K’waal Conservancy

About This Conservancy

K’waal Conservancy protects an important river system, a small remote pristine lake, old-growth forests, several streams and wetlands. It has a diversity of wildlife habitats along with spectacular mountain scenery. Access into this wilderness area can be difficult and usually requires the use of jet boats. This conservancy borders with Alty Conservancy to the southwest.

The Quaal River estuary is one of the top-ranking wetlands on the North Coast. Large numbers of waterfowl, including the blue-listed Old Squaw and Trumpeter Swan, use these diverse wetlands, which extend from the intertidal zone up the river valley. Large numbers of salmon and steelhead also spawn in the river. The conservancy also contains yellow cedar, hemlock and amabilis fir stands, as well as muskeg and small lakes. The area is also socially and culturally important to the Gitga’at First Nation.

Conservancy Size:  3,300 ha

Special Notes:

• There are no roads or trails in this wilderness area.
• There are no facilities in the conservancy.
• Jet boats are commonly used for access up the Quaal River. It takes about 30 minutes to jet boat up the river to Backlund Creek. About another 15 minutes up the river there are several logs and fallen trees across the river which you can’t get past (UTM coordinates: Zone 09U; 5949115 m North; 0474712 m East).

Location and Maps

• Location Map

Lakelse Douglas Channel Area map

K’waal Conservancy is only accessible by boat, floatplane or helicopter and is located about 25 km north of Hartley Bay and 60 km southwest of Kitimat. The conservancy is located at the end of Kitkiata Inlet, along the west side of Douglas Channel, west of Hawkesbury Island and is bordered to the southwest with Alty Conservancy.

• Reference: Marine Chart #3743 (Douglas Channel).
• Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Map #103 H/11 (Kitkiata Inlet).

Kitimat Visitor Information Centre:
PO Box 214
2109 Forest Avenue
Kitimat, BC, Canada   V8C 2G7
http://www.tourismkitimat.ca/
E-mail: info@tourismkitimat.ca
Ph: 250-632-6294 or 1-800-664-6554

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• K’waal Conservancy map [PDF 1.09MB]

Nature and Culture

History:
K’waal Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on May 31, 2007 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan.

Cultural Heritage:
The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territories of the Gitga’at and Gitxaala First Nations. The conservancy contains one known archaeological site (pre-contact shell midden, habitation, burial site). The Gitga’at First Nation continues to use this area for traditional fishing, hunting, trapping, food harvesting and other cultural uses. The Indian Reserves at the end of Kitkiata Inlet and along Quaal River are excluded from the conservancy. Petroglyphs (images and symbols carved into rock) can be found outside of the conservancy in Kitkiata Inlet.

Use the below link for more information or to contact these First Nations.

• Gitga'at First Nation
• Gitxaala First Nation: No website at this time.
  PO Box 149
  Kitkatla, BC V0V 1C0
  Ph:  250-848-2214
  Fax: 250-848-2238

Conservation:
The conservancy protects undisturbed old-growth forests of cedar and hemlock, wetlands, wildlife habitat and much of the Quaal River watershed, including important salmon spawning habitat.

Wildlife:
Eagles, waterfowl, bears, wolves, moose, deer and furbearers may be seen in the conservancy.

• General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

• Online Management planning information for this conservancy is not available at this time.

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Fishing

Hunting

Wildlife Viewing

Facilities Available at this Park

Campfires

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Winter Camping