Stellako
River
Designated Wildlife Management Area
The Province has designated
503 hectares of river and riparian habitat along the Stellako
River as a
wildlife management area, announced Minister of Forests, Lands
and Natural
Resource Operations Steve Thomson.
The area, near Fraser Lake,
includes two properties owned by The Nature Trust of British
Columbia and
leased to the ministry for the long-term. The Stellako River
is one of the top
rainbow trout river fisheries in B.C. and is also used by
chinook and sockeye
salmon. The river mouth at Fraser Lake is also important to
red-listed Nechako
white sturgeon.
Designation as a wildlife
management area under the Wildlife Act prioritizes
conservation and management
of wildlife, fish and their habitats. Other permitted land
uses can be
identified in an area management plan developed in
consultation with
conservation groups and other stakeholders. The designation
also allows the
ministry to make regulations to better manage the wildlife
area.
Quotes:
Minister of
Forests, Lands and Natural
Resource Operations, Steve Thomson –
“One of B.C.’s most popular
rainbow trout fisheries is here, and the trout have a special
relationship to
the salmon runs that also take place along the Stellako. Now
this rich and
abundant ecosystem will be added to the 235,000 hectares in
the province
already designated as wildlife management area.”
John Rustad,
MLA Nechako Lakes –
“Residents and anglers who
frequent the banks of the Stellako River know how important
these waters are.
I’m pleased this area has been preserved as a wildlife
management area for
future generations.”
Ralph
Roy, director,
Electoral Area D, Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako –
“The Stellako River is one
of our region’s many special features. The designation of the
Stellako River
corridor as a wildlife management area reflects its value as
wildlife habitat,
and as a destination for sport fishing and other recreation
opportunities.”
“We
look forward to working with the Province
to ensure that conservation objectives and management
strategies are tailored
to the specific needs of local residents.”
Doug
Walker, CEO, The
Nature Trust of BC –
“The Nature Trust acquired
key land along the Stellako River in the early 1980s to
complement conservation
of an eight-km Crown land wildlife corridor. We are delighted
that this land
will become part of the new WMA.”
“As
The Nature Trust celebrates our 40th
anniversary this year, we look forward to working with many
partners including
the ministry, First Nations and community groups on conserving
the Stellako
River now and in the future.”
Dr.
Winifred Kessler,
chair, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation –
“We congratulate the
ministry on its decision to designate this area as a wildlife
management area.
The foundation invested in the original acquisition of these
lands, and WMA
status will provide greater certainty that the site will be
managed with a high
priority on fish, wildlife and habitat values.”
Quick Facts:
* B.C. now has 28
officially designated wildlife management areas
* B.C.’s wildlife
management areas range in size the 17-hectare Coquitlam River
WMA in the Lower
Mainland, to the 122,787-hectare Todagin WMA in the North.
