?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary Conservancy
- What are your views? A management plan for this conservancy is currently under development; you are invited to participate through the management planning web page for this conservancy. Click here to provide your comments.
- This site is under construction; more information on this conservancy will be added when it becomes available.
About This Conservancy
The Phillips River watershed is a small but complex drainage at the head of Phillips Arm on British Columbia’s Southern Central Coast. The ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary Conservancy protects a significant and unique combination of marine, estuary, lake and river environments. Visitors to the region currently take part in recreational activities such as salmon and trout fishing and wildlife viewing, among others. |
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| The conservancy was identified for consideration as a protected area during the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan planning process. Following Government-to-Government discussions between the Province and First Nations, the central coast land use decisions (February 7, 2006) confirmed that the ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary would become a conservancy. The ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary was legally designated as ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary Conservancy in Spring 2007. See News Release for more information. | |
Location and Maps
The ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary Conservancy is comprised of 1,382 ha of upland and 79 ha of foreshore (1,461 ha in total). The conservancy, located at the head of Phillips Arm, is 53 km north of Campbell River, 122 km east of Port Hardy and 216 km northwest of Vancouver.
Nature and Culture
The conservancy is within the traditional territories of the Kwiakah, Xwemalhkwu and We Wai Kum First Nations.
The cultural values of the ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary Conservancy have extremely high significance to the Kwiakah First Nation, who have two historical village sites, Hwihawi village and Matsayno, Indian Reserve #5, located in and adjacent to the conservancy, respectively. Historically, the Phillips River Estuary and the surrounding area provided cedar trees, fishing and hunting grounds and various plants, berries and medicines that were collected, prepared and stored for the winter months. The marine area was a source of eel grass, seals, ducks, crabs and at times, herring. These values continue to be important to First Nations today.
The estuary and lake complex are important to both salmon and grizzly bears. The quality and diversity of the marine, estuarine, lake and river environments merge to produce a protected area with high biodiversity and conservation values.
Salmon are at the centre of the natural values found in this conservancy. The river, lake and estuary provide high quality aquatic environments that support spawning salmon as well as resident species of fish. The nutrients provided by spawning salmon and the protected riparian habitats help ensure good water quality and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears.
Management Planning
There is an active management planning project underway for this conservancy.
What are your views?
Visit the ?NACINUXw/Phillips Estuary Conservancy management planning page to provide your input on the management plan for this conservancy.
