riparian) Geologic Features

• glacial landforms (moraines, eskers, cirque, arêtes, nunataks, erratics, drumlin)

• fluvial landforms (fans, deltas, floodplains, braided channel, levee Viewing, interpretation, rock climbing, mountain climbing, • structural features (cliff, canyon, ravine, hoodoo, peak, wilderness travel plain, plateau, mountain, rolling, gully)

• wind features (ash, sand dune)

• erosional features (landslide, rock fall, avalanche, talus/scree, slump) Hydrologic features (springs, warm, mineral, cold), water Hotspring bathing, viewing, interpretation colour, water clarity, rapids, waterfalls Rock features (caves, karst, sedimentary rock, rock Viewing, caving, interpretation, panning, rock hounding, colour, mineral occurrences, fossils) fossil collecting Volcanic features (lava, columnar basalt, cones, tuya, embedded objects) Glacier features – snow/ice field, active moraines, Viewing, nature study, exploration tongues, crevasse, col, ice fall, ice tunnel Periglacial features (patterned ground) Surface fresh water features – by size, configuration, Canoeing, rafting, ice skating, swimming, water skiing, setting (lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, tarns, oxbows) canyoning, kayaking, Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, hiking, 4x4 driving, ATV use, snowmobiling, Terrain & access features sledding, snow boarding, telemarking, orienteering, survival games, paint ball games, trail biking, mountain biking

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Translating these activities into tourism products (or scenarios) is the key focus of this EGSA project. A range of options was considered to distill the dozens of possible tourism opportunities into a manageable number of product categories. The following assessment process summarizes the options.

Scenario categories Description Land- and water-based Land-based activities include such activities as hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing. Water-based activities include fishing, rafting, and kayaking. Motorized and non-motorized Motorized activities include power boating, fishing, and snowmobiling. Non-motorized activities include hiking, cross-country skiing, and river rafting. Consumptive and non-consumptive Consumptive activities include hunting and fishing. Non-consumptive activities include nearly all other activities. Built and non-built Built facilities include predominantly lodges or resorts. Non-built facilities virtually all tour or packaged activities such as wildlife viewing, kayaking, and cruising.

The overall categorization process is made difficult because of the unclear distinction between the categories and the overlap among operations. Regardless, any of these categories could be made to work as a framework for analysis. However, the Built/Non-Built scenario grouping has been selected for the following reasons:

• Lodges and resorts are likely to be the major type of development within the study area.

• Development opportunities within the non-built segment can be grouped into other sub- categories as needed.

• It provides the flexibility to adjust the activity or product assessments depending on the planning unit resources.

• It considers developments in both categories, as lodges and activity products are not mutually exclusive (i.e., there could be lodges and activity products developed concurrently).

4.2 LODGES

4.2.1 BACKGROUND Destination lodges are the key tourism development within the study area. Lodges range in quality from very basic offering bunk-type accommodations for a mainly fishing market, to very up-market offering a range of activities with high calibre cuisine and service. Lodges have existed in the area for decades and have traditionally focused on fishing. More recently they have expanded their product offerings to include non-consumptive activities such as wildlife viewing, hiking, and kayaking, as well as other non-adventure activities such as corporate meetings and conferences.

The study area includes three types of lodges: (1) the water-based floating, the most common type, which remains in one location tied to shore; (2) vessels that move to different locations; and (3) the traditional facility built on land. Access to the coastal lodges is by air or water, while the inland facilities are accessible by road. Although the number of lodges in the study area is relatively small, a few have developed a high-end market and high quality product. These lodges have been delivering a “luxury in the wilderness product.” Their clients, who are mainly

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Americans and Europeans, expect high quality services even in remote locations — and are prepared to pay for it.

In addition to the quality of the facility itself, lodges are situated in scenic areas within natural appearing settings. Proximity to significant landscape features such as coves, estuaries, waterfall, and hotsprings provide important market draws. Most of the current lodges are on the coastal shoreline as opposed to being on rivers or lakes. However, lodges do exist on the Dean River and in the Bella Coola Valley. Most of the coastal lodges are floating and tethered to shore.

There appear to be opportunities for additional development. The Tourism Opportunity Studies for the coastal area have suggested the following focuses and linkages have potential:

• hotsprings

• First Nations culture

• historic canneries

• lagoons and estuaries

• wildlife viewing, both land-based and marine

• boat cruising and kayaking along the numerous inlets, channels, and passages

4.2.2 LODGE DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Size of Development As noted, our analysis assumes that future developments will continue to be relatively small, although trending larger. Existing fishing lodges average 12 units (BC Stats). For future lodge developments, accommodation facilities are anticipated to be in the range of 10 to 20 units. In the longer term, facilities will get larger and be able to offer greater efficiencies of scale. Opportunities will exist for existing operators to expand, either on-site or as a satellite operation, or for new developments. Capital Costs Development costs will be a function of a number of factors, including size, calibre, and location. Generally, the bigger, fancier and more remote, the higher the construction costs. Lodges can be developed in a very rustic (inexpensive) manner or at the other end of the scale in a style and using materials that are very costly. This analysis assumes a mid to upper quality translating to a similar level of construction costs. Initial capital costs of existing lodges range from a few hundred thousand dollars to millions. Floating versus Land-Based Many of the existing marine-based lodges are floating — either a moored vessel or a lodge built on a barge or other floats. These provide the advantage for the operator of not requiring land- based construction. Consequently, they do not provide the area with the permanence associated with the traditional land-based lodge/resort sector. Over the planning horizon of this project, there is expected to be an increase in land-based facilities. Carrying Capacities and Competition There are a few dozen lodges in the study area. Most are remote and isolated. The largest concentration is in Rivers Inlet where approximately 10 lodges operate, all heavily focused on

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salmon fishing. It may be possible for other inlets to sustain relatively high concentrations of development as well. However, one of the key strengths of the area is its lack of development and the lack of people (both residents and tourists). This provides a relatively unpopulated environment, which is fundamental to our assumptions about the level of development suitable to the area.

The issue of carrying capacity is difficult to define and varies considerably with the site and the market. By way of example, concentrations of boats are expected by patrons of the fishing lodges, while seeing another person on a kayak tour could be considered “crowded.” Our assessments of the tolerance for increased development are based on relatively modest levels of development, tied to our estimates of market demand. Occupancies and Performance Levels Occupancy levels for lodges and performance levels for the non-built commercial activities are a function of weather, costs, marketing, and the effects of competition. For this analysis, occupancies and performance levels have been assumed to be between 60 and 90% for the operating seasons. In the accommodation sector, 60–65% is considered the break-even occupancy (although this percentage refers to annual occupancy). To cover the fixed costs that occur over 12 months, minimum occupancies over the operating season will need to be in the 65–70% range. Markets Markets for the province’s coastal lodges have traditionally been anglers — mainly Canadians and Americans. Due to the costs associated with operating these remote facilities and the cost of access, customers are typically affluent individuals or a corporate clientele. The expansion of the product offering to include non-fishing activities has broadened the market to include more women, couples, and families. Future markets are likely to continue to be affluent and specialty activity-based. Given healthy salmon stocks, fishing will remain a popular focus as the salmon fishing is world class. However, markets will continue to diversify into adventure activities based on the area’s resources. Development Requirements The remote, isolated locations require that the lodges be self-sufficient for supplies and utilities. This infers diesel power generation or use of renewable sources, satellite telecommunications, plus self-contained water and sewage systems. These are costly infrastructure requirements for small, seasonal operations. It is anticipated that advancements in technology will improve the quality and the range of options available to future operators.

4.3 NON-BUILT ACTIVITY PRODUCTS

4.3.1 BACKGROUND This category of development or development scenario refers to a variety of tourism products. It includes a range of tourism activities that can be carried out commercially, for which a fee is charged and services are provided. The category includes many specific activities, products, or “things to do.”

Determining which tourism products offer the greatest potential opportunity for development is a crucial component of the analysis. The selection and assessment were made based on input from existing resource significance information, tourism trends, and input from local agency

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representatives. To facilitate the selection process, a system has been developed to compare and rate development potential product by product.

The system evaluates tourism products/activities against a series of criteria. It was intended that those products/activities that are based on high quality resources, have market potential, and generate economic benefits would form the basis of the opportunity analysis. This process was designed to be rigorous and defensible, while being consistent among the range of products.

The evaluation matrix rates 22 tourism products grouped under the following headings:

• snow-based

• water-based

• land-based

• touring

• cultural

Each of these products is rated against resource, market, and community criteria, using a scale of 0 to 4, where:

0 = N/A

1 = Poor

2 = Average

3 = Good

4 = Excellent

This process attempts to numerically rate each tourism product on a five-point scale, based on the knowledge of the topic by the analyst. Although this process relies on the judgment of the evaluator, it allows a great deal of information to be summarized concisely. A description of the criteria used for the evaluation follows.

Each product is evaluated and the numbers totalled for each row (see Table 4-2). The higher the number, the “better” the possible tourism potential for each product. Note that all 12 evaluation criteria (column headings) are unweighted meaning all topics are deemed to be of similar importance. This was done intentionally so as not to skew the evaluation towards any one product or group of products.

Definitions of tourism product evaluation criteria

Evaluation criteria Definition

Resource Criteria:

Quantity The extent or amount of the resource to support each product. Quality The quality of the resource from an activity or tourism perspective. Accessibility The ease with which the product can be accessed relative to distance, safety, terrain, and parking. Seasonality The number of months or seasons during which the product can be used.

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Evaluation criteria Definition

Market Criteria:

Existing Market The importance of the product relative to the area’s existing tourism market. Trends Consideration of local/regional/national trends in activity participation. Market Potential The potential of the product to attract visitors or increase length of stay based on consideration of resource quality, existing market profile and market trends. Geographic Origin The number of visitor markets to which the product appeals. For this analysis, the four market categories include: B.C.; Regional (border states and provinces); North American long haul; and International.

Economic Criteria:

Job Creation The likely job creation potential associated with expanding the market for each product. Job Duration The duration (in weeks/months of the year) of jobs created to support each product. (Should be similar to resource seasonality.) Tourism Revenue The amount of revenue generated (or the amount of money spent) by tourists to participate in the activity. Employment Income The contribution of the product to the generation of employment income based on direct and spin-off job creation.

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Table 4-2 CIT tourism opportunity analysis–-tourism product-market match evaluation matrix

Tourism product Resource criteria Market criteria Economic criteria Total score Quantity Quality Access Season Existing Trends Market Geographic Job Job Tourism Employment market potential origin creation duration revenue income Land-Based Camping 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 14 Hiking 3 3 1 1 1 3 2 2 1 1 2 2 22 Hunting 4 4 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 2 2 25 Trail riding 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 17 Wildlife viewing 4 4 2 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 33 Snow-Based Alpine skiing 2 3 1 2 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 24 Cross-country skiing 3 3 1 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 2 1 23 Heli/cat skiing 3 3 2 2 0 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 27 Ski touring 3 3 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 20 Snowmobiling 3 3 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 24 Water-Based Saltwater fishing 4 4 2 2 4 2 3 3 3 1 3 2 33 Freshwater fishing 4 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 24 Ocean kayaking 4 4 2 1 3 4 4 3 2 1 2 2 32 River kayak/canoeing 3 3 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 19 River rafting 3 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 24 Wildlife viewing 4 4 2 3 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 33 Touring Automobile 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 Bus 2 2 2 1 2 3 3 3 2 1 2 2 25 Cruise ship 4 4 3 2 4 3 4 3 2 2 2 2 35 Air/Flightseeing 4 4 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 23 Cultural Tourism Attractions (heritage) 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 Events/Festivals 1 1 1 2 1 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 17 First Nations 4 4 1 2 2 4 4 3 3 2 2 3 33

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Based on the analysis above, the adventure and cultural products selected for analysis are (in alphabetical order)

• cruise ships

• First Nations culture

• kayaking

• wildlife viewing/nature appreciation

Two other products scored relatively high in this evaluation but have not been included in our analysis. They are hunting and saltwater fishing. Hunting is a well-established specialty activity in the area. Resident hunting is pursued by study area residents and by other B.C. residents. It depends on access and game populations. Non-resident hunters must use registered Guide outfitters and these hunts are typically focused on big game species, which may have a limited entry restriction. Both have their markets, but neither are considered to offer broadly based long- term tourism growth.

Saltwater fishing is a mature tourism product in the area, characterized by the independent angler, the charter or guided angler, and the lodge angler. Due to the remote location of much of the CIT study area, the fishing market is predominantly serviced out of lodges, which are addressed separately in this analysis.

Noted that any number of particularly significant and unique features could become the focus of a commercial activity-based tourism product. Two examples are the Klinaklina River for rafting and the Waddington area for mountain climbing. Both of these activities currently exist and could be expanded. However, this analysis has focused on what the research indicated were key products. It does not preclude the development of any other product.

4.3.2 PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Cruise Ships The Alaska cruise product has evolved from virtually nothing a generation ago to become the third most popular cruise destination in the world. It represents about 7% of the annual cruise market involving about 750,000 passengers. A dozen cruise lines have 25 ships operating to Alaska, mainly homeporting out of Vancouver, but increasingly using Seattle. Other than Victoria, no other communities have benefited from the passengers that are cruising in the large cruise ships off the B.C. coast.

The market is characterized by three categories of vessels as follows:

• large cruise ships: capacity of 1000 to 2,500 passengers

• small or “pocket” cruise ships: capacity of 100 to 500 passengers

• private charter boats: includes both power and sail boats, typically from 40’ and up

Prince Rupert has had some success with the smaller ships (one vessel homeporting and several stopping) and is developing a cruise terminal to cater to large cruise ships. As the number of ships on the route grows, and the capacity of the Alaska ports gets stretched, there should be opportunity for stops at B.C. ports. Prince Rupert is targeting the large ships, and markets should exist for the smaller communities in the study area to provide stops for the smaller ships.

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First Nations Several First Nations reside in the study area. In the Central coast, this includes the Heiltsuk at Bella Bella, the Kitasoo at Klemtu, the Oweekeno around Rivers Inlet, and the Nuxalk along Dean Channel. The southern portion of the Central coast includes major settlements of the Tsasataineuk at Kingcome, the Kwicksutaineuk at Gilford Island, the Mamaleleqala at Village Island. The North Coast has two major tribal groups. These include Tsimshian people with settlements at Port Simpson and Hartley Bay, and Nisga’a people with communities at Kincolith and Creenville. The Haida reside on Haida Gwaii.

Although it is not intended to portray First Nations culture as a “product,” the ways in which First Nations evolved and adapted to the environment is of considerable interest to non- aboriginal people. This provides a market opportunity to interpret and explain First Nations traditions and culture to interested persons. These opportunities include interpretive tours of historic village sites, wildlife viewing, visits to petroglyph and pictograph sites, and the viewing of culturally modified trees. There are opportunities for demonstrations of carving and other art, plus traditional dances and language training. Learning about traditional medicines and hiking on traditional trade routes are also opportunities. These activities could be offered to existing lodge guests by a partnership with the lodge operator or directly by First Nations. Kayaking Ocean kayaking has become a very popular activity worldwide, and specifically on the B.C. coast. The multitude of inlets, bays, islets, coves, and beaches has created a strong demand for kayaking along the coast. In addition to these geographic features, the strengths of the study area include its remoteness, scenery, biologic diversity, and culture - both First Nations and European. Negatives include the visual sameness of parts of the area, precipitation, inclement weather, and limited camping spots.

In the last decade, the number of kayaking companies operating on the west coast has increased dramatically from about 15 to approximately 250 companies. Many of these are small companies or businesses operated as secondary activities to other tourism developments. However, two to three dozen are large tour companies offering a variety of tour packages.

Kayaking products range from guided day excursions (generally a soft adventure product for less skilled participants), to multi-day trips catering to skilled and adventurous kayaking enthusiasts. Business opportunities include links with a mothership, hut to hut tours, shuttling of equipment, interpretive tours, and partnerships with resorts and First Nations. Wildlife Viewing and Nature Observation Wildlife viewing can be a passive activity conducted while participating in other pursuits such as fishing, cruising, or kayaking — or a dedicated adventure tourism activity. The non-consumptive use of wildlife for viewing has been increasing worldwide as witnessed by the increased popularity of birdwatching throughout North American, African safaris, and trips to the Galapagos Islands.

The study area offers tremendous potential for wildlife viewing based on the variety of land and water-based species. The greatest opportunities for land based wildlife viewing are for bears - including grizzly, black and the kermode bear. Problems associated with developing this activity into a commercial product are the issues of reliability of animal sightings, habituating the animals, shortness of the season, lack of reliable sites, and customer safety.

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Marine based wildlife viewing opportunities exist for whales (orca, grey, and humpback) sea otters, sea lions, fish (salmon, oolichans, and herring), and birds (birds of prey [especially eagles], marine birds, shore birds, and waterfowl). Issues associated with developing tourism products focused on wildlife are the lack of certainty of viewing, inclement weather, and the cost of fuel to get to where the animals are.

4.4 ECONOMIC GAIN CONSIDERATIONS

4.4.1 ANALYSIS PROCESS The information provided in the previous chapters provides the data for the economic gain analysis. The process has involved:

• selecting appropriate or realistic tourism products

• evaluating the resource suitability of planning units to sustain these tourism products

• determining the most suitable sites within the selected planning units

• estimating the absorption rate or level of development by tourism product

• estimating the revenue that could be generated by these product developments over the planning horizon

• evaluating the employment that could be created by these product developments

Put another way, this analysis process is based on some fundamental questions about future tourism development, including:

• What type of tourism development is likely to occur? (built developments and activity products)

• How much development is likely to occur? (number of expansions and new developments)

• Where is development likely to occur? (planning units and sites within the units)

• When is development likely to occur? (timeframe or number of developments per year)

The specific answers are addressed in each of the three LRMP area sections of the report.

4.4.2 DEVELOPMENT ASSUMPTIONS A number of issues and assumptions have been applied to the analysis of possible economic gain. These assumptions deal with overriding aspects of development that have guided the economic assessments. These are listed and described below. Site Suitability Analysis Is the Basis of This EGSA Our assessment process categorized the high potential sites based solely on their physical features. This represents only one part of the investment decision process that an individual investor/developer would make as part of their feasibility and business planning analysis. Consequently, our focus on high potential planning units, and sites within these units, is intended to be illustrative of their resource quality.

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A Twenty-year Planning Horizon Has Been Selected Tourism is an ever-changing economic activity. Adventure tourism hardly existed as a component of the travel industry 20 years ago. The marine activities focused on in this analysis (cruising, kayaking, wildlife viewing) were in their infancy or had not yet been invented as tourism products in the early 1980s. Similarly, the composition of tourism 20 years from now is likely to be significantly different than it is today. However, attempting to forecast the future evolution of new products is exceedingly difficult. Consequently, our outlook is based primarily on expanded growth of known adventure tourism products. The Study Area Is Huge The size of the study area is immense. At 8 million hectares, it is about the size of Portugal, Austria, or Ireland. However, unlike these countries, the area is largely uninhabited. The total population of the study area is under 30,000 and, other than Prince Rupert, is located in a few towns and unincorporated communities along the coast.

The CIT study area contains literally hundreds and perhaps thousands of individual sites that could be suitable for some form of tourism activity. The sites referred to herein are those that rated high in the resource assessment evaluation and are illustrative of sites/areas offering tourism development potential. Existing Tourism Developments Are Small Tourism developments in the area are characterized by their small size. This includes accommodations facilities in the range of 5 to 15 units, and tour activities capable of catering to “a few to a few dozen” patrons at one time. These include both the “urban” facilities and the rural and backcountry developments. Our analysis assumes that future developments will continue to be relatively small although likely trending larger. Opportunities will exist for existing operators to expand — either on-site on as a satellite operation — or for new operations to be developed. We have assumed that to some degree, both of these options will occur. Seasonality Is a Major Obstacle Length of the operating season is a crucial issue. Due to the latitude and climate regime in which the study area is located, the fair-weather operating season is short. The peak season is the 10- week period from mid-June to early September. Depending on the product and the local conditions, shoulder season operations can start in May and extend into late September. Opportunities may exist to expand the shoulder seasons and to create secondary markets in the winter, depending on the location and markets. We have assumed that this will only be marginally successful as weather and climate severely restrict seasonal expansion. Geographic Markets Have a Large International Component Markets for the study area represent very specific and defined segments of the travel market. Geographically, markets are much more heavily focused on non-residents, particularly Americans, eastern Canadians, and Europeans, than is typical for the province. This international appeal is expected to continue.

Market Segments Are Highly Focused on the Outdoors In terms of activity and interest, the area is oriented to adventure tourism and ecotourism. These are two different but related segments of the outdoor tourism market. They are defined (by the Canadian Tourism Commission) as follows:

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− Adventure tourism: An outdoor leisure activity that generally takes place in an unusual, exotic, remote, or wilderness setting, usually involving some form of unconventional means of transportation, and tending to be associated with low or high levels of physical activity. The activity is typically divided as follow: − Hard: Combines an experience in an outdoor setting with excitement and a degree of risk. Demands physical exertion and skill. − Soft: Provides and outdoor “adventure” but requires only minor risk, exertion, or skills. − Ecotourism: Travel that creates a high level of understanding and interpretation of cultural and natural history, while safeguarding the integrity of ecosystems. It produces economic benefits to local communities that encourage resource preservation and sustainable tourism development practices.

The BC Wilderness Tourism Association categorizes the market somewhat differently by adding consumptive products separately — namely fishing and hunting.

It is assumed that all kinds of outdoor tourism will continue to be pursued. It is also assumed that due to the study area’s relatively remote location, it will not become a mass-market destination, but will remain highly dependent on specialty markets. The clientele will likely remain affluent, or be keen and skilled activity enthusiasts. Revenues Have Been Estimated Using Several Sources Revenues are estimates of annual sales (revenues) for the products (scenarios) selected. Detailed revenue figures for individual businesses are proprietary and were unavailable. Consequently, revenue estimates are based on a variety of secondary sources. These sources included the Tourism Industry Product Overview and Building Block Profiles produced by the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, and the North Coast Multi-day Nature Based Tourism Industry – An Economic Profile, produced for the North Coast Backcountry Caucus. Information was also obtained from BC Stats Room Revenue statistics. Note that there is very little current and reliable regional tourism data available. Employment Estimates Have Been Made Employment refers to the number of staff and persons employed on contract (guides). The analysis includes estimates of the number of employees based on industry norms from the Building Block Economic Profiles and the North Coast Economic Profile. This information includes the percentage of gross revenues devoted to labour costs. Information was also obtained from Tourism BC. Issues include the availability of trained staff and the distribution between local and non-local employment. Development Requirements Are Significant Infrastructure requirements vary considerably for the outdoor tourism sector. Developments located in communities require, and use, the utilities and municipal services available. For remote developments, infrastructure and utilities are typically provided by the operator and are costly. This includes transportation, energy, water, sewage disposal, and communications.

The Area Is Vulnerable to External Change As witnessed by the events of September 11, 2001, and SARS, the tourism industry is vulnerable to external events that occur elsewhere in the world. It is not possible to anticipate these events. However, the travel industry is now more alert to the impacts of these types of events and has recent experience at implementing strategies to respond. Other examples of the outdoor tourism

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sector’s vulnerability include reductions in fish stocks, declines or changes in wildlife stocks, impacts on viewscapes, industrial development, and perceived “crowding” or interaction with other tourism/recreation groups. Compatibility with Other Uses Is Very Important Nature-based tourism is resource dependent. Its success is linked to the quantity (i.e., number of fish to catch or wildlife to view) and quality (i.e., viewscapes and scenery) of the resource. Other uses that reduce the quantity or degrade the quality of the resource have negative effects on tourism. The degree of linkage depends on the activity and the market. Impact on the Environment Is Relatively Minor Nature-based tourism is dependent on the ecosystem but it also creates an impact by its presence. For consumptive tourism like fishing and hunting, tourists can deplete the resource (although licensing and regulations are designed to manage the activities and control the harvests). For non-consumptive activities, the impact is related to the size of the developments and the number of customers. Generally, the developments are small and their footprints are limited. However, issues of soil compacting in high traffic areas, litter, erosion, and contaminant spills are examples of impacts that can occur, even in small concentrated areas. Relative Impact of Nature-based Activities Varies by Activity As noted above, the impact on the environment of nature-based tourism varies by activity. In addition to the type of activity, impacts are related to the size and concentration of the operation, as well as the number of operators. The categories of activity and their general relative degrees of impact are as follows:

Products analyzed Impact Other products Impact rating rating

• Boating Low • Fishing High

• Cruise Low • Hunting High

• Lodge Moderate • Heli-skiing Moderate

• First Nations products Low • Snowmobiling High

• Ocean kayaking Low • Cross-country skiing Low

• Wildlife viewing Low • Diving Low

• River rafting Low

Access to Financing Is a Crucial Issue for Rural Tourism Operators Translating the area’s resources into revenue and jobs requires that tourism developments be built or established. All developments require capital investments either for built facilities or for equipment. Access to financing (debt or equity) has traditionally been difficult for tourism operators. The remote location of the study area will exacerbate this problem.

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4.5 SUMMARY

Tourism is a difficult “industry” to define, measure, and categorize. For this analysis, tourism is strongly focused on nature-based tourism or tourism that is closely linked to the landscape. Consequently, it does not include aspects of tourism such as conventions, hotels, events, etc., that are either primarily urban or not closely linked to the land/water base.

Also note that our analysis includes only direct economic impact generated within the CIT study area. This focus excludes tourism revenues that are generated elsewhere in the province as a result of coastal tourism activity. An example of this issue is the Alaska cruise product, which is credited with generating up to $1 million for each stop in Vancouver — or $282 million in the year 2000.

The analysis process has focused on built (lodge) development and non-built (tours or activity products) as a way to facilitate the economic evaluations. The key activity products identified were cruise ships, First Nations culture, kayaking, and wildlife viewing.

Numerous assumptions have been made to calculate the economic impacts of future tourism developments. These assumptions have all been listed and described. They are thought to be reasonable and conservative, but should they be proven incorrect, the revenue and employment numbers presented here will be in error.

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5.0 FUTURE TOURISM OUTLOOK

Future tourism developments will be a function of the social and economic environment is which the developments occur. Our assumptions and outlook for the future of coastal tourism over the next 20 years are as follows. 5.1 TOURISM PAST AND PRESENT

5.1.1 TOURISM VOLUME AND VALUE 1980 VERSUS 2000 Over the last 20 years the tourism industry in the province has changed dramatically. In 1980, British Columbia catered to 12 million travellers and generated revenues of approximately $2 billion. By the year 2000, the number of travellers had nearly doubled to over 22 million persons, while revenues have increased nearly five-fold to over $9 billion (current dollars). Specific details are not available for the CIT study area, but it is assumed that the changes have been at least as significant. Based on this time-series, a straight line extrapolation over the next 20 years would see increases in provincial visitation to 30 million persons with a revenue of $16 billion. 5.1.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF COASTAL TOURISM 1980 VERSUS 2000

Products/Activities 1980 2000 Lodges Virtually entirely fishing related Focus on high-end fishing and adventure products Many of these lodges were actually Significant upgrade in the quality of facilities developed in the 1950s and 1960s Significant increase in floating resorts Diversification from exclusively fishing into a range of adventure products Expansion of corporate and incentive markets Increase in number of female customers and families Cruise ships/Boating Alaska cruise product being Over 1 million total passengers (embarking and introduced to the market disembarking) Small number of ships Passenger 18th year of increases in volumes total estimated at under 100,000 336 stops by 27 ships from 13 cruise lines Small number of adventurous Increase in the number of large pleasure boats mariners cruising to mid coast and cruising to Alaska Alaska First Nations tourism Few First Nations products Market research in European markets confirms products Ksan in Hazelton operates a unique interest in First Nations culture interpretive centre Incorporating tourism as part of First Nations economic development strategies Few First Nations tourism businesses Limited interest by First Nations Development of interpretive centres Initiation of Aboriginal Tourism Association Initiation of First Nations tourism businesses Ocean kayaking Activity is in its infancy Activity has experienced huge grown. A few adventurous early adopters Dozens of commercial rental or tour companies paddling the mid coast operating on the B.C. coast Not offered as a commercial Several kayaking manufacturing businesses in adventure product operation Wildlife viewing Did not exist as a stand-alone Whale watching is a mature tourism product product Over 100 operators located throughout the coast Undertaken as a passive by-product Marine wildlife viewing companies using small of other outdoor activities inflatables to large tour boats Commercial bear watching is invented

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5.2 TOURISM OUTLOOK BY SECTOR

5.2.1 CAUSAL FACTORS Over the next 20 years, the composition of the marketplace is going to change significantly. Generally, populations of the study area target markets (B.C., Other Canada, U.S., and Europe) are going to increase and get older. Both of these demographic trends will provide an environment for growth of tourism within coastal British Columbia. The following statistics for British Columbia provide a summary of the likely magnitude of these changes.

Outlook factor Description The provincial population will increase BC Stats estimates that the provincial population will increase from 4.0 by one-third. million today to 5.3 million in 2020 – an increase of 1.3 million or 32%. Annual population increase will average Over the next 20 years, annual population increases are forecast to range 1.3%. between 1.2% and 1.5%. The growth rate is expected to trend slowly downward over the forecast horizon. The median age will increase The median age in the province was 30.4 years in 1980, 37.4 years in 2000, significantly. and is expected to be 42.7 years in 2020. This is an increase of 14% over the 20-year planning horizon. The important age group for travel will The 45–65 age group is typically the largest consumer of travel products. In increase in size by 50%. B.C., this cohort is expected to increase from 970,000 to 1,512,000 — a growth of 50%. Life expectancy will be relatively Although the population is aging, the life expectancy is not growing nearly unchanged. as quickly. In fact, the age at death in 2000 was 78.4 and by 2020 is expected to be 79.3 B.C. will return to a net in-migration. Over the last 30 years, B.C. has enjoyed positive growth in migration from other provinces with the exception of the early/mid-1980s and the late 1990s. The forecast outlook to 2020 is for continued net growth. Natural population increases will decline. The rate of natural increases (births minus deaths) has historically been positive. With an aging population, the number of deaths is expected to nearly match the number of births by 2020. B.C.’s key markets will experience The province’s key markets of the United States and Europe experienced similar trends. similar demographic trends due to the increased number of children born after World War II. Consequently, these markets will experience a similar growth and aging of the population.

5.2.2 TOURISM SECTOR OUTLOOK The composition of the tourism industry in the study area is much different than is typical in more accessible areas of the province. The area’s focus on adventure and nature-based products and activities is expected to continue to drive future developments. Our revenue outlook numbers are based on this assumption. The following is a summary of the likely, or at least possible, characteristics of tourism in the study area by sector over the next 20 years.

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Sector Outlook

Accommodation • Increase in the number of lodges • Increase in the size of new lodges

• Increase in the proportion on high-end, more exclusive facilities

• Continued upgrading of existing lodges

• Some consolidation of small independently operated lodges into “chains” or groups of affiliated facilities

• International tourism/lodge operators to develop facilities

• Concentrations of facilities in selected locations

• Expanded First Nations involvement, both as developers and as partners

• Move away from fishing lodges to include a mix of activities

Adventure products: • Continuation of owner–operator business start-ups, but with an ongoing consolidation of marginal owner–operator business into larger businesses

• “Invention” of new products as the adventure market evolves and matures

– Land • Increase in hiking and touring, based around culture and wildlife viewing • Growth in helicopter access to remote sites

– Water • Expansion of wildlife viewing to include other species • Growth in salmon fishing

• Growth in fishing for other fish species

– Snow • Increase in mountain activities, particularly for hard adventure • Introduction of heli/cat skiing to Coast Range mountains

• Growth in ski touring

Attractions • Development of First Nations interpretive centre(s)

• Development of First Nations heritage/cultural tours

• Broader mix of products that are not adventure-based such as spas, cuisine tours, and learning tourism

Transportation: • A general “shrinking” of the study area with an increase in the variety of transportation options

– Air • Continued reliance on float planes to access non-roaded operations

– Land • Continued lack of road access to most of the study area • Continued decommissioning of inactive logging roads

– Water • Continued uncertainty about BC Ferries service • Costs of ferry services to continue to increase

• Development of private sector options

• Cruise ships (large) to stop at Prince Rupert

• Small cruise vessels to stop at other communities

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5.3 TOURISM OUTLOOK TO 2020

Future Travel Trends Future travel motivations are likely to be different than the travel generators of the past. Future travellers are likely to exhibit the following trends:

• more individualistic and not as likely to travel in groups

• more well travelled and travel savvy, and more demanding in obtaining service and value

• more knowledgeable, quality conscious, and sophisticated consumers

• interested in a sense of achievement and learning rather than rest and relaxation

• more environmentally aware and may shun mass travel destinations

• more likely to be interested in cultural or educational themes to their travels, particularly aboriginal culture

• well educated and inclined to expand their education through learning-oriented travel

These trends are expected to be very significant for the study area. The dominance of the baby boomer market for travel generally is well documented and this group is expected to continue to be the major socio-economic cohort. This demographic age group is also the key consumer of adventure travel, particularly soft adventure, which is the focus of this analysis. Mass Market Versus Specialized Tourism in the CIT study area has traditionally been specialized and product-focused. Given the area’s relative isolation, travellers have had to make an effort to visit. Tourism volumes have been relatively low and focused on the area’s scenic and natural resources. A big part of the area’s appeal is the lack of development and a lack of tourists. The future outlook is expected to be a continuation of this activity-specific, small-volume travel. Cruise Sector The Alaska cruise market has been growing steadily for over two decades, and based on the aging baby boomer market, is expected to continue for another two decades. Ironically, British Columbia has provided the travel corridor (Inside Passage marine highway) and the key departure terminal (Vancouver), but little else. Historically, all revenues generated by the Alaska cruise market have accrued to Vancouver and, to a much lesser degree, Victoria. This situation is changing as Prince Rupert has successfully generated approximately three dozen cruise stops for the 2004 cruise season. Further growth is anticipated over the next several years. For the smaller coastal communities, the smaller pocket cruise vessels offer some possibilities. Soft Versus Hard Adventure The area is likely to continue to be a destination for adventure travellers, both soft and hard. New lodge and activity products are expected to capitalize on this by linking the area’s natural resources to quality accommodations and other tourist services. These facilities will cater to the larger soft adventure market. The area’s high quality yet accessible coast and mountain resources are expected to expand their appeal to hard adventures. Coastal paddlers and mountain climbers are expected in increasing numbers drawn by the quality of the resources and the relative ease of access.

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Market Origins Outside of the urban amenities located in Prince Rupert, the resources of the area have attracted a high proportion of Americans and Europeans. This is expected to continue, although increasing numbers of B.C. residents and other Canadians are expected. Traveller Yields Due to the area’s relative remoteness — and the specialized, non-mass market appeal of the area — revenues per person will exhibit significant range. This will include low budget backpackers and tent campers to high-end wilderness lodge guests. Due to the relative numbers of lodge- based tourists, revenues per person will be higher than the traditional traveller to the province. This trend is expected to continue as the number of lodges and outdoor activities expands. Fish Farms The issue of fish farms will be important to the area’s tourism future. A large part of the area’s appeal and international reputation has been based on salmon fishing. Recent experiences in the Broughton Archipelago with much reduced returns of pink salmon in 2002 have implicated fish farming as the possible cause. Expanded net-based fish farming threatens to damage the wild salmon resource through escapes, habitat degradation, disease, and sea lice. Pending more conclusive evidence, the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council has advised the regulators to conduct additional research, and in the meantime, to be guided by caution. First Nations Land Claims Perhaps the most fundamental issue affecting tourism’s future is resolving First Nations land claims. This issue is key, since it creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and will make it increasingly difficult to encourage investment and development. Regardless of how the issues are addressed, the First Nations history in the area and the relatively large native population provides a significant opportunity for First Nations involvement in an expanded tourism sector. This involvement could be in the form of owner–operators, band-sponsored developments, and/or as partners with non-native tourism developers.

5.4 SUMMARY

It is very difficult to forecast what will happen to travel demand to the B.C. coast. However, the area’s remoteness, its high scenic values, its significant resource features, and its relatively undeveloped nature will continue to be the key draws. The markets will likely continue to be relatively affluent, staying from a few days to a week in a wilderness lodge or pursuing a nature- based activity.

The activity focuses will continue to rely strongly on quality fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities, and First Nations culture. The cruise sector offers a tremendous opportunity for economic gain if the large cruise ships can be encouraged to regularly build Prince Rupert into their itineraries, and if the small vessels can be encouraged to stop at other coastal communities.

Another issue of importance to the area’s tourism future is fish farms. A large part of the area’s appeal and international reputation has been based on salmon fishing, and recent evidence indicates that net-based fish farming threatens to damage the wild salmon resource.

However, the most fundamental issue affecting tourism’s future is resolving First Nations land claims. Regardless of how the issues are addressed, First Nations history in the area and the large

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native population provides a significant opportunity for First Nations involvement in an expanded tourism sector.

Note that the future opportunities that are described herein are resource based. That is, the resource or the land/water feature significance has been used as the basis for the outlook. This is only one component of the tourism development decision process. Turning these resource opportunities into tourism developments will require feasibility assessments by individuals or companies interested in investing. Consequently, providing certainty about the status of the land base is crucial to the future of tourism.

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6.0 CENTRAL COAST

6.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION

6.1.1 PLANNING UNITS Figure 6-1 Map of the Central Coast tourism planning units.

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6.1.2 PLANNING UNIT DESCRIPTIONS The Central Coast has been divided into 29 planning areas as noted above. The planning area names are solely for this project and refer to the major geographic features. The following is a description of the general characteristics of each planning unit. They have been listed in alphabetical order. A complete description of the features, facilities, and use areas — along with the rating assessments — are included in Appendix A.

PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS ATNARKO The Atnarko Zone forms a transitional area between the Coast Mountains to the west and the Interior Plateau to the east and occupies the western portions of the Atnarko River drainage. Plateau-like terrain is found in northern portions of this area while elevation and local relief increase southward where elements of the Coast Mountains dominate. Several peaks with elevations of 3,000 m are found at the south edge of the Atnarko Zone. The Bella Coola Highway bisects the area to the north where the Atnarko River turns westward to join the Talchako River. Away from the highway wilderness prevails. Most of this zone forms the south half of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Numerous lakes, attractive alpine meadows, and highly scenic terrain are characteristic. BELLA The Bella Area is made up of portions a number of islands straddling the Inside Passage and centred around the community of Bella Bella. For the most part, the islands are low- lying with complex shorelines, very numerous bays, and offshore islets. To the east, terrain becomes increasing hilly and there are some summits as high as 750 m. In addition to the Inside Passage, this area is central to a number of major marine routes including Mathieson and Spiller channels leading northward to Sheep Passage and Fiordland Protected Area, Roscoe Inlet to the northeast, Dean and Burke channels to the east, and Fitz Hugh Sound to the south. Access is by boat and there is considerable cruise ship, recreational boating, and marine transport activity in the area. Shearwater and Bella Bella receive regular air service. There is a variety of tourism and recreation activity. BENTINCK Long, steep-sided inlets in the Bella Coola area; rugged mountainous terrain; numerous, large glaciers; Bella Coola River and several smaller streams. Bella Coola with highway, air, and marine access; some secondary roads. BROUGHTON The Broughton Zone comprises an archipelago of islands and islets and small areas of the adjacent mainland at the east end of Queen Charlotte Strait and west end of Johnson Strait. Most of the island coastlines are irregular, with frequent bays and small coves. There are numerous and varied marine channels with superior opportunities for boat cruising, kayaking, whale watching, wildlife viewing, fishing, camping, and exploration. Port Hardy and Port McNeill on Vancouver Island are the closest communities that serve as relatively close “jumping-off points” for many users of the Broughton Zone. In addition, numerous people arrive via Johnstone Strait from centres such as Campbell River, Vancouver, and Puget Sound. Logging and fishing are well-established industries but there is little evidence of the numerous canneries and logging camps that were once common. Several small First Nations communities and use areas occur. The village of Kingcome to the northeast is the largest community in the Broughton Zone. There are several tourist lodges and small service centres with fuel and mail. The Broughton area has grown significantly in the last few decades for its excellent marine-based recreation and tourism opportunities.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS BURKE The Burke Zone coincides with Burke Channel and the adjacent mountain slopes northeast of Doc Creek; Kwatna Inlet, the Kwatna and Quatlena river drainages, and upper Doc Creek drainage. Except for Kwatna Inlet, Burke Channel has no small, protected bays or coves. However, it is a major shipping and boating corridor connecting Bella Coola with the Inside Passage. For the most part, terrain is steep and mountainous. Summit elevations average about 900 m along Burke Channel and increase to over 1,600 m in the upper Kwatna drainage. There is little, if any, permanent settlement. Access is by boat or air. Logging roads extend along most of the Kwatna River. Boat cruising, fishing and wildlife viewing are the main recreation-tourism opportunities. DEAN The Dean Zone comprises an extensive area of mountainous terrain around upper Dean Cannel, the lower Kimsquit River and lower to middle Dean River. There are also a number of significant streams tributary to Dean Channel and the main rivers. Summit elevations are frequently 2,200 m and local relief along Dean Channel averages 1,500 m. The main settlement is the small community of Kimsquit on Dean Channel at the mouth of the Dean River. Access is mainly by boat. There are also two landing strips for small aircraft. The area has a good reputation for fishing, especially along the Dean River. Several small bays and the presence of hotsprings along Dean Channel are boating destinations about 40 to 50 km from Bella Coola to the southeast. FINLAYSON The Finlayson Zone includes Milbanke Sound, Finlayson Channel, and Tolmie Channel; all areas associated with the Inside Passage. There are several smaller inlets and protected bays but compared with other coastal waters, there are fewer anchorages and points of interest. Terrain is comprised of low hills and small mountains. Summit elevations average 500 to 750 m. Access is by boat or plane. Finlayson Channel provides an alternate access to Mussel Inlet and Fiordland Protected Area. HAKAI The Hakai Zone includes Calvert and Hecate islands, the south-central portion of Hunter Island, and numerous associated small islands and islets in Hakai Pass, Kildidt Sound, and the Sea Otter Group. Except for a few hills up to 700 m elevation on Calvert Island, terrain is a low level coastal plain. For the most part, shorelines on the westerly coastlines are very complex with numerous small bays, channels, and an intricate network of small islands. By comparison, shorelines to the east along Fitz Hugh Sound, part of the Inside Passage, are somewhat less complex. Access is by boat or float plane. In the last few decades this area has grown to become a prime recreational destination on the central coast. The main features include diverse and attractive coastal features, superior salmon fishing opportunities and its relative proximity to the Inside Passage, established lodges in Rivers Inlet and populations centres to the south. KILBELLA The Kilbella Zone is a relatively isolated area of mountainous terrain north of Oweekeno Lake and Moses Inlet. The area is drained by three main rivers, the Chuckwalla, Kilbella, and Clyak rivers. Generally, the terrain is rugged and several summits are 2,000 m high. The highest peaks such as Mounts Payne and Quissy feature small glaciers. Logging roads are found along the lower sections of the main rivers, originating at Kilbella and Moses Inlet to the south. Other than the logging roads, there appears to be little development in this Zone and there is unlikely much tourism or recreation activity. KIMSQUIT The Kimsquit Zone is made up of mountainous terrain, the southern section of the Kitimat Ranges, around the upper Kimsquit and Sakumatha rivers. The main valleys are very scenic and moderately broad. To the north and east several broad passes at about 1,200 m elevation lead to adjacent areas in northwest Tweedsmuir Park. Several of these passes contain attractive, small headwater lakes. The surrounding summits vary from 1,800 to 2,400 m elevation and feature attractive alpine plateaus, small glaciers, and a few horn-like peaks. Much of the area is de facto wilderness and shares many of the scenic and biophysical characteristics of northern Tweedsmuir Park.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS KINGCOME The Kingcome Zone is a mountainous region including the upper reaches of the Kingcome River drainage and its tributaries such as the Satsalla River and upper Clear and Atlatzi rivers. It also includes some adjacent mountainous terrain to the east and west. Except for the valley bottoms of the larger streams, the terrain is steep and rugged. Summit elevations average about 2,000 m and small glaciers and cirque basins are common features. Forestry roads leading from the head of Kingcome Inlet and the village of Kingcome to the south, extend into the area along the Kingcome River and its larger tributaries. Otherwise, there is little development and access is restricted to helicopters. Tourism opportunities and use are limited to specialized wilderness mountain experiences and wildlife viewing along the main drainages. KLINAKLINA The Klinaklina Zone is made up of the middle section of the Klinaklina valley sandwiched between two highly rugged mountain ranges: Waddington Range to the west and a range of mountains including Silverthrone and Monarch icefields to the east. There is no road access. The area can be approached from Knight Inlet to the south, where there are a few logging roads, or from the Bella Coola Highway, about 30 km to the northeast. The Klinaklina River is confined to a shallow canyon to the south but occupies a relatively flat valley bottom up to 2 km wide in the north. There is little evidence of human activity except for a single lodge at Klinaklini Lake to the northeast, almost at the edge of the Chilcotin region. Tourism and recreation opportunities are primarily related to wilderness activities and specialized pursuits such as mountain climbing in the adjacent mountains. KNIGHT This Zone is made up of Knight Inlet and adjacent lands to the height of land. It also includes areas around Bond and Thompson sounds, Call Inlet and Port Neville to the southwest and the lower 25 km of the Kliniklini valley. Knight Inlet is approximately 100 km long and averages 3 km in width. It has an irregular shape and is largely bounded by steep mountainous slopes with summit elevations up to 2,000 m. Scenic qualities are relatively high because of high local relief, varied forest cover and exposed bedrock. Local relief diminishes to less than 1,000 m to the southwest. Access is entirely by boat or aircraft. The only roads are logging spurs extending from tidewater up short tributaries and along the lower Kliniklini River. Marine-based tourist and recreation activities are limited by the steep, continuous shorelands where there are limited opportunities to land small craft or find refuge in protected bays. KYNOCH The main waterways in the Kynoch area are Mathieson Channel, Kynoch Inlet, Sheep Passage, and Mussel Inlet. Mountainous terrain dominates throughout. Southern portions are comprised of low rounded summits to about 600 m. To the north, relief increases and summit elevations increase to over 1,000 m. At Kynoch and Mussel inlets, scenic, steep-sided slopes occur, some with large expanses of exposed bedrock. There are a number of nearshore waterfalls, lagoons, and small lakes. Access is by boat or plane. There are several alternate routes from the Inside Passage such as via Sheep, Oscar or Moss passages. The general area is relatively free of evidence of human activity. LOUGHBOUROUGH The Loughborough Zone includes Loughborough Inlet, mainland uplands around the Apple and Stafford river drainages, several marine channels (Sunderland and Chancellor) and two islands (Hardwicke and the western and central portions of WestThurlow). The islands are comprised of rolling terrain mostly below 500 m elevation. Rugged mountainous terrain and small glaciers dominate much of the mainland areas, especially the northern half. Access is via boats or float planes. Isolated industrial roads, both new and abandoned, are common throughout the lower elevations. Logging is evident throughout. There are a few logging camps and a single lodge. Recreation and tourism opportunities are mainly associated with marine activities along the main channels and Loughborough Inlet.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS NAMU The Namu Zone lies along the west side Fitz Hugh Sound, the southernmost section of the Inside Passage. A coastal plain dominates the southern half of the area. Here, terrain consists of low hills and the coastline is deeply crenulated with numerous bays, headlands, and offshore islets. A major feature is Fish Egg Inlet, which is a complex area of coves, passages, small islands, and islets. To the north, the hills increase in height to about 600 m near tidewater while inland to the east, mountains with summit elevations of 1000 m occur. Major features here include the Koeye River and the old town of Namu. Access is mainly via water and float plane. Until recently, BC Ferries stopped at Namu, the site of an old cannery but now almost uninhabited. Weyerhaeuser operates a logging camp at Doc Creek on Burke Channel. There is considerable tourist and recreation activity in the general area. OCEAN The Ocean Zone includes three main inlets running north from the Inside Passage, Fisher Channel and lower Dean Channel: Spiller, Roscoe and Cascade inlets. This area features a highly complex array of inlets and several lakes which inlet-like characteristics. The shorelines are irregular and most channels have a twisted and angular alignment. Low mountainous terrain prevails; summit elevations vary from 500 m in the southwest to a few peaks at 1,500 m to the northeast. The marine channels and lakes have relatively intimate and scenic characteristics. Access is entirely by boat or air and, except for the vicinity of Ocean Falls, there appear to be very few local forestry roads in the area. PHILLIPS The Phillips Zone includes the Phillips River drainage and Phillips Arm, Nodales, and Cordero and several smaller marine channels. The marine waters contain Sonora, East Thurlow, part of West Thurlow, and Stuart islands which lie just north of Quadra Island. The islands are comprised of rolling terrain and hills to about 600 m. Rugged mountainous terrain dominates the mainland portions where summit elevations may exceed 2,000 m. Access is mainly by air or boat from Campbell River, about 50 km to the south. The area has a long and continuing logging and fishing history and is a very popular boating destination. A permanent logging camp is at the head of Phillips Arm and there are several small resorts on the shores of the islands. The Phillips River drainage has an extensive network of industrial roads. Recreation and tourism opportunities are largely associated with marine activities around and between the islands. QUEENS The Queens Zone comprises the exposed, outer coastlines of Hunter, and Campbell islands and the Bardswell Group as well as a large number of offshore islets including Goose and Gosling islands. This coastline features an extremely indented and complex shoreline with dozens of nearshore islets and islands. The shore is predominately rocky but there are numerous small pocket beaches and a few small sand beaches at the head of a few bays. Access is by boat. Small craft can approach the area by negotiating one of several passages (such as Raymond Passage or Hunter Channel) from the protected waters of the Inside Passage to the east and northeast. There is little development or evidence of human activity in this area. RIVERS The Rivers Zone is mainly comprised of Rivers Inlet and Oweekino Lake and adjacent uplands. Other areas included are Draney Inlet, Darby Channel, and Robert Arm to the south, Moses and Hardy inlets to the northwest, and the Tzeo River to the northeast. The main water and stream corridors are enclosed by mountainous terrain where summit elevations vary from about 1,000 m in the southwest to 2,000 m in the north and northeast. Access is mainly via water from the south end of the Inside Passage off the south tip of Calvert Island. There are several coastal villages or small harbours along Rivers Inlet accompanied by a well-established network of tourist lodges. Salmon fishing has been the major attraction although wildlife viewing, nature cruises, whale watching, and kayaking have also grown in importance.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS SEYMOUR The Seymour Zone is similar to but isolated from the Smith Zone. It includes portions of a broad coastal plain along the ocean and increasingly hilly and low mountainous terrain towards the east leading towards the major mountainous areas of the Pacific Ranges east of the zone. The outer coast is relatively exposed to the open ocean where there are a number of beaches, headlands, and rocky shoreline formations. For about 10 km inland, the low-lying coastal plain is an area of numerous ponds, small lakes, wetlands, and bogs. Narrow passages around Bramham Island on the outer coast south of Cape Caution lead to an intricate network of narrow, longitudinal inlets and channels comprising 175 km of protected waterways. Seymour and Belize inlets are the most prominent channels. Eastward along these waterways the adjacent uplands become more mountainous and summit elevations increase to over 1,000 m at the head of Seymour Inlet. Access is limited to long-distance boat trips or aircraft. SHEEMAHANT The Sheemahant Zone is comprised of mountainous terrain around the Sheemahant and Matchmell river drainages. The stream valleys are narrow and the uplands are steep and rugged. Several summits exceed 2,000 m elevation and glaciers are common. At the east edge of the zone elements of large snowfields and glaciers associated with the Silverthrone and Monarch mountain areas occur. Access roads extend along the Washwash, Sheemahant, and Matchell valleys from the vicinity of South Bentinck Arm and Owikeno to the east. Tourism opportunities are mainly associated with wilderness and mountaineering activities.

SILVERTHRONE This zone is entirely comprised of high, rugged mountainous terrain where summit elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m are common. The area has the greatest expanses of glaciers and snowfields in southern B.C. A few isolated, rough roads enter this zone from the west along valleys such as the Sheemahant and Machmell, otherwise, access is restricted to helicopters or foot travel along mountain trails and routes. Evidence of human development is confined to small portions of the area along these roads The main tourism/recreation opportunities are related to specialized climbing, mountaineering and wilderness travel. SMITH The Smith Zone is somewhat similar to but isolated from the Seymour Zone. It includes portions of a coastal plain along the ocean at Cape Caution and along the western entrance of Smith Sound. The outer coast is relatively exposed to the open ocean where there are a number of beaches, headlands, and rocky shoreline formations. The low- lying coastal plains feature numerous ponds, small lakes, wetlands, and bogs. Terrain becomes increasingly hilly and mountainous towards the east. Most summits are in the range of 1,000 m except for a few at 2,000 m around the head of Smith Inlet. Smith Sound and Smith Inlet represent the main bodies of marine water. Smith Sound is relatively open to the ocean but it features numerous small islands and a few protected bays such as Takush Harbour and Millbrook Cove. There are several smaller inlets and lagoons tributary to Smith Sound and Inlet. Access is limited to long-distance boat trips or aircraft. SMOKEHOUSE The Smokehouse Zone occupies mountainous terrain around the headwaters and upper sections of streams draining north into Owikeno Lake, west towards Smith Inlet and south towards Wakeman Sound and Seymour Inlet. The stream valleys are narrow and upland areas are steep and rugged. Summit elevations are typically 2,000 m and the highest areas feature small glaciers and small cirque basins. There are no significant lakes. Access to this area is restricted to helicopters or to spur roads that just enter the area along a few of the streams. SURF The Surf Zone includes the northwest portion of Princess Royal Island, Laredo Channel, and most of the east portion of Asitazabal Island. Besides Surf Inlet there are a number of smaller, interesting inlets on the west side of Princess Royal Island such as Kent, Helmcken, Racey Chapple, and Cornwall inlets and Barnard Harbour. Terrain varies from a low coastal plain in the southwest to mountainous areas rising to 750 m on northern portions of Princess Royal Island. The numerous lakes vary in size from small ponds to several narrow lakes that are 10 km long. Whalen Lake at the north end of Princess Royal Island is more than 20 km long. Access is by boat or air. Marine access is via Laredo Sound to the south or via Whale

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Channel to the north. There is little permanent development in the area. WADDINGTON The Waddington Zone is comprised entirely of rugged high mountains, extensive glaciers, and short stream courses which are tributary to the Klinaklina River. It contains Mount Waddington, at 4,019 m, the highest mountain entirely within B.C. Local relief is very high; for instance, several of the main summits are within 30 km of sea level at Knight Inlet to the southwest. Access to this area is entirely by helicopter or by mountain routes originating in the Klinaklina and Homathko river valleys. Apart from trails, there is little other human development. The main tourism/recreation features are related to specialized climbing, mountaineering, and wilderness travel.

6.2 PLANNING AREA ANALYSIS

The areas of the Central Coast having the highest suitability for development are illustrated in Table 6-1 below. It relates the rating scores achieved by all 29 planning units. As noted earlier, the scoring combines an evaluation of the area’s features, activities, irreplaceability, and development suitability. Note that this rating deals solely with development suitability based on resource features. Also note that these are relative subjective ratings, based on the knowledge of the analysts and the resource information available for the evaluation.

Attribute Rating explanation Features The quantity, quality, and significance of the physical and features of the unit grouped into water, land, biological, and cultural. Activities The quantity, quality, and significance of the tourism activities that are supported by the features. The categories include water-based, snow-winter based, fishing and hunting, land based and viewing and interpretation. Irreplaceability A combination of the significance of the area’s features and the uniqueness or rarity of the features. This analysis has been applied as a relative comparison within each LRMP area. Lodge development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for lodges. Activity development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for non-built/tour activities. Total A summing of the development focused ratings described above.

The numeric ratings have been ascribed as follows:

Very High (VH) = 4; High (H) = 3; Moderate (M) = 2; Low (L) = 1

Note that the concept of “Vulnerability” was also rated. This topic is defined as a combination of the sensitivity of the tourism features to change or resource alteration, and the risk or likelihood of changes occurring. This a relative measure against other zones in the planning area. It was not intended to be an additive attribute and has not been included in the totals.

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Table 6-1 Central Coast tourism ratings by planning area

RATINGS

PLANNING UNITS

TOTAL LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES SUB-TOTAL

ACTIVITIES SUITABILITY SUITABILITY VULNERABILITY IRREPLACEBILITY ATNARKO 3 3 2 8 2 3 13 1 BELLA 3 3 4 10 3.5 3 16.5 3 BENTINCK 3 3.5 3 9.5 2 3 14.5 2 BROUGHTON 3 3 2 8 3 2 13 2 BURKE 2.5 2 1 5.5 2 1 8.5 2 DEAN 3 3 3 9 2.5 3 14.5 3 FINLAYSON 2 2 2 6 2 1 9 3 HAKAI 3 3 3 9 3 3 15 2 KILBELLA 1.5 1 1 3.5 1 1 5.5 1 KIMSQUIT 2.5 2.5 3 8 3 3 14 2 KINGCOME 2 1.5 1 4.5 1 2 7.5 2 KLINAKLINA 2 2.5 4 8.5 2 3 13.5 2 KNIGHT 2 2 3 7 2 2 11 3 KYNOCH 3 3 3 9 3.5 3 15.5 3 LAREDO 3 3 2 8 2.5 2.5 13 2 LOUGHBOUROUGH 2 2.5 2 6.5 2 2 10.5 2 NAMU 3 2.5 2 7.5 2.5 2 12 2 OCEAN 3 3 4 10 3.5 4 17.5 3 PHILLIPS 2 2 3 7 1 1 9 2 PRINCESS 3 2.5 3 8.5 2 2 12.5 2 QUEENS 3 2 3 8.5 3 3 14.5 2 RIVERS 3 2.5 3 8.5 2 2 12.5 2 SEYMOUR 2 2 2 6 2 1 9 2 SHEEMAHANT 2 2 2 6 1 1 8 1 SILVERTHRONE 2 2.5 3 7.5 1 3 11.5 1 SMITH 2 2 2 6 2 2 10 2 SMOKEHOUSE 2 1 1 4 1 1 6 1 SURF 3 3 3 9 3 3 15 2 WADDINGTON 2.5 2.5 4 9 1 3.5 13.5 1

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According to this scoring system, the following areas exhibit the highest suitability for development based on this features-based assessment technique. The highest rated zones have been grouped into two tiers based on their rating scores and are listed in descending order.

Tier One (scores greater than 14.5) Tier Two (scores between 12.5 and 14) Planning unit Rating score Planning unit Rating score Ocean 17.5 Kimsquit 14 Bella 16.5 Waddington 13.5 Kynoch 15.5 Klinaklina 13.5 Hakai 15 Atnarko 13 Surf 15 Broughton 13 Bentinck 14.5 Princess 12.5 Dean 14.5 Rivers 12.5 Queens 14.5

This evaluation reveals that the high potential areas are represented by three distinct categories of planning units: the coast, the inlets, and the high mountain areas. These are grouped as follows:

• Coast: Broughton, Hakai, Queens, and Surf

• Inlets: Bentinck, Bella, Dean, Kynoch, Ocean, Princess, and Rivers

• Mountains: Atnarko, Klinaklina, Kimsquit, and Waddington

Based on this general rating of the planning units, separate analysis was conducted of the suitability for development for each scenario or category of development. Table 6-2 tallies each planning unit against its potential development suitability. It records the suitability rating of lodges and non-built commercial activities as High/Medium/Low. (Details of the rating for each planning zone are presented in Appendix A.)

The general locations or sites within each planning unit that are deemed to be most suitable for development are also described. These are typically the areas that possess unique or interesting geographic features. They are also areas having high scenic appeal due to the dramatic landscapes.

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Table 6-2 Tourism suitability rating and potential development sites

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING UNIT SUITABILITY POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES LODGE ACTIVITY ATNARKO M H Lonesome Lake, Knot Lake, Turner Lake, Panorama Ridge BELLA H H Bella Bella Area, Shearwater Area, Raymond Passage, Hunter Channel BENTINCK M H Bella Coola Area, Taleomey Estuary, Croyden Bay, Larso Bay, Mt. Sangstad, Ape Lake BROUGHTON M M Turnbull Cove, Sullivan Bay, shorelines of Drury Inlet, Kingcome Inlet, Knight Inlet BURKE M L Kwatna Bay and Inlet, Restoration Bay DEAN H H Kinsquit Bay, Nascall Bay, Eucott Bay FINLAYSON M L Watson Bay, Wallace Bight, Nowish Inlet, Moss Passage, Klemtu Area HAKAI H H Adams Harbour, Kildidt Inlet, Kwakshu Channel KILBELLA L L Kilbella River, glaciers KIMSQUIT H H Salahagan Lake, Kinsquit Lake KINGCOME L M Kingcome River, glaciers KLINAKLINA M VH Klinaklina Lake, Klinaklina River, Trophy Lake KNIGHT M M Knight Inlet shoreline, Glendale Cove KYNOCH H H Culpepper Lagoon, Mussel Inlet, Windy Bay LAREDO H M Bay of Plenty, Kitasu Bay, Monk Bay LOUGHBOUROUGH M M Heydon Bay, Heydon Lake, Fraser Bay, Beaver Inlet NAMU M M Fish Egg Inlet, Elizabeth Lagoon, Kaeye Point OCEAN VH VH Ellerslie Bay, Ocean Falls Area, Elcho Harbour PRINCESS M M Khutze Inlet, Swanson Bay, Green Inlet PHILLIPS L L Phillips Arm, Estero Basin QUEENS H H Thompson Bay, Goose Island RIVERS M M Fishhook Bay, Johnston Bay, Oweekano Lake SEYMOUR M L Seymour Inlet and Belize Inlet shoreline, Nugent Sound, Fredrick Sound SHEEMAHANT L L Sheemahant River, glaciers SILVERTHRONE L H Tumult Glaciers, Klinaklina glacier SMITH M M Taksush Harbour, Naysash Inlet, Wyclees Lagoon SMOKEHOUSE L L Smokehouse Creek, glaciers SURF H H Home Bay, Chapple Inlet, Helmcken Inlet WADDINGTON L H Waddington Glacier

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6.3 REVENUE ESTIMATES

Our revenue estimates are based on the following assumptions. 6.3.1 Lodges Two scenarios have been used to estimate revenues:

Scenario 1: All planning units rated High or Very High get one lodge development over the next 10 years (i.e., an absorption of one per year).

Scenario 2: All planning units rated High or Very High get one lodge development over the next 20 years (i.e., an absorption of one every two years).

These scenarios are based on the following trend information.

• There are currently about 50 roofed accommodations in the area. This includes land-based and floating (both lodges and vessels). One lodge development every year equates to an annual capacity increase of 2%.

• Room revenues have increased about 25% from 1996 to 2000 from $6.3 million to $9.2 million.10 This increase is based on a combination of increased capacity and higher room rates.

• Capacity increases over the 1996 to 2000 period, as measured by number of properties, increased 20% from 45 to 54, and as measured by number of rooms, increased 13% from 779 to 881.

• There has been a refurbishing and repositioning of older lodges, reflecting changing markets. The change has been from a purely fishing focus to a broader range of adventure tourism activities.

In reality, rather than the straight-line growth resulting from a new lodge every so often, it is likely that building will occur in “bunches.” This is expected to occur based on real or perceived markets, availability of land, or other non-resource issues.

Proactive marketing of tourism development opportunities posed by these Crown land sites will likely need to occur. Other innovative or non-traditional development mechanisms may also be needed as the area’s remoteness will be a deterrent.

Lodges will be developed throughout the study area. Our analysis has been based solely on resource values. The analysis indicates that literally dozens of unique and picturesque sites exist throughout the study area. For this analysis, we have assumed that one lodge will be developed in all of the planning areas rating “High” for lodge development. Again, in reality, lodges will be developed for reasons other than physical site suitability.

Revenues are based on estimated averages. Lodges include a range of facility sizes, styles, and qualities — all of which affect the rates charged. Information on lodge revenue is from the following sources:

10 BC Stats Room Revenue statistics for fishing lodges in the Vancouver Island/Coast Development Zone, in current dollars. Note that this Vancouver Island/Coast information was used as a proxy for the Central Coast as specific Central Coast information was not available.

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• MSRM Building Block Analysis on Floating Lodges and Camps – An Economic Profile. This source indicated an average gross revenue of $615,000. This average is based on a very broad range of between $30,000 and $5 million.

• Room Revenue figures for fishing lodges on the Vancouver Island/Coast region. These figures indicated a room revenue per property of $164,000. Assuming the room component of the tariff represents about 25% of the cost, the annual revenues could be around $650,000.

• The North Coast Backcountry Caucus recently commissioned a profile of lodge-based tourism. This report, released in August 2003, produce revenue numbers that were considerably higher than the estimates above.11 This study of 13 facilities revealed a total revenue of $15.2 million, or an average of $1.17 million per property. Although not conclusive, we have assumed these figures would be similar for the Central Coast.

For our analysis, annual revenues of $1.17 million have been assumed. This reflects the range from relatively modest developments to high-end specialty resorts. The figures reflect future expansions and new developments. Revenue estimates are in constant 2002 dollars. All revenues are incremental to revenues from existing operations.

Note that Tourism BC is conducting a survey of adventure tourism operators. The survey contains questions on revenue, expenses, and occupancy. At the time of writing (September 2003) findings of the survey are not available. 6.3.2 Adventure Tourism Activity Products Two scenarios have been developed to estimate revenues:

Scenario 1: Two commercial tourism activities will be developed each year in all the planning units rating Very High or High.

Scenario 2: One commercial tourism activity will be developed each year in all the planning units rating Very High or High.

These scenarios are based on the following information.

Statistics Canada indicates that the number of adventure tourism businesses doubled between 1993 and 1999. Tourism BC has identified 687 adventure tourism operators in the province. The growth rate over the second half of the 1990s was 8% annually.12 The rate of increase we have selected reflects the remote nature of the study area and the difficulties associated with these tourism business start-ups. Historically, the turnover rate is high.

Commercial tourism activity products will be developed in all the planning areas rated Very High or High. Because of the variety of terrain in the study area, and the mix of commercial activity options, nearly half of the planning units rated Very High or High for tourism activities. This could have been due to a large number of good sites or a few spectacular sites. In reality, products will likely develop in clusters to take advantage of infrastructure, access, property availability, emerging markets, etc.

Revenues are based on estimated averages. The range of adventure tourism product offerings in this category is broad. It includes small owner–operator businesses and multinational

11 North Coast Backcountry Caucus, North Coast Multi-Day Nature Based Tourism Industry: An Economic Profile. Pacific Analytics Inc. July 2003. 12 Paul, J. & Associates Inc., BC’s Tourism Product: 1994–1998 Trends and Future Direction. May 1999.

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corporations. Note that these figures were the best available at the time of writing, although some of the data sources are dated. Consequently, we have increased these figures to account for inflation and the generally higher cost operations that have evolved over the last decade. Revenue information from the MSRM Economic Profiles is as follows:

Product category Annual revenue Source Guide outfitters $173,000 (2001) The Guide Outfitting Industry in BC – An Economic Profile. October 2002 Marine cruising Small: $75,000–$100,000 Building Blocks for Economic Development and Analysis – Marine Cruising Operators Large: $250,000–$300,000 (Figures are for 1989) Marine ecotourism Small: $75,000 Marine Tourism Building Block Large: $300,000–$400,000 (Figures are for 1989)

For analysis, we have focused on a blend of developments, but trending towards locally operated options. We have assumed annual revenues of approximately $250,000, which includes a mix of modest owner–operator businesses and some larger corporate operations. The figures reflect future expansions and new developments. Revenue estimates are in constant 2002 dollars. All revenues are incremental to revenues from existing operations.

Uncertainty ratings have been provided. Uncertainty ratings have been devised to indicate the level of confidence that can be attributed to the estimates. Uncertainty ratings have been provided for the following:

• development suitability ratings

• degree to which development is expected to occur

• estimated economic gain

The uncertainty evaluation uses a 10-point scale where 10 = we are certain we are right to 0 = we are certain we are wrong. For the estimated gain category, we have provided estimated percentage error factors.

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Topic Description Uncertainty Development The ratings for development suitability have been based on a combination of the Lodge: 7 suitability quality, frequency, and significance of the features and activities. The rating of development suitability for both lodges and activities has used these attribute ratings Activities: 7 based on the knowledge of the area by the analysts. Translating these attribute ratings into development suitability has involved the application of judgment to these analytical ratings, which has associated with it a degree of uncertainty. Also note that the development suitability scores are relative, meaning they relate and compare to other regions in this zone and to other zones on the coast. Generally the suitability ratings are felt to be reasonably accurate. Degree to which The link between resource suitability and actual resource development is tenuous. Lodge: 3 development is Lodges will be built or expanded, and commercial activities will be developed, based expected to occur on private sector business rationale and feasibility assessments. Resource suitability Activities: 3 is only one of the factors that a potential developer or investor would assess. Consequently, the uncertainty rating is relatively low. Estimated Economic Economic gain is based on applying estimated annual revenues to the projected Lodge: 8 Gain number of developments. The revenue figures are based on existing secondary source data. These data were assembled from existing sources, some of which were Activities: 4 dated. In 2003, an economic profile was prepared for North Coast facilities. This information was based on detailed analysis of selected properties. This information is current and assumed to be accurate (for the lodge sector), and is assumed to be transferable to the Central Coast. The estimated error margins are: Lodge ±10%–20% Activities ±50%–100%

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Table 6-3 Lodge revenue projections

Planning Year units 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Total NPV

Scenario 1: One lodge per year Annual revenue ($000,000)

Bella 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 23.40 14.58 Broughton 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 22.23 14.14 Dean 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 21.06 13.68 Hakai 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 19.89 13.19 Kimsquit 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 18.72 12.68 Kynoch 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 17.55 12.14 Larado 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 16.38 11.58 Ocean 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 15.21 10.99 Queens 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 14.04 10.37 Surf 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 12.87 9.72 Total 1.17 2.34 3.51 4.68 5.85 7.02 8.19 9.36 10.53 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 11.70 181.33 123.07

Scenario 2: One lodge every two years Annual revenue ($000,000)

Bella 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 22.23 14.14 Broughton 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 19.89 13.19 Dean 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 17.55 12.14 Hakai 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 15.21 10.99 Kimsquit 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 12.87 9.72 Kynoch 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 10.53 8.32 Larado 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 8.19 6.77 Ocean 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 5.85 5.07 Queens 1.17 1.17 1.17 3.51 3.19 Surf 1.171.17 1.11 Total 0.00 1.17 1.17 2.34 2.34 3.51 3.51 4.68 4.68 5.85 5.85 7.02 7.02 8.19 8.19 9.36 9.36 10.53 10.53 11.70 117.00 64.23

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Table 6-4 Activity revenue projections

Planning Year units 1 2 3 4 5 678910111213 14151617181920TotalNPV Scenario 1: Two activities per year Annual revenue ($000) Atnarko 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 10,000 6,231 Bella 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 9,500 6,043 Bentinck 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 9,000 5,845 Dean 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 8,500 5,637 Hakai 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 8,000 5,419 Kimsquit 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 7,500 5,190 Klinaklina 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 7,000 4,949 Kynoch 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 6,500 4,697 Ocean 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 6,000 4,432 Queens 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 5,500 4,153 Silverthrone 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 5,000 3,861 Surf 500 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 4,500 3,554 Waddington 500 500500 500 500 500 500 500 4,000 3,232 Total 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6500 6500 6500 6500 6500 6500 6500 6500 90,500 53,779

Scenario 2: One activity per year Annual revenue ($000) Atnarko 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 5,000 3,116 Bella 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,750 3,021 Bentinck 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 4,500 2,922 Dean 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 4,250 2,819 Hakai 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 4,000 2,709 Kimsquit 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 3,750 2,595 Klinaklina 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 3,500 2,475 Kynoch 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 3,250 2,348 Ocean 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 3,000 2,216 Queens 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 2,750 2,077 Silverthrone 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 2,500 1,930 Surf 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 2,250 1,777 Waddington 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 2,000 1,616 Total 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 3000 3250 32503250 3250 3250 3250 3250 3250 45,250 26,889

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Based on the assumptions above, the total revenue generated by the lodge and commercial tourism activity developments over 20 years for the two development scenarios is:

Twenty-year Net present value total revenues (5% discount rate) Lodges: Scenario 1 One lodge per year $180 million $123 million

Scenario 2 One lodge every two years $116 million $64 million

Activities: Scenario 1 Two activities per year $90 million $54 million

Scenario 2 One activity per year $45 million $27 million

6.4 EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATE

Employment is the second key measure of tourism economic gain. Employment numbers for tourism businesses vary considerably depending on the type of product, calibre of the facility, size of the operation, remoteness of the location, and seasons of operation. However, there are some sector norms or averages.

The following information was based on three very recent analyses. One source was the Building Block Profiles conducted for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, which included several specific tourism products. Another source was the adventure tourism survey currently being conducted by the Research Services Department of Tourism BC. At the time of writing, summary data from the Phase I telephone survey were available for our analysis. The third source was the Economic Profile of multi-day, nature-based tourism (conducted for the North Coast. (See Appendix D for citations of these sources.) The following summarizes this information.

Building block profiles Tourism BC adventure Multi-day, nature- tourism survey based tourism economic profile Lodges 11 direct employees (p. 5) 4.4 employees (This figure FTE: 83/13 = 6.4 includes all types of adventure tourism accommodation Total: 181/13 = 13.9 including camps and huts.) Commercial Kayaking camp: 5.0 py (p. 6) Freshwater fishing: 1.5 f.t. + activities 0.5 p.t. Guide outfitters: 2.6 py (p. 4) Saltwater fishing: 1.7 f.t. + 0.6 Marine cruising: p.t. Small: 1.5 py (p. 6) Land-based summer: 2.1f.t. + Large: 3 py (p. 6) 0.3 Average is approximately 3.0 py Marine tourism: 3.3 f.t. + 0.7 p.t. Average is approximately 2.5 py

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For lodge developments, the economic profile for the North Coast lodges is the most current and detailed source, and its findings have been used here. For adventure tourism activity products, an average direct employment of 3.0 has been applied. Both figures represent person-years or full-time equivalents.

The following is a description of the employment impacts expected to be created by the two economic gain scenarios.

Table 6-5 Employment impacts of tourism economic gain scenarios - Central Coast

Descriptor Lodge Commercial activities

Scenarios 1 2 1 2

Per facility: Annual revenue $1,170,000 $1,170,000 $250,000 $250,000 Percent of revenue to wages 20% 20% 40% 40% Total annual wages per facility $234,000 $234,000 $100,000 $100,000 Total direct person-years (1) 6.4 6.4 3.0 3.0 Average wages per person (2) $36,500 $36,500 $33,300 $33,300

Total Central Coast: Total revenue (20 years) $180 million $116 million $91 million $45 million Percent of revenue to wages (3) 20% 20% 40% 40% Total labour income $36.0 million $23.2 million $36.4 million $18.4 million Total direct employment (FTE) (4) 986 635 1093 553

Notes: 1. Total direct person-years for lodges is from the North Coast economic profile, estimated at 6.4 FTEs. Total direct person-years for commercial activities is from the Building Block profiles: Kayaking camp – 4.8 py (p. 8), Guide outfitters – 2.6 py (p. 4), Marine cruising – Small 1.5 py, Large 3 py, (p. 6). This analysis has used an average of 3.0 person-years 2. Average wages per person reflect the calculated FTE. Most jobs are seasonal and the actual salary is estimated at $19,500 (North Coast Economic Profile, p. 8). 3. Wage percentages used were 20% for lodges (North Coast economic profile, p. 5) and 40% for commercial activities (using the Guide Outfitter Building Block data as a proxy, p. 4). 4. Calculated number of jobs (total labour income/average wages per person.

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6.5 ECONOMIC GAIN DESCRIPTORS

The following is a description of the factors that will impact the tourism economic gain scenarios. These topics include how the gain will be distributed (locally and outside the region), the likely levels of performance of the facilities, the requirements or conditions that are necessary to realize the gains, the vulnerability to external events, compatibility with other resource uses, and the anticipated impacts on the ecosystem. These topics are addressed for both the lodge and commercial activity scenarios.

Topics Lodge description Commercial activity description Distribution of the gain Given the small resident population and anticipated These activities will range from large low levels of skilled hospitality industry staff, most international tour companies bringing all employment will likely be from outside the region. their own employees, to local owner– Staff will relocate to the lodges for the operating operators who would employ other locals. season and reside on site. Significant opportunities exist for First Increased local employment could be created if lodges Nations. were developed by area residents. This provides an opportunity for area First Nations. Anticipated split between non-local and local employment distribution is 70/30. Without specific local efforts, anticipated split between non-local and local is 90/10. Levels of activity Occupancy levels will fluctuate based on markets, Tour use levels can vary dramatically as weather, prices, marketing success, and level of there are not the same physical limitations service. The minimum occupancy needed to support a on utilization. Tours typically have between lodge will be about 60% over the operating season. one and two staff for each 8–10 guests. Given the remote area and the importance Upper levels are expected to be up to 90%. These of solitude, groups will tend to be small. rates are based on virtual full occupancy during July and August, and high rates during the spring and fall. Requirements to realize The key to realizing the gain is maintaining the scenic Similar to the lodge requirements. the gain appeal of the area, particularly along the coastal waterways. Development requirements include having operators interested in expanding or developing facilities, ensuring access to financing, and obtaining land tenure or lease. Once developed, sufficient clientele to patronize the facilities, and to allow the facilities to be profitable, will be required. Vulnerability to external International events that adversely affect travel and Similar to the lodge requirements. events tourism can have a dramatic effect on small, remote, and/or seasonal tourism businesses. Based on the events of September 11, 2001, the travel industry has some experience in dealing with the adverse effects, but the impacts can be very significant. Compatibility with other The remote backcountry settings of the potential Viewscapes are a crucial component of uses lodge sites will be important to their success. commercial tour activities. Users are Although not mutually exclusive, forestry and mining expected to be less tolerant of visual would need to be conducted in a way that did not degradation, brought about by forestry or adversely affect the settings surrounding the lodges. mining, than lodge guests. Recent research has indicated the importance of In addition, natural appearing vistas are scenic viewscapes, but also revealed some tolerance required over a broader area than for to logging activity. The threshold appeared to be lodges. within the Partial Retention Visual Quality Objective (VQO). Anticipated impacts on Given the anticipated small size of the lodges, the Impacts will primarily limited to camping or the ecosystem impacts are expected to be small. Best practices hut sites. Some compacting of soils and site should be encouraged in terms of sewage disposal clearing is anticipated. and power generation.

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7.0 NORTH COAST

7.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION

7.1.1 PLANNING UNITS Figure 7-1 Map of North Coast tourism planning units.

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7.1.2 PLANNING UNIT DESCRIPTIONS The North Coast has been divided into 22 planning areas as noted above. The planning area names are solely for this project and refer to the main geographic feature. The following is a description of the general characteristics of each planning unit. They have been listed in alphabetical order. A complete description of the features, facilities, and use areas — along with the rating assessments — are included in Appendix B.

PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS ARISTAZABEL This zone is made up of the outer, exposed, western portions of Aristazabel and Price Islands and a number of offshore islets and islands. Terrain is a low-lying, coastal plain with frequent ponds, wetlands, and bogs. Some sections of the rocky coastlines are extremely crenulated with numerous headlands, pocket beaches, rock formations, sea- eroded rock, and nearshore islets. Access is by boat such as along Meyers or Higgins passages from the Inside Passage or by crossing open ocean from Milbanke and Caamaño sounds. AIYANSH The Aiyansh area occupies a section of the Nass River valley from the vicinity of Canyon City and Aiyansh to near Ksadin Creek. At this point, the Nass River occupies a relatively wide (10 km) valley of rolling terrain. This area also contains a major tributary, the Tseax River, which enters the Nass from the south. High mountains and large glaciers are found just north of the area while several high mountains up to 2,300 m elevation are found either side of the Tseax valley. The area has good road access, connecting to the Cassiar Highway 60 km to the northeast and to Terrace about 80 km to the south. The vicinity of Aiyansh, near the junction of the Tseax and Nass rivers, is central to the Nisga’a people. BANKS The Banks area is coincident with the west portions of Banks Island and a number of smaller offshore islands and very numerous small, rocky, nearshore islets. Terrain is generally flat to hummocky with numerous bogs, small streams, and small lakes. A few hills up to about 300 m elevation are found in central portions of the island. A major feature is the 80 km of exposed and highly irregular coastline facing the open ocean. Bonilla Island along with several smaller offshore islands with very high significance for marine birds. Banks Island is relatively isolated and there is little evidence of any human development. The closest community is Prince Rupert, about 85 km away to the north. Access is by boat or air. CAMBRIA The Cambria area occupies the southern half of the Cambria Icefield, an area where there is 25 km of continuous ice cover. The area also includes the mountainous terrain between Hastings Inlet and Kitsault River. There are a full range of glacial features: nunataks, ice falls, crevasses, active glaciation, and recent morainal deposits. Edges of this area can be viewed from a few roads such as the Stewart Road at Bear Glacier to the north and the top end of the Kitsault Road to the south. DOUGLAS The Douglas area includes the lower 40 km of Douglas Channel and Verney Passage and Ursula Channel. Land areas include mainland sections along the west side of Douglas Channel and along the east side of Ursula Channel as well as major portions of Hawkesbury and Gribbell islands. The terrain is comprised of low mountains averaging about 1,000 m elevation. To the east, there are two hotsprings along the east side of Ursula Channel, one of which is in Bishop Bay, a relatively large anchorage. Certain upland areas on Gribbell Island and west of Ursula Channel have interesting cirque basins and cirque lakes. A small round lake near the summit of Mount Jenkinson on Hawkesbury Island has the appearance of a water-filled volcanic cone. Interesting features, along the west side of Douglas Channel, include Koghlan Anchorage, Kiskosh Inlet, Kitkiata Inlet, and the Quaal River and its estuary. Hartley Bay, close to Koghlan Anchorage, is the only village in the area. Douglas Channel leads to Kitimat at its head, about 60 km to the north.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS DUNDAS The Dundas area includes the islands offshore from Prince Rupert and the Tsimpsean Peninsula: seven medium-sized islands between Dundas in the north and Prescott to the south, along with dozens of smaller islands and islets. Chatham Sound to the east, which is about 15 km wide, separates this archipelago from the mainland. To the west, the islands are exposed to the open Pacific Ocean. The islands feature highly complex shorelines with frequent headlands, small bays, pocket beaches and a profusion of nearshore islets and rock structures. For the most part, the islands are low lying and with rolling terrain. There are a few hills between 200 and 450 m elevation. Few, if any people, permanently inhabit the area. ECSTALL The Ecstall area conforms to the Ecstall River drainage area, a tributary entering the south side of the Skeena River near its mouth just south of Prince Rupert. For the most part, the Ecstall River is slow moving. The lower 35 km is about 1 km wide and has the appearance more of a lake or inlet of the sea than a river. The terrain is mountainous. Summit elevations vary from about 800 m in the north, adjacent to the Skeena River, to 1,800 m in headwater areas to the south. There are no roads but there is relatively close access by water from Highway 16 on the north side of the Skeena River and Port Rupert. The abandoned fish canning community of Port Essington is at the mouth of the Ecstall River. A small dam is located at Brown Lake on the west side of the Ecstall River; a power line is located along the east side of the river. ESTEVAN The Estevan Zone is comprised of islands between Caamaño and Nepean sounds This includes the western portions of Campania Island and the Estevan Group which includes Trutch, Prior, Lotbiniere, and Dewdnet islands and numerous associated small islands and islets. Generally, the area is low-lying coastal plain terrain with a few hills exceeding 200 m. The westward sides of the islands, especially the Estevan Group, have highly irregular rocky shorelines with numerous promontories, headlands, pocket beaches, and nearshore rocky islets. The area is relatively isolated and is approximately equidistant at more than 100 km distance from Ocean Falls, Prince Rupert, and Queen Charlotte City. Except for a few tour operations and a communications tower, there is little development. Access is only by sea or air. GRENVILLE The Grenville area includes Grenville Channel and nearby uplands, the east side of Pitt Island to the west, and mainland mountains along the east side of the channel. The channel is 80 km long and is unusually straight and at 1–2 km wide, quite narrow. It forms part of the Inside Passage between Princess Royal Island to the southeast and just south of the mouth of the Skeena River to the northwest. Mountainous terrain with summit elevations between 750 and 1,000 m predominates. Both east and west of Grenville Channel, several narrow lakes, some up to 10 km long, are within a short distance of tide water. Along the east side of the channel there are seven attractive small inlets with good opportunities for anchorages, shoreline camping, and exploration of nearby lakes, streams, or waterfalls. There appears to be little development and no facilities along the entire length of Grenville Channel. KHUTZEYMATEEN The Khutzeymateen area contains the Khutzeymateen and Kwinamass river drainages and areas around Khutzeymateen Inlet and portions of Sommerville Island adjacent to Steamer Passage. Steamer Passage and Khutzeymateen Inlet provide a narrow 35 km long passage off of lower Portland Inlet to the estuary of the Khutzeymateen estuary. It, along with the Kwinamass estuary, are well known, representative coastal habitats of particular significance for grizzly bears. The terrain is mountainous and summit elevations vary from an average of 750 m in the west to over 1,800 m in the east. Access is by air or boat. There are a few old isolated logging roads along some of the streams.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS KITSAULT The Kitsault area is upland terrain associated with several drainages. From north to south these drainages include Kitsault, Dak, Illiance, and Kwinatahl rivers. The Kwinatahl River valley is relatively broad and drains the adjacent high country to the southwest in the Monument Planning Area. The other rivers are in more confined valleys adjacent to high mountains, some of which exceed 1,900 m elevation. Generally, the area is scenic and the upper reaches of the rivers lead to attractive alpine areas and glacial features. The Alice Arm Road follows the Kwinatahl leading from the lower Nass valley and Cassiar Highway to the south and east. A mining road follows the Kitsault River for about 30 km allowing potential access to old mining activity, Kitsault Lake, and glacial features at the edge of the Cambria Icefield. MONUMENT The Monument area is a relatively small area (20 x 40 km) comprised almost entirely by very high mountains, glaciers and snowfield. It lies between Observatory Inlet to the west, the Kwinatahl River to the north and the Nass River valley to the south and southeast. Most elevations are between 1,500 and 2,000 m. Contiguous ice covers more than 100 km2. There are no roads, although the road to Alice Arm passes close by along the Kwinatahl River. NASS The Nass area includes the lower Nass and its tributaries southwest of Canyon City. The area includes several important tributaries to the Nass such as Ishkheenickh, Kincolith, and Iknouk rivers and several lesser streams. The mouth of the Nass River includes areas of tidewater such as the estuary area and Iceburg Bay. Except for the floodplain of the Nass River the area is generally mountainous and a few peaks to the east exceed 2,000 m elevation. A main road connected to the Cassiar Highway at Cranberry Junction and a road to Terrace serves the main valley and connects to a number of logging roads along some of the tributary valleys. The several First Nations communities in the region include Kincolith at Nass Bay and Greenville. OBSERVATORY The Observatory area includes Observatory Inlet and Alice and Hastings arms and adjacent land areas to more or less the height of land. The three marine channels together represent more than 100 km of relatively narrow channels. Near the junction of the three channels, in the vicinity of Anyox, an old mining area, there are a number of islands, peninsulas, and interesting bays and beaches. Elsewhere, the channels have relatively linear shorelines with few embayments. There are small, significant estuaries at the heads of both Hastings and Alice Arm. Terrain is mountainous and summit elevations are commonly about 1,100 m. To the north the mountains increase in ruggedness and summit elevations may exceed 1,600 m. The adjacent planning areas, Cambria to the north and Monument to the east, are extremely rugged where peaks near 2,000 m occur some of which can be seen from Hastings Arm. Anyox and the surrounding area feature several abandoned mines, old buildings, and mining equipment. Similarly, abandoned houses and buildings are found at the old community of Alice Arm, at the head of Alice Arm. A road eastward connects Alice Arm with the lower Nass valley and the Cassiar Highway. PORCHER The Porcher area includes most of Porcher Island and several adjacent areas such as Ogden Channel and Browning Entrance and the north coasts of Pitt and McCauley islands, Goschen, Gurd, and Dolphin islands to the southwest; Edye Passage and Williams, Henry, and parts of Arthur and Prescot islands to the northwest. In addition, there are a myriad of smaller nearshore islands and islets and there are several bays and small inlets and the relatively large, Salt Lagoon. Much of the terrain is a low-lying coastal plain. The interior of Porcher Island has a few low mountains, the highest of which is Egeria Mountain which rises about 775 m southeast of Porcher Inlet. Kitkatla is the main community in the area. There are a number of small bays and a few small communities and historic sites (e.g., Oona River) where there are modest facilities such as a wharf. The intricate coastline, numerous islands, and considerable protected waterways close to Prince Rupert offer superior opportunities for marine-based recreation activities.

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS PORTLAND The Portland area is a long (150 km) unit along Portland Inlet adjacent to the Alaska border between Chatham Sound and the vicinity of the head of the Canal at Stewart. This area also includes Pearse and Wales islands and Pearse Canal to the south. Except for the southern section of Portland Canal, these long waterways average only about 1– 2 km width and are enclosed by steep mountainous terrain. Local relief is commonly 1,200 m. The canals have relatively uniform shorelines where bays are almost non- existent and where beaches and non-steep shorelines are confined to mouths of small streams. There is little development and very few facilities and, except for the roads at Stewart, access is only by boat or air. (Stewart is technically just outside the study area.) PRINCIPE The Principe zone is comprised of Principe and Petrel channels and associated island segments, the east portion of Banks Island, west portion of Pitt Island and most of McCauley Island. Principe and Petrel channels form an alternative route to the segment of the Inside Passage along Grenville Channel. This alternative route is sometimes referred to as the Outer Route and is about 125 km long. Terrain on McCauley Island and the coastal fringes of Banks and Pitt islands is flat to rolling. The highest areas are along central portions of Pitt Island where summit elevations average 1,000 m. The coastlines of eastern Banks Island and McCauley Island are relatively uniform with infrequent bays or indentations. Conversely, the west coast of Pitt Island has numerous coves, bays, and small inlets as well as a number of nearshore islands and passages. Except for Mink Trap Bay where there appears to be a wharf or dock, there are few, if any, facilities in this area. RUPERT The Rupert area includes Prince Rupert and surrounding areas such as western and central portions of Tsimpsean Peninsula, Kain, Digby, Smith, Kennedy, and De Horsey islands and the east side of Porcher Island; adjacent waterways of Chatham Sound, mouth of Skeena River and Marcus, Telegraph, Malacca, and Arthur passages. Terrain varies from narrow coastal plains to hills and low mountains, general less than 700 m elevation. Prince Rupert is the main city on the central and north coast. It is the terminus for the CNR and Highway 16 and has a long history related to the forestry, fishery, and shipping industries. SKEENA The Skeena area straddles the lower Skeena River about 40 km east of Prince Rupert. It includes the Kyex River drainage and a few small streams north of the Skeena River and six drainages south of the Skeena River, the Scotia and Khtada rivers and Windsor, Ayton, Feak and Alder creeks. Terrain is mountainous with summit elevations varying from 1,000 to 1,500 m elevation. Highway 16 and the CNR railway along the north side of the Skeena River. A pipeline also crosses the area parallel and north of the transportation corridor. Several trails or logging roads parallel some of the tributary valleys such as the McNeil and Kwinitso to the north and the Scotia River to the south. A trail-route also connects Highway 16 to the head of Work Channel to the north. SQUALLY The Squally area includes Squally and Whale channels and associated lands such as the east side of Campania Island, all of Gill and Fin islands and the south end of Pitt Island which includes Union Passage and Tuwartz Inlet. These are relatively protected waters adjacent to the Inside Passage, yet in close proximity to the relatively exposed and isolated coasts of Banks Island and the Estevan Group to the west and the long inlets of Douglas Channel and Gardner Canal to the northeast. There is little development and there are no facilities. WORK The Work area includes Work Channel and contiguous areas to the height on land to either side. Except for Trail Bay, the west side of Work Channel is relatively uniform. To the east there are two inlets, several small bays, and three valleys leading into the uplands. Here, terrain is fairly rugged and the highest ridges in the south feature small glaciers and summit elevations up to 1,400 m. Most access is via boat although trails and pipeline corridor lead to the head of Work Channel from either Highway 16 or the vicinity of Prince Rupert. There are few, if any, facilities.

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7.2 PLANNING AREA ANALYSIS

The areas of the North Coast having the highest suitability for development are illustrated in the following chart (Table 7-1). It relates the rating scores achieved by all 22 planning units. As noted earlier, the scoring combines an evaluation of the area’s features, activities, irreplaceability, and development suitability. Note that this rating deals solely with development suitability based on resource features. Note also that these are relative subjective ratings, based on the knowledge of the analysts and the resource information available for the evaluation.

Attribute Rating explanation Features The quantity, quality, and significance of the physical features of the unit grouped into water, land, biological, and cultural. Activities The quantity, quality, and significance of the tourism activities that are supported by the features. The categories include water-based, snow-winter based, fishing, and hunting, land based, and viewing and interpretation. Irreplaceability A combination of the significance of the area’s features and the uniqueness or rarity of the features. This analysis has been applied to a relative comparison within each LRMP area. Lodge development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for lodges. Activity development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for non-built/tour activities. Total A summing of the development focused ratings described above.

The numeric ratings have been ascribed as follows:

Very High (VH) = 4; High (H) = 3; Moderate (M) = 2; Low (L) = 1

Note that the concept of “Vulnerability” was also rated. This topic is defined as a combination of the sensitivity of the tourism features to change or resource alteration, and the risk or likelihood of changes occurring. This a relative measure against other zones in the planning area. It was not intended to be an additive attribute and has not been included in the totals.

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Table 7-1 North Coast tourism ratings by planning area

RATINGS

PLANNING UNITS FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLACE- ABILITY SUB TOTAL LODGE SUITABILITY ACTIVITY SUITABILITY TOTAL VULNERABILITY ARISTAZABEL 3 3 3 9 3 3 15 2 AIYANSH 3 3 3 9 3 3 15 2 BANKS 2 2.5 3 7.5 3 3 13.5 1 CAMBRIA 2 2 2 6 1 2 9 1 DOUGLAS 3 3 3 9 2 3 14 3 DUNDAS 2.5 2.5 3 8 4 4 15.5 2 ECSTALL 3 3 2 8 2 2 12 3 ESTEVAN 3 2.5 3 8.5 3 3 14.5 1 GARDNER 2 2.5 3 7.5 2 2 11.5 3 GRENVILLE 2 2 2 6 2.5 2 10.5 2 KHUTZEYMATEEN 3 3 2 8 2.5 3 13.5 3 KITSAULT 2.5 2.5 2 7 1 2 10. 2 MONUMENT 2 2 1 5 1.5 2 8.5 1 NASS 3 3 3 9 3 2 14 2 OBSERVATORY 2 2.5 2 6.5 2 2.5 11 2 PORCHER 3 2 3 8 2.5 3 13.5 2 PORTLAND 2 2.5 2 6.5 2 2 10.5 3 PRINCIPE 2.5 2 2 6.5 2.5 2 11 2 RUPERT 3 3 3 9 3 4 15 2 SKEENA 3 2.5 3 8.5 1 2 11.5 2 SQUALLY 3 2.5 2 7.5 3 2 12.5 2 WORK 2.5 3 2 7.5 2 2.5 12 3

According to this scoring system, the following areas exhibit the highest suitability for development based on this features-based assessment technique. The highest rated zones have been grouped into two tiers based on their rating scores and are listed in descending order.

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Tier One (scores greater than 14.5) Tier Two (scores between 12.5 –14) Planning units Rating score Planning unit Rating score Dundas 15.5 Nass 14 Aristazabel 15 Douglas 14 Aiyansh 15 Khutzeymateen 13.5 Rupert 15 Banks 13.5 Estevan 14.5 Porcher 13.5 Squally 12.5 This evaluation reveals that the high potential areas are represented by three distinct categories of planning units: the coast, inlets, and high mountain areas. These are grouped as follows:

• Coast: Aristazabel, Banks, Estevan, Dundas, Porcher, and Rupert

• Inlets: Douglas and Squally

• Mountains: Khutzeymateen, Nass, and Aiyansh

Based on this assessment, a separate analysis was conducted of the suitability for development for each scenario or category of development. The following table tallies each planning area against its potential development suitability. It records the suitability rating of lodges and non- built commercial activities as High/Medium/Low. (Details of the rating for each planning zone are presented in Appendix B.)

A description is also provided of the general locations or sites within each planning unit that are deemed to be suitable for development. These are typically the areas that posses unique or interesting geographic features. They are also areas having high scenic appeal due to the dramatic landscapes.

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Table 7-2 Tourism suitability rating and potential development sites

PLANNING UNIT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES SUITABILITY OR TOURING AREAS

LODGE ACTIVITY

ARISTAZABEL H H Borrowman Bay, Clifford Bay, Weeteem Bay, Rennesan/Anderson Islands, Moore Islands AIYANSH H H Canyon City, New Aiyansh, Lava beds area, Nass River BANKS H H Byers Bay, Griffith Harbour, Foul Bay, outer coast CAMBRIA L H Cambria Icefield mountaineering or sightseeing DOUGLAS M H Hartley Bay, Bishop Bay, Goat Harbour, Kitkiata Inlet, Kishosh Inlet, Ecstall River DUNDAS VH VH Skiakl Bay, Butler Cove, Avery Island area, Brundaige Inlet, Goose Bay, Dundas Island west coast ECSTALL M M Ecstall River and tributary rivers ESTEVAN H H McMicking Inlet, Weinberg Inlet, Langley Passage GARDNER M M Collins Bay, Ochive Bay, Triumph Bay, Kiltuish Inlet, Europa Lake, Crab Lake GRENVILLE H M Kumealon Inlet, Baker Inlet, Klewnuggit Inlet, Union Pass, Inside Passage, Grenville Channel KHUTZEYMATEEN M H Tsamspanaknoa Bay, Steamer Passage, Kwinamass River, Khutzeymateen Inlet KITSAULT L M Kitsault River MONUMENT L M Mountaineering opportunities NASS H M Nass Bay, Iceburg Bay, Grenville, Kincolith, hotspring OBSERVATORY M H Anyox, Alice Arm, Granby Bay, Sylvester Bay, Perry Peninsula, Observatory Inlet PORCHER H H Porcher Inlet, Kitkiata Inlet, Welcome Harbour, Oval Bay PORTLAND M M Ksadsks, Winter Inlet, Wales Harbour, Wales Passage, Portland Inlet PRINCIPE H M Monckton Inlet, Port Stephens, Buchan Inlet, Patterson Inlet, Principe Channel, Ala Pass RUPERT H VH Big Bay, Prince Rupert Harbour, Tuck Inlet, Port Simpson, Maskelyne Island, Telegraph Passage, Port Edward SKEENA L M Skeena River SQUALLY H M Tuwartz Inlet, Union Passage, Curlew Bay, Fawcett Bay, Squally Channel, Whale Channel WORK M H Union Inlet, Quottoon Inlet, Work Channel

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7.3 REVENUE ESTIMATES

Our revenue estimates are based on the following assumptions. 7.3.1 Lodges Two scenarios have been used to estimate revenues:

Scenario 1: All planning units rated High or Very High get one lodge development each over the next 11 years (i.e., an absorption of one per year).

Scenario 2: All planning units rated High or Very High get one lodge development over the next twenty years (i.e., an absorption of one every two years).

These scenarios are based on the following trend information.

• There are currently about 40 roofed accommodations in the area of which about 30 are urban style hotels, motels, and B&Bs in Prince Rupert. The remaining operations include a range of small lodges, camps, and vessels offering overnight accommodation.

• The North Coast Multi-day Nature-based Tourism study indicated a total of 13 resort type properties in the North Coast.

• Anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been little in the way of new development over the last decade, but there has been a refurbishing and repositioning of older lodges, reflecting changing markets.

Note that proactive marketing of tourism development opportunities posed by these Crown land sites will likely need to occur. Other innovative or non-traditional development mechanisms may also be needed as the area’s remoteness will be a deterrent.

Lodges will be developed throughout the study area. Our analysis has been based solely on resource values. The analysis indicates that literally dozens of unique and picturesque sites exist throughout the study area. For analysis, we have assumed that one lodge will be developed in each of the planning areas rating High or Very High for lodge development. In reality, as noted earlier, lodges will be developed for reasons other than physical site suitability.

Revenues are based on estimated averages. Lodges include a range of facility sizes, styles, and qualities – all of which affect the rates charged. Information on lodge revenue is from the following sources:

• MSRM Building Block analysis on Floating Lodges and Camps – An Economic Profile. This source indicated an average gross revenue of $615,000. This average is based on a broad range of between $30,000 and $5 million.

• Room Revenue figures for fishing lodges on the Vancouver Island/Coast region. These figures indicate a room revenue per property of $164,000. Assuming the room component of the tariff represents about 25% of the cost, the annual revenues could be around $650,000.

• The North Coast Backcountry Caucus recently commissioned a profile of lodge-based tourism. This report, released in August 2003, revealed revenue numbers that were considerably higher than the estimates above.13 This study of 13 facilities revealed a total

13 North Coast Backcountry Caucus, North Coast Multi-Day Nature Based Tourism Industry: An Economic Profile. Pacific Analytics Inc. July 2003.

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revenue of $15.2 million, or an average of $1.17 million per property. Although unconfirmed, we have assumed this figures would be similar for the North Coast.

For our analysis, annual revenues of $1.17 million have been assumed. This reflects the range from relatively modest developments to high-end specialty resorts. The figures reflect future expansions and new developments. Revenue estimates are in constant 2000 dollars. All revenues are incremental to revenues from existing operations.

Note that Tourism BC is conducting a survey of adventure tourism operators. The survey contains questions on revenue, expenses, and occupancy. At the time of writing (September 2003) findings of the survey were not available. Results are expected by the end of 2003. 7.3.2 Adventure Tourism Activity Products Two scenarios have been developed to estimate revenues:

Scenario 1: Two commercial tourism activities will be developed each year in all the planning units rating Very High or High.

Scenario 2: One commercial tourism activity will be developed each year in all the planning units rating Very High or High.

These scenarios are based on the following information.

Statistics Canada indicates that the number of adventure tourism businesses doubled between 1993 and 1999. Tourism BC has identified 687 adventure tourism operators in the province. The growth rate over the later half of the 1990s was 8% annually (Paul, p. 15). The more modest increase we have selected reflects the remote nature of the study area and the difficulties associated with these tourism business start-ups. Historically, the turnover rate is high. Our figures assume a net incremental increase of one commercial tourism business every other year.

Commercial tourism products will be developed in all the planning areas rated High and Very High. Because of the variety of terrain in the study area, and the mix of commercial activity options, over half of the planning units rated High for tourism activities. This could have been due to many good sites or a few spectacular sites. For analysis, we have selected the top 10 planning units and attributed two adventure tourism products each. This is a resource-based conclusion made for analytical purposes. In reality, products will likely develop in clusters to take advantage of infrastructure, access, property availability, etc.

Revenues are based on estimated averages. The range of adventure tourism product offerings in this category is broad. It includes small owner–operator businesses and multinational corporations. Noted that these figures were the best available at the time of writing, although some of the data sources are dated. Consequently, we have increased these figures to account for inflation and the generally higher cost operations that have evolved over the last decade. Revenue information from the MSRM Economic Profiles is as follows:

Product category Annual revenue Source Guide outfitters $173,000 (2001) The Guide Outfitting Industry in BC –An Economic Profile. October 2002 Marine cruising Small: $75,000–$100,000 Building Blocks for Economic Development and Analysis – Marine Cruising Operators Large: $250,000–$300,000 (Figures are for 1989) Marine ecotourism Small: $75,000 Marine Tourism Building Block

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Large: $300,000–$400,000 (Figures are for 1989)

For analysis, we have focused on a blend of developments, but trending towards the smaller locally operated options. We have assumed annual revenues of approximately $250,000, which includes a mix of modest owner–-operator businesses and some larger corporate operations. The figures reflect future expansions and new developments. Revenue estimates are in constant 2000 dollars. All revenues are incremental to revenues from existing operations.

Uncertainty ratings have been provided. Uncertainty ratings have been devised to indicate the level of confidence that can be attributed to the estimates. Uncertainty ratings have been provided for the following:

• development suitability ratings

• degree to which development is expected to occur

• estimated economic gain

The uncertainty evaluation uses a 10-point scale where 10 = we are certain we are right to 0 = we are certain we are wrong. For the estimated gain category, we have provided estimated percentage error factors.

Topic Description Uncertainty Development The ratings for development suitability have been based on a combination of the Lodge: 7 suitability quality, frequency, and significance of the features and activities. The rating of development suitability for both lodges and activities have used these attribute ratings Activities: 7 based on the knowledge of the area by the analysts. Translating these attribute ratings into development suitability has involved the application of judgment to these analytical ratings, which has associated with it a degree of uncertainty. Note that the development suitability scores are relative, meaning they relate and compare with other regions in this zone and to other zones on the coast. Generally the suitability ratings are felt to be reasonably accurate. Degree to which The link between resource suitability and actual resource development is tenuous. Lodge: 3 development is Lodges will be built or expanded, and commercial activities will be developed, based on expected to occur private sector business rationale and feasibility assessments. Resource suitability is only Activities: 3 one of the factors that a potential developer or investor would assess. Consequently, the uncertainty rating is relatively low. Estimated economic Economic gain is based on applying estimated annual revenues to the projected number Lodge: 8 gain of developments. The revenue figures are based on existing secondary source data. This data were assembled from existing sources, some of which were dated. In 2003, Activities: 4 an economic profile was prepared for North Coast facilities. This information was based on detailed analysis of selected properties. This information is current and assumed to be accurate (for the lodge sector). The estimated error margins are: Lodge ±10%–20% Activities ±50%–100% The cruise ship sector could be a significant component of the tourism industry on the North Coast. The key difference between the North Coast and the other two LRMP areas is cruise ships, both small and large vessels. Prince Rupert currently derives some economic benefit from the small cruise ships as several port calls have occurred annually in recent years. This is likely to continue. No other ports or communities in the CIT study area regularly receive cruise ship stops.

The major difference for the future is the likelihood of large vessels stopping at Prince Rupert. The Port of Prince Rupert is currently building a cruise terminal to cater to the large vessels and

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stops are expected starting in 2004. These stops would be part of the itinerary of the Alaska cruise market. Research conducted by the Prince Rupert Port indicates that as more vessels join the Alaska cruise market, congestion in the existing ports in Alaska will increase. This situation will improve Prince Rupert’s position as a port of call option.

The difference between the small and large cruise ship impacts is huge as the small ships average about 200 passengers and the large ships up to 2,000. Also, the passenger volume on Inside Passage trips is approximately 10,000 for small ships, and over 600,000 for large ships.

The economic impacts of this large cruise ship market could be significant. The spending impacts to accrue to Prince Rupert include passenger spending, crew member spending, and any ship provisioning. Passenger spending is likely to be the most significant and will include food and beverage, souvenirs and other retail purchases, plus shore excursions. These trips are likely to include fishing, wildlife viewing, kayaking, nature hikes, heritage, and culture tours, plus flightseeing. Rail tours and bus tours are also possibilities. Longer term, there is potential for a made in B.C. cruise market that would involve other ports on the coast from southern Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert Port has conducted research into the likely number of large ship stops they might expect, and their resulting economic impact.14 Subsequent estimates created by the Port Authority show very significant growth from one ship in Year 1 (2004) to seven ships in year 10. The estimated number of stops per vessel is forecasted at 20, while average spending per passenger is $80 in Year 1 rising to $120 in Year 10. For our analysis, we have used the Port’s estimates to Year 10 and then held the number of stops constant to Year 20. Due to the significance of this cruise ship activity, it has been listed it separately below.

14 Prince Rupert Port Authority, Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Port Benefit Analysis. Klugherz & Associates. March 2000.

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Year Annual revenues Year Annual revenues ($,000,000) ($000,000)

1 $3.2 6 $18.8 2 $6.4 7 $18.8 3 $10.1 8 $24.8 4 $10.1 9 $31.5 5 $15.0 10 $31.5 10 year $170.2 Total 20 year $478.5 Total NPV $277.0 Source: Prince Rupert Port Authority.

The following tables depict the calculated revenue estimates for lodge development and for commercial activities. Two scenarios based on different levels of development are provided

.

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Table 7-3 Revenue projections

Planning Year units 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Total NPV

Scenario 1: One lodge per year Annual revenue ($000,000)

Aristazabel 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 23.40 14.58 Aiyansh 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 22.23 14.14 Banks 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 21.06 13.68 Dundas 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 19.89 13.19 Estevan 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 18.72 12.68 Grenville 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 17.55 12.14 Nass 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 16.38 11.58 Porcher 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 15.21 10.99 Principe 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 14.04 10.37 Rupert 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 12.87 9.72 Squally 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 11.70 9.03 Total 1.17 2.34 3.51 4.68 5.85 7.02 8.19 9.36 10.53 11.70 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 12.87 193.05 107.08

Scenario 2: One lodge every two years Annual revenue ($000,000)

Aristazabel 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 23.40 14.58 Aiyansh 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 21.06 13.68 Banks 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 18.72 12.68 Dundas 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 16.38 11.58 Estevan 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 14.04 10.37 Grenville 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 11.70 9.03 Nass 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 9.36 7.56 Porcher 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 7.02 5.94 Principe 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 4.68 4.15 Rupert 1.17 1.17 2.34 2.18 Squally 1.171.17 1.11 Total 1.17 1.17 2.34 2.34 3.51 3.51 4.68 4.68 5.85 5.85 7.02 7.02 8.19 8.19 9.36 9.36 10.53 10.53 11.70 12.87 129.87 69.08

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Table 7-4 Activity revenue projections

Planning Year units 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Total NPV

Scenario 1: Two activities per year Annual revenue ($000)

Aristazabel 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 10,000 6,043 Aiyansh 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 9,500 6,043 Banks 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 9,000 5,845 Cambria 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 8,500 5,637 Douglas 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 8,000 5,419 Dundas 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 7,500 5,190 Estevan 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 7,000 4,949 Khutzeymateen 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 6,500 4,697 Observatory 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 6,000 4,432 Porcher 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 5,500 4,153 Rupert 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 5,000 3,861 Work 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 4,500 3,554 Total 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 86,500 49,729

Scenario 2: One activity per year Annual revenue ($000)

Aristazabel 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 5,000 3,021 Aiyansh 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,750 3,021 Banks 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,500 2,922 Cambria 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,250 2,819 Douglas 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,000 2,709 Dundas 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 3,750 2,595 Estevan 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 3,500 2,475 Khutzeymateen 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 3,250 2,348 Observatory 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 3,000 2,216 Porcher 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 2,750 2,077 Rupert 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 2,500 1,930 Work 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 2,250 1,777 Total 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500 2750 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 3000 43,250 24,865 Page 88 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Based on the assumptions above, the total revenue generated by the lodge and commercial tourism activity developments over 20 years for the two development scenarios is:

Twenty-year Net present value total revenues (5% discount rate) Lodges: Scenario 1 One lodge per year $192 million $111 million Scenario 2 One lodge every two years $129 million $71 million

Activities: Scenario 1 Two activities per year $87 million $50 million Scenario 2 One activity per year $43 million $25 million Cruise sector Prince Rupert cruise ship forecasts $478 million $277 million

7.4 EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES

Employment is the second key measure of tourism economic gain (the other is tourism revenue). Employment numbers for tourism businesses vary considerably depending on the type of product, calibre of the facility, size of the operation, remoteness of the location, and seasons of operation. However, there are some sector norms or averages.

The following information was based on three very recent pieces of analysis. One source was the Building Block Profiles conducted for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, which included several specific tourism products. Another source was the adventure tourism survey currently being conducted by the Research Services Department of Tourism BC. At the time of writing, summary data from the Phase I telephone survey was available for our analysis. The third source was the Economic Profile of Multi-day Nature-based Tourism (conducted for the North Coast. (See Appendix D for citations of these sources.) The following summarizes this information.

Building block profiles Tourism BC adventure Multi-day nature-based tourism survey tourism economic profile Lodges 11 direct employees (p. 5) 4.4 employees (This figure FTE: 83/13 = 6.4 includes all types of adventure tourism accommodation Total: 181/13 = 13.9 including camps and huts.) Commercial Kayaking camp: 5.0 py (p. 6) Freshwater fishing: 1.5 f.t. + activities 0.5 p.t. Guide outfitters: 2.6 py (p. 4) Saltwater fishing: 1.7 f.t. + Marine cruising: 0.6 p.t. Small: 1.5 py (p. 6) Land-based summer: 2.1f.t. + Large: 3 py (p. 6) 0.3 Average is approximately 3.0 Marine tourism: 3.3 f.t. + 0.7 py p.t. Average is approximately 2.5 py

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For lodge developments, the economic profile for the North Coast lodges is the most current and detailed source, and its findings have been used here. For adventure tourism activity products, an average direct employment of 3.0 has been applied. Both figures represent person-years or full-time equivalents.

Prince Rupert Port has forecasted job creation as a result of anticipated vessel stops and the ensuing passenger spending. These figures are based on a passenger spending amount of $65,000 per job.

The following is a description of the employment impacts expected to be created by the two economic gain scenarios.

Table 7-4 Employment impacts of tourism economic gain scenarios - North Coast

Descriptor Lodge Commercial activities

Scenarios 1 2 1 2 Cruise

Per facility: Annual revenue $1,170,000 $1,170,000 $250,000 $250,000 Percent of revenue to wages 20% 20% 40% 40% Total annual wages per facility $234,000 $234,000 $100,000 $100,000 Total direct person-years (1) 6.4 6.4 3.0 3.0 Average wages per person (2) $36,500 $36,500 $33,300 $33,300 $30,000

Total North Coast: Total revenue (20 years) $192 million $128 million $87 million $43 million $478 million Percent of revenue to wages (3) 20% 20% 40% 40% Total labour income $38.4 million $25.6 million $34.8 million $17.2 $237 million million (4) Total direct employment (FTE) (3) 1052 701 1045 617 7,900(5)

Notes:

1. Total direct employment figures are from the Building Block profiles: Lodge - 11 direct employees (p. 5) Kayaking camp – 4.8 py (p. 8), Guide outfitters – 2.6 py (p. 4), Marine cruising – Small 1.5 py, Large 3 py, (p. 6). Although most of these figures refer to person-years (py), we suspect that the figures refer to direct employment for the period of time that the facilities are open. Have used an average of 3.0 person-years.

2. Average wages per person reflect the calculated FTE. Most jobs are seasonal and the actual salary is estimated at $19,500 (North Coast Economic Profile, p. 8)

3. Wage percentages used were 20% for lodges (North Coast economic profile, p. 5) and 40% for commercial activities (using the Guide Outfitter Building Block data as a proxy, p. 4).

4. Figures are derived from the Prince Rupert Port analysis of labour income.

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5. Figures taken from Prince Rupert Port estimates of employment created by year for years 1–10 and held constant through year 20. These figures are as follows:

Year Jobs (FTE) Wages/Salaries (FTE) Total wages/salaries ($000) 1 50 $30,000 $1,500 2 99 $30,300 $2,999 3 156 $30600 $4,773 4 156 $30,900 $4,820 5 231 $31,200 $7,207 6 289 $31,500 $9,103 7 289 $31,800 $9,190 8 381 $32,100 $12,230 9 381 $32,400 $12,344 10 485 $32,700 $15,859

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7.5 ECONOMIC GAIN DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of the factors that will impact the tourism economic gain scenarios. These topics include how the gain will be distributed (locally and outside the region), the likely levels of performance of the facilities, the requirements or conditions that are necessary to realize the gains, the vulnerability to external events, compatibility with other resource uses, and the anticipated impacts on the ecosystem. These topics are addressed for both the lodge and commercial activity scenarios.

Topics Lodge description Commercial activity description Distribution of the gain Given the small resident population and These activities will range from large anticipated low levels of skilled hospitality industry international tour companies bringing all their staff, most employment will likely be from outside own employees, to local owner–operators the region. Staff will relocate to the lodges for the who would employ other locals. operating season and reside on site. Significant opportunities exist for First Increased local employment could be created if Nations. lodges were developed by area residents. This provides an opportunity for area First Nations. Anticipated split between non-local and local employment distribution is 70/30. Without specific local efforts, anticipated split between non-local and local is 90/10. Distribution of gain for the Prince Rupert cruise market will be largely local, although as the market grows, many residents may elect to reside outside of Prince Rupert during the non-cruise season. The anticipated non-local split is 30/70. Levels of activity Occupancy levels will fluctuate based on markets, Tour use levels can vary dramatically as weather, prices, marketing success, and level of there is not the same physical limitations on service. The minimum occupancy needed to utilization. Tours typically have between one support a lodge will be about 60% over the and two staff for each eight to ten guests. operating season. Given the remote area and the importance of solitude, groups will tend to be small. Upper levels are expected to be up to 90%. These rates are based on virtual full occupancy during Numerous opportunities well exist for front- July and August, and high rates during the Spring country tours of the harbour area for cruise and Fall. ship passengers Requirements to realize the The key to realizing the gain is maintaining the General requirements are similar to the lodge gain scenic appeal of the area, particularly along the requirements. coastal waterways. However, the evolving cruise market will Development requirements include having require considerable development of tourism operators interested in expanding or developing infrastructure. This will include a range of facilities, ensuring access to financing, and services designed to cater to the likely six- obtaining land tenure or lease. hour port stop. Once developed, sufficient clientele to patronize the facilities, and to allow the facilities to be profitable, will be required. Vulnerability to external International events that adversely affect travel Commercial tourism activity vulnerability is events and tourism can dramatically affect small, remote, similar to the lodge situation. and/or seasonal tourism businesses. The cruise market can be dramatically Based on the events of September 11, 2001, the affected by external events. Ship positioning travel industry has some experience in dealing and itinerary decisions made by the cruise with the adverse effects, but the impacts can be lines can have significant impacts on ports. very significant.

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Topics Lodge description Commercial activity description Compatibility with other The remote backcountry settings of the potential Viewscapes are a crucial component of uses lodge sites will be important to their success. commercial tour activities. Users are Although not mutually exclusive, forestry and expected to be less tolerant of visual mining would need to be conducted in a way that degradation, brought about by forestry or did not adversely affect the settings surrounding mining, than lodge guests. the lodges. In addition, natural appearing vistas are Recent research has indicated the importance of required over a larger area than for lodges. scenic viewscapes, but also revealed some This situation is particularly the case for the tolerance to logging activity. The threshold cruise sector. appeared to be within the Partial Retention Visual Quality Objective (VQO). Anticipated impacts on the Given the anticipated small size of the lodges, the Impacts will primarily limited to camping or ecosystem impacts are expected to be small. Best practices hut sites. Some compacting of soils and site should be encouraged in terms of sewage disposal clearing is anticipated. and power generation. Cruise ship impacts will need to be addressed by the Prince Rupert Port. Although generally self-contained and environmentally conscious, dumping of effluent, garbage, and bilge water, plus engine exhaust are issues that have caused problems elsewhere.

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8.0 HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS

8.1 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION

8.1.1 PLANNING UNITS Figure 8-1 Map of Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands tourism planning units.

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8.1.2 PLANNING UNIT DESCRIPTIONS The Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii (QCI/HG) has been divided into seven planning areas as noted above. The planning unit names have been developed solely for this project and refer to the main geographic features. The following is a description of the general characteristics of each planning unit, which are listed in alphabetical order. A complete description of the features, facilities, and use areas — along with the rating assessments — are included in Appendix C.

PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS ENGLEFIELD The Englefield area comprises the northwest portion of Moresby Island. This area is characterized by rugged, complex terrain. The exposed coastline facing the open ocean is very rugged with numerous bluffs, eroded rock formations, and small pocket beaches. Two main inlets, Kuper and Tasu, both feature an intricate series of scenic, smaller inlets, bays, and passages. Similar but smaller protected waters are associated with Kootenay and Bottle inlets. Upland areas are entirely mountainous. Although summit elevations are only 2,000 to 3,000 m, the low tree line and serrated ridges have the appearance of much higher terrain. Access is almost entirely by water. A very rough road leading from Moresby Camp to Peel Inlet (off of Kuper Inlet) provides 4-wheel drive access. Tasu Inlet is the site of a major mine and ship harbour. A closed road system connects Barrier Bay (off Tasu Inlet) to Sewell Inlet on the east coast of Moresby Island. There are areas of old, greened-up logging such as at Peel Inlet and a few areas with active logging but much of the area is semi-wilderness and natural-appearing. GWAII HAANAS NOTE: This area is within the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. Human use within the reserve is strictly monitored and managed in partnership by the Council of the Haida Nation and the Government of Canada. Gwaii Haanas has outstanding biophysical and cultural features of high potential tourism significance. Typical, up-to-date resource inventories are not available for this area and any recommendations for tourism development are solely the prerogative of the Haida Nation and Parks Canada. Consequently, the information and assessment for this area does not conform to the same standard as for the other tourism assessment zones. The Gwaii Haanas area is that part of southern the Moresby Island archipelago within the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. The area encompasses over 130 islands in addition to Moresby Island. Terrain is almost entirely mountainous and features a highly complex network of marine waters, small inlets, bays, beaches, and headlands. Much of the area remains in a natural state and access is only by water or air. In addition to a rich array of natural features, the area has exceptional significance for its Haida culture, history, and traditions. Among the hundreds of Haida sites is Ninstints on Anthony Island, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987. LOUISE The Louise area occupies northeast portion of Moresby Island and Louise, Talunkwan, and several small islands. The area is generally mountainous and the marine shorelines are somewhat irregular with frequent bays, beaches, and headlands. Louise Island is a major attraction that is frequently circumnavigated by pleasure boats and kayaks because of its attractive shoreline and proximity to Moresby Camp and Skidegate Inlet. The main water bodies around Louise Island are Cumshewa Inlet to the north, Hecate Strait to the east, Selwyn Inlet to the south and Louise Narrows to the west, which collectively provide a 70 km long water route with frequent beaches and small bays for landing boats. Popular way points include historic New Clew and Skedans, Vertical (Limestone) Point, Breaker Bay, and Rockfish Harbour. Several bays, small inlets, and lagoons that also attract recreation use on Moresby and Talunkwan islands. A series of small alpine ridges and tarns at the headwaters of Skedans Creek on central Louise Island offer an attractive, potential upland destination for hikers and backpackers. Access is entirely by water although there are isolated logging road systems on both Moresby and Louise islands. The general area is subject to considerable active logging. MASSET The Masset area conforms mainly to the east and central portions of Graham Island. Terrain is predominately low-lying and includes much of the Queen Charlotte Lowland along with the Argonaut Plain to the northeast. Here, the land is undulating or level, with poor drainage and frequent muskeg conditions. Elevations are all below 300 m. To the southwest, elements of the Skidegate Plateau are found which has been dissected

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PLANNING UNIT GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS into low mountains with summit elevations averaging about 600 m. The north and east coasts of Graham Island feature extensive sand beaches, including Rose Spit, which run almost continuously for well over 100 km. A major feature of the area is Masset Inlet and Masset Sound, which provide a navigable marine waterway up to 7 km into the interior of the island. The Yakoun River, the largest on the Queen Charlottes, drains the plateau and hills and enters Masset Inlet near Port Clements. The area is served by a paved highway that connects Queen Charlotte City and Skidegate to the south with Masset to the north. A mainline industrial road connects Queen Charlotte City to the south with Port Clements. A network of logging roads is found throughout the area south of Masset Inlet. Masset is the largest community. Port Clements is a small town associated with the forest industry but with several more recently established tourist facilities. NADEN The Naden area occupies the west coast of Graham Island and includes Naden Harbour on the north coast of the island. This area is predominantly mountainous although a small section of the Queen Charlotte Plateau is found to the north around Naden Harbour. Although local relief is not high and summit elevations are generally less than 900 m, the more mountainous areas were deeply eroded by ice, are rugged and feature serrated peaks and alpine characteristics. The exposed coastline along the west shore is comprised of numerous indentations, bays, small inlets, and rocky headlands. There are also a large number of islets and small islands. Langara Island off the northwest tip of Graham Island is the largest. The northern shore is somewhat more regular. The only publicly accessed road is at Shields Bay, which leads from Queen Charlotte City about 30 km to the southeast. A network of isolated industrial roads lead along drainages entering the south end of Naden Harbour which is only accessible by air or water. SKIDEGATE The Skidegate area includes Skidegate Channel and the adjacent areas along the south end of Graham Island and along the north end of Moresby Island. Three main settlement centres are found in this area: Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate/Skidegate Mission, and Sandspit. These communities represent major commercial, residential, administrative, and transportation centres for the Queen Charlotte Islands. The main airport is at Sandspit on Moresby Island while the Prince Rupert Ferry docks at Skidegate on Graham Island. The two islands are connected by a local ferry running between Aliford Bay and Skidegate; extensive logging throughout; large areas of maturing second-growth forests Most of the terrain is hilly to mountainous although a coastal plain extends southward from Sandspit to Cumshewa Head along the east side of Moresby Island. Skidegate Channel and Skidegate Inlet separate the two main islands and provide a protected waterway connecting Hecate Strait in the east to the open ocean in the west. Both the channel and inlet are important local waters for recreational boating and for access to either coastline of the Queen Charlottes. The Skidegate area also includes Cumshewa Inlet. A good road serves Cumshewa Inlet at Moresby Camp, which is as major starting point for boaters and kayakers wishing to visit Gwaii Haanas Park and other popular destinations associated with Moresby Island. YAKOUN The Yakoun area includes the watersheds of the Yakoun and Tlell rivers along the east side of Graham Island. Terrain varies from a relatively low-lying plain to the east and north, which gives way to increasingly hilly areas to the south and west. The low-lying plain, mostly comprised of the Tlell drainage, features extensive areas of muskeg and wetlands where drainage is disorganized. The Yakoun drainage is characterized more by hilly terrain which grades into relatively steep mountainous areas near Yakoun Lake. Here, a few summits exceed 1,000 m elevation. Highway 16 follows the eastern coastline while a mainline industrial road parallels the Yakoun River. Numerous logging spurs, old mining roads, and rough trails are found throughout this area; away from the low-lying wetlands, there has been considerable logging. There are several small areas of old-growth timber, especially near Yakoun Lake. The Yakoun mainline connects with the road leading westward to Rennell Sound. Port Clements just outside the Yakoun area and Tlell represent the only settlements. Tlell is a small residential and farming community with some tourist services. Numerous, small, abandoned mines are scattered throughout the area; relatively extensive trail networks throughout.

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8.2 PLANNING AREA ANALYSIS

The areas of the QCI/HG having the highest suitability for tourism development are illustrated in the following chart (Table 8-1). It relates the rating scores achieved by all seven planning units. As noted earlier, the scoring combines an evaluation of the area’s features, activities, irreplaceability, and development suitability. Note that these are relative subjective ratings, based on the knowledge of the analysts and the resource information available for the evaluation. An explanation of the rating systems is as follows:

Attribute Rating explanation Features The quantity, quality, and significance of the physical features of the unit grouped into water, land, biological, and cultural. Activities The quantity, quality, and significance of the tourism activities that are supported by the features. The categories include water-based, snow-winter based, fishing and hunting, land based, and viewing and interpretation. Irreplaceability A combination of the significance of the area’s features and the uniqueness or rarity of the features. This analysis has been applied as a relative comparison within each LRMP area. Lodge development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for lodges. Activity development suitability An assessment of the suitability of the area for development for non-built/tour activities. Total A summing of the development focused ratings described above.

The numeric ratings have been ascribed as follows:

Very High (VH) = 4; High (H) = 3; Moderate (M) = 2; Low (L) = 1

Note that the concept of “Vulnerability” was also rated. This topic is defined as a combination of the sensitivity of the tourism features to change or resource alteration, and the risk or likelihood of changes occurring. This a relative measure against other zones in the planning area. It was not intended to be an additive attribute and has not been included in the totals.

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Table 8-1 Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii tourism ratings by planning area

RATINGS

PLANNING UNITS FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLACE- BILITY SUB-TOTAL LODGE| SUITABILITY ACTIVITY SUITABILITY TOTAL VULNERA- BILITY

Englefield 4 3 4 11 3.5 3.5 18 4 Gwaii Haanas 4 3 4 11 1 1 13 4 Louise 3 2.5 2 7.5 2 2 11.5 2 Masset 3.5 2.5 3 9 2 3 15 3 Naden 3 2 3 8 4 3 15 3 Skidegate 4 3.5 3 10.5 3 2 15.5 3 Yakoun 3.5 3 3 9.5 3 3 15.5 3

*Tourism development potential subject to strict regulations.

According to this scoring system, and compared with the Central and North Coast areas, all the planning units with the exception of Louise offer significant development potential (based on this evaluation of resource suitability). Five of the planning units scored particularly high (15 or higher). These are Englefield, Masset, Naden, Skidegate, and Yakoun. All of these planning units offer a mix of high quality coastal and upland terrain.

Based on this assessment, a separate analysis was conducted of the suitability for development for each scenario or category of development. The following table tallies each planning area against its potential development suitability. It records the suitability rating of lodges and non- built commercial activities as High/Medium/Low. (Details of the rating for each planning zone are presented in Appendix C.)

A description is also provided of the general locations or sites within each planning unit that are deemed to be suitable for development. These are typically the areas that poses unique or interesting geographic features. Also, some areas have high scenic appeal due to the outstanding landscapes.

Page 98 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Table 8-2 Tourism suitability rating and possible development sites

PLANNING UNIT DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT SITES SUITABILITY OR TOURING AREAS LODGE ACTIVITY Englefield H H Kuper Inlet, Douglas Inlet, Mitchell Inlet, Mudge Inlet, Tasu Sound, Newcombe Inlet, Botany Inlet Gwaii Haanas L L (Tourism development subject to strict restrictions. Locations not sited.) Louise M M Louise Island coast, Dana Passage Masset M H Masset Inlet, Ian Lake, Kundis Island. Beach hiking in Naikoon Park Naden VH H Langara Island, Shields Bay, Seal Inlet, Port Channel, Tartu Inlet Skidegate H H Queen Charlotte City area, Skidegate Channel, Gray Bay, Moresby Camp Yakoun H H Yakoun Lake, Yakoun River, Tlell pontoons

Page 99 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

8.3 REVENUE ESTIMATES

Our revenue estimates are based on the following assumptions. 8.3.1 Lodges Two scenarios have been used to estimate revenues:

Scenario 1: All planning units rated High or Very High get one lodge development over the next ten years (i.e., an absorption of one lodge every two to three years)

Scenario 2: All planning units rated High or Very High get one lodge development over the next 20 years (i.e., an absorption of one every five years).

These scenarios are based on the following trend information.

• There are currently about 50 accommodations in the area of which about two-thirds are motels, inns, and B&Bs. Most of these are very small, typically under five units. The remaining operations are mainly lodges, both floating and land-based.

• Anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been little in the way of new development over the last decade, but there has been a repositioning of floating lodges.

• The area is expected to become increasingly desirable as a destination due to the quality of the area’s resources.

Note that proactive marketing of tourism development opportunities possessed by these Crown land sites will likely need to occur. Other innovative or non-traditional development mechanisms may also be needed as the area’s remoteness will be a deterrent to development.

Lodges will be developed throughout the study area. Our analysis has been based solely on resource values. The analysis indicates that a number of unique and picturesque sites exist throughout the islands. For analysis, we have assumed that one lodge will be developed in the four of planning areas rating Very High or High for lodge development. In reality, as noted earlier, lodges will be developed for reasons other than physical site suitability.

Revenues are based on estimated averages. Lodges include a range of facility sizes, styles, and qualities — all of which affect the rates charged. Information on lodge revenue is from the following sources:

• MSRM Building Block Analysis on Floating Lodges and Camps – An Economic Profile. This source indicated an average gross revenue of $615,000. This average is based on a very broad range of between $30,000 and $5 million in annual sales.

• Room Revenue figures for fishing lodges on the Vancouver Island/Coast region. These figures indicate a room revenue per property of $164,000. Assuming the room component of the tariff represents about 25% of the cost, the annual revenues could be around $650,000.

• The North Coast Backcountry Caucus recently commissioned a profile of lodge-based tourism. This report, released in August 2003, produced revenue numbers that were considerably higher than the estimates above.15 This study of 13 facilities revealed a total

15 North Coast Backcountry Caucus, North Coast Multi-Day Nature Based Tourism Industry: An Economic Profile. Pacific Analytics Inc. July 2003.

Page 100 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

revenue of $15.2 million, or an average of $1.17 million per property. Although not certain, we have assumed this figures would be similar for the QCI/HG.

For our analysis, annual revenues of $1.17 have been assumed. This reflects the range from relatively modest developments to high-end specialty resorts. The figures reflect future expansions and new developments. Revenue estimates are in constant 2002 dollars. All revenues are incremental to revenues from existing operations.

Noted that Tourism BC is conducting a survey of adventure tourism operators. The survey contains questions on revenue, expenses, and occupancy. At the time of writing (September 2002), findings of the survey are not available. 8.3.2 Adventure Tourism Activity Products Two scenarios have been developed to estimate revenues:

Scenario 1: One commercial tourism activity will be developed each year in all the planning units.

Scenario 2: One commercial tourism activity will be developed every two years in all the planning units.

These scenarios are based on the following information:

Statistics Canada indicates that the number of adventure tourism businesses doubled between 1993 and 1999. Tourism BC has identified 687 adventure tourism operators in the province. The growth rate over the later half of the 1990s was 8% annually.16 The rate of increase we have selected reflects the remote nature of the study area and the difficulties associated with these tourism business start-ups. Historically, the turnover rate is high.

Commercial tourism activity products will be developed in all the planning areas rated Very High or High. Because of the variety of terrain in the study area, and the mix of commercial activity options, nearly half of the planning units rated Very High or High for tourism activities. This could have been due to a large number of good sites or a few spectacular sites. In reality, products will likely develop in clusters to take advantage of infrastructure, access, property availability, emerging markets, etc.

Revenues are based on estimated averages. The range of adventure tourism product offerings in this category is broad. It includes small owner–operator businesses and multinational corporations. Note that these figures were the best available at the time of writing, although some of the data sources are dated. Consequently, we have increased these figures to account for inflation and the generally higher cost operations that have evolved over the last decade. Revenue information from the MSRM Economic Profiles is as follows:

Product category Annual revenue Source Guide outfitters $173,000 (2001) The Guide Outfitting Industry in BC –An Economic Profile. October 2002 Marine cruising Small: $75,000–$100,000 Building Blocks for Economic Development and Analysis – Marine Cruising Operators Large: $250,000–$300,000 (Figures are for 1989) Marine ecotourism Small: $75,000 Marine Tourism Building Block

16 Paul, J. & Associates Inc., BC’s Tourism Product: 1994–1998 Trends and Future Direction. May 1999.

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Product category Annual revenue Source Large: $300,000–$400,000 (Figures are for 1989)

For analysis, we have focused on a blend of developments, but trending towards locally operated options. We have assumed annual revenues of approximately $250,000, which includes a mix of modest owner–operator businesses and some larger corporate operations. The figures reflect future expansions and new developments. Revenue estimates are in constant 2002 dollars. All revenues are incremental to revenues from existing operations.

Uncertainty ratings have been provided. Uncertainty ratings have been devised to indicate the level of confidence that can be attributed to the estimates. Uncertainty ratings have been provided for the following:

• development suitability ratings

• degree to which development is expected to occur

• estimated economic gain

The uncertainty evaluation uses a 10-point scale where 10 = we are certain we are right to 0 = we are certain we are wrong. For the estimated gain category, we have provided estimated percentage error factors.

Topic Description Uncertainty Development The ratings for development suitability have been based on a combination of the Lodge: 7 suitability quality, frequency, and significance of the features and activities. The rating of development suitability for both lodges and activities have used these attribute Activities: 7 ratings based on the knowledge of the area by the analysts. Translating these attribute ratings into development suitability has involved the application of judgment to these analytical ratings, which has associated with it a degree of uncertainty. Note that the development suitability scores are relative, meaning they relate and compare with other regions in this zone and to other zones on the coast. Generally the suitability ratings are felt to be reasonably accurate. Degree to which The link between resource suitability and actual resource development is tenuous. Lodge: 3 development is Lodges will be built or expanded, and commercial activities will be developed, based expected to occur on private sector business rationale and feasibility assessments. Resource suitability Activities: 3 is only one of the factors that a potential developer or investor would assess. Consequently, the uncertainty rating is relatively low. Estimated economic Economic gain is based on applying estimated annual revenues to the projected Lodge: 8 gain number of developments. The revenue figures are based on existing secondary source data. This data were assembled from existing sources, some of which were Activities: 4 dated. In 2003, an economic profile was prepared for North Coast facilities. This information was based on detailed analysis of selected properties. This information is current and assumed to be accurate (for the lodge sector), and is assumed to be transferable to the QCI/HG. The estimated error margins are: Lodge ±10%–20% Activities ±50%–100%

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Table 8-3 Lodge revenue projections

Planning Year units 1 2 3 4 5 6789101112131415 1617181920TotalNPV

Scenario 1: One lodge every two years Annual revenue ($000,000)

Englefield 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 23.40 14.14 Naden 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 21.06 13.68 Skidegate 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 18.72 12.68 Yakoun 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 16.38 11.58 Total 1.17 1.17 2.34 2.34 3.51 3.51 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 79.56 52.08

Scenario 2: One lodge every five years Annual revenue ($000,000)

Englefield 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 23.40 14.14 Naden 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 18.72 12.68 Skidegate 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 12.87 9.72 Yakoun 1.17 1.171.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 7.02 5.94 Total 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 2.34 2.34 2.34 2.34 2.34 3.51 3.51 3.51 3.51 3.51 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 4.68 62.01 42.48

Page 103 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Table 8-4 Activity revenue projections

Planning Year units 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Total NPV

Scenario 1: One activity per year Annual revenue ($000)

Englefield 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 5,000 3,021 Gwaii Haanas 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,750 3,021 Louise 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,500 2,922 Masset 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,250 2,819 Naden 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 4,000 2,709 Skidegate 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 3,750 2,595 Yakoun 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 3,500 2,475 Total 250 500 750 1,000 1,250 1,500 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 29,500 17,797

Scenario 2: One activity every two years Annual revenue ($000)

Englefield 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 5,000 3,021 Gwaii Haanas 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 4,500 2,922 Louise 250 250 250250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 4,000 2,709 Masset 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 3,500 2,475 Naden 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 3,000 2,216 Skidegate 250 250 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 2,500 1,930 Yakoun 250 250 250 250250 250 250 250 2,000 1,616 Total 250 250 500 500 750 750 1,0001,000 1,250 1,250 1,500 1,500 1,750 1,750 1,750 1,7501,750 1,750 1,750 1,750 24,250 13,848

Page 104 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Based on the assumptions above, the total revenue generated by the lodge and commercial tourism activity developments over 20 years for the two development scenarios is:

Twenty-year Net present value total revenues (5% discount rate) Lodges: Scenario 1 One lodge per year $80 million $52 million

Scenario 2 One lodge every two years $62 million $42 million

Activities: Scenario 1 Two activities per year $29 million $18 million

Scenario 2 One activity per year $24 million $14 million

8.4 EMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES

Employment is the second key measure of tourism economic gain (the other is tourism revenue). Employment numbers for tourism businesses vary considerably depending on the type of product, calibre of the facility, size of the operation, remoteness of the location, and seasons of operation. However, there are some sector norms or averages.

The following information was based on three very recent pieces of analysis. One source was the Building Block Profiles conducted for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, which included several specific tourism products. Another source was the adventure tourism survey currently being conducted by the Research Services Department of Tourism BC. At the time of writing, summary data from the Phase I telephone survey was available for our analysis. The third source was the Economic Profile of multi-day nature-based tourism (conducted for the North Coast. (See Appendix D for citations of these sources.) The following is a summary of this information.

Building block profiles Tourism BC adventure tourism Multi-day nature-based survey tourism economic profile Lodges 11 direct employees (p. 5) 4.4 employees (This figure includes FTE: 83/13 = 6.4 all types of adventure tourism accommodation including camps and Total: 181/13 = 13.9 huts.) Commercial Kayaking camp: 5.0 py (p. 6) Freshwater fishing: 1.5 f.t. + 0.5 p.t. activities Guide outfitters: 2.6 py (p. 4) Saltwater fishing: 1.7 f.t. + 0.6 p.t. Marine Cruising: Land-based summer: 2.1f.t. + 0.3 Small: 1.5 py (p. 6) Marine tourism: 3.3 f.t. + 0.7 p.t. Large: 3 py (p. 6) Average is approximately 2.5 py Average is approximately 3.0 py

Page 105 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

For lodge developments, the economic profile for the North Coast lodges is the most current and detailed source, and its findings have been used here. For adventure tourism activity products, an average direct employment of 3.0 has been applied. Both figures represent person-years or full-time equivalents.

The following is a description of the employment impacts expected to be created by the two economic gain scenarios.

Table 8-5 Employment impacts of tourism economic gain scenarios – Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii

Descriptor Lodge Commercial activities

Scenarios 1 2 1 2

Per Facility: Annual revenue $1,170,000 $1,170,000 $250,000 $250,000 Percent of revenue to wages 20% 20% 40% 40% Total annual wages per facility $234,000 $234,000 $100,000 $100,000 Total direct person-years (1) 6.4 6.4 3.0 3.0 Average wages per person (2) $36,600 $36,500 $33,300 $33,300

Total QCI/HG: Total revenue (20 years) $80 million $62 million $30 million $24 million Percent of revenue to wages (3) 20% 20% 40% 40% Total labour income (3) $16.0 million $12.4 million $12.0 million $9.6 million Total direct employment (FTE) (3) 438 340 360 288

Notes:

1. Total direct employment figures are from the Building Block profiles: Lodge - 11 direct employees (p. 5) Kayaking camp – 4.8 py (p. 8), Guide outfitters – 2.6 py (p. 4), Marine cruising – Small 1.5 py, Large 3 py, (p. 6). Although most of these figures refer to person-years (py), we suspect that the figures refer to direct employment for the period of time that the facilities are open. Have used an average of 3.0 person-years.

2. Wage percentages are from the Building Block profiles: Lodge (26%), Guide outfitter (40%).

3. Wage percentages used were 20% for lodges (North Coast economic profile, p. 5) and 40% for commercial activities (using the Guide Outfitter Building Block data as a proxy, p. 4).

4. Calculated number of jobs (total labour income/average wage per person).

Page 106 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

8.5 ECONOMIC GAIN DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of factors that will impact the tourism economic gain scenarios. These topics include how the gain will be distributed (locally and outside the region), the likely levels of performance of the facilities, the requirements or conditions that are necessary to realize the gains, the vulnerability to external events, compatibility with other resource uses, and the anticipated impacts on the ecosystem. These topics are addressed for both the lodge and commercial activity scenarios.

Topics Lodge description Commercial activity description Distribution of the Given the small resident population These activities will range from large gain and anticipated low levels of skilled international tour companies bringing hospitality industry staff, most all their own employees, to local employment will likely be from owner–operators who would employ outside the region. Staff will relocate to other locals. the lodges for the operating season Significant opportunities exist for First and reside on site. Nations. Increased local employment could be created if lodges were developed by Anticipated split between non-local area residents. This provides an and local employment distribution is 70/30. opportunity for area First Nations.

Without specific local efforts, anticipated split between non-local and local is 90/10.

Levels of activity Occupancy levels will fluctuate based Tour use levels can vary dramatically on markets, weather, prices, marketing as there is not the same physical success, and level of service. The limitations on utilization. Tours minimum occupancy needed to typically have between one and two support a lodge will be about 60% over staff for each 8–10 guests. Given the the operating season. remote area and the importance of solitude, groups will tend to be small. Upper levels are expected to be up to 90%. These rates are based on virtual full occupancy during July and August, and high rates during the spring and fall.

Page 107 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Requirements to The fundamental key to realizing the Similar to the lodge requirements. realize the gain gain is maintaining the scenic appeal of the area, particularly along the coastal waterways.

Development requirements include having operators interested in expanding or developing facilities, ensuring access to financing, and obtaining land tenure or lease.

Once developed, sufficient clientele to patronize the facilities, and to allow the facilities to be profitable, will be required.

Vulnerability to International events that adversely Similar to the lodge requirements. external events affect travel and tourism can have a dramatic effect on small, remote and/or seasonal tourism businesses.

Based on the events of September 11, 2001, the travel industry has some experience in dealing with the adverse effects, but the impacts can be very significant.

Compatibility with The remote backcountry settings of the Viewscapes are a crucial component of other uses potential lodge sites will be important commercial tour activities. Activity to their success. Although not participants are expected to be less mutually exclusive, forestry and tolerant than lodge guests of visual mining would need to be conducted in degradation brought about by forestry a way that did not adversely affect the or mining,. settings surrounding the lodges.

Recent research has indicated the importance of scenic viewscapes, but also revealed some tolerance to logging activity. The threshold appeared to be within the Partial Retention Visual Quality Objective (VQO).

Anticipated impacts Given the anticipated small size of the Impacts will primarily be limited to on the ecosystem lodges, the impacts are expected to be camping or hut sites. Some compacting small. Best practices should be of soils and site clearing is anticipated. encouraged in terms of sewage disposal and power generation.

Page 108 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

9.0 CONCLUSIONS

9.1 Background

This study has dealt with resource analysis from the perspective of future tourism development. It has attempted to answer the question, “How can the site characteristics be translated into economic gain?” where economic gain is measured in terms of revenue and employment.

The CIT study area is large and diverse with a variety of very high quality resource features. The rugged outer coast and the myriad of coastal waterways and inlets are unique in the world. The Coast Mountains also have some of the highest peaks in Canada.

Tourism is particularly relevant as an economic activity for the CIT study area because of the quality of the natural resources and the area’s international reputation as a backcountry destination. Many of the area’s resources are of very high quality and significance. This resource quality has attracted visitors from throughout the world.

The resources are broadly based from two perspectives. One is that they are distributed geographically throughout the coast from the Broughton Archipelago in the south to the Portland Canal and the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii in the north. Second, they are broadly based in terms of the range of features, which include foreshore areas, marine waterways, coves, inlets, islands, rivers, lakes, and mountains.

The area’s reputation is also based on a dual focus. One focus is the high quality tourism resources and products, which cater to a relatively small but keen group of outdoors enthusiasts. The other focus is the Alaska cruise market, which exposes the study area to approximately 700,000 persons each cruise season.

9.2 Tourism Outlook

The area’s remoteness, high scenic values, significant resource features, and relatively undeveloped nature will continue to be the key draws. Markets will likely continue to be relatively affluent, staying from a few days to a week in a wilderness lodge or pursuing a nature-based activity. The activity focuses will continue to have a strong reliance on quality fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities, and First Nations culture. The cruise sector offers a tremendous opportunity for economic gain if the large cruise ships can be encouraged to regularly build Prince Rupert into their itineraries, and if the small vessels can be encouraged to stop at other coastal communities.

Note that the future opportunities that are described herein are resource based. That is, the resource or the land/water feature significance has been used as the basis for the outlook. This is only one component of the tourism development decision process. Turning these resource opportunities into tourism developments will require project-specific feasibility assessments and investments by individuals or companies. Providing certainty about the status of the land base is crucial to this decision process.

The study area has some spectacular physical and cultural resources upon which future tourism could be developed. Maximizing this potential will involve preserving options to allow the industry to develop to meet market demands and community needs. Preserving options infers preserving the visual integrity of the area.

Page 109 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

Based on the assumptions and the analysis presented herein, the following conclusions are made.

9.3 Revenue

Total revenue estimates for the study area over the 20-year planning horizon is between $900 million and $1,137 million, depending on the scenario. Note that this estimate is dominated by the cruise sector, which is responsible for approximately 50% of the total.

Region Lodge Activities Cruise Total Scenario 1: Central Coast $180,180,000 $90,500,000 Included $270,680,000 North Coast $191,880,000 $86,500,000 $478,500,000 $756,880,000 QCI/HG $79,560,000 $29,500,000 Included $109,060,000 Total $451,620,000 $206,500,000 $478,500,000 $1,136,620,000

Scenario: 2 Central Coast $117,000,000 $45,250,000 Included $162,250,000 North Coast $128,700,000 $43,865,000 $478,500,000 $651,065,000 QCI/HG $62,010,000 $24,250,000 Included $86,250,000 Total $307,710,000 $113,365,000 $478,500,000 $899,565,000

The net present value of these revenue streams over 20 years at a 5% discount rate is estimated to be between $521 million and $684 million, depending on the scenario. The distribution among the three LRMP areas as follows:

Region Lodge Activities Cruise Total Scenario 1: Central Coast $122,630,000 $53,779,000 Included $176,409,000 North Coast $111,260,000 $49,729,000 $277,000,000 $437,989,000 QCI/HG $52,080,000 $17,797,000 Included $69,877,000 Total $285,970,000 $121,305,000 $277,000,000 $684,275,000

Scenario: 2 Central Coast $64,230,000 $26,889,000 Included $91,119,000 North Coast $71,370,000 $24,865,000 $277,000,000 $373,235,000 QCI/HG $42,480,000 $13,848,000 Included $56,328,000 Total $178,080,000 $65,602,000 $277,000,000 $520,682,000

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9.4 Employment

Total employment over the 20-year planning horizon is calculated to be between 11,034 and 12,874, depending on the scenario. Again, the employment is dominated by the Alaska cruise sector. The distribution among the three LRMP areas is as follows:

Region Lodge Activities Cruise Total Scenario 1: Central Coast 986 1,093 Included 2,079 North Coast 1,052 1,045 7,900 9,997 QCI/HG 438 360 Included 798 Total 2,476 2,498 7,900 12,874

Scenario: 2 Central Coast 635 553 Included 1,188 North Coast 701 617 7,900 9,218 QCI/HG 340 288 Included 628 Total 1,676 1,458 7,900 11,034

Page 111 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

APPENDICES

A CENTRAL COAST PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES B NORTH COAST PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES C HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES D INFORMATION SOURCES

Page 112 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

APPENDIX A CENTRAL COAST PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: ATNARKO

The Atnarko Zone forms a transitional area between the Coast Mountains to the west and the Interior Plateau to the west and occupies the western portions of the Atnarko River drainage. Plateau-like terrain is found in northern portions of this area while elevation and local relief increase southward where elements of the Coast Mountains General dominate. Several peaks with elevations of 3000 meters are found at the south edge of the Atnarko Zone. Characteristics The Bella Coola Highway bisects the area to the north where the Atnarko River turns westward to join the Talchako River. Away from the highway wilderness prevails. Most of this zone forms the south half of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Numerous lakes, attractive alpine meadows and highly scenic terrain are characteristic. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES about 15 small to medium sized lakes are found in close association with scenic mountainous terrain; many of the lakes are found in chain-like groups and have potential as canoeing and portage features WATER VH VH VH the Atnarko River is the main stream; portions of the river and some of its many tributaries are incised into canyons and steep-sided valleys; there are numerous waterfalls including the distinctive Hunlen Falls near the outlet of Turner Lake there is highly varied terrain including mountainous areas with broad LAND alpine and sub-alpine plateaus as well as extensively glaciated VH H H terrain at the edge of Monarch Icefield a wide range of big game species and other wildlife share the BIOLOGIC H H H transitional habitats; the streams and lakes have trout and char the Bella Coola Highway has an interesting history and dramatic CULTURAL location; Lonesome Lake has an interesting history based on its H H H settlement by the Edwards family Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE canoeing, primitive camping and small boat use in a wilderness setting H H H SNOW-WINTER (probably) good opportunities for cross-country skiing, skidooing, etc. H H H FISH/HUNTING stream and lake trout fishing; hunting restricted by park regulation M M M highly attractive hiking, riding, viewing and wilderness travel LAND H H H opportunities superior viewing features such as waterfalls (especially Hunlen Falls), VIEW-INTERPRET VH H VH glaciers, mountain peaks and alpine terrain; diverse wildlife Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Tweadsmuir Provincial Park VH VH VH Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS low M M COMMERCIAL USERS about 6 operators M M AREA(S) USED plateaus, mountains, valley bottoms VH VH % AREA USED dispersed over most of area VH VH Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE subject to park regulations M M M TOUR high potential H H H

Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. Duplicated along the Coast Mountains M

VULNERABILITY Low vulnerability to visual disturbance. L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER. LODGE SUIT. ACTIVITY SUIT. 3 3 2 (1)* 2 3 Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13

Page 113 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: BELLA

The Bella Area is made up of portions a number of islands straddling the Inside Passage and centred around the community of Bella Bella. For the most part, the islands are low-lying with complex shorelines, very numerous bays and offshore islets. To the east, terrain becomes increasing hilly and there are some summits as high as 750 General meters. In addition to the Inside Passage, this area is central to a number of major marine routes including Characteristics Mathieson and Spiller channels leading northward to Sheep Passage and Fiordland Protected Area, Roscoe Inlet to the northeast, Dean and Burke channels to the east and Fitz Hugh Sound to the south. Access is by boat and there is considerable cruise ship, recreational boating and marine transport activity in the area. Shearwater and Bella Bella receive regular air service. There is a variety of tourism and recreation activity. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES very extensive, intricate network of inter-connected marine channels and connections to numerous, adjacent waterways; numerous small WATER VH VH VH bays, protected anchorages and lagoons; numerous small lakes, ponds, bogs and small streams LAND mainly level to rolling terrain with very frequent wetlands M H M outstanding variety of marine habitats and marine life; black bear and BIOLOGIC VH VH VH deer throughout; high marine fishery values Bella Bella and Shearwater communities also have historic significance; CULTURAL H M H numerous First Nations’ use areas Score H ACTIVITIES very high quality boat cruising and kayaking waters; frequent small WATER-SHORE VH VH VH beaches, bays and anchorages; SNOW-WINTER minor, if any L L L superior salmon and ground fishing; trout fishing in small lakes; FISH/HUNTING gathering and collected marine food stuffs; bear, deer, and VH VH VH waterfowl hunting LAND short hiking opportunities M H M marine and terrestrial wildlife viewing, sea mammals and whale VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH watching; interesting tidal phenomena Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) three H M M TOURING (R) five operations H H H TRANSPORTATION (P) one or more M M M ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) floats and wharves M M M PROTECTED AREAS Codville Lagoon Marine Park (formerly, Sager Lake Park) VH L H Score M USE USE NUMBERS moderate-high H H COMMERCIAL USERS six or more H H AREA(S) USED all marine waterways H H % AREA USED very high proportion of area VH VH Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several good opportunities away from Bella Bella VH H H TOUR good opportunities throughout (vs. existing operations) H H H

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. Relatively rare. VH VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to visual disturbance due to numerous marine channels H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* LODGE SUIT. ACTIVITY SUIT. 3 3 4 (3) 3.5 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 16.5

Page 114 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: BENTINCK

The Bentinck Zone is relatively large, encompassing the Bentinck and South Bentinck Arm areas, the Bella Coola River Valley and northern portions of the Monarch Icefield area. Steep, rugged mountainous terrain prevails. Summit elevations of 2000 meters are common throughout and several summits averaging 3000 meters elevation are found to the southeast in the Monarch Icefield area. Glaciers and snowfields are common throughout the south half of the area. General Bella Coola, with a population of about 1000, is a major coastal community and administrative centre. It is served by Characteristics Highway 20, the Bella Coola Highway, as well as by scheduled flights and regular B.C. Ferries service in the summer (June-September) tourist season. There are full facilities in terms of accommodation and supplies at Bella Coola. Several nearby forestry roads and numerous trails and routes provide access into the mid and back- country mountainous areas. There are very good opportunities for a wide range of tourist and recreation activities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Bentinck and South Bentinck arms with connections to several significant marine waterways including Burke and Dean channels; WATER H H H there are several recreationally signifiucant rivers and numerous streams but, except for alpine tarns, there are very few lakes extensive and varied mountainous and alpine terrain; several distinctive features such as hotsprings, waterfalls, big trees and Ape Lake, a unique, self-dumping, glacial lake; a very extensive LAND network of trails and logging roads provide access throughout VH VH VH much of the area; highly scenic features throughout from the marine channels, stream corridors, alpine areas to very large glaciers; marine and terrestrial wildlife; grizzly bear concentrations; high BIOLOGIC salmon, groundfish and fresh-water fish resources; large, H H H significant estuaries at Bella Coola, Taleomy and Noeick rivers Bella Coola and small settlements and camps such as Tallheo and CULTURAL Taleomey; distinctive petroglyphs at Thorsen Creek; pictographs H H H reported elsewhere Score H ACTIVITIES boat cruising, diving, kayaking, rafting (Bella Coola River), shoreline WATER-SHORE VH VH VH camping SNOW-WINTER cross-country skiing, snowmobiling M M M big game hunting; salt-water and fresh-water fishing; gather and collect FISH/HUNTING H H H marine and terrestrial food-stuffs highly significant alpine and glacial features; very extensive hiking and LAND VH VH VH wilderness travel activities marine and terrestrial wildlife viewing; big tree viewing; glacial and VIEW-INTERPRET alpine features interpretation; high scenic qualities throughout; VH VH VH historic, settlement and First Nations’ cultural appreciation Score H/VH FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) 7 motels/hotels/lodges (Bella Coola, Hagensborg, Bella Coola valley) VH VH VH TOURING (R) 9 tour operators based at Bella Coola and in Bella Coola Valley VH VH VH TRANSPORTATION (P) several H H H ATTRACTION (T) 4 M M M 4 MoF recreation sites; several marine sites with wharves or floats MISC (F) H H H (numerous trails, managed and unmanaged) PROTECTED AREAS east area includes small portions of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park H M M Score H USE USE NUMBERS high H H COMMERCIAL USERS 12 or more commercial operators VH VH AREA(S) USED Bella Coola River corridor; many upland areas H H % AREA USED close to half M M Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE moderate potential M M M TOUR moderate-high potential (several existing operations) H H H

Score M/H

IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features H VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to visual disturbance from marine channels M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3.5 3 (2) 2 3

Page 115 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

*Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14.5

Page 116 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: BROUGHTON

The Broughton Zone comprises an archipelago of islands and islets and small areas of the adjacent mainland at the east end of Queen Charlotte Strait and west end of Johnson Strait. Most of the island coastlines are irregular, with frequent bays and small coves. There are numerous and varied marine channels with superior opportunities for boat cruising, kayaking, whale watching, wildlife viewing, fishing, camping and exploration. Port Hardy and Port McNeill on Vancouver are the closest communities which serve as relatively close “jumping- off points” for many users of the Broughton Zone. In addition, numerous people arrive via Johnstone Strait General from centres such as Campbell River, Vancouver and Puget Sound. Characteristics Logging and fishing are well established industries but there is little evidence of the numerous canneries and logging camps that were once common. Several small First Nations communities and use areas occur. The village of Kingcome to the northeast is the largest community in the Broughton Zone. There are several tourist lodges and small service centres with fuel and mail. The Broughton area has grown significantly in the last few decades for its excellent marine-based recreation and tourism opportunities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES extensive network of protected marine channels, small inlets and bays; numerous coves and beaches for landing small craft; several small WATER VH VH VH lakes; lower reaches of the Wakeman and Kingcome rivers and their associated estuaries low, forested hills to 300/750 meters dominate islands; mountains to LAND 1500 meters on mainland; modest opportunities for hiking, M M M viewing, wildlife viewing relatively rich area for marine and upland fauna; excellent opportunities to view marine mammals, a wide variety of birds and BIOLOGIC large mammals including black bear, grizzly bear (to the north) and VH VH VH deer; high quality and varied shoreline, inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitats numerous old cannery and logging camp sites; numerous First Nations CULTURAL traditional use sites and several small villages; coastal cruise ships H M M along Johnstone and Queen Charlotte straits Score H ACTIVITIES salmon fishing, kayaking, boat cruising, whale watching, wildlife WATER-SHORE VH VH VH viewing, SNOW-WINTER minimal opportunities L L L marine salmon fishing; some freshwater trout and salmon fishing; deer FISH/HUNTING H H H and black bear hunting throughout; gather/collect clams, crabs, etc. LAND hiking; big game and upland bird hunting; M M M whale watching, bird watching, wildlife viewing, intertidal life forms; VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH cultural interpretation Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) 11 lodges/resorts H H H TOURING (R) numerous touring kayaking activities VH H H TRANSPORTATION (P) boat and air charters originating outside of area M M M ATTRACTION (T) none known L L L 2 MoF marine-based recreation sites at Kingcome and Alutzi River Eco MISC (F) L L L Reserves Broughton Archipelago Marine Park adjacent to Cormorant Channel PROTECTED AREAS Protected Area, Echo Bay Marine Park Score M USE USE NUMBERS high numbers of boaters, kayakers, VH VH COMMERCIAL USERS very high numbers of operators VH VH AREA(S) USED all marine waterways; most shorelands, H H % AREA USED high proportion of area H H Score H/VH DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE relatively high numbers of existing lodges; some potential for more H H H TOUR tour operation potential for more intensive use M M M

Score M/H

IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant features. Duplicated elsewhere M VULNERABILITY Area historically heavily modified M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY TOTAL 3 3 2 (2) 3 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13

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Page 118 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: BURKE

The Burke Zone coincides with Burke Channel and the adjacent mountain slopes northeast of Doc Creek; Kwatna Inlet, the Kwatna and Quatlena river drainages and upper Doc Creek drainage. Except for Kwatna Inlet, Burke Channel has no small, protected bays or coves. However, it is a major shipping and boating corridor connecting General Bella Coola with the Inside Passage. For the most part, terrain is steep and mountainous. Summit elevatioins Characteristics average about 900 meters along Burke Channel and increase to over 1600 meters in the upper Kwatna drainage. There is little, if any permanent settlement. Access is by boat or air. Logging roads extend along most of the Kwatna River. Boat cruising, fishing and wildlife viewing are the main recreation-tourism opportunities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Burke Channel and Kwatna Inlet; the two main drainages, Kwatna and Quatlena rivers have anadromous and trout fisheries; Doc Creek WATER drainage only with trout; Gildersleve Lake along Doc Creek is the H H H largest lake (8 km long); there are a few small lakes associated with the Kwatna and Quatlena drainages a few areas of attractive alpine terrain, especially a ridge east of Oak Beck Creek; small glaciers; frequent bedrock exposures and bluffs LAND M M M such as along Burke Channel; trail routes along Kwatna River and Minurvo Creek (just south of Gibraltar Point) marine mammals, grizzly and black bears, deer, mountain goat; BIOLOGIC attractive estuaries at the Kwatna and Quatlena rivers; salmon and H H H trout Restoration Bay, site of a visit and ship repairs by Capt. George CULTURAL M M M Vancouver Score M/H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, diving, ferry traffic; shore camping H L M SNOW-WINTER unknown L L L FISH/HUNTING salmon and trout fishing; big game hunting M M M LAND hiking, viewing M M M VIEW-INTERPRET marine mammals and wildlife viewing; visit Restoration Bay site M M M Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) Restoration Bay M M M MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS none L L AREA(S) USED none L L % AREA USED small p% L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE some opportunity for lodge(s) in Kwatna Bay M M M TOUR low to moderate L L L

Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY Moderate significance. Resources duplicated elsewhere. L

VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to visual disturbance. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2.5 2 1 (3) 2 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 10

Page 119 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: DEAN

The Dean Zone comprises an extensive area of mountainous terrain around upper Dean Cannel, the lower Kimsquit River and lower to middle Dean River. There are also a number of significant streams tributary to Dean Channel and the main rivers. Summit elevations are frequently 2200 meters and local relief along Dean Channel General averages 1500 meters. Characteristics The main settlement is the small community of Kimsquit on Dean Channel at the mouth of the Dean River. Access is mainly by boat. There are also two landing strips for small aircraft. The area has a good reputation for fishing, especially along the Dean River. Several small bays and the presence of hotsprings along Dean Channel are boating destinations about 40 to 50 km from Bella Coola to the southeast. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Dean Channel with several bays, anchoirages and small beaches; Kimsquit, Dean, Nascall and Skowquiltz rivers; about eight major WATER VH H VH creeks and tributaries; Nascall and Ikesumkah lakes along the Nascall River; several small cirque and upland lakes extensive mountainous and alpine terrain and small glaciers LAND throughout; several significant trails; hotsprings at Eucott Bay and H H H at Nascall River; numerous waterfalls marine and terrestrial wildlife and biologic features; attractive wetlands BIOLOGIC H H H along upper Nascall River; several small estuaries CULTURAL village of Kimsquit; First Nations’ traditional use areas M L M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising and kayaking along Dean Channel H H H SNOW-WINTER cross-country skiing and snowmobiling along main drainages and trails M M M big game (bear, deer) hunting throughout; excellent marine and fresh- water river fishing; small areas for gathering clams, crabs, marine FISH/HUNTING VH H VH resources; several attrtactive, small estuaries (Kimsquit, Dean, Skowquiltz) high quality hiking and wilderness travel opportunities; hot spring LAND H H H bathing marine wildlife (marine birds and mammals, seal haul-outs); numerous VIEW-INTERPRET H H H waterfalls Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) three H M M TOURING (R) one L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L northwest border adjacent to Kitlope Heritage Area; east border PROTECTED AREAS M L M adjacent to Tweedsmuir Park Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS 6 or more H H Dean Channel, Nascall River, Dean River, Sakumtha River, Kimsquit River, mountains AREA(S) USED H H adjacent to Tweedsmuir Park % AREA USED half or more H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE Nascall Valley (along river or one of two lakes) H M H TOUR Dean, Sakumtha, Kimsquit rivers and adjacent mountains H H H

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. Relatively rare. H VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to visual disturbance. H Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 (3) 2.5 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14.5

Page 120 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: FINLAYSON

The Finlayson Zone includes Milbanke Sound, Finlayson Channel and Tolmie Channels; all areas associated with the Inside Passage. There are several smaller inlets and protected bays but compared to other coastal waters, General there are fewer anchorages and points of interest. Terrain is comprised of low hills and small mountains. Characteristics Summit elevations average 500 to 750 meters. Access is by boat or plane. Finlayson Channel provides an alternate access to Mussel Inlet and Fiordland Protected Area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES open ocean and long, regularly-shaped inlets and marine channels; WATER several small inlets several small lakes in close proximity to H H H tidewater hilly and low mountainous terrain; interesting cirque lakes and cirque LAND M H M features on Sarah Island BIOLOGIC marine fisheries; fresh-water fisheries; marine and terrestrial wildlife H H H old community of Klemtu; unidentified historic features in Johnson CULTURAL M M M Passage and Klemtu Pass Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking H H H SNOW-WINTER minimal L L L salt-water salmon and ground fish; trout in lakes; black bear and deer FISH/HUNTING H H H hunting LAND potential short hikes along lakes M H M VIEW-INTERPRET Klemtu; marine wildlife; marine mammals H H H Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) wharf (and services) at Klemtu M L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate-high H H COMMERCIAL USERS one or two operators L L AREA(S) USED Finlayson and Tolmie channels M M % AREA USED small/moderate M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY a few opportunities; none too secluded; proximity of Inside Passage LODGE M M M cruise ships TOUR modest opportunities M L L

Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant features. Duplicated elsewhere. L

VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to visual disturbance M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER*. SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 2 (3) 2 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 9

Page 121 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: HAKAI

The Haika Zone includes Calvert and Hecate islands, the south-central portion of Hunter Island and numerous associated small islands and islets in Haikai Pass, Kildidt Sound and the Sea Otter Group. Except for a few hills up to 700 meters elevation on Calvert Island, terrain is a low level coastal plain. For the most part, shorelines on the westerly coastlines are very complex with numerous small bays, channels and a very intricate network of General small islands. By comparison, shorelines to the east along Fitz Hugh Sound, part of the Inside Passage, are Characteristics somewhat less complex. Access is by boat or float plane. In the last few decades this area has grown to become a prime recreational destination on the central coast. The main features include diverse and attractive coastal features, superior salmon fishing opportunities and its relative proximity to the Inside Passage, established lodges in Rivers Inlet and populations centres to the south. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly complex and diverse shorelines and offshore islets including sand beaches, rocky headlands and pocket beaches; numerous WATER bays, protected passages and anchorages; Kildidt Lagoon and VH VH VH associated rapids; several small lakes; the sand beaches of Calvert Island are amongst the largest on the central and north coast of BC rolling terrain in association with shoreline areas provide good opportunities for land-based activities such as camping, hiking and LAND H M H exploration; good viewing opportunities from promontories such as Safety Mountain significant salmon and ground fishing areas, superior marine wildlife viewing (whales, seals, sea birds, etc.); marine life associated with BIOLOGIC Vh VH VH inter-tidal zones and small estuaries; terrestrial bog and marsh habitats; small old growth stands CULTURAL First Nations’ traditional use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising; diving; kayaking; lodge activities VH H VH SNOW-WINTER unknown; expect to be minimal L L L FISH/HUNTING salt-water salmon and ground fishing; gather/collect clams, crabs, etc. VH VH VH LAND hiking, viewing, camping H H H VIEW-INTERPRET view whales, other sea mammals; marine birds; inter-tidal areas VH VH VH Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) 6 lodges H H H TOURING (R) at least 10 operators VH VH VH TRANSPORTATION (P) commercial recreation boats from Rivers Inlet area M M M ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none Hakai Recreation Area – covers most of area except south Calvert PROTECTED AREAS H H H Island Score M/H USE USE NUMBERS very high VH VH COMMERCIAL USERS very high VH VH AREA(S) USED Kwakshua Channel, Pruth Bay, Hakai Pass, Natau Pass, Kildidt Sound, Harold Point VH VH % AREA USED over half H H Score VH DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE potential for more; potential problems with protected area status H (M) H TOUR potential for more; potential problems with protected area status H H H

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. Very significant fishing resources. H

VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to overuse and visual disturbance. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 (2) 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14

Page 122 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KILBELLA

The Kilbella Zone is a relatively isolated area of mluntainous terrain north of Owikeno Lake and Moses Inlet. The area is drained by three main rivers, the Chuckwalla, Kilbella and Clyak rivers. Generally, the terrain is rugged and several summits are 2000 meters high. The highest peaks such as Mounts Payne and Quissy feature small General glaciers. Characteristics Logging roads are found along the lower sections of the main rivers, originating at Kilbella and Moses Inlet to the south. Other than the logging roads, there appears to be little development in this Zone and there is unlikely much tourism or recreation activity CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES lower and middle sections of the Chuckwalla, Kilbella and Clyak rivers WATER have anadromous fisheries; there are no significant lakes or other M M M water bodies except for a cirque lake tributary to the Clyak River trail routes extend along the lower sections of the three main rivers; LAND there are modest mountaineering and wilderness features in the L L L uplands anadromous fish and grizzly bears along the main streams, mountain BIOLOGIC M M M goat in the mountains CULTURAL none L L L Score L/M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE none known L L L SNOW-WINTER unknown, probably snowmobiling along the main drainages L L L salmon and trout fishing in main streams, big game hunting FISH/HUNTING M M M opportunities LAND hiking and wilderness travel opportunities L L L VIEW-INTERPRET fish run viewing, grizzly bear viewing potential L L L Score L FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L low USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS none known L L AREA(S) USED small sections of lower rivers L L % AREA USED very low L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE very low L L L TOUR low L L L

Score L IRREPLACIBILITY Low to moderately significant features. L

VULNERABILITY Not particularly vulnerable to visual disturbance. L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER. SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 1.5 1 1 (1) 1 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 5.5

Page 123 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KIMSQUIT

The Kimsquit Zone is made up of mountainous terrain, the southern section of the Kitimat Ranges, around the upper Kimsquit and Sakumatha rivers. The main valleys are very scenic and moderately broad. To the north and east there are several broad passes at about 1200 meters elevation that lead to adjacent areas in northwest General Tweedsmuir Park. Several of these passes contain attractive, small headwater lakes. The surrounding summits Characteristics vary from 1800 to 2400 meters elevation and feature attractive alpine plateaus, small glaciers and a few horn- like peaks. Much of the area is defacto wilderness and shares many of the scenic and biophysical characteristics of northern Tweedsmuir Park. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES about ten main rivers and streams; several small lakes, mostly at the WATER H H H headwaters of drainages LAND highly scenic mountainous terrain and broad valleys H H H high wildlife values, especially for a variety of big game species; BIOLOGIC extensive sub-alpine and alpine terrain; an area of wetlands along H H H the upper Kimsquit River CULTURAL non known L L L Score M/H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE stream-side camping M M M unknown; expect good opportunities for cross-country skiing and SNOW-WINTER M M M snowmobiling excellent big game hunting opportunities; trout fishing in streams and FISH/HUNTING H H H lakes LAND attractive opportunities for hiking, wilderness travel, horseback riding H H H VIEW-INTERPRET superior scenic and wildlife viewing H H H Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) 3 or 4 H M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L adjacent to Eutsuk Nature Conservancy Area within Tweedsmuir PROTECTED AREAS M M M Provincial Park Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS several M M AREA(S) USED main valleys, adjacent mountains H H % AREA USED most H H Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY appear to be very good lodge development at headwater lakes LODGE (Kimsquit & Salahagen lakes; possibly Haven Lake but this one is H M H partly in protected area) TOUR good opportunities for wilderness adventure travel M H M

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. H

VULNERABILITY Moderately vulnerable to visual disturbance and tourism overuse. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2.5 2.5 3 (2) 3 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13

Page 124 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KINGCOME

The Kingcome Zone is a mountainous region including the upper reaches of the Kingcome River drainage and its tributaries such as the Satsalla River and upper Clear and Atlatzi rivers. It also includes some adjacent mountainous terrain to the east and west. Except for the valley bottoims of the larger streams, the terrain is steep and rugged. Summit elevations average about 2000 meters and small glaciers and cirque basins are General common features. Characteristics Forestry roads leading from the head of Kingcome Inlet and the village of Kingcome to the south, extend into the area along the Kingcome River and its larger tributaries. Otherwise, there is little development and access is restricted to helicopters. Tourism opportunities and use are limited to specialized wilderness mountain experiences and wildlife viewing along the main drainages CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES the upper sections of several streams with good fishery and wildlife WATER values; these include the Kingcome, Clear, Atlatzi, Satsalla and M M M Kakweiken; very frequent small cirque lakes at higher elevations routes along the Clear River connecting it with the Wakeman River to the west and a trail along the Kakweiken River the uplands are attractive but rugged; the mountains in the south LAND portion of the zone between the Kakweiken River and the head of M M M Kingcome Inlet receive the most use highly attractive moraines, a meltwater lake and glacial features at the foot of the Satsalla Glacier anadromous fisheries in the main streams; good grizzly bear and BIOLOGIC mountain goat habitat throughout; attractive wetland habitats M M M along the middle section of the Kingcome River CULTURAL traditional First Nations use areas L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE modest boating opportunities on Kingcome River L L L SNOW-WINTER snowmobilking along major valleys L L L FISH/HUNTING good stream fishing H H H hiking along valley corridors; mountaineering and wilderness travel in LAND L L L uplands wildlife viewing (grizzly bears); fish run viewing; high scenic and VIEW-INTERPRET M M M interpretive values at Satsalla Glacier Score L/M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS 2 or 3 operators use periphery of area L L AREA(S) USED lower Kingcome and Kakweiken rivers L L % AREA USED small L L L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE low potential L L L TOUR modest potential M M M

Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY Locally significant features. L VULNERABILITY Rugged terrain limits vulnerability. L Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 1.5 1 (2) 1 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 8

Page 125 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KLINAKLINA

The Klinaklina Zone is made up of the middle section of the Klinaklina valley sandwiched between two highly rugged mountain ranges; Waddington Range to the west and a range of mountains including Silverthrone and Monarch icefields to the east. There is no road access. The area can be approached from Knight Inlet to the south, where there are a few logging roads, or from the Bella Coola Highway, about 30 km to the northeast. General The Klinaklina River is confined to a shallow canyon to the south but occupies a relatively flat valley bottom up to Characteristics two km wide in the north. There is little evidence of human activity except for a single lodge at Klinaklini Lake to the northeast, almost at the edge of the Chilcotin region. Tourism and recreation opportunities are primarily related to high quality wilderness activities and specialized pursuits such as mountain climbing in the adjacent mountains. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Klinaklina River; trout fishing capability; salmon in lower river reaches; WATER canyon on lower section; several small lakes parallel to river; M M M Kliniklini Lake includes and is adjacent to some of the highest mountains in southern LAND H H H BC; outstanding mountain scenery the Klinaklini valley spans several biotic zones; high numbers of BIOLOGIC H H H terrestrial species; high numbers of grizzly bears CULTURAL none known L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE fly-in rafting along Klinaklini River VH L H SNOW-WINTER wilderness snow/ice travel M L L trout fishing in small lakes and river; potential for big game hunting, FISH/HUNTING M M M grizzly bear LAND heli-tours from valley bottom into adjacent mountainous areas VH H H full range of large mammals, including grizzly bears; glacial and melt- VIEW-INTERPRET H H H water processes Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) 1 lodge H L M TOURING (R) heli-tours (river rafting, sight-seeing, alpine and mountaineering VH M H TRANSPORTATION (P) no significant L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS relatively low L L COMMERCIAL USERS appear to be a few M M AREA(S) USED mainly confined to Kliniklini River L L % AREA USED mainly confined to Kliniklini River L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY potential for one or a few lodges in valley bottom to serve adjacent LODGE M M M mountainous zones TOUR very high potential for heli and air tours H H VH

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Nationally significant features M

VULNERABILITY Highly sensitive to visual disturbance. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULVER*. SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2.5 4 (2) 2 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13.5

Page 126 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KNIGHT

This Zone is made up of Knight Inlet and adjacent lands to the height of land. It also includes areas around Bond and Thompson sounds, Call Inlet and Port Neville to the southwest and the lower 25 km of the Kliniklini valley. Knight Inlet is approximately 100 km long and averages 3 km in width. It has an irregular shape and is largely bounded by steep mountainous slopes with summit elevations up to 2,000 meters. Scenic qualities are relatively General high because of high local relief, varied forest cover and exposed bedrock. Local relief diminishes to less than Characteristics 1,000 meters to the southwest. Access is entirely by boat or aircraft. The only roads are logging spurs extending from tidewater up short tributaries and along the lower Kliniklini River. Marine-based tourist and recreation activities are limited by the steep, continuous shorelands where there are limited opportunities to land small craft or find refuge in protected bays. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Knight Inlet with high scenic qualities but limited opportunities for small boats; Bond and Thompson sounds, Call Inlet and Port Neville with somewhat better boating conditions in association WATER H H H with the nearby Broughton Archipelago. Lower Kliniklini River and several small lakes in this portion of the valley which is relatively wide. Tom Brown and Fulmore lakes to the southwest. Predominately steep mountainous terrain with attractive alpine LAND features. Spectacular glacier viewing adjacent to lower Kliniklini VH M H such as at Kliniklini and Franklin glaciers. Marine mammals throughout; high wildlife values at the relatively BIOLOGIC H M M large estuary at the mouth of Kliniklini River CULTURAL none known L L L Score M/H ACTIVITIES extended boat cruises up Knight Inlet; kayaking and cruising towards WATER-SHORE southwest adjacent to Broughton Archipelago; jet boating up lower H L M Kliniklini River; excellent viewing from boating in area SNOW-WINTER unknown L L L salmon fishing in marine waters and lower Kliniklini River; trout fishing in small lakes such as Devereux and Haydon lakes; fishing FISH/HUNTING H H H in Ahnuhati and Kakweiken rivers; black bear, grizzly bear and deer hunting hiking, viewing and interpretation associated with glaciers in lower Kliniklina valley; staging for climbing activities in nearby mountains, especially in Waddington Zone; hiking trails and routes LAND VH H H Whakana Bay-Viner Sound, Bond Sound-Kingcome Inlet, along Ahnuhati and Kakweiken rivers, alpine hiking between Matsiu and Kwalate creek areas view sea mammals in marine waters; view grizzly bears, migratory and VIEW-INTERPRET resident birds on lower Kliniklini River and estuary; wildlife H M M viewing at head of Bond and Thompson sounds Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) 2 lodges M L L several tour operations (heli-tours; jet boating on Kliniklini River; TOURING (R) M M M staging for mountain climbing TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate-low M M COMMERCIAL USERS numerous H H AREA(S) USED many H H % AREA USED moderate-high H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE some opportunities; limited site availability along marine shores M L M potential to expand specialized tours (heli-tours, wilderness TOUR H M M adventures)

Score M

IRREPLACIBILITY Nationally significant features H VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to visual disturbance. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY

Page 127 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

2 2 3 (3) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 11

Page 128 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KYNOCH

The main waterways in the Kynoch area are Mathieson Channel, Kynoch Inlet, Sheep Passage and Mussel Inlet. Mountainous terrain dominates throughout. Southern portions are comprised of low rounded summits to about 600 meters. To the north, relief increases and summit elevations increase to over 1000 meters. At Kynoch and General Mussel inlets, scenic, steep-sided slopes occur, some with large expanses of exposed bedrock. There are a Characteristics number of near-shore waterfalls, lagoons and small lakes. Access is by boat or plane. There are several alternate routes from the Inside Passage such as via Sheep, Oscar or Moss passages. The general area is relatively free of evidence of human activity. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES extensive, interesting marine passages; alternate routes and circle tours possible; frequent coves, protected bays, small inlets or lagoons; WATER several areas of interesting tidal activity; several small lakes in close VH H VH proximity to tidewater; several small rivers drain into the northern inlets LAND gently rolling to steep, cliff-like slopes; numerous hiking opportunities H M H BIOLOGIC marine and terrestrial wildlife; productive marine fishery H M H CULTURAL First Nations’ traditional use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE excellent boat cruising and kayaking; swimming in small lakes VH H VH SNOW-WINTER minimal expected L L L FISH/HUNTING superior salmon fishing; good trout fishing in lakes and streams H H H LAND scenic hiking opportunities from heads of northern inlets H M H some spectacular views of steep-sided mountains in north; marine VIEW-INTERPRET H H H wildlife viewing; fish run viewing Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) some H L M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L Fiordland Protected Area covers northern inlets (Mussel and Kynoch PROTECTED AREAS VH H VH areas Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS high H H COMMERCIAL USERS probably low; few operators listed L L AREA(S) USED all main waterways H H % AREA USED about half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE frequent, superior opportunities VH H H TOUR frequent, superior opportunities H H H

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY National significance. H

VULNERABILITY Visually sensitive. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 3 3.5 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 15.5

Page 129 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: LAREDO

The Laredo area includes Laredo Inlet on south-central Princess Royal Island and Laredo Sound and its associated lands, the west portion of Swindle Island, north end of Price Island and southeast portion of Aristazabal Island. Low-lying coastal plains are dominant around Laredo Sound while low mountainous terrain to about 700 General meters elevation prevails in the north around Laredo Inlet. Characteristics Laredo Sound is faces the open ocean to the south. However, most of this area provides protected waterways with numerous bays and small anchorages. Meyers and Higgens passages provide narrow connections to the Inside Passage. The coastlines are very intricate with numerous islets, small headlands, pockect beaches and interesting shoreline features. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES complex, interesting and scenic marine channels; numerous tidal WATER VH H VH features, some tidal falls; several lagoons and numerous small lakes varied terrain from flat coastal plains with frequent bogs and wetlands LAND M M M to steep mountainous slopes highly diverse coastal marine habitats; high range of marine wildlife; BIOLOGIC VH VH VH Kermode bears; superior salmon and ground fish CULTURAL several First Nations’ use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE excellent kayaking and boat cruising opportunities; diving VH VH VH SNOW-WINTER minimal L L L salmon and ground fishing; trout fishing; big game and waterfowl FISH/HUNTING VH VH VH hunting LAND hiking opportunities M H M marine and terrestrial wildlife; tidal currents and falls; shoreline VIEW-INTERPRET H H H features; inter-tidal features Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS one or a few M M AREA(S) USED main marine channels M M % AREA USED small proportion M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY good potential for one or a few lodges catering to adventure tourism, LODGE H M H ocean kayaking TOUR potential for a few tour operations related to kayaking, nature tourism H M M

Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Nationally significant resources. H

VULNERABILITY Moderately sensitive to visual alteration. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 2 (2) 2.5 2.5 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13

Page 130 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: LOUGHBOROUGH

The Loughborough Zone includes Loughborough Inlet, mainland uplands around the Apple and Stafford river drainages, several marine channels (Sunderland and Chancellor) and two islands (Hardwicke and the western and central portions of West Thurlow). The islands are comprised of rolling terrain mostly below 500 meters General elevation. Rugged mountainous terrain and small glaciers dominate much of the mainland areas, especially the Characteristics northern half. Access is via boats or float planes. Isolated industrial roads, both new and abandoned are common throughout the lower elevations. Logging is quite evident throughout. There are a few logging camps and a single lodge. Recreation and tourism opportunities are mainly associated with marine activities along the main channels and Loughborough Inlet. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES several marine channels; Loughborough Inlet which is relatively narrow (about 2 km) and long (40 km); three medium sized lakes in WATER H H H the south (Seabird, Heydon and Stokes) and several smaller ones; the Apple and Stafford Rivers LAND attractive mountainous terrain, small glaciers and alpine areas M M M marine wildlife (marine mammals and birds); seasonal grizzly bear BIOLOGIC concentrations along the Apple and Stafford rivers; small alpine H H H areas; mountain goat at higher elevations CULTURAL industrial and recreational marine traffic L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, camping, viewing, diving H H H SNOW-WINTER minimal; possibly some winter cross-country activity L L L salmon fishing in marine waters; trout and salmon fishing in Apple and FISH/HUNTING H H H Stafford Rivers; deer and bear hunting throughout lower elevations several hiking corridors on the islands; upland routes and trails, LAND H H H especially in the Apple River drainage VIEW-INTERPRET fish run viewing, grizzly bear viewing, marine wildlife viewing M M M Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) one lodge/resort L L L TOURING (R) three or four commercial operators; some heli-tours in upland areas M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) minimal L L L ATTRACTION (T) none known L L L several lake/portage canoe routes (Seabird and Haydon lakes); MISC (F) H M M trails/routes associated with Apple River PROTECTED AREAS Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate marine activities M M COMMERCIAL USERS low number of operators L L AREA(S) USED marine channels, islands and river valleys M M % AREA USED about half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE modest lodge development opportunities M M M TOUR some heli-tour potential in mountainous areas M M M

Score M IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant resources. M

VULNERABILITY Moderately sensitive to visual disturbance. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES FACILITIES VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2.5 2 (2) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 10.5

Page 131 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: NAMU

The Namu Zone lies along the west side Fitz Hugh Sound, the southern-most section of the Inside Passage. A coastal plain dominates the southern half of the area. Here, terrain consists of low hills and the coastline is deeply crenulated with numerous bays, headlands and offshore islets. A major feature is Fish Egg Inlet which is a complex area of coves, passages, small islands and islets. General To the north, the hills increase in height to about 600 meters near tidewater while inland to the east, mountains with Characteristics summit elevations of 1000 meters occur. Major features here include the Koeye River and the old town of Namu. Access is mainly via water and float plane. Until recently, BC Ferries stopped at Namu. Namu is the site of an old cannery but is now almost uninhabited. Weyerhaeuser operate a logging camp at Doc Creek on Burke Channel. There is considerable tourist and recreation activity in the general area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Fitz Hugh Sound and Burke Channel are major marine corridors. There are numerous anchorages and use areas, especially at Fish Egg Inlet, in the vicinity of Namu and at Penrose Island. Several small rivers including Doc Creek, Nootum River, Namu River (including WATER VH H VH Namu and Draney lakes, etc.) and Koeye River (with two associated lakes). Elizabeth Lake, at 8 km long, the largest lake. There are numerous small lakes and wetlands and Elizabeth Lagoon south of Elizabeth Lake. undulating terrain and low mountains with minimal features, some areas of old growth LAND M M M waterfalls at Doc and Cold creeks; tidal falls at Elizabeth Lagoon hiking routes along Koeye and Nootum rivers anadromous streams; grizzly bear concentrations (especially at Koeye River); attractive wetlands and estuary at Koeye River; Mountain BIOLOGIC VH H VH goat on slopes adjacent to upper Koeye valley; marine mammals and wildlife Namu with high cultural/historic values; culturally modified trees, CULTURAL H M M traditional use areas and archaeologic sites Score H ACTIVITIES boat cruising, kayaking, camping; small boat portage route connecting WATER-SHORE Fish Egg Inlet, Elizabeth Lake, Ash Lake and Hardy Inlet; canoeing VH VH VH on Namu Lake SNOW-WINTER unknown L L L salmon fishing throughout marine waters and larger streams; trout fishing in Koeye and Nootum rivers and in lakes such as FISH/HUNTING H H H Gildersleve, Koeye and Elizabeth lakes; big game hunting throughout LAND hiking, heli-tours to uplands around upper Koeye drainage M M M fish run, wildlife (especially grizzly bears) and marine life viewing; old VIEW-INTERPRET H M M growth viewing Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) 3 lodges H L M TOURING (R) 8 to 10 operations H H H TRANSPORTATION (P) potential ferry access; semi-scheduled float plane flights to Doc Creek M M M ATTRACTION (T) none (but Namu has good potential) M L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Penrose Island Provincial Marine Park H L M Score M USE USE NUMBERS moderate-high H H COMMERCIAL USERS moderate-high H H AREA(S) USED marine waterways, Namu River and adjacent uplands H H % AREA USED over half H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE good potential (mouth of Koeye River has often been suggested) H M M TOUR moderate opportunities; there are some already M M M

Score M

IRREPLACIBILITY Moderate resource significance and rarity. M

VULNERABILITY Moderately vulnerable to visual change. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER*. SUITABILITY SUITABILITY

Page 132 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

3 2.5 2 (2) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 12

Page 133 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: OCEAN

The Ocean Zone includes three main inlets running north from the Inside Passage, Fisher Channel and lower Dean Channel: Spiller, Roscoe and Cascade inlets. This area features a highly complex array of inlets and several lakes which inlet-like characteristics. The shorelines are irregular and most channels have a twisted and angular General alignment. Low mountainous terrain prevails; summit elevations vary from 500 meters in the southwest to a Characteristics few peaks at 1500 meters to the northeast. The marine channels and lakes have relatively intimate and scenic characteristics. Access is entirely by boat or air and, except for the vicinity of Ocean Falls, there appear to be very few local forestry roads in the area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES numerous, scenic, varied and interesting inlets, channels and passages (e.g., Spiller, Briggs, Roscoe, Cousins and Cascade inlets); several WATER relatively large scenic lakes in close proximity to the marine VH VH VH channels (e.g., Ellerslie, Mooto, Western, Ingram, Mokst, Line lakes and others). steep sided, irregularly shaped mountains with frequent rock LAND M H H outcroppings, frequent waterfalls good populations of grizzly bear, black bear, deer; marine life; BIOLOGIC H VH H numerous small estuaries; interesting inter-tidal areas Ocean Falls; First Nations’ traditional use areas; Sir Alexander CULTURAL M M M Mackenzie’s “rock” Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE superior boat cruising and kayaking; exploration of lakes VH VH VH SNOW-WINTER unknown; expected to be low importance L L L salt-water salmon and ground fishing; fresh-water trout fishing; big FISH/HUNTING H VH H game hunting LAND little development of trails but good potential for hiking H H H VIEW-INTERPRET waterfalls, marine and terrestrial wildlife, scenic viewing H VH H Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) one M L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Sit Alexander Mackenzie Park; Fiordland Protected Area to the north M L M Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate-high H H COMMERCIAL USERS six or more H H AREA(S) USED marine waterways H H % AREA USED at least half M M Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE numerous, high quality opportunities VH H VH TOUR good, varied opportunities VH VH VH

Score VH IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. VH

VULNERABILITY Highly vulnerable to visual disturbance. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY TOTAL 3 3 4 (3) 3.5 4 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 17.5

Page 134 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: PHILLIPS

The Phillips Zone includes the Phillips River drainage and Phillips Arm, Nodales and Cordero and several smaller marine channels. The marine waters contain Sonora, East Thurlow, part of West Thurlow and Stuart islands which lie just north of Quadra Island. The islands are comprised of rolling terrain and hills to about 600 meters. Rugged mountainous terrain dominates the mainland portions where summit elevations may exceed 2000 General meters. Access is mainly by air or boat from Campbell River, about 50 km to the south. Characteristics The area has a long and continuing logging and fishing history and is a very popular boating destination. A permanent logging camp is at the head of Phillips Arm and there are several small resorts on the shores of the islands. The Phillips River drainage has an extensive network of industrial roads. Recreation and tourism opportunities are largely associated with marine activities around and between the islands. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES several interesting marine channels, frequent bays, protected coves and two small inlets (Phillips and Frederick arms) and Estero Basin; WATER H H H Pillips River estuary; Phillips River and Phillips Lake with high salmon and trout fishing values; several small lakes on the islands LAND attractive mountainous terrain around Phillips River drainage M M M marine wildlife (marine mammals and birds); good grizzly bear BIOLOGIC concentrations along Phillips River; small alpine meadows in H H H higher areas industrial and recreational marine traffic; fish enhancement facilities at CULTURAL M L L Phillips Lake; several small harbours with limited facilities Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, camping, viewing, diving H H H SNOW-WINTER minimal L L L marine water salmon fishing; Phillips River/Lake with superior trout FISH/HUNTING H H H fishing LAND a few hiking corridors; some mountaineering and wilderness travel M M M VIEW-INTERPRET fish run viewing; some grizzly bear viewing; marine wildlife viewing M M M Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) five marine-based lodges/resorts M M M TOURING (R) some heli-tours in mountainous terrain M L M TRANSPORTATION (P) regular float plane service to Phillips Arm from Campbell River L L L ATTRACTION (T) fish enhancement, Phillips Lake M L L MISC (F) one MoF recreation site, Frederick Arm, with trail along Egerton Creek M L L PROTECTED AREAS Thurston Bay Marine Park M M M Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate to high amount of boat cruising H H COMMERCIAL USERS high number of operators H H AREA(S) USED marine water-ways; island shorelands; lower Phillips River; some visits to high country H H % AREA USED most H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE some potential, existing facilities might be near saturation L L L TOUR some potential, existing facilities might be near saturation L L L

Score L IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant resources M

VULNERABILITY Low sensitivity to visual disturbance. L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 3 (2) 1 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 9

Page 135 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: PRINCESS

The Princess area includes Princess Royal Channel north from Green Inlet and the surrounding mountainous terrain on Princess Royal Island to the west and on the mainland to the east. Princess Royal Channel, part of the Inside Passage, is a relatively narrow channel enclosed by mountains averaging 750 meters elevation. Along the east side of the channel there are four attractive small inlets between about 5 to 10 km long. All four of these, Klekane, Aaltanhash, Khutze and Green inlets, along with Swanson Bay offer protected anchorages, each General with distinctive features including estuaries, a hotspring, lagoon and waterfalls. The area also has a variety of Characteristics lakes; several medium-sized lakes at lower elevation and close to tidewater as well as numerous small mountain lakes at higher elevations. Attractive rivers are found at the heads of the smaller inlets. They drain higher mountainous terrain where summit elevations are 1500 meters, or more, and where there are small glaciers and numerous cirque lakes and small hanging valleys. Access is by boat or air. Butedale is the only community which was once a small service centre and cannery town. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES several attractive small inlets; numerous lakes of varied size and WATER significance; attractive streams, especially the Aaltanhash and H H H Khutze rivers; Green Lagoon varied mountainous terrain; hiking routes along the main drainages; LAND hiking and portage routes leading westward across Princess Royal H H H Island; numerous waterfalls attractive small estuaries, especially at Khutze Inlet; Kermode bears on BIOLOGIC H H H Princess Royal Island; Grizzly bear concentrations; marine wildlife CULTURAL Butedale, old cannery community M M M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, diving H H H SNOW-WINTER unknown; probably minimal L L L good opportunities for both salt-water, lake and stream fishing; some FISH/HUNTING H H H big game hunting LAND hiking and portaging along main drainages M H M waterfalls, tidal action, terrestrial and marine wildlife, fish runs; VIEW-INTERPRET H H H Butedale historic associations Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS several H H AREA(S) USED all marine waters; some of the lakes and rivers H H % AREA USED less than half M M Score M/H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY some lodge possibilities in the small inlets (may not be compatible with LODGE M M M existing public use of areas) some opportunities depending upon “saturation” of existing tour TOUR M M M activities

Score M IRREPLACIBILITY High significance H VULNERABILITY Moderate sensitivity to visual disturbance M Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 2.5 3 (3) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 12.5

Page 136 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: QUEENS

The Queens Zone comprises the exposed, outer coastlines of Hunter, and Campbell islands and the Bardswell Group as well as a large number of offshore islets including Goose and Gosling islands. This coastline features an extremely indented and complex shoreline with dozens of near-shore islets and islands. The shore is General predominately rocky but there are numerous small pocket beaches and a few small sand beaches at the head of Characteristics a few bays. Access is by boat. Small craft can approach the area by negotiating one of several passages (such as Raymond Passage or Hunter Channel) from the protected waters of the Inside Passage to the east and northeast. There is little development or evidence of human activity in this area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly intricate complex of channels, bays, islets, lagoons and coves; WATER VH VH VH exposure to the open Pacific Ocean LAND low-lying coastal plains with frequent small lakes, ponds and wetlands M H M BIOLOGIC very high values for marine birds, marine mammals and intertidal life VH VH VH CULTURAL none known; expect ship wreck sites L L L Score H ACTIVITIES high quality boating and ocean kayaking for experienced users and WATER-SHORE VH VH VH those familiar with the area; beachcombing SNOW-WINTER negligible L L L gathering and collecting marine food stuffs; ground fish and salmon FISH/HUNTING fishing; some hunting opportunities for waterfowl, deer and black VH VH VH bear LAND shoreline exploration and hiking H VH H coastal landforms and shoreline processes; ocean surf; storm watching; VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH marine life; inter-tidal life; Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Hakai Recreation Area covers south half of area VH H H Score L USE USE NUMBERS low-moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS 4 or more M M AREA(S) USED marine channels; exposed shorelines; offshore iselts and islands H H % AREA USED most of area VH VH Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE moderate to good opportunities; unique locations H H H TOUR high quality opportunities H H H

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features. H

VULNERABILITY Moderate sensitivity to visual disturbanace. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 2.5 3 2 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14.5

Page 137 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: RIVERS

The Rivers Zone is mainly comprised of Rivers Inlet and Owekino Lake and adjacent uplands. Other areas included are: Draney Inlet, Darby Channel and Robert Arm to the south, Moses and Hardy inlets to the northwest, and the Tzeo River to the northeast. The main water and stream corridors are enclosed by mountainous terrain where summit elevations vary from about 1,000 meters in the southwest to 2,000 meters in the north and General northeast. Characteristics Access is mainly via water from the south end of the Inside Passage off the south tip of Calvert Island. There are several coastal villages or small harbours along Rivers Inlet accompanied by a well established network of tourist lodges. Salmon fishing has been the major attraction although wildlife viewing, nature cruises, whale watching and kayaking have also grown in importance. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES extensive network, 120 km of marine inlets and channels; frequent protected bays and anchorages; Owikeno Lake, 45 km long, one of the largest tidal lakes in BC; several rivers and numerous streams tributary to the channels and Owikeno Lake, the most significant WATER VH VH VH being: Shandell, Kilbella, Chuckwalla, Young, Clyak, Dallery, Neechanz, Machmell, Sheemahant and Tzeo Waterfalls, currents and tidal rapids: Sandell Lake outlet, Doos Creek, Inziana River moderately attractive alpine terrain on higher mountains to the northeast several trails and routes: Robert Arm, Dallery Creek, Tzeo River, LAND H H H Sheemahant River, Marchmell River, Draney-Boswell inlets, Machmell RiverNeechanz River 3 hotsprings north of Owekino anadromous fish runs and grizzly bears throughout; attractive estuaries BIOLOGIC at Kilbella Bay, Rivers Inlet, head of Moses Inlet, Inrig Bay, Draney H VH H Creek several small communities and harbours: Rivers Inlet, Kilbella Bay, CULTURAL Dawsons Landing, Wadhams, Duncanby Landing, Brunswick, H H H Good Hope Score H ACTIVITIES boat cruising (marine and fresh-water), kayaking, gather/collect WATER-SHORE H VH H shellfish, SNOW-WINTER unknown, expect snowmobiling at lower elevations L L L big game hunting (bear, grizzly, deer) and migratory bird hunting FISH/HUNTING H VH H throughout, salmon and trout fishing throughout LAND hiking along valley bottom routes and trails M M M several waterfalls, view fish runs; wildlife viewing (marine mammals, VIEW-INTERPRET H H H birds, grizzly bears) Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) at least 10 H H H TOURING (R) numerous, mainly around Rivers Inlet H H H TRANSPORTATION (P) boat and air charters; several air strips M M M ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score M USE USE NUMBERS moderate-high H H COMMERCIAL USERS high H H AREA(S) USED marine channels, Machmell and Sheemahant rivers H H % AREA USED more than half H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE numerous sites available; existing lodges may have area saturated M M M several opportunities available; existing touring operations may have TOUR M M M area saturated Score M

IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features H

VULNERABILITY Moderately sensitive to visual alteration. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULVER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 2.5 3 (2) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals

Page 138 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

FINAL SCORE 12.5

Page 139 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SEYMOUR

The Seymour Zone is similar to but isolated from the Smith Zone. It includes portions of a broad coastal plain along the ocean and increasingly hilly and low mountainous terrain towards the east leading towards the major mountainous areas of the Pacific Ranges east of the zone. The outer coast is relatively exposed to the open ocean where there are a number of beaches, headlands and rocky shoreline formations. For about 10 km inland, the General low-lying coastal plain is an area of numerous ponds, small lakes, wetlands and bogs. Characteristics Narrow passages around Bramham Island on the outer coast south of Cape Caution lead to an intricate network of narrow, longitudinal inlets and channels comprising 175 km of protected waterways. Seymour and Belize inlets are the most prominent channels. Eastward along these waterways the adjacent uplands become more mountainous and summit elevations increase to over 1000 meters at the head of Seymour Inlet. Access is limited to long-distance boat trips or aircraft CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES exposed ocean beaches and coastline; highly intricate, protected waterways; Seymour River, Rainbow and Taaltz creeks with anadromous fish values; two large lagoons; several medium-sized WATER H H H lakes; numerous small lakes, ponds and wetlands; numerous offshore islands and islets at the northwest end of Queen Charlotte Strait relatively monotonous coastal terrain to the south and west; moderately LAND L M L attractive mountainous terrain to the east high values for sea birds and marine mammals on offshore islands and along exposed coast; marine mammals and fish in all marine BIOLOGIC H H H waters; grizzly bears, deer and black bear; attractive estuary at mouth of Seymour River CULTURAL unknown – or little cultural features except for First Nations use areas? L L L Score M ACTIVITIES extensive, protected boat and kayak cruising areas; beach combing and WATER-SHORE H H H exploration along exposed shorelines SNOW-WINTER unknown L L L big game and game bird hunting; good opportunities for salt-water FISH/HUNTING H H H fishing; freshwater fishing at several streams and lakes minimal opportunities; nature study and wildlife viewing on coastal LAND L M L plain view anadromous fish runs in larger streams; wildlife viewing and VIEW-INTERPRET M M M whale watching Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) some along outer coast L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Duke of Edinburg Eco Reserve M M M Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS about 6 along outer coast; 1 along lower Seymour River M M AREA(S) USED outer coast M M % AREA USED low-moderate L L Score L/M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE many good sites but access limitations and relatively dispersed features L M M TOUR moderate touring opportunities in protected waterways L M L

Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant features. M VULNERABILITY Moderate sensitivity to visual disturbance. M Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 2 (2) 2 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 9

Page 140 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SHEEMAHANT

The Sheemahant Zone is comprised of mountainous terrain around the Sheemahant and Matchmell river drainages. The stream valleys are narrow and the uplands are steep and rugged. Several summits exceed 2000 meters elevation and glaciers are common. At the east edge of the zone elements of large snowfields and glaciers General associated with the Silverthrone and Monarch mountain areas occur. Characteristics Access roads extend along the Washwash, Sheemahant and Matchell valleys from the vicinity of South Bentinck Arm and Owikeno to the east. Tourism opportunities are mainly associated with wilderness and mountaineering activities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES the main rivers may offer modest rafting or boating opportunities and WATER have good fish and wildlife values; except possibly for Washwash M L M Lake, all lakes are small, alpine tarns Mount Daunt and attractive alpine terrain extending to the west may offer attractive alpine hiking and viewing opportunities; trails and LAND routes along the upper Sheemahant and Sumquolt Creek lead to H M H dramatic glacial and high mountainous terrain with outstanding views. Sheemahant Hotsprings on lower Sheemahant River. anadromous fishery and wildlife values (grizzly bears) along the main BIOLOGIC M M M drainages; mountain goat populations at higher elevations CULTURAL none known; expect First Nations’ traditional use areas L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE minimal L L L SNOW-WINTER unknown; expect snowmobile opportunities along main drainages L L L FISH/HUNTING good opportunities for stream fishing and big game hunting M M M hiking routes and trails along the main drainages; expect high quality LAND H H H alpine hiking, wilderness travel and mountaineering opportunities wildlife viewing throughout; view and interpret glaciers and glacial VIEW-INTERPRET H H H processes such as at Sumquolt and Princess glaciers Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS none (possibly some activity spills over from adjacent areas) L L AREA(S) USED main river corridors L L % AREA USED low L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE low L L L TOUR low to moderate; similar, higher quality opportunities exist elsewhere L L L

Score L IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant features. M

VULNERABILITY Low sensitivity to visual disturbance. L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY TOTAL 2 2 2 (1) 1 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 8

Page 141 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SILVERTHRONE

This zone is entirely comprised of high, rugged mountainous terrain where summit elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 meters are common. The area has the greatest expanses of glaciers and snowfields in southern B.C. A few isolated, rough roads enter this zone from the west along valleys such as the Sheemahant and Machmell, General otherwise, access is restricted to helicopters or foot travel along mountain trails and routes. Evidence of human Characteristics development is confined to small portions of the area along these roads The main tourism/recreation opportunities are related to specialized climbing, mountaineering and wilderness travel. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES limited to the upper sections of a few rivers and numerous short, steep, and fast-flowing streams; there are frequent waterfalls; the only WATER M H M lakes are a few small tarns in a pass between upper Wakeman River and Salmon Creek rugged mountainous terrain; extensive glaciers and ice-fields; several LAND large, active, moving glacier tongues occur which are amongst the VH H VH largest in B.C. BIOLOGIC grizzly bears and mountain goat M H M CULTURAL none evident L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE minimal L L L ice climbing; snow-field traverses; limited snowmobile opportunities SNOW-WINTER M M M along lower valleys opportunities to hunt bear, deer, mountain goat; some fishing in lower FISH/HUNTING M M M sections of larger streams a wide variety of mountain climbing opportunities; wilderness travel; LAND VH H VH helicopter tours; heli-skiing highly scenic, mountainnous terrain; frequent opportunioties to view VIEW-INTERPRET prime examplres of active glacier processes, crevasses and related H H H features Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) extensive opportunities for heli-touring VH H H TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS low-moderate L L COMMERCIAL USERS several helicopter operators M M AREA(S) USED several M M % AREA USED moderate M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE low L L L TOUR very high quality helicopter touring opportunities H H H

Score M IRREPLACIBILITY High resource significance. H

VULNERABILITY Low visual sensitivity L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2.5 3 (1) 1 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 11.5

Page 142 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SMITH

The Smith Zone is somewhat similar to but isolated from the Seymour Zone. It includes portions of a coastal plain along the ocean at Cape Caution and along the western entrance of Smith Sound. The outer coast is relatively exposed to the open ocean where there are a number of beaches, headlands and rocky shoreline formations. The low-lying coastal plains feature numerous ponds, small lakes, wetlands and bogs. Terrain becomes increasingly General hilly and mountainous towards the east. Most summits are in the range of 1000 meters except for a few at 2000 Characteristics meters around the head of Smith Inlet. Smith Sound and Smith Inlet represent the main bodies of marine water. Smith Sound is relatively open to the ocean but it features numerous small islands and a few protected bays such as Takush Harbour and Millbrook Cove. There are several smaller inlets and lagoons tributary to Smith Sound and Inlet. Access is limited to long-distance boat trips or aircraft CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Smith Sound and numerous small islands and islets; Smith Inlet with numerous embayments and small connecting inlets; there are several small lakes and one relatively large one, Long Lake which, WATER H M H combined with Wyclees Lagoon offers 40 km of intimate, protected waterways. Smokehouse and Nakite Rivers. Beaches and headlands along outer coast. small areas of sub-alpine and alpine terrain west of Walkem Bay and LAND L L L Long Lake high values for sea birds and marine mammals on offshore islands, along exposed coast and in Smith Sound; attractive estuary at BIOLOGIC H H H mouth of Nakite River, migratory birds, grizzly bears, deer and black bear CULTURAL several First Nations traditional use areas M M M Score M ACTIVITIES good boating and kayaking opportunities in parts of Smith Sound and along Smith, Boswell, Naysash, inlets and Broad Reach;; small boat WATER-SHORE H H H use and kayaking along Long Lake; beachcombing and exploration along exposed ocean coastline SNOW-WINTER unknown L L L fishing in marine waters and along Long Lake, Smokehouse Creek and FISH/HUNTING Nekite River and in smaller lakes such as Leonora Lake; bear and H H H deer hunting throughout hiking such as along trails connecting Boswell and Draney inlets and LAND M M M along Nakite River view anadromous fish runs in larger streams; wildlife viewing and VIEW-INTERPRET M M M whale watching Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) Boswell, may offer some facilities and fuel L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS about 3 along outer coast L L AREA(S) USED Smith Sound, Boswell and Smith inlets M M % AREA USED about half M M Score L/M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several suitable sites M M M TOUR moderate touring opportunities along protected waterways M M M

Score M

IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant features M

VULNERABILITY Moderately sensitive to visual disturbance M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 2 2 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 10

Page 143 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SMOKEHOUSE

The Smokehouse Zone occupies mountainous terrain around the headwaters and upper sections of streams draining north into Owikino Lake, west towards Smith Inlet and south towards Wakeman Sound and Seymour General Inlet. The stream valleys are narrow and upland areas are steep and rugged. Summit elevations are typically Characteristics 2000 meters and the highest areas feature small glaciers and small cirque basins. There are no significant lakes. Access to this area is restricted to helicopters or to spur roads that just enter the area along a few of the streams CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES there are no significant lakes; the largest streams are upper sections of WATER M M M the Wakeman, Seymour and Neechanz rivers attractive but rugged alpine terrain with a few small cirque lake basins LAND M M M and small glaciers BIOLOGIC wild ungulates such a black and grizzly bears, mountain goats and deer M M M CULTURAL none known L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE minimal L L L SNOW-WINTER unknown L L L FISH/HUNTING moderate potential but very poor access M M M hiking route along Nekite River and Dallery Creek connecting Smith LAND L L L Inlet and Owikeno Lake VIEW-INTERPRET minimal L L L Score L FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score L USE USE NUMBERS very low L L COMMERCIAL USERS a few operators use periphery of area L L AREA(S) USED downstream sections of major streams L L % AREA USED small percentage L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE very low L L L TOUR low L L L

Score IRREPLACIBILITY Low significance L

VULNERABILITY Low vulnerability L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPPAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 1 1 1 1 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 6

Page 144 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SURF

The Surf Zone includes the northwest portion of Princess Royal Island, Laredo Channel and most of the east portion of Asitazabal Island. Besides Surf Inlet there are a number of smaller, interesting inlets on the west side of Princess Royal Island such as Kent, Helmcken, RaceyChapple and Cornwall inlets and Barnard Habour. General Terrain varies from a low coastal plain in the southwest to mountainous areas rising to 750 meters on northern Characteristics portions of Princess Royal Island. There are numerous lakes varying in size from small ponds to several narrow lakes that are ten km long. Whalen Lake at the north end of Princess Royal Island is more than 20 km long. Access is by boat or air. Marine access is via Laredo Sound to the south or via Whale Channel to the north. There is little permanent development in the area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES numerous, small, complex inlets accessed off the main channels, Laredo and Whale channels; numerous small to medium-sized lakes; fresh- WATER H H H water route along Whalen Lake almost connects Princess Royal to Whale channels; numerous waterfalls and tidal rapids portage and land routes across Princess Royal Island such as: Princess LAND Royal Channel to Cornwall and Surf inlets via a series of five lakes H M H and stream corridors Kermode bears common throughout; marine wildlife includes birds, BIOLOGIC VH H H gray whales, orcas, seals, etc.; intertidal zones CULTURAL First Nations’ traditional use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES excellent ocean kayaking opportunities; boat cruising; canoeing (lakes); WATER-SHORE H VH VH superior diving SNOW-WINTER minimal L L L good salmon and ground fishing; trout fishing in lakes; some big game FISH/HUNTING H H H and waterfowl hunting; gather and collect marine foods LAND hiking and canoe portages; camping H M H waterfalls, tidal action, open ocean surf; marine and terrestrial wildlife VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH (Kermode bears) Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) one (Barnard Harbour) H L M TOURING (R) a few operators M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS a few M M AREA(S) USED main channels, Surf Inlet and Whalen Lake M M % AREA USED small L L Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE good, interesting opportunities on isolated inlets, etc H H H TOUR good opportunities related top kayaking and nature appreciation H H H

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Highly significant features H

VULNERABILITY High sensitivity to visual disturbance H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 2 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 15

Page 145 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: WADDINGTON

The Waddington Zone is comprised entirely of rugged high mountains, extensive glaciers and short stream courses which are tributary to the Klinaklina River. It contains Mount Waddington, at 4,019 meters, the highest mountain entirely within B.C. Local relief is very high; for instance, several of the main summits are within 30 General km of sea level at Knight Inlet to the southwest. Characteristics Access to this area is entirely by helicopter or by mountain routes originating in the Klinaklina and Homathko river valleys. Apart from trails, there is little other human development. The main tourism/recreation features are related to specialized climbing, mountaineering and wilderness travel. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES WATER short, steep, fast-running streams; rapids and waterfalls; no lakes M H M high, rugged mountainous terrain; extensive glaciers and ice-fields; LAND large, active morainal deposition and erosion features; highest VH H VH mountain entirely in B.C. BIOLOGIC grizzly bear and mountain goat populations H H H CULTURAL none evident L L L Score M/H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE none L L L SNOW-WINTER ice climbing; snow-field traverses M M M FISH/HUNTING some opportunities to hunt big game; limited by poor access M L L LAND mountain climbing, wilderness travel; helicopter tours; heli-skiing VH H VH excellent opportunities to view/interpret glacial processes and features; VIEW-INTERPRET H H H some opportunities to view bears and ungulates Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Score L USE USE NUMBERS relatively low use levels L L COMMERCIAL USERS 1 or a few operators L L AREA(S) USED Mount Waddington is focus area L L % AREA USED expected to be low L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE very limited or none L L L TOUR high quality mountaineering; scenic heli-tours; high potential growth VH H H

Score M/ IRREPLACIBILITY Internationally significant mountain features VH

VULNERABILITY Low sensitivity to disturbance L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2.5 2.5 4 (1) 1 3.5 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13.5

Page 146 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

APPENDIX B NORTH COAST PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: AIYANSH

The Aiyansh area occupies a section of the Nass River valley from the vicinity of Canyon City and Aiyansh to near Kskadin Creek. At this point, the Nass River occupies a relatively wide (10 km) valley of rolling terrain. This area also contains a major tributary, the Tseax River which enters the Nass from the south. High mountains and General large glaciers are found just north of the area while several high mountains up to 2,300 meters elevation are Characteristics found either side of the Tseax valley. The area has good road access, connecting to the Cassiar Highway 60 km to the northeast and to Terrace about 80 km to the south. The vicinity of Aiyansh, near the junction of the Tseax and Nass Rivers, is central to the Nisga people. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Nass and Tseax rivers; Kinamuck Lake, Sand Lake and associated WATER M M M wetlands; Dragon Lake on the east boundary of the area highly varied terrain features (rolling valley bottoms to very steep, high LAND mountainous areas); attractive alpine plateaus; highly distinctive VH H VH lava beds and relatively recently active volcanic vent highly significant anadromous fishery; resident trout; big game species BIOLOGIC H H H (deer, black bear, grizzly bear, wolf, mountain goat) CULTURAL residential, use areas and historic features associated with Nisga people H H H Score H ACTIVITIES stream-side camping, swimming, water sports; canoeing and river WATER-SHORE H H H kayaking SNOW-WINTER cross-country skiing, snowmobiling H M H FISH/HUNTING river, stream and lake fishing; big game hunting H M H hiking, back packing, back-road travel, ATV potential, mountaineering, LAND H H H wilderness travel lava beds, volcanic features, tree impressions in lava; salmon runs; VIEW-INTERPRET H H H some wildlife viewing areas; scenic viewing; water colour Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) several operators mainly around volcanic features M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Gingietl Ecological Reserve & Niska’s Memorial Lava Bed Park H M H Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate H H AREA(S) USED Nass River, Tseaux River, lava beds, Nass Valley, upland areas H H % AREA USED high % of area H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several quality lodge development opportunities H H H several varied tour potentials (associated with First Nation’s culture, TOUR H H H geology, wilderness travel, fishing, hunting, nature study) Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Laval beds are provincially unique and rare as they are relatively recent H VULNERABILITY Roading has damaged some of these lava beds in the past M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 (2) 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 15

Page 147 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: ARISTAZABAL

This zone is made up of the outer, exposed, western portions of Aristazabel and Price islands and a number of offshore islets and islands. Terrain is a low-lying, coastal plain with frequent ponds, wetlands and bogs. Some General sections of the rocky coastlines are extremely crenulated with numerous headlands, pocket beaches, rock Characteristics formations, sea-eroded rock and near-shore islets. Access is by boat such as along Meyers or Higgins passages from the Inside Passage or by crossing open ocean from Milbanke and Caamaño sounds. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly intricate coastlines, mainly exposed to the open ocean; several, WATER VH VH VH small protected bays LAND low-lying boggy terrain M H M highly significant marine bird colonies; high value marine biota, whales BIOLOGIC VH VH VH and other sea mammals; Kermode Bears on Aristazabal Island CULTURAL First Nations’ traditional use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE high quality ocean kayaking; boat cruising; diving; coastal exploration VH VH VH SNOW-WINTER very minimal L L L superior salmon fishing; inter-tidal marine food gathering; some FISH/HUNTING VH H VH opportunities for big game and waterfowl hunting LAND some hiking opportunies, especially along intricate shoreline areas M M M rugged, exposed coastline; marine bird colonies; Kermode Bears; gray VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH whales, seals, and orcas; basking sharks Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none known (probably some kayaking tours) TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L Moore, McKenny, Whitmore Islands Ecological Reserve; Byers, Conroy, PROTECTED AREAS VH M H Harvey, Sinnett Islands Ecological Reserve Score L USE USE NUMBERS high H H COMMERCIAL USERS few L L AREA(S) USED coastlines, passages M M % AREA USED low L L Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY good, specialized lodge opportunities (ocean kayaking, marine LODGE H H H interpretation, wildlife viewing, fishing) good, specialized tour opportunities (ocean kayaking, marine TOUR H H H interpretation, wildlife viewing, fishing)

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY

H

VULNERABILITY

M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES FACILITIES VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 1 (2) 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13

Page 148 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: BANKS

The Banks area is coincident with the west portions of Banks Island and a number of smaller offshore islands and very numerous small, rocky, near-shore islets. Terrain is generally flat to hummocky with numerous bogs, small streams and small lakes. A few hills up to about 300 meters elevation are found in central portions of the island. General A major feature is the 80 km of exposed and highly irregular coastline facing the open ocean. Characteristics Bonilla Island along with several smaller off-shore islands with very high significance for marine birds Banks Island is relatively isolated and there is little evidence of any human development. The closest community is Prince Rupert, about 85 km away to the north. Access is by boat or air CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Open ocean exposure; several small bays and inlets such as Griffith WATER Harbour, Kingkown Inlet, Byers Bay and Waller Bay; six medium- H H H sized lakes up to about three km long; numerous ponds LAND low-lying, muskeg-type terrain prevails L L L high marine life values include sea mammals, migrating birds and BIOLOGIC H H H resident ocean birds and inter-tidal and benthic organisms CULTURAL frequent First Nation’s traditional use areas M M M Score M ACTIVITIES superior shoreline and near-shore features with high quality WATER-SHORE opportunities for diving, viewing, hiking, exploration, kayaking; H H H fishing, swimming and small boating on several lakes SNOW-WINTER minimal opportunities L L L FISH/HUNTING good marine fishing opportunities; some hunting H H H LAND minor upland opportunities L L L high quality nature study and wildlife viewing along the shorelines; VIEW-INTERPRET superior wildlife viewing opportunities at Bolilla Island and North VH H VH Danger Rocks Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) float or dock at Griffith Harbour L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS very few L L AREA(S) USED probably some use at Griffith Harbour (north end) and Calamity Bay (south end) L L % AREA USED small L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several good opportunities for nature-based lodge development H H H good potential for shore-based and water-based wilderness tour TOUR H H H operations

Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Relatively significant features but duplicated elsewhere in the area H VULNERABILITY Relatively low. Waterfowl susceptible to disturbance L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2.5 3 (1) 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13.5

Page 149 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: CAMBRIA

The Cambria area occupies the southern half of the Cambria Icefield, an area where there is 25 km of continuous ice cover. The area also includes the mountainous terrain between Hastings Inlet and Kitsault River. There are a General full range of glacial features: nunataks, ice falls, crevasses, active glaciation and recent morainal deposits. Edges Characteristics of this area can be viewed from a few roads such as the Stewart Road at Bear Glacier to the north and the top end of the Kitsault Road to the south. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES WATER small streams around the periphery of the area M M M LAND high mountain peaks and glacier H H H BIOLOGIC limited mainly to alpine-loving species M H M CULTURAL none L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE none L L L SNOW-WINTER snowmobiling; other snow activities might be feasible M H M FISH/HUNTING insignificant L L L LAND mountaineering, glacier exploration, adventure activities H H H VIEW-INTERPRET glacial and geologic features H M H Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) a few operators (mostly air over-flights) H M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none (Bear Glacier Park outside study area) L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS low M M COMMERCIAL USERS low M M AREA(S) USED unknown; probably area on periphery and air fly-overs M M % AREA USED unknown; probably a large percentage from flight point of view M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE none L L L potential for expanded touring; especially for flight trips and TOUR H M H specialized activities related to mountaineering Score M IRREPLACIBILITY Icefields are relatively significant but not particularly rare M VULNERABILITY Icefields are large and not particularly sensitive L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 2 (1) 1 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 9

Page 150 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: DOUGLAS

The Douglas area includes the lower 40 km of Douglas Channel and Verney Passage and Ursula Channel. Land areas include mainland sections along the west side of Douglas Channel and along the east side of Ursula Channel as well as major portions of Hawkesbury and Gribbell islands. The terrain is comprised of low mountains averaging about 1,000 meters elevation. To the east, there are two hotsprings along the east side of Ursula Channel, one of which is in Bishop Bay, a relatively large anchorage. Certain upland areas on Gribbell General Island and west of Ursula Channel have interesting cirque basins and cirque lakes. A small round lake near the Characteristics summit of Mount Jenkinson on Hawkesbury Island has the appearance of a water-filled volcanic cone. Interesting features, along the west side of Douglas Channel, include Koghlan Anchorage Kiskosh Inlet, Kitkiata Inlet and the Quaal River and its estuary; Hartley Bay, close to Koghlan Anchorage, is the only village in the area. Douglas Channel leads to Kitimat at its head, about 60 km to the north. Hartley Bay, appears to be the only place with habitation. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES three main marine channels (Douglas, Verney and Ursula) connect directly with the Inside Passage to the south and connect with upper Douglas Channel and Gardner Canal; there are several narrow medium-sized lakes with recreation potential (Gavel, WATER VH H VH Kitkiata, Backlund, Alty and Arkell, amongst others); highly significant wetlands along the Quaal River and a relatively extensive estuary and tide flat at the mouth of the Quaal River and Kitkiata Creek; recreationally significant Goat River rocky upland areas and numerous, interesting cirque lakes on Gribbell LAND M M M Island and east of Ursula Channel; several waterfalls throughout high wildlife values associated with Quaal River wetlands and estuary; BIOLOGIC H H H marine and freshwater fisheries; deer, black and grizzly bears CULTURAL small First Nation’s areas; Hartley Bay; M M M Score H ACTIVITIES boat cruising, kayaking and shoreline camping along marine waters; canoeing and camping on several lakes; small boat exploration and WATER-SHORE H H H anchorages at several locations (Goat Harbour, Bishop Bay, Kiskosh Inlet, Coghlan Anchorage, Kitkiata Inlet) SNOW-WINTER potential snowmobiling and cross-country skiing along Quaal River M M M deer and bear hunting throughout; waterfowl hunting potential at Quaal River; salmon fishing in marine waters, especially at Money FISH/HUNTING H H H Point; trout and steelhead fishing at Goat River, several lakes and un-named streams hiking along major drainages; possible climbing/hiking in upland LAND H M H areas; easy potential land route through to Ecstall River to north superior wildlife viewing opportunities along Quaal River and at VIEW-INTERPRET Kitkiata Inlet; view and bath in hotsprings; view upland cirque lake H H H features Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L touring activity along marine watertways and in major bays and TOURING (R) M M M anchorages TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) possibly fuel and dock at Hartley Bay L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate M M AREA(S) USED marine waterways M M % AREA USED less than 50% M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE modest lodge suitability at major inlets and bays H M M TOUR several intertesting and diverse touring opportunities H H H Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Range of features – made significant by location on Inside Passage H VULNERABILITY Steep mountains increases visibility and sensitivity to disturbance H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 (3) 2 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14

Page 151 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: DUNDAS

The Dundas area includes the islands offshore from Prince Rupert and the Tsimpsean Peninsula: seven medium- sized islands between Dundas in the north and Prescott to the south, along with dozens of smaller islands and islets. Chatham Sound to the east which is about 15 km wide, separates this archipelago from the mainland. To General the west, the islands are exposed to the open Pacific Ocean. Characteristics The islands feature highly complex shorelines with frequent headlands, small bays, pocket beaches and a profusion of near-shore islets and rock structures. For the most part, the islands are low lying and with rolling terrain. There are a few hills between 200 and 450 meters elevation. Few, if any people, permanently inhabit the area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES exposed ocean and ocean surf; numerous small, protected bays, inlets WATER H H H and passages; frequent ponds, small lakes and wetlands LAND low-lying to hilly terrain; muskeg conditions prevail at lower elevations L M L very high marine life values; whales and other sea mammals; sea birds; BIOLOGIC VH H VH sea bird colonies; salmon, ground fish, inter-tidal life CULTURAL First Nations’ traditional use areas M M M Score M/H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE ocean kayaking, boat cruising, shoreline camping H H H SNOW-WINTER minimal L L L FISH/HUNTING salmon and halibut fishing; some waterfowl hunting; H H H LAND modest hiking opportunities L L L coastal habitat diversity; whale watching; wildlife viewing; ocean and VIEW-INTERPRET VH H VH surf viewing Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L three recorded existing tour operations; extensive touring of marine TOURING (R) H H H waters TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) several protected areas with wharves or mooring buoys H M H PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate to high H H COMMERCIAL USERS high H H AREA(S) USED all marine waters VH VH % AREA USED most of area H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY very good opportunities for development of isolated, wilderness-type LODGE VH H VH lodges TOUR good potential to add to existing tour operations VH H VH Score VH IRREPLACIBILITY Large number of islands and channels. Relatively significant and rare. H VULNERABILITY Low terrain reduces susceptibility to visual disturbance. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2.5 2 3 (2) 4 4 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 15.5

Page 152 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: ECSTALL

The Ecstall area conforms to the Ecstall River drainage area, a tributary entering the south side of the Skeena River near its mouth just south of Prince Rupert. For the most part, the Ecstall River is slow moving. The lower 35 km is about a kilometer wide and has the appearance more of a lake or inlet of the sea than a river. The terrain is mountainous. Summit elevations vary from about 800 meters in the north, adjacent to the Skeena River, to 1,800 General meters in headwater areas to the south. Characteristics There are no roads but there is relatively close access by water from Highway 16 on the north side of the Skeena River and Port Rupert. The abandoned fish canning community of Port Essington is at the mouth of the Excstall River. A small dam is found at Brown Lake on the west side of the Ecstall River; a power line is found along the east side of the river CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES the Ecstall River is a relatively wide, easy to access by boat, water channel connected to the Skeena River; there are several attractive tributaries that feature waterfalls, good fish-bearing streams and WATER H H H several lakes, some up to 8 km long; attrative wetlands along lower Carthew and middle and Big Falls creeks, the edges of the lower Ecstall River and along the upper Ecstall River scenic mountainous terrain throughout, numerous steep rock faces LAND characteristic of the Kitimat Ranges; several cirque basins and H M H alpine terrain at higher elevations varied upland habitats offering a relatively diverse range of big game BIOLOGIC animals, small mammals and birds; significant anadromous H H H fisheries CULTURAL historic feature of Port Essington, a typical fish canning community M M M Score H ACTIVITIES good opportunities for boat cruising, kayaking, canoeing, shore-line WATER-SHORE H M H camping and swimming probably some cross-country winter opportunities along Excstall River SNOW-WINTER M M M and major tributaries; limited length of season good opportunities for hunting deer, black bear, grizzly bear, mountain goat, waterfowl and upland game birds; salmon, steelhead and FISH/HUNTING H H H trout fishing in several lake, the Ecstall River and a number of its tributaries hiking potential along Ecstall River and tributaries such as Hayward LAND Creek, Brown Lake, Madeline, Big Falls, Sparkling, Muddy and H H H Johnson creeks; potential for rock climbing and mountaineering good opportunities for viewing both wildlife and fish runs; good scenic VIEW-INTERPRET viewing; varied landscapes and habitats; some historic H H H interpretation Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) little, if any L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS low L L AREA(S) USED unknown L L % AREA USED appears to be small L: L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY modest lodge potential; good features, close to Prince Rupert but not LODGE M H M too wilderness-like in nature TOUR some tour potential; close to Prince Rupert M M M Score M IRREPLACIBILITY Ecstall River is unique due to its width (canal-like) M VULNERABILITY Steep mountains increase susceptibility to visual disturbance H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 2 (3) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 12

Page 153 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: ESTEVAN

The Estevan Zone is comprised of islands between Caamano and Nepean Sounds This includes the western portions of Campania Island and the Estevan Group which includes Trutch, Prior, Lotbiniere and Dewdnet islands and numerous associated small islands and islets. Generally, the area is low lying coastal plain terrain with a few hills exceeding 200 meters. The westward sides of the islands, especially the Estevan Group, have General highly irregular rocky shorelines with numerous promontories, headlands, pocket beaches and near-shore Characteristics rocky islets. The area is relatively isolated and is approximately equidistant at more than 100 km distance from Ocean Falls, Prince Rupert and Queen Charlotte City. Except for a few tour operations and a communications tower, there is little development. Access is only by sea or air. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES open ocean and exposed shorelands along the west side of the Estevan Group; intricate, narrow passages between individual islands in the WATER H H H Estevan Group; relatively protected Estevan Sound between Trutch and Campania islands; no significant streams or lakes low lying, almost featureless terrain accompanied by small hills; one higher ridge, Mount Pender, on central Campania Island rises to LAND H M H 730 meters; highly irregular, exposed shorelines; attractive sand beaches on Campania Island high marine life values include sea mammals, migrating birds and BIOLOGIC H H H resident ocean birds and inter-tidal and benthic organisms CULTURAL frequent First Nation’s traditional use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES superior shoreline and near-shore features; high quality opportunities WATER-SHORE for diving, kayaking and boat cruising; potential for shoreline H H H hiking and camping SNOW-WINTER minimal opportunities L L L FISH/HUNTING good marine fishing opportunities; some hunting H H H LAND modest upland opportunities L L L high quality nature study and wildlife viewing along shorelines and VIEW-INTERPRET near-shore waters ways; good views from Mount Pender on VH H VH Campania Island Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) one known in vicinity of Etheldo Bay on Trutch Island L L L TOURING (R) moderate tour activity on west side of Campania Island M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) minimal L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Dewdney and Glide Islands Ecological Reserve H M M Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate to low M M COMMERCIAL USERS a few tour guide operations M M AREA(S) USED mainly west side of Campania Island and coastline of Estevan Group M M % AREA USED low-moderate M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several good opportunities for shore-based lodges H H H TOUR good opportunities for shore-based and water-based tour operations H H H Score H IRREPLACIBILITY Fairly significant coastal features but duplicated elsewhere. H VULNERABILITY Low relief reduces visibility. Waterfoul susceptible to disturbance. L Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 2.5 3 1 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14.5

Page 154 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: GARDNER

The Gardner area comprises the Alan Reach section of the Gardner Canal and associated mainland areas generally to the height of land. Alan Reach has relatively subdued topography compared to upper sections of Gardner Canal which is quite long, convoluted and steep-sided. General Terrain is mountainous throughout. Local relief varies from about 500 meters in the northwest to over 1,500 meters Characteristics to southeast. There are six small drainages which feature narrow lakes, attractive streams and/or scenic features such as waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. There are three small hotsprings along the east shore of Alan Reach. Except for logging activity, there are no facilities in the area. Access is by air or by water for about 35 km along Verney Passage or Ursula Channel from the Inside Passage to the west. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Alan Reach leads to Gardner Canal southeast of the area which becomes a highly scenic, steep-sided fiord. Kiltuish Inlet and Triumph Bay offer attractive, protected areas for exploration and as WATER H H H anchorages; these two water bodies are in close proximity to attractive streams and lakes; another near-shore lake is Crab Lake to the north near Collins Bay, another anchorage moderately rugged mountainous terrain prevails; the main valleys LAND feature scenic terrain, several lakes, significant streams and M M M numerous waterfalls deer, black bear and grizzly bear are common; lakes with cutthoat trout; BIOLOGIC H H H marine waters with salmon and ground fish; several small estuaries CULTURAL unknown, none apparent L L L Score M ACTIVITIES boat cruising along Gardner Canal; small boat exploration of Kiltuish Inlet and Triumph Bay; small boat use, canoeing and camping on WATER-SHORE H M H Crab, Triumph and Europa lakes; potential hotspring use on east side of Alan Reach possibly some cross-country skiing or snowmobile activties along the SNOW-WINTER M M M main valleys (Crab, Triumph, Kiltuish, Europa) salmon and ground fishing on marine waters; steelhead and cutthroat FISH/HUNTING H H H trout fishing along main streams and lakes; bear and deer hunting hiking and exploration along Crab, Triumph, Kiltuish and Europa LAND M M M valleys visit hotsprings; numerous waterfalls visible from marine waters and VIEW-INTERPRET H M M along most valleys; wildlife viewing at small estuaries Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L touring activity along Alan Reach, at Shearwater Point, Triumph Bay TOURING (R) H M H and Kiltuish Inlet TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate M M AREA(S) USED marine waterways; main valleys M M % AREA USED less than half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE two or three potential lodge sites H M M TOUR possibly a few added tour opportunities in addition to present uses M M M Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Unique for the variety of bays, rivers, inlets, lakes and waterfalls. H VULNERABILITY Susceptible to visual disturbance. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2.5 3 3 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 11.5

Page 155 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: GRENVILLE

The Grenville area includes Grenville Channel and nearby uplands, the east side of Pitt Island to the west and mainland mountains along the east side of the channel. The channel is 80 km long and is unusually straight and at one to two km wide, quite narrow. It forms part of the Inside Passage between Princess Royal Island to the southeast and just south of the mouth of the Skeena River to the northwest. Mountainous terrain with summit General elevations between 750 and 1,000 meters predominates. Characteristics Both east and west of Grenville Channel there are several narrow lakes, some up to ten km long, that are within a short distance of tide water. Along the east side of the channel there are seven attractive small inlets with good opportunities for anchorages, shoreline camping and exploration of nearby lakes, streams or waterfalls. There appears to be little development and no facilities along the entire length of Grenville Channel. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES long (85km) and narrow (1-2 km) marine channel connected to several good anchorages spaced at 5 to 20 km intervals; several small, WATER enclosed inlets and bays; several recreationally significant lakes up H H H to ten km long within one or a few km of marine waters; numerous waterfalls LAND land areas away from lakes and ocean with low feature attractions L L L several attractive, small estuaries with high wildlife values; migrating birds, deer, black and grizzly bear; anadromous fisheries in small BIOLOGIC H H H streams, marine biologic features (salmon, inter-tidal life, sea mammals) CULTURAL traditional First Nation’s use areas M M M Score M ACTIVITIES boat cruising, some kayaking, small inlet and bay exploration; canoeing WATER-SHORE H H H and camping on lakes SNOW-WINTER probably some skiing potential but likely no existing use L L L deer, bear, bird hunting; samlmon and ground fishing; trout and FISH/HUNTING H M H steelhead fishing LAND modest hiking opportunirties along small streams and some lakes L L L diverse habitats and landforms associated with small bays, estuaries VIEW-INTERPRET and lagoons; wildlife viewing, inter-tidal interpretation; superior H M M waterfall viewing Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L along Grenville Channel and Union Passage; at Kumealon, Baker, TOURING (R) H M H Klewnuggit and Lowe inlets TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS three marine parks (Union Passage, Lowe Inlet and Klewnuggit Inlet) H H H Score M USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate to high H H AREA(S) USED all marine waterways M M % AREA USED less than half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE lodge development opportunities at some of the small, intimate inlets H M H possibly a few touring opportunitries in addition to existing ones; note TOUR M M M proximity to Prince Rupert Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Significant Inside Passage features. Duplicated elsewhere M VULNERABILITY Steep slopes and close proximity increase vulnerability. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 2 (2) 2.5 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 10.5

Page 156 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KHUTZEYMATEEN

The Khutzeymateen area contains the Khutzeymateen and Kwinamass river drainages and areas around Khutzeymateen Inlet and portions of Sommerville Island adjacent to Steamer Passage. Steamer Passage and Khutzeymateen Inlet provide a narrow 35km long passage off of lower Portland Inlet to the estuary of the General Khutzeymateen estuary. It, (along with the Kwinamass estuary) are well known, representative coastal habitats Characteristics of particular significance for grizzly bears. The terrain is mountainous and summit elevations vary from an average of x750 meters in the west to over 1,800 meters in the east. Access is by air or boat. There are a few old isolated logging roads along some of the streams. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Khutzeymateem Inlet and Steamer Passage marine corridors; WATER Khutzeymateen and Kwinemass rivers and a few short tributary H H H streams; three small lakes attractive mountainous terrain to the east includes attractive alpine LAND M M M terrain, small glaciers and several waterfalls grizzly bear concentrations; deer, black bear and mountain goat; BIOLOGIC salmon, cod, steelhead and trout fisheries; estuaries and small inter- VH H VH tidal areas CULTURAL small First Nations communities in Kwinemass area M M M Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, canoeing, swimming H M H SNOW-WINTER some cross-country skiing and snowmobiling opportunities M M M salmon, cod, steelhead, trout fishing; big game hunting (except in FISH/HUNTING H M H protected area around Khutzeymateen river drainage) LAND hiking, back packing, rock climbing, mountaineering opportunities M M M grizzly bear concentrations, salmon runs; marine wildlife; migrating VIEW-INTERPRET VH H VH waterfowl Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) appear to be several tour operations M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS Khutzeymateen Protected Area (Khutzeymateen watershed) H H H Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate M M AREA(S) USED Khutzeymateen Inlet; lower Khutzeymateen River M M % AREA USED less than half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY potential lodge location along Khutzeymateen Inlet or Somerville LODGE H M M Island area; may or may not be compatible with grizzly bears good opportunities but may be restricted by grizzly bear management TOUR H H H objectives Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Limited range of features. Noted for Grizzly bears. M VULNERABILITY Steep slopes increase vulnerability. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 2 (3) 2.5 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 13.5

Page 157 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: KITSAULT

The Kitsault area is upland terrain associated with several drainages. From north to south these drainages include: Kitsault, Dak, Illiance and Kwinatahl rivers. The Kwinatahl River valley is relatively broad and drains the adjacent high country to the southwest in the Monument Planning Area. The other rivers are in more confined General valleys adjacent to high mountains, some of which exceed 1,900 meters elevation. Generally, the area is scenic Characteristics and the upper reaches of the rivers lead to attractive alpine areas and glacial features. The Alice Arm Road follows the Kwinatahl leading from the lower Nass valley and Cassiar Highway to the south and east. A mining road follows the Kitsaulkt River for about 30 km allowing potential access to old mining activity, Kitsault Lake and glacial features at the edge of the Cambria Icefield. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES several recreationally significant rivers, Kitsault Lake and a number of WATER M H M small lakes attractive alpine areas; glacial features, canyon along Kwinatahl River; LAND H H H numerous waterfalls salmon, steelhead and resident trout in rivers; upland big game, deer, BIOLOGIC H H H black & grizzly bear, moose, mountain goat, wolves CULTURAL several old mining operations scattered throughout M M M Score M/H ACTIVITIES minimal known; there may be some potential for tubing or river WATER-SHORE kayaking on one or more of the rivers; small boat use of Kitsault M M M Lake; some swimming in small lakes along Kwinatahl valley probably good opportunities for snowmobiling and cross-country SNOW-WINTER M M M skiing in main valleys and along back roads FISH/HUNTING good quality river fishing; big game hunting opportunities H H H hiking, back-packing, wilderness travel in alpine terrain; climbing and LAND mountaineering in higher mountains; back road and/or 4X4 H M H driving in Kitsault valley several significant glacial features; Kwinatahl canyon; numerous waterfalls; fish runs and wildlife viewing; nature interpretation at VIEW-INTERPRET H H H small lakes (probably water-filled morainal deposits) in Kwinatahl valley Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none known L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS low M M COMMERCIAL USERS low L L AREA(S) USED main roaded valleys (Kitsault and Kwinatahl) M M % AREA USED less than half L L Score L/M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE low L L L some opportunity associated with early mining activity combined with TOUR M M M some high quality fishing, viewing and interpretation Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY Cultural features and numerous rivers. Existence of roads. M VULNERABILITY Area roaded and altered. M Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* LODGE SUITAB. ACTIVITY SUITAB. 2.5 2.5 2 2 1.5 10.5 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 10.5

Page 158 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: MONUMENT

The Monument area is a relatively small area (20x40 km) comprised almost entirely by very high mountains, glaciers and snowfield. It lies between Observatory Inlet to the west, the Kwinatahl River to the north and the General Nass River valley to the south and southeast. Most elevations are between 1,500 and 2,000 meters. Contiguous Characteristics ice covers more than 100 sq. km. There are no roads, although the road to Alice Arm passes close by along the Kwinatahl River CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES about a dozen creeks drain the glaciers; Stagoo Creek to the west, Kelsshist Creewk to thew north, Hoan Creek to the northeast and WATER M M M Shumal Creek to the southeast are amongst the largest streams and provide potential access routes up to the glaciers. LAND rugged, scenic mountainous terrain, much of it covered by ice M H M BIOLOGIC big game species (deer, black bear, grizzly bear, mountain goat) M M M CULTURAL none known L L L Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE none L L L SNOW-WINTER ice climbing; probably some extreme skiing opportunities M M M FISH/HUNTING some big game hunting M M M LAND wilderness travel, ice and rock climbing, mountaineering H M M VIEW-INTERPRET glaciers, glacial processes, high scenic values H H H Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) none L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L

USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS low L L AREA(S) USED unknown, prbably some use at head of major streams L L % AREA USED low L L Score L DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY depending on quality of mountaineering and wilderness qualities there LODGE M L L may be some potential opportunities for wilderness-mountaineering tours but there are TOUR M M M probably better opportunities nearby such as at Cambia Icefield Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY Opportunities for mountaineering. Better area is surrounding zones. L VULNERABILITY Predominantly ice and rock. L

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2 1 1 1.5 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 8.5

Page 159 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: NASS

The Nass area includes the lower Nass and its tributaries southwest of Canyon City. The area includes several important tributaries to the Nass such as Ishkheenickh , Kincolith and Iknouk rivers and several lesser streams. The mouth of the Nass River includes areas of tidewater such as the estuary area and Iceburg Bay. Except for General the floodplain of the Nass River the area is generally mountainous and a few peaks to the east exceed 2,000 Characteristics meters elevation. A main road connected to the Cassiar Highway at Cranberry Junction and a road to Terrace serves the main valley and connects to a number of logging roads along some of the tributary valleys. There are several First Nations communities in the region including Kincolith at Nass Bay and Greenville. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Nass Bay, Nass River estuary, lower Nass River, several recreationally WATER significant tributary rivers and creek, Amoth Lake in upper VH H VH Ishkheenickh drainage varied terrain includes flood plain lands, rolling valley bottom areas to LAND high alpine peaks; small glaciers; numerous waterfalls; several H H H hotsprings highly significant anadromous fishery; freshwater stream fishery; some BIOLOGIC marine life areas; migratory bird habitats; grizzly and black bear, H H H deer, mountain goat, seasonal eagle concentrations CULTURAL significant First Nations (Nisga) settlements, use areas, historic sites H H H Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, canoeing, shore camping, beach activities H H H SNOW-WINTER cross-country ski and snowmobile activities; potential downhill skiing M M M FISH/HUNTING superior fishing and hunting throughout H H H good opportunities for hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, LAND wilderness travel, driving for pleasure, mountain biking; potential H H H hotspring use varied habitats; good wildlife and fish run viewing; landscape viewing; VIEW-INTERPRET H H H waterfalls; hotsprings Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) Kincolith and Greenville M M M TOURING (R) little known for area L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) a few minor facilities L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS low L L AREA(S) USED main valleys M M % AREA USED half or more M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several good potential opportunities H H H TOUR good potential M M M Score M-H IRREPLACIBILITY Significant river and estuary fishing resources. H VULNERABILITY Steep valley and mountain faces. Area previously roaded. M Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABIITY 3 3 3 (2) 3 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 14

Page 160 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: OBSERVATORY

The Observatory area includes Observatory Inlet and Alice and Hastings arms and adjacent land areas to more or less the height of land. The three marine channels together represent more than 100 km of relatively narrow channels. Near the junction of the three channels, in the vicinity of Anyox, an old mining area, there are a number of islands, peninsulas and interesting bays and beaches. Elsewhere, the channels have relatively linear shorelines with very few embayments. There are small, significant estuaries at the heads of both Hastings and Alice Arm. General Terrain is mountainous and summit elevations are commonly about 1,100 meters. To the north the mountains Characteristics increase in ruggedness and summit elevations may exceed 1,600 meters. The adjacent planning areas, Cambria to the north and Monument to the east, are extremely rugged where peaks near 2,000 meters occur some of which can be seen from Hastings Arm. Anyox and the surrounding area feature several abandoned mines, old buildings and mining equipment. Similarly, abandoned houses and buildings are found at the old community of Alice Arm, at the head of Alice Arm. A road eastward connects Alice Arm with the lower Nass valley and the Cassiar Highway. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES 100+ km of marine channels; several bays and recreationally significant beaches between Stagoo Creek and lower Hastings Arm; the Sutton WATER M H M and Kiltsault rivers are both recreationally significant; there are only two small lakes near Anyox of modest significance LAND moderately scenic mountains with no special or outstanding features L M L attractive estuaries at mouths of Sutton and Kitsault rivers; inter-tidal flats and small estauries at smaller creeks such as Stagoo Creek, Lime Creek and in the vicinity of Anyox; good fishery values in BIOLOGIC H H H marine waters and streams; attractive wetlands in the vicinity of Stagoo Creek; deer, black bear, grizzly bear, mountain goat, wolf and some moose Anyox, Alice Arm and several locations with distinctive old mining CULTURAL H H H activity and settlement history; First Nations traditional use areas Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking, shoreline camping M M M SNOW-WINTER cross-country skiing and snowmobiling along main valleys M M M superior salmon and trout fishing both in marine waters and main FISH/HUNTING streams; gather and collect shell fish; big game and waterfowl H H H hunting some hiking and backpacking opportunities in the higher mountains to LAND M M M the north salmon runs; marine and terrestrial wildlife; historic/cultural features VIEW-INTERPRET H H H associated with mining; waterfalls Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) appears to be several tour operators H M H TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) old docks and wharves as Alice Arm, possibly at Anyox as well M L M PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS low L L COMMERCIAL USERS moderate numbers M M marine waters; Anyox area and surroundings; Sutton and Kshwan rivers; lower Kitsault AREA(S) USED H H River % AREA USED about half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE one or a few opportunities M M M TOUR several attractive tour opportunities H M H Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Unique for mining history. Visual sameness M VULNERABILITY Slopes increase impact of visual disturbance. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 2 2.5 2 (2) 2 2.5 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals FINAL SCORE 11

Page 161 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: PORCHER

The Porcher area includes most of Porcher Island and several adjacent areas such as Ogden Channel and Browning Entrance and the north coasts of Pitt and McCauley islands, Goschen, Gurd and Dolphin islands to the southwest; Edye Passage and Williams, Henry and parts of Arthur and Prescot islands to the northwest. In addition, there are a myriad of smaller near-shore islands and islets and there are several bays and small inlets and the relatively large, Salt Lagoon. General Much of the terrain is a low-lying coastal plain. The interior of Porcher Island has a few low mountains, the highest Characteristics of which is Egeria Mountain which rises about 775 meters southeast of Porcher Inlet. Kitkatlia is the main community in the area. There are a number of small bays and a few small communities and historic sites (eg, Oona River, etc.) where there are modest facilities such as a wharf. The intricate coastline, numerous islands and considerable protected waterways in close proximity to Prince Rupert offer superior opportunities for marine-based recreation activities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly diverse marine coastline; protected and exposed coastlines and waterways; interesting bays, inlets, inter-tidal areas and features WATER VH H VH such as sand beaches and tide flats; numerous small anchorages; no significant lakes or streams coastline, inlets and lagoons offer potential hiking routes and trail LAND development opportunities; otherwise, uplands appear to have H M H minor recreational significance rich and varied intertidal communities and shoreline habitats; high BIOLOGIC H H H marine fishery and wildlife values Kikatlia First Nations community; small, several abandoned cannery or CULTURAL H M H fishing towns; small First Nations communities Score H ACTIVITIES excellent opportunities for boat cruising, kayaking, shoreline camping, WATER-SHORE VH H H diving, marine exploration SNOW-WINTER minimal potential L L L superior marine fishing opportunities; some hunting for deer, black FISH/HUNTING H H H bear, wolf and waterfowl LAND modest hiking opportunities M M M shoreline erosion and processes; view and interpret marine and VIEW-INTERPRET terrestrial wildlife; varied habitats; exposed ocean; Kitkatlia and H H H other historically significant sites Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) three units at Kitkatlia M M M TOURING (R) two or a few touring operations M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MoF marine recreation site (mooring buoys) at Welcome Harbour; MISC (F) M M M several anchorage areas or bays with wharves, etc. PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS several M M AREA(S) USED coastlines, bays and inlets H H % AREA USED all shorelines M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE excellent lodge development opportunities H M H TOUR excellent tour development or expansion available H H H Score H IRREPLACIBILITY High quality resources. Considerable variety H VULNERABILITY Gentle coastal terrain reduces vulnerability M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER. SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 2 3 (2) 2.5 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 13.5

Page 162 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: PORTLAND

The Portland area is a long (150 km) unit along Portland Inlet adjacent to the Alaska border between Chatham Sound and the vicinity of the head of the Canal at Stewart. This area also includes Pearse and Wales islands and Pearse Canal to the south. Except for the southern section of Portland Canal, these long waterways average only General about one or two km width and are enclosed by steep mountainous terrain. Local relief is commonly 1,200 Characteristics meters. The canals have relatively uniform shorelines where bays are almost non-existent and where beaches and non-steep shorelines are confined to mouths of small streams. There is little development and very few facilities and, except for the roads at Stewart, access is only by boat or air. Stewart is technically just outside the study area but is considered when identifying facilities below. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES close to 200 km of long, narrow fiord-like canals; several bays and small WATER passages confined to the vicinity of Wales Island to the south; only M H M a few small streams and no significant lakes mountainous terrain with some alpine areas of modest significance; LAND M M M trail-routes along Georgie River and Helen Creek marine wildlife and biologic features; deer, black bear, grizzly bear, BIOLOGIC H H H mountain goats CULTURAL several abandoned mines M M M Score M ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boat cruising, kayaking opportunities, especially around Wales Island M H M cross-country skiing and snowmobiling potential along main valleys; SNOW-WINTER M M M probably some areas of good down-hill skiing potential good opportunities for salmon, cod and halibut fishing; some big game FISH/HUNTING hunting opportunities; trout, salmon and steelhead fishing in the H H H larger streams LAND some mountain climbing and wilderness travel opportunities M M M VIEW-INTERPRET marine and terrestrial wildlife viewing; fish run viewing in streams H H H Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) at least 3 units at Stewart; one at Wales Island M M M several touring operations; almost all from Stewart, some from Wales TOURING (R) M M M Island and Car Point area TRANSPORTATION (P) confined to Stewart M L M ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) a few areas with floats or mooring buoys L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS low-moderate L L AREA(S) USED marine waterways M M % AREA USED less than half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY some lodge potential, the most attractive sites in the vicinity of Wales LODGE H L M Island some tour potential, the most attractive sites in the vicinity of Wales TOUR H L M Island Score M IRREPLACIBILITY Relative sameness and lack of unique features M VULNERABILITY Steep, visible slopes. H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC VULNER.* LODGE SUITAB. ACTIVITY SUITAB. 2 2.5 2 (3) 2 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 10.5

Page 163 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: PRINCIPE

The Principe zone is comprised of Principe and Petrel channels and associated island segments, the east portion of Banks Island, west portion of Pitt Island and most of McCauley Island. Principe and Petrel channels form an alternative route to the segment of the Inside Passage along Grenville Channel. This alternative route is sometimes referred to as the Outer Route and is about 125 km long. General Terrain on McCauley Island and the coastal fringes of Banks and Pitt islands is flat to rolling. The highest areas are Characteristics along central portions of Pitt Island where summit elevations average 1,000 meters. The coastlines of eastern Banks Island and McCauley Island are relatively uniform with infrequent bays or indentations. Conversely, the west coast of Pitt Island has numerous coves, bays and small inlets as well as a number of near-shore islands and passages. Except for Mink Trap Bay where there appears to be a wharf or dock, there are few, if any, facilities in this area. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES protected marine channels throughout, numerous small bays, inlets, lagoons and passes along Pitt Island offering good opportunities WATER for anchorages, kayaking and shore camping; approximately two H H H dozen lakes distributed throughout, some with good recreational opportunities. except in areas near lakes and marine channels, land areas have low to LAND M M M moderate feature qualities marine wildlife, fishery and benthic values; inter-tidal zones, especially BIOLOGIC H H H on Pitt Island; terrestrial wildlife including deer and black bear CULTURAL several First Nation’s use areas M M M Score M/H ACTIVITIES good opportunities for marine boat cruising and kayaking; small lakes with swimming, small boat and canoeing potential; numerous WATER-SHORE H H H anchorages and protected waterways associated with Pitt Island; some interesting diving opportunities SNOW-WINTER minimal opportunities L L L good salmon and ground fishing; trout fishing in lakes; bear and deer FISH/HUNTING H H H hunting throughout LAND modest opportunities for hiking, viewing M M M numerous small bays, lagoons and small islets with varied marine and VIEW-INTERPRET M H M terrestrial habitats Score M FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) some touring along Principe and Petrel channels M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) one or a few L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate to low M M AREA(S) USED Principe and Petrel channels M M % AREA USED mainly confined to marine channels M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several areas on west side of Pitt Islands H M H TOUR moderate to good potential, especially along Pitt Island M M M Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Significant marine cruising area M VULNERABILITY Moderately susceptible to visual disturbance due to low relief. M Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* LOSG ESUITAB. ACTIVITY SUIT. 2.5 2 2 2 2.5 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 11

Page 164 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: RUPERT

The Rupert area includes Prince Rupert and surrounding areas such as western and central portions of Tsimpsean Peninsula, Kain, Digby, Smith, Kennedy and De Horsey islands and the east side of Porcher Island; adjacent General waterways of Chatham Sound, mouth of Skeena River and Marcus, Telegraph, Malacca and Arthur passages. Characteristics Terrain varies from narrow coastal plains to hills and low mountains, general less than 700 meters elevation. Prince Rupert is the main city on the central and north coast. It is the terminus for the CNR Railway and Highway 16 and has a long history related to the forerstry, fishery and shipping industries. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly varied coastline along the Tsimpsean Peninsula, numerous WATER inlets, bays and attractive sand beaches; several recreationally VH H VH significant lakes southeast of Prince Rupert; tidal rapids LAND land features of limited quality M M M important and varied marine habitats; sea bird colonies, sea mammals, BIOLOGIC migrating waterfowl; terrestrial wildlife include deer and black H H H bear; significant marine fisheries; some freshwater fisheries significant and numerous First Nations and European historic features; industrial, utility, transportation and tourism services and facilities; CULTURAL H H H interesting historic communities (Port Simpson, Metlakatla, Port Edward) Score H ACTIVITIES boat cruising, kayaking, diving, beach combing, swimming, beach WATER-SHORE VH H VH activities, canoeing, shoreline camping SNOW-WINTER minimal opportunities L L L superior opportunities for marine fishing (salmon, cod) throughout; FISH/HUNTING opportunities for trout fishing in lakes; hunting deer, bear, H H H waterfowl and upland game birds moderate opportunities for hiking, mountain biking; Mount Oldfield LAND H M H and Butze Rapids MoF trails east of Prince Rupert old communities, abandoned canneries, superior marine wildlife VIEW-INTERPRET H M H viewing, Butze Rapids in Morse Basin Score H FACILITIES approximately 30 (motel/hotel/B&B) units, most a Prince Rupert, at ACCOMODATION (A) H VH H least one at Port Simpson TOURING (R) 50 or more tour operators, most in vicinity of Prince Rupert VH VH VH full transportation facilities at Prince Rupert including normal TRANSPORTATION (P) commercial (eg airline, railroad, bus, etc.) as well as local (small H H H aircraft and boat charters) at least 8 attractions at Prince Rupert and Port Simpson (museums, ATTRACTION (T) H H H vistor centres, etc) MISC (F) numerous wharves, small facilities and park facilities H H H Prudhomme and Diana Lake Provincial Parks; Oliver Lake local park; PROTECTED AREAS H M M Kitson Island Marine Park Score H USE USE NUMBERS high in vicinity of Prince Rupert, moderate throughout H H COMMERCIAL USERS high commercial use throughout H H AREA(S) USED all marine waters, most lakes and marine shorelines, upland areas around Prince Rupert H H % AREA USED more than half H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE good opportunities along marine coastlines H H H excellent tour opportunities both within specific Rupert Area and all TOUR VH VH VH adjacent areas Score H/VH IRREPLACIBILITY Significance increased by the variety of features. H VULNERABILITY Moderately susceptible to visual disturbance. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER. SUITABILITY SUITABILITY 3 3 3 (2) 3 4 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 15

Page 165 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SKEENA

The Skeena area straddles the lower Skeena River about 40 km east of Prince Rupert. It includes the Kyex River drainage and a few small streams north of the Skeena River and six drainages south of the Skeena River, the Scotia and Khtada rivers and Windsor, Ayton, Feak and Alder creeks. Terrain is mountainous with summit General elevations varying from 1,000 to 1,500 meters elevation. Highway 16 and the CNR railway along the north side Characteristics of the Skeena River. A pipeline also crosses the area parallel and north of the transportation corridor. Several trails or logging roads parallel some of the tributary valleys such as the McNeil and Kwinitso to the north and the Scotia River to the south. A trail-route also connects Highway 16 to the head of Work Channel to the north. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Skeena River and 5 recreationally significant tributaries such as McNeil, WATER Kyex, Scotia and Khtada rivers and Alder Creek; also Arden Lake, H H H part of a tributary to the Kyex River; several attractive waterfalls LAND scenic, rocky mountainous terrain, some with alpine ridges M H M terrestrial wildlife include deer, mountain goat., black and grizzly BIOLOGIC bears; very high anadromous fishery values in the Skeena River H H H and the tributary streams First Nations traditional use areas and transportation corridors, CULTURAL especially along the Skeena River; Haysport with abandoned H M H community and fish cannery Score H ACTIVITIES WATER-SHORE boating on Skeena River; stream-side camping M M M cross-country opportunities along tributary valleys; probably downhill SNOW-WINTER M M M skiing potential in mountainous areas big game hunting; good opportunities for salmon, steelhead and trout FISH/HUNTING H H H fishing throughout attractive but rugged hiking and backpacking opportunities at higher LAND elevations; probably some good mountaineering and rock climbing H M H opportunities; camping fish runs; First Nations features; mountainous terrain; waterfalls and VIEW-INTERPRET H H H rapids Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) some touring along Skeena River H L M TRANSPORTATION (P) float plane use on Skeena River L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) wharf at Haysport L L L PROTECTED AREAS Gamble Creek Ecological Reserve (at McNeil River?) M L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate to high along Skeena corridor; relatively low elsewhere M M COMMERCIAL USERS a few mainly confined to Skeena corridor M M AREA(S) USED Skeena River a larger tributary streams M M % AREA USED small proportion of area L L Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE appears to be minor or minimal lodge development potential L L L TOUR potential touring along tributary streams M M M Score L/M IRREPLACIBILITY High quality fishery resources. H VULNERABILITY Vulnerable to loss of habitat. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY TOTAL 3 2.5 3 (2) 1 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 11.5

Page 166 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SQUALLY

The Squally area includes Squally and Whale channels and associated lands such as the east side of Campania Island, all of Gill and Fin islands and the south end of Pitt Island which includes Union Passage and Tuwartz General Inlet. These are relatively protected waters adjacent to the Inside Passage, yet in close proximity to the relatively Characteristics exposed and isolated coasts of Banks Island and the Estevan Group to the west and the long inlets of Douglas Channel and Gardner Canal to the northeast. There is little development and there are no facilities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES several protected marine passages (Estevan Sound, Squally Channel, Whales Channel, Payne Channel, Union Passage); numerous small WATER harbours and protected bays; several small inlets and protected VH H VH bays; numerous small and medium-sized lakes on Pitt Island (e.g., Tsimtack, Moore and Tuwartz lakes) a variety of terrain from low-lying coastal plains on Campania and LAND Farrant islands to hilly and mountainous areas up to 600 meters M M M elevation marine wildlife and organisms including whales, seals, salmon, ground BIOLOGIC fish and small inter-tidal zones; upland wildlife including deer and H H H black bear; sea birds and migrating waterfowl CULTURAL several First Nation’s use areas M M M Score H ACTIVITIES good opportunities for boat cruising, kayaking, canoeing, diving, WATER-SHORE VH H VH shoreline camping SNOW-WINTER minimal opportunities L L L good salmon and ground fishing; trout fishing in lakes; bear and deer FISH/HUNTING H H H hunting throughout attractive hiking opportunities, especially on south end of Pitt Island LAND M M M where there are numerous small lakes, waterfalls and tidal rapids VIEW-INTERPRET inter-tidal areas; marine wildlife features; upland wildlife features H H H Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) several pass-through tours along marine channels and local fishing M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) none L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS appear to be several pass-through operators M M AREA(S) USED marine waterways M M % AREA USED less than half of area M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE several good opportunities for lodge development H H H TOUR some opportunities for increased operators M M M

Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Variety of features. M VULNERABILITY Moderately vulnerable to visual disturbance. M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER. LODGE SUITAB. ACTIVITY SUIT. 3 2.5 2 (2) 3 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 12.5

Page 167 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: WORK

The Work area includes Work Channel and contiguous areas to the height on land to either side. Except for Trail Bay, the west side of Work Channel is relatively uniform. To the east there are two inlets, several small bays and General three valleys leading into the uplands. Here, terrain is fairly rugged and the highest ridges in the south feature Characteristics small glaciers and summit elevations up to 1,400 meters. Most access is via boat although trails and pipeline corridor lead to the head of Work Channel from either Highway 16 or the vicinity of Prince Rupert. There are few, if any, facilities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES Work Channel is about 50 km long and connects to Davies Lagoon, Quottoon Inlet, Emma Passage and Union Inlet; Union and WATER H H H Leverson lakes and the Ensheshese and Toon Rivers are all recreationally significant the valleys and mountainous terrain west of Work Channel feature LAND attractive hiking routes and alpine areas; several warterfalls; steep- H M H walled rocky areas marine fish and wildlife values; small inter-tidal communities; a few BIOLOGIC H M M small estuaries; deer, black bear, grizzly bear and mountain goats CULTURAL small First Nations use areas M M M Score M/H ACTIVITIES boat cruising, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, beach activities, shore- WATER-SHORE H H H line camping cross-country skiing and snowmobile opportunities; possibly potential SNOW-WINTER M M M for downhill skiing FISH/HUNTING big game hunting, salmon, steelhead and trout fishing H H H good hiking opportunities and trails along the main drainages and in LAND areas to the south; good quality alpine backpacking areas; alpine H H H ridge walking numerous waterfalls; scenic mountainous terrain; wildlife viewing at VIEW-INTERPRET H M H small estuaries and inter-tidal areas Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION (A) none L L L TOURING (R) touring activities along marine corridors M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) small bay with wharf or floats at head of Work Channel L L L PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate M M AREA(S) USED marine waterways; some trail use along main streams, etc. M M % AREA USED less than half M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE some lodge development opportunities M M M good touring opportunities associated with marine areas, main river TOUR H M H valleys and in upland settings Score M/H IRREPLACIBILITY Moderately significant features. M VULNERABILITY Visually sensitive area H Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITABIILITY 2.5 3 2 3 2 2.5 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 12

Page 168 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

APPENDIX C HAIDA GWAII/QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS PLANNING AREA SUMMARIES

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: ENGLEFIELD

The Englefield area comprises the northwest portion of Moresby Island. This area is characterized by rugged, complex terrain. The exposed coastline facing the open ocean is very rugged with numerous bluffs, eroded rock formations and small pocket beaches. Two main inlets are found, Kuper and Tasu, both of which feature an intricate series of scenic, smaller inlets, bays and passages. Similar but smaller protected waters are associated with Kootenay and Bottle inlets. Upland areas are entirely mountainous. Although summit elevations are only General 2,000 to 3,000 meters, the low tree line and serrated ridges have the appearance of much higher terrain. Characteristics Access is almost entirely by water. A very rough road leading from Moresby Camp to Peel Inlet (off of Kuper Inlet) provides 4-wheel drive access. Tasu Inlet is the site of a major mine and ship harbour. A closed road system connects Barrier Bay (off Tasu Inlet) to Sewell Inlet on the east coast of Moresby Island. There are areas old, greened-up logging such as at Peel Inlet and a few areas with active logging but much of the area is semi- wilderness and natural-appearing. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly attractive marine waters including exposed coastline and extensive protected inlets and channels; several lakes up to five km WATER VH VH VH long occur, some lowland lakes near the west coast and several upland lakes and alpine tarns; numerous small riivers and streams highly scenic mountainous terrain, some with distinctive features such LAND as alpine terrain, extensive areas of limestone and karst terrain; VH H VH numerous waterfalls very high anadromous and fresh-water fishery values; significant and varied marine life including whales, sea bird colonies; ubiquitous BIOLOGIC HJ H H white-tailed deer; unusually large black bears; several small estuaries at the heads of inlets; old growth forests and big trees several highly significant, ancient Haida settlements; some interesting CULTURAL history related to early marine exploration; old mine at Taku; VH H VH hydro-electric generation at Moresby Lake Score VH ACTIVITIES very high quality boat cruising and kayaking opportunities on open ocean and along extensive protected waterways; potential for WATER-SHORE VH VH VH shoreline hiking, beach combing and exploration; numerous attractive anchorages SNOW-WINTER modest winter sports suitability L L L superior marine fishing both on open ocean and in inlets; good stream FISH/HUNTING fishing; some laske fishing; gather/collect marine foods; waterfowl, VH VH VH deer and bear hunting LAND hiking, backpacking and climbing opportunities H H H potential associated ancient Haida villages; high quality scenic viewing; exploration of karst terrain and probability for caving; view old VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH growth forests and big trees; high quality nature interpretation, wildlife viewing, fish run viewing Score H FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION-A one operation at Tasu M L L TOURING (R) none based in area but considerable touring activity in Kuper Inlet area H M H TRANSPORTATION (P) none based in area L L L ATTRACTION (T) none in area L L L numerous informal camping sites on marine shorelines; important MISC (F) H M H staging area for small boats and camping at Peel Inlet PROTECTED AREAS none (but several Goal 2 areas) L L L Score USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate M M Englefield Bay open ocean use; Kuper Inlet and associated water bodies; some use in AREA(S) USED H H Tasu area % AREA USED about half of area M M Score DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY several very high quality, wilderness-type lodge development LODGE VH H H opportunities TOUR considerable potential to expand and diversify existing tour activity VH H H

Score H

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IRREPLACEABILITY highly significant natural features scenic landscapes VH VULNERABILITY high potential for forest harvesting VH

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* LODGE SUIT. ACTIVITY SUIT. 4 3 4 (4) 3.5 3.5 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 18

Page 170 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: GWAII HAANAS

NOTE: This area is within the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. Human use within the reserve is strictly monitored and managed in partnership by the Council of the Haida Nation and the Government of Canada. Gwaii Haanas has outstanding biophysical and cultural features of high potential tourism significance. Typical, up-to-date resource inventories are not available for this area and any recommendations for tourism development are solely the prerogative of the Haida Nation and Parks Canada. Consequently, the information and assessment for this area does not conform to the same standard as for the other tourism assessment zones. General The Gwaii Haanas area is that part of southern the Moresby Island archipelago within the Gwaii Haanas National Characteristics Park Reserve. The area encompasses over 130 islands in addition to Moresby Island. Terrain is almost entirely mountainous and features a highly complex network of marine waters, small inlets, bays, beaches and headlands. Much of the area remains in a natural state and access is only by water or air. In addition to a rich array of natural features, the area has exceptional significance for its Haida culture, history and traditions. Among the hundreds of Haida sites is Ninstints on Anthony Island which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES highly significant and extensive marine passages, inlets and channels including large areas exposed to the open ocean and numerous areas offering relative seclusion and protection; except for a WATER number of small upland tarns to the north and Victoria and Upper VH VH VH Victoria lakes on the west coast, there are few lakes of recreational significance; there are a number of streams but most, if not all, are relatively small the land is almost entirely forested and varies from low hills and valleys in the south to fairly steep, ice eroded ridges averaging 850 LAND H H H meters elevation in the north, (lack of readily available recreation inventory mapping limits knowledge about land-based features) very significant marine wildlife and biology includes whales, other sea mammals, marine fishes, ocean birds, waterfowl, shorebirds and BIOLOGIC VH VH VH raptors; ubiquitous white-tailed deer; unusually large black bears; extensively distributed old growth forests CULTURAL highly significant and numerous Haida cultural sites VH VH VH Score VH ACTIVITIES superior boat cruising, sailing and ocean kayaking; diving; beach WATER-SHORE VH VH VH combing; shoreline exploration, camping SNOW-WINTER modest winter sports opportunities L L L very good fishing and hunting opportunities subject to special FISH/HUNTING H H H restrictions and regulations of a National Park LAND hiking, backpacking and climbing, mainly in north parts of area M M M cultural features, ancient Haida sites, totems and abandoned villages; abandoned whaling stations; old fish camps and mining sites; VIEW-INTERPRET VH VH VH varied natural features including big trees, wildlife, inter-tidal zones Score H FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION-A B&B at Rose Harbour H L L TOURING (R) tour operations based outside of area M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) small boat charters from Rose Harbour M M M ATTRACTION (T) numerous Haida sites, especially Ninstints H H H MISC (F) several beaches and boat haul-outs for camping M M M PROTECTED AREAS all protected under Reserve VH VH VH Score M USE USE NUMBERS moderate (2,000 to 3,000) per annum M M COMMERCIAL USERS moderate, included with “Use Numbers” M M AREA(S) USED marine waterways and coastal sites; primarily along east side of achipelago M M % AREA USED less than half L L Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY LODGE N/A (high capability but protected reserve) L L L TOUR high potential subject to strict regulation L L L

Score L

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IRREPLACEABILITY numerous highly significant features and opportunities VH VULNERABILITY as a reserve, protected from resource development but subject to public recreational and tourism use; cultural features highly H vulnerable to disturbance

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* LODGE SUIT. ACTIVITY SUIT. 4 3 4 (3) 1 1 *Vulnerability is a modifier and not included in the totals. **Tourism development potential subject to strict regulations FINAL SCORE (N/A)**

Page 172 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: LOUISE

The Louise area occupies northeast portion of Moresby Island and Louise, Talunkwan and several small islands. The area is generally mountainous and the marine shorelines are somewhat irregular with frequent bays, beaches and headlands. Louise Island is a major attraction that is frequently circumnavigated by pleasure boats and kayaks because of its attractive shoreline and proximity to Moresby Camp and Skidegate Inlet. The main waterbodies around Louise Island are Cumshewa Inlet to the north, Hecate Strait to the east, Selwyn Inlet to the south and Louise Narrows to the west, which collectively provide a 70km long water route with frequent General beaches and small bays for landing boats. Popular way points include historic New Clew and Skedans, Vertical Characteristics (Limestone) Point, Breaker Bay and Rockfish Harbour. There are several bays, small inlets and lagoons that also attract recreation use on Moresby and Talunkwan islands. A series of small alpine ridges and tarns at the headwaters of Skedans Creek on central Louise Island offer an attractive, potential upland destination for hikers and backpackers. Access is entirely by water although there are isolated logging road systems on both Moresby and Louise Islands. The general area is subject to considerable active logging. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES attractive, mostly protected marine waters; several small rivers and streams; Mathers Lake on Louise Island has low recreation WATER H M H significance; small lagoons and tidal currents in several narrow channels several alpine and alpine-like ridges on Louise and Moresby islands; LAND karst terrain and caves on southeast section of Louise Island; M M M moderately attractive scenic landscapes significant marine fisheries throughout; whales, sea birds and other marine life, especially in vicinity of Reef Island; ubiquitous white- BIOLOGIC tailed deer; large black bears; small estuaries and inter-tidal areas; H H H freshwater and anadromous fisheries in streams, especially Skedans Creek; a few scattered old growth sites significant Haida features at Skedans and New Clew; smaller CULTURAL H M H archaeologic sites throughout Score H ACTIVITIES boat cruising and ocean kayaking throughout; swimming, beach combing, camping, picnicking, beach walking at several locations WATER-SHORE on southeast Louise Island; diving at Vertical Point H H H area forms part of popular marine access corridors to Gwaii Haanas Park SNOW-WINTER modest winter sports opportunities L L L excellent salmon, cod, halibut fishing throughout, some freshwater FISH/HUNTING fishing in streams (Mathers & Skedans creeks; waterfowl, deer and H H H bear hunting LAND upland hiking and backpacking potential M M M archaeologic site visits; historic interpretion at New Clew; limestone VIEW-INTERPRET formations; several tidal features; wildlife viewing; whale H H H watching; some big tree viewing opportunities Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION-A one unit at Pacofi Bay L L L TOURING (R) none based in area; touring activity mainly around Louise Island M M M TRANSPORTATION (P) none based in area L L L ATTRACTION (T) Skedans and New Clew are unofficial historic-cultural attractions M L M informal beach use sites throughout; mooring bouys such as at Louise MISC (F) M M M Narrows PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score L/M USE USE NUMBERS high H H COMMERCIAL USERS high pass-through activity; moderate local activity M M AREA(S) USED marine waters; shoreline areas of Louise Island M M % AREA USED all marine waters; limited use of uplands M M Score M DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY some lodge development potential; potential conflicts with industrial LODGE M M M forest activities TOUR existing tour use of marine waters probably somewhat saturated M M M

Score M

IRREPLACEABILITY some shoreline and archaeologic features are relatively distinctive M VULNERABILITY high competing uses between recreation, tourism and forestry M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* LODGE ACTIVITY

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SUITAB. SUIT. 3 2.5 2 (2) 2 2 Over-riding Factors FINAL SCORE 11.5

Page 174 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: MASSET

The Masset area conforms mainly to the east and central portions of Graham Island. Terrain is predominately low- lying and includes much of the Queen Charlotte Lowland along with the Argonaut Plain to the northeast. Here, the land is undulating or level, with poor drainage and frequent muskeg conditions. Elevations are all below 300 meters. To the southwest, elements of the Skidegate Plateau are found which has been dissected into low mountains with summit elevations averaging about 600 meters. The north and east coasts of Graham Island feature very extensive sand beaches, including Rose Spit, which run General almost continuously for well over 100 km. A major feature of the area is Masset Inlet and Masset Sound which Characteristics provide a navigable marine waterway up to 70km into the interior of the island. The Yakoun River, the largest on the Queen Charlottes, drains the plateau and hills and enters Masset Inlet in the vicinity of Port Clemens. The area is served by a paved highway that connects Queen Charlotte City and Skidegate to the south with Masset to the north. A mainline industrial road connects Queen Charlotte City to the south with Port Clements. A network of logging roads is found throughout the area south of Masset Inlet. Masset is the largest community. Port Clements is a small town associated with the forest industry but with several more recently established tourist facilities. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES the area includes the relatively open waters of Hecate Strait as well as an extensive network of relatively protected inlets and bays associated with Masset Inlet; there are numerous lakes, bogs and WATER VH H VH wetlands found associated with a variety of terrain types; Ian Lake, about 20km long, with attractive features; numerous streams and small rivers, also found in a variety of terrain types land varies from extensive muskeg to hilly and low mountainous areas; LAND H H H a few mountains to the southwest are serrated and scenic very high anadromous and marine fishery values throughout; numerous and diverse marine birds and mammals; fairly frequent BIOLOGIC black bears of unusually large size; very numerous introduced VH H VH black-tailed deer; unusually large old growth spruce; Yakoun estuary with significant wildlife habitats and populations present day, historical and ancient Haida culture is very prominent; CULTURAL numerous early mining features; several old canneries and ship H H H wrecks Score H/VH ACTIVITIES high quality marine boating, kayaking and cruising opportunities; high quality hiking, back-packing, camping, nature appreciation and WATER-SHORE VH VH VH beach combing along extensive marine beaches; swimming and beach opportunities on fresh-water lakes SNOW-WINTER modest skiing potential in uplands to southwest L L L superior and varied fresh-water and marine fishing throughout; deer, FISH/HUNTING H VH H grouse, waterfowl and black bear hunting upland hiking and wilderness travel in low mountains to west and LAND M H M south; several fossil beds sand rock hounding areas numerous cultural features and artifacts related to Haida culture and early mining activity; very numerous, good quality fish run VIEW-INTERPRET H H H viewing opportunities; small stands of old growth and several very large Sitka spruce; ocean-beach views; fossils and geologic features Score M/H FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION-A about 20 services at Masset, North Beach and Port Clements H H H very numerous touring operations, especially along north coast; about TOURING (R) VH VH VH 22 based within planning area TRANSPORTATION (P) five transportation services M M M ATTRACTION (T) eight operations between Masset and Port Clements H H H MISC (F) none - - - Naikoon and Pure Lake provincial parks; Drizzle Lake Ecological PROTECTED AREAS VH H H Reserve Score H

Page 175 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

USE USE NUMBERS moderately high H H COMMERCIAL USERS moderately high H H AREA(S) USED all coastlines and main road corridors H H % AREA USED high percentage of area H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY moderate; most potential sites already used; some opportunities on LODGE M M M Masset Inet existing tour use is high; good potential to expand tour opportunities to TOUR H H H some alternative areas such as Masset Inlet

Score M/H IRREPLACEABILITY High, based upon uniqueness of numerous features H VULNERABILITY High, from industrial use of large proportions of area; high human activity throughout much of area H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUITAB. 3.5 2.5 3 3 2 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and has not been included in the totals FINAL SCORE 15

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CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: NADEN

The Naden area occupies the west coast of Graham Island and includes Naden Habour on the north coast of the island. This area is predominantly mountainous although a small section of the Queen Charlotte Plateau is found to the north around Naden Harbour. Although local relief is not high and summit elevations are generally less than 900 meters, the more mountainous areas were deeply eroded by ice, are rugged and feature serrated peaks and alpine characteristics. General The exposed coastline along the west shore is comprised of numerous indentations, bays, small inlets and rocky Characteristics headlands. There are also a large number of islets and small islands. Langara Island off the northwest tip of Graham Island is the largest. The northern shore is somewhat more regular. The only publicly accessed road is at Shields Bay which leads from Queen Charlotte City about 30 km to the southeast. A network of isolated industrial roads lead along drainages entering the south end of Naden Harbour which is only accessible by air or water. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES exposed ocean waters along both the west and north coasts with highly varied shore features, rock formations, near-shore islets and pocket beaches; Naden Habour-Virago Sound to the north and Rennell WATER H H H Sound-Shields Bay to the south are relatively large, protected marine waters; there are a few, small, relatively isolated lakes; numerous small streams rolling to steep mountainous, forested terrain; ridge tops are often bare LAND M M M or alpine-like; a few areas of karst, possibly some caves very high anadromous and marine fishery values throughout; numerous and diverse marine birds and mammals; offshore islets BIOLOGIC with high concentrations of sea birds and sea mammals; black VH H VH bears of unusually large size; very numerous introduced black- tailed deer; large estuary at the head of Naden Harbour CULTURAL numerous historic and ancient Haida villages and resource use areas H H H Score H ACTIVITIES ocean kayaking; marine boat cruising; high quality marine shore WATER-SHORE H H H hiking/back-packing opportunities; beach combing SNOW-WINTER limited L L L superior, varied marine and fresh-water fishing throughout; deer, FISH/HUNTING H H H grouse, waterfowl and black bear hunting limited opportunities; some upland hiking on ridges along southern LAND M L L portions of the east side of the area numerous cultural features associated with Haida culture; numerous, VIEW-INTERPRET H H H high quality fish run viewing opportunities Score M FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION-A only one known for area at Langara Island L L L TOURING (R) only one or a few in area L L L TRANSPORTATION (P) none L L L ATTRACTION (T) none L L L MISC (F) two MoF recreation sites and short trails in Shields Bay area M L L Vladimir J. Krajina Ecological Reserve at Hippa Island and in vicinity of PROTECTED AREAS M M M Port Channel Score L USE USE NUMBERS moderate M M COMMERCIAL USERS extensive touring along north and west coasts H H AREA(S) USED marine waters H H % AREA USED all marine waters; little use in uplands M M Score M/H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY numerous, isolated and attractive lodge development opportunities LODGE VH VH VH mainly related to wilderness and/or adventure tourism TOUR good opportunities to expand existing tour operations H H H

Score H/VH IRREPLACEABILITY high, based upon uniqueness of features H VULNERABILITY moderate, from industrial use of uplands; and moderate to high from use of recreational/tourism use of shorelands M

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER. SUITABILITY SUIT. 3 2 3 (2) 4 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and has not been included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 15

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CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: SKIDEGATE

The Sgidegate area includes Skidegate Channel and the adjacent areas along the south end of Graham Island and along the north end of Moresby Island. Three main settlement centres are found in this area: Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate/Skidegate Mission and Sandspit. These communities represent major commercial, residential administrative and transportation centres for the Queen Charlotte Islands. The main airport is at Sandspit on Moresby Island while the Prince Rupert Ferry docks at Skidegate on Graham Island. The two islands are connected by a local ferry running between Aliford Bay and Skidegate; extensive logging throughout; large General areas of maturing second growth forests Characteristics Most of the terrain is hilly to mountainous although a coastal plain extends southward from Sandspit to Cumshewa Head along the east side of Moresby Island. Skidegate Channel and Skidegate Inlet separate the two main islands and provide a protected waterway connecting Hecate Strait in the east to the open ocean in the west. Both the channel and inlet are important local waters for recreational boating and for access to either coastline of the Queen Charlottes. The Skidegate area also includes Cumshewa Inlet. A good road serves Cumshewa Inlet at Moresby Camp which is as major starting point for boaters and kayakers wishing to visit Gwaii Haanas Park and other popular destinations associated with Moresby Island. CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES extensive, complex and attractive marine corridors connect with numerous alternative marine destinations throughout the region; WATER VH VH VH numerous small rivers and streams; two medium-sized lakes (Mosquito and Skidegate lakes) along with several small lakes highly varied terrain from the low-lying coastal plain in the east to the LAND highest summits of the Charlottes on north-central Moresby Island H H H (Mount Moresby, at about 1,200 meters) almost all streams and lakes are highly important for anadromous and resident fisheries; marine areas important for salmon, cod and BIOLOGIC VH VH VH halibut fishing; rich intertidal areas; high concentrations of marine birds; ubiquitous blacktailed deer; relatively large black bears major Haida settlement at Skidegate Mission; culturally significant CULTURAL Haida areas throughout; rich logging and settlement history and VH H VH numerous old railroad grades Score VH ACTIVITIES full range of water-based recreational opportunities; marine boating, cruising and kayaking; attractive and varied marine shorelines; WATER-SHORE VH VH VH excellent shore-based hiking south from Gray Bay; lakes with good opportunities for camping, swimming, fishing and boating modest opportunities for winter sports; ski facilities and opportunities SNOW-WINTER north of Queen Charlotte City have been used on a intermittent M M M basis excellent marine and fresh-water fishing throughout; good deer and FISH/HUNTING bear hunting; extensive and superior mushroom picking areas; VH VH VH gathering marine foods good hiking, driving and cycling opportunities; potential and existing LAND use of old road networks and railroad corridors; climbing and H H H backpacking in Mount Moresby area superior marine and land-based landscape viewing; numerous cultural VIEW-INTERPRET attractions associated with Haida culture and World War II logging VH VH VH camps and facilities Score H/VH FACILITIES ACCOMMODATION-A close to thirty accommodation facilities in the three main communities H H H TOURING (R) more than thirty tour operators based in area H H H TRANSPORTATION (P) full range of local and regional transportation services H H H ATTRACTION (T) at least a dozen attractions H H H numerous informal camp sites, boat launching facilities and day-use MISC (F) sites; large managed campsite at Gray Bay, smaller one at Mosquito VH VH VH Lake; very numerous trails and routes (managed and unmanaged) PROTECTED AREAS none L L L Score H USE USE NUMBERS high H H COMMERCIAL USERS very high VH VH all marine waters, most streams and lakes, backcountry areas, Gray Bay to Cumshewa AREA(S) USED VH VH Head is a major recreational area with scenic coastal trails % AREA USED most of area H H Score H/VH

DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY numerous and varied lodge development opportunities including LODGE H H H urban, coastal and semi-wilderness settings tour development suitability is moderate given high existing tour TOUR M M M activities

Score M/H IRREPLACEABILITY high, based on uniqueness of several features H VULNERABILITY

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high level of industrial, commercial, tourism and recreational activity VH

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUIT. 4 3.5 3 4 3 2 *Vulnerability is a modifier and has not been included in the totals. FINAL SCORE 15.5

Page 179 Economic Gain Spatial Analysis–Tourism Sector Report Coast Information Team April 2004

CIT- EGSA – TOURISM SECTOR DATA SUMMARY – PLANNING AREA: YAKOUN

The Yakoun area includes the watersheds of the Yakoun and Tlell Rivers along the east side of Graham Island. Terrain varies from a relatively low-lying plain to the east and north which gives way to increasingly hilly areas to the south and west. The low-lying plain, mostly comprised of the Tlell drainage, features extensive areas of muskeg and wetlands where drainage is disorganized. The Yakoun drainage is characterized more by hilly terrain which grades into relatively steep mountainous areas in the vicinity of Yakoun Lake. Here, a few summits exceed 1,000 meters elevation. General Highway 16 follows the eastern coastline while a mainline industrial road parallels the Yakoun River. Numerous Characteristics logging spurs, old mining roads and rough trails are found throughout this area and, away from the low-lying wetlands, there has been considerable logging. There are several small areas of old growth timber, especially in the vicinity of Yakoun Lake. The Yakoun mainline connects with the road leading westward to Rennell Sound. Port Clements just outside the Yakoun area and Tlell represent the only settlements. Tlell is a small residential and farming community with some tourist services. Numerous, small, abandoned mines are scattered throughout the area; relatively extensive trail networks throughout CATEGORY TYPES Quality Frequency Signif. FEATURES the area fronts on Hecate Sound to the east, a relatively open waterway with a relatively regular shoreline of beaches with no significant bays or inlets. The Yakoun River is one of the largest and most interesting streams on the entire Queen Charlotte Islands. There are WATER VH H VH also numerous tributary streams and the Tlell River as well as expansive wetlands, particularly along the Tlell River. Yakoun Lake which is about seven km long has a very attractive, unmodified, mountain setting. the low-lying terrain features attractive habitat variety such as the Tlell Pontoons along the Tlell River. The mountains south of Yakoun LAND H H H Lake are quite scenic with serrated ridges and alpine-like terrain; several fossil locations and a few natural springs almost all the freshwater streams and lakes are highly important for anadromous and resident fisheries. A small herd of introduced Rocky Mountain elk is found along with ubiquitous blacktailed BIOLOGIC VH H VH deer and frequent black bears of unusually large size. Diverse wetland habitats and interesting bird concentrations. Some old growth areas and several massive individual Sitka spruce trees numerous old trails, abandoned equipment, adits and pits associated CULTURAL with early mining activities and exploration; highly significant H H H cultural values associated with Haida Score H/VH ACTIVITIES attractive, accessible ocean beaches with walking, nature appreciation, beach combing, scenic driving; boating, swimming, camping, WATER-SHORE hiking at and around Yakoun Lake; camping, picnicking and VH VH VH swimming in small lakes and rivers; some river kayaking on Yakoun River SNOW-WINTER modest opportunities for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing L L L superior and varied fresh-water and marine fishing throughout; deer, FISH/HUNTING H VH H grouse, waterfowl and black bear hunting very numerous and varied hiking opportunities throughout; some LAND H H H mountaineering and backpacking in mountains to southwest numerous, good opportunities for fish run viewing; view old growth forests and massive spruce trees; numerous cultural features VIEW-INTERPRET H H H associated with Haida and mining history; fossils and mineral deposits; large black bears; some elk viewing opportunities Score H FACILITIES ACCOMODATION-A a few accommodation facilities at Tlell and along Highway 16 H M M at least three touring operations based at Tlell; frequent tours associated TOURING (R) H H H with Yakoun mainline, Yakoun Lake and Tlell River TRANSPORTATION (P) a few transportation services based within area M M M ATTRACTION (T) a few studios at Tlell; fish hatchery at Marie Lake M M M numerous informal and a few managed campsites, picnic sites, boat MISC (F) H H H put-ins PROTECTED AREAS Yakoun Lake with protective reserve L L L Score M

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USE USE NUMBERS relatively high H H COMMERCIAL USERS relatively high H H Highway 16 and Yakoun mainline corridors; Yakoun Lake; Tlell River; numerous AREA(S) USED H H tributary streams % AREA USED almost all of area H H Score H DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY good potential along Highway 16/ocean shore corridor; high quality, LODGE H H H wilderness-like lodge potential at Yakoun Lake TOUR existing tour use is high; good potential to expand tour opportunities H H H

Score H IRREPLACEABILITY High, based upon uniqueness of numerous features H VULNERABILITY high industrial and recreational activity throughout area H

Relative Rating (maximum = 20; minimum = 5) Ratings: VH = very high; H = high; M = moderate; L = low Scoring: VH = 4; H = 3; M = 2; L = 1 LODGE ACTIVITY FEATURES ACTIVITIES IRREPLAC. VULNER.* SUITABILITY SUIT. 3.5 3 3 3 3 3 *Vulnerability is a modifier and has not been included in the totals FINAL SCORE 15.5

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APPENDIX D INFORMATION SOURCES

REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS:

Addison Travel Marketing. North Island Tourism Strategy. June 1999

BC Ministry of Forests. The Economic Benefits of Managing Forestry and Tourism at Nimmo Bay (Draft 4). August 2002.

BC Parks. Preserving Our Living Legacy Parks Plan 90, Special Features for BC Parks. June 1990.

Canadian Tourism Commission. A Breath of Fresh Air: A Business Strategy of Outdoor Tourism Product Development in Canada. 2001

Canadian Tourism Commission. Canadian Soft Outdoor Adventure Enthusiasts: A Special Analysis of the Travel Activities and Motivation Survey. September 2002.

Canadian Tourism Commission. U.S. Soft Outdoor Adventure Enthusiasts: A Special Analysis of the Travel Activities and Motivation Survey. September 2002.

Chisholm, Marilyn & Associates et al. Tourism Opportunity Study for the Mid Coast Forest District. July 2001.

Cloutier, Ross. The Business of Adventure: Developing a Business in Adventure Tourism. 1998.

Clover Point Cartographics Ltd. et al. Forest and Fisheries Tourism Opportunities Study for the North Coast Forest District. March 2000.

Clover Point Cartographics, et al. Tourism Opportunity Study for Portions of the Campbell River and Port McNeill Forest Districts. March 2000.

City Spaces Consulting Ltd. Assessing Market Demand and Investment Potential: North Vancouver Island Tourism Product. July 2002.

Coast Information Team. Ecosystem-based Management Framework Discussion Paper. August 2002.

Community Challenge Consulting. Joint Solutions Project – Inventory of Business Opportunities. 2002.

Council of Tourism Associations of British Columbia, et al. British Columbia Tourism Growth Framework. May 2001. Part 1: Industry Overview Part II: Industry Consultation Part III: Provincial Tourism Growth Framework (Draft)

Dobson, Sue, Gill, Alison, Baird, Sam. A Primer of the Canadian Pacific Cruise Ship Industry. May 2002.

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DLC Associates, et al. Determining and Monitoring Capacity for Public and Commercial Recreation on Crown Land in B.C. April 2000.

Economic Planning Group. British Columbia Tourism Products: Performance, Trends and Outlook. December 2001.

Economic Planning Group. Heydon Bay Lodge Market Assessment. March 2001

Economic Planning Group. Quesnel Forest District Tourism Opportunity Study. March 2001.

Economic Planning Group. Northern Vancouver Island Forest and Recreation and Tourism Opportunity Study. December 1997.

Economic Planning Group. On the Path to Success – Lessons from Canadian Adventure Travel and Ecotourism Operators. March 1999.

Gitga’at Tourism Strategy. September, 2002

GSGislason & Associates ltd. The Guide Outfitting Industry in BC – An Economic Profile. October 2002.

Holt, Rachel. An Ecosystem-Based Management Planning Framework for the North Coast LRMP. March 2001.

Klygherz & Associates. Prince Rupert Cruise Ship Port Benefit Analysis. March 2000

Klugherz & Associates/Maritime Group Services, Inc. British Columbia Cruise Market Opportunity Assessment. December 2002.

Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture. Digital Data Standards for Community-Scale Tourism Opportunity Study. Version 1.0, March 2000

Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. Central Coast Protected Area Strategy (PAS). May 1997

Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. Building Block: Floating Lodges and Camps – An Economic Profile. July 2002.

Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. North Island Straits Integrated Coastal Plan Draft. June 2002.

McKim, Patricia. Central Coast LRMP – Northern Plan Area Economic Opportunity and Barrier Study. (Undated).

Paul, J & Associates Inc., BC’s Tourism Product: 1994-1998 Trends and Future Direction. May 1999.

Prince Rupert Interagency Management Committee. Queen Charlotte Islands – Haida Gwaii Background Report: An Overview of Natural, Cultural and Socio-Economic Features, Land Uses and Resources Management. December 1999.

Synergy Management Group Ltd. First Nations Coastal Tourism Strategy – Phase One Report. June 2002.

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Tamblyn, Greg C and Horn, Hannah. Current Conditions Report: North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. March 2001.

Tourism BC and Council of Tourism Associations. Tourism Industry Product Overview: Towards a Tourism Growth Management Strategy. 1996.

Tourism Canada. Adventure Travel and Ecotourism: The Challenge Ahead. February 2001.

Wight, Pamela and Associates. Best Practices in Natural Heritage Collaborations: Parks and Outdoor Tourism Operators. September 2001

Wight, Pamela and Associates. Catalogue of Exemplary Practices in Adventure Travel and Ecotourism. March 1999.

Wilson, Diane. Assessing Social and Economic Considerations in Ecosystem-Based Management for the North Coast LRMP. May 2002.

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CONTACTS

Name Capacity Agency

Adams, Sarah Senior Researcher Tourism BC

Belltrano, Linda Manager Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Bosse, Vicky Strategic Planning Ministry of Sustainable Resource Coordinator Management Cameron, Jim Manager Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Connolly, Stephen Coast and Marine Ministry of Sustainable Resource Planner Management Careless, Ric Executive Director Wilderness Tourism Association of BC Hansen, John President North West Cruiseship Association

Porges, Richard Research Director Tourism BC

Prittie, Don Manager Oak Bay Marine Group

Marc, Jacques Visual Resources Ministry of Forests Specialist Malkinson. Leah Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Oppelt, Wendy Media Liaison Sport Fishing Institute

Pillman, Ray Outdoor Recreation Council

Senka, Jim Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management South, Nancy Economist Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Stevenson, Shaun Manager Business Prince Rupert Port Development Stefanyk, Lucy Naikoon Provincial Park

Uhara, Michael President King Pacific Lodge

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MAPS

Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture, Tourism Value Maps, February 2002.

Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Coast Region Tourism Priority Zones (South and North), September 2002.

Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Central Coast LRMP, Interaction between Tourism Priority Zones and Timber Harvesting Land Base (South and North), July 2002.

Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Central Coast LRMP, Visually Sensitive Areas (South and North), October 2002.

Forest and Fisheries Tourism Opportunity Study – North Coast, Physical Suitability for: Backcountry Skiing Marine Kayak Touring Freshwater Fishing Flightseeing Off Road Cycle Touring Hiking Marine Charters Wildlife Viewing Backcountry Lodge/Resort

Mid Coast Tourism Opportunity Study Product Suitability for: Destination Lodges Marine Cruises Air Tours Hut Systems Ocean Kayaking Road Touring Nature Observation Adventure Tourism

Outdoor Recreation Council, Central Coast LRMP Features and Activities (South and North), February 2002.

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