North Island Straits Coastal Plan December, 2002 Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management Coast & Marine Planning Branch National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data British Columbia. Coast and Marine Planning Branch. North Island Straits Coastal Plan Also available on the Internet. Includes bibliographical references: p. ISBN 0-7726-4827-1 1. Coastal zone management – Government policy - British Columbia – Queen Charlotte Strait Region. 2. Coastal zone management – Government policy - British Columbia – Johnstone Strait Region. 3. Coastal zone management – Government policy - British Columbia – Caution, Cape, Region. 4. Land use - British Columbia – Queen Charlotte Strait Region – Planning. 5. Land use - British Columbia – Johnstone Strait Region - Planning. 6. Land use - British Columbia – Caution, Cape, Region – Planning. I. Title. HD319.B7B74 2002 333.91’7’097111 C2002-960177-0 ii North Island Straits Coastal Plan Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................................................iii Letter from the Minister................................................................................................................................v Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................................vii Acronyms and Definitions ...........................................................................................................................ix 1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Plan Location ...................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Plan Business Case and Intent .........................................................................................................1 1.3 Plan Scope and Jurisdiction .............................................................................................................2 1.4 Planning Process ..............................................................................................................................3 2 Plan Area Description............................................................................................................................7 2.1 Physical and Oceanographic Features..............................................................................................7 2.2 Biological Features ........................................................................................................................12 2.3 Coastal Use and Activity Pattern ...................................................................................................20 2.4 Community and Socio-Economic Profile ......................................................................................23 3 Plan Direction ......................................................................................................................................33 3.1 Use of the Plan...............................................................................................................................33 3.2 Strategic Level Direction ...............................................................................................................33 3.3 Uses, Activities and Emphasis.......................................................................................................33 3.4 Planning Unit Direction .................................................................................................................39 4 Plan Impact Assessment ....................................................................................................................189 4.1 Socio-Economic Impacts .............................................................................................................189 4.2 Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................................191 5 Plan Follow Up..................................................................................................................................195 5.1 Information Limitations...............................................................................................................195 5.2 Plan Variation Process .................................................................................................................195 5.3 Plan Monitoring, Review and Amendment..................................................................................196 5.4 Implications for Central Coast LRMP .........................................................................................196 5.5 Recommended Notations and Reserves.......................................................................................196 5.6 Marine Conservation and Protection Assessments ......................................................................198 5.7 Tourism and Recreation Campsite Management .........................................................................199 5.8 Commercial Recreation Guiding Practices for Bird Colonies and Migratory Bird Habitat ........200 5.9 First Nations Contacts and Considerations/ Provisions ...............................................................201 5.10 Recommended Projects to Enhance Economic Development Opportunities..........................202 Appendix 1. Governance Principles for Sustainable Resource Management in British Columbia.....205 Appendix 2. Agency and Interest Group Discussions.........................................................................206 Appendix 3. First Nations’ Interaction and Comments .......................................................................207 Appendix 4. Compatibility & Siting Assessments ..............................................................................209 Appendix 5. Supporting Information for Socio-Economic and Environmental Assessments.............217 Appendix 6. References.......................................................................................................................225 North Island Straits Coastal Plan iii iv North Island Straits Coastal Plan Letter from the Minister Dear Reader: Re: Approval and Implementation of the North Island Straits Coastal Plan As Minister of Sustainable Resource Management and Minister responsible for Land and Water British Columbia Inc. (LWBC), I am very pleased to give my approval to the North Island Straits Coastal Plan. This plan is developed pursuant to provincial jurisdiction over coastal and foreshore areas of British Columbia’s coast. It will assist LWBC and other provincial agencies when considering applications for coastal tenure. It will also assist local coastal communities and participating First Nations by identifying opportunities for future development, conservation and recreation. It will be valuable to individual development proponents and the public by identifying in advance the opportunities, constraints and limitations to various types of Crown land and marine uses that may be contemplated. This plan and the process used to develop it satisfy the draft governance principles for sustainability that are being developed by our ministry on behalf of government. I am very pleased that this plan has the support of the Regional District of Mount Waddington, representing the area’s local communities. As a living document, this plan will require regular monitoring and will likely be subject to variations and amendments as circumstances change and new information is made available. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing this plan play a strong role in generating new opportunities to achieve sustainable land and resource use in the North Island. Yours truly, A Stanley B. Hagen Minister North Island Straits Coastal Plan v vi North Island Straits Coastal Plan Acknowledgements The completion of the North Island Straits Coastal Plan has been made possible by the dedication and collaboration of a number of provincial agency staff. Special thanks are extended to planning team members: Rob Paynter (Project Leader, CMPB), Stephen Connolly (CMPB), John Bones (CMPB), Graham Winterbottom (CMPB), David Cruickshank (Regional Office, MSRM), and to Simon Norris and Carol Ogborne (Decision Support Services, MSRM). Duncan Williams, Keith Anderson, Richard Brunning and John Willow (LWBC) provided valuable assistance in enhancing the interpretation and effectiveness of the the Plan. Early guidance and advice was received from Mark Zacharias, Chris Hamilton and Jodie Wilson of MSRM. Advice and support from Mark McIntyre (MOF, Port McNeill) and Barron Carswell (MAFF) is also appreciated. Federal and local government staff also made important contributions to the plan. In particular, thanks are extended to Anne Marie Koch and Board members of the Regional District of Mount Waddington, Brenda Bauer and staff (DFO Port Hardy), Michael Dunn, Krista Amey and staff of the Canadian Wildlife Service (Vancouver) and Bob Gowe and the staff of the Canadian Coast Guard. We would also like to thank the many representatives of community groups, First Nations, and stakeholder groups who provided their time and effort in helping shape this Plan. Particular acknowledgement is made to community representatives who participated in review of the draft Plan and open houses, including members of the Plan Advisory