Pooley Island Conservancy

About This Park

Pooley Island Conservancy features a number of small watersheds and lakes draining directly into the ocean along with scenic old growth forested hills and sub-alpine areas. The elusive white Kermode bear frequents the estuaries of Pooley Island while salmon use the main creeks at James and Windy Bays. Sharing borders with Fiordland Conservancy, this conservancy encompasses more than 3000 hectares of the north eastern portion of Pooley Island. James and Windy Bays are listed as Provincial Boat Havens with James Bay providing a safe anchorage and destination waypoint en route to Fiordland Conservancy.

Pooley Island Conservancy is located within the Kitasoo First Nation traditional territory and is co-managed under an agreement between the Kitasoo Nation and the Province of British Columbia. This co-operative management agreement will allow the Kitasoo Nation to access land and resources for their use within the Conservancy while achieving conservation and recreation objectives for the area.

Conservancy Size: 3,269 ha

Location and Maps

Pooley Island Conservancy is located 20km northwest of Klemtu, 45km north of Bella Bella and 110km northwest of Bella Coola and shares boarders with Fiordland Conservancy. Pooley Island can be accessed by boat via Mathieson Channel or via Finlayson Channel and Sheep Passage.

Nature and Culture

History - This conservancy was established pursuant to recent government land use decisions in the Central Coast LRMP area.
Cultural Heritage - Pooley Island Conservancy is in the asserted territories of the Heiltsuk and Kitasoo First Nations. Windy and James Bays hold high cultural, heritage and fisheries values for the Kitasoo/XaiXais First Nation. The Kitasoo people have traditionally used Pooley Island for berry picking, collecting medicines, and gathering wood for crafts and housing. The area is also a traditional hunting and fishing area.
Conservation - The primary role of the Pooley Island Conservancy is to maintain wolf/deer interactions and habitat values. The conservancy maintains watershed integrity along with Kermode bear habitat values. The productive estuaries at Windy and James Bays are protected within the conservancy along with important fisheries values.
Wildlife - Often seen feeding in the scenic estuaries of this conservancy are black bears and the famous kermode bear who inhabit the inland. The conservancy is also home to a population of grey wolves which prey upon the island's deer population. Numerous salmon species utilize the main creeks of James and Windy Bays for spawning grounds.
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

Hiking

For your own safety and the preservation of the conservancy, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

Hunting

The conservancy is open to hunting. Please refer to the British Columbia Hunting Regulations for more information.

Facilities Available at this Park

Campfires

Please Conserve Firewood. Campfires are allowed but firewood is not provided. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking. If you must have a fire, please burn only dead and down wood, and be sure to extinguish the fire fully. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil so please use it conservatively, if at all. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.