Introduction
Purpose of the Management Direction Statement

Management direction statements (MDS) provide strategic management direction for protected areas that do not have an approved management plan. Management direction statements also describe protected area values, management issues and concerns; a management strategy focused on immediate priority objectives and strategies; and, direction statements from other planning processes. While strategies may be identified in the MDS, the completion of all these strategies is subject to funding and funding procedures. In addition, all management strategies are subject to the Parks and Protected Areas Branch’s Impact Assessment Policy.

See the complete version of the PDF: dewdney _glide_er

Context

The objective of the ecological reserve program in British Columbia is the conservation of representative and special natural ecosystems, plants and animal species, features and phenomena. Ecological reserves contribute to the maintenance of biological diversity and the protection of genetic materials. They also offer opportunities for scientific research and educational activities. In most ecological reserves, non-consumptive low-intensity uses such as nature appreciation, wildlife viewing, bird watching and photography are allowed.

The provincial government established Dewdney and Glide Islands Ecological Reserve (E.R #25) on May 4, 1971 under the authority of the Ecological Reserve Act and Order-in-Council #1587/71. The Protected Areas of British Columbia Act provided legislated status to the ecological reserve boundaries on June 12, 2000. The ecological reserve is located in the southernmost part of the Estevan Group of islands within southern Hecate Strait, 150 kilometres southeast of Sandspit, 135 kilometres southwest of Kitimat and 175 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. The ecological reserve protects 3,845 hectares of land, including all of the islands, islets, rocks and skerries within the area delineated on Map 1. Marine waters and foreshore are not included in the ecological reserve. The majority of the ecological reserve is represented by Dewdney Island, with the remainder being smaller land masses, including 10 hectares by Glide Islands, 4 kilometres to the east of Dewdney Island. The ecological reserve lies within Tsimshian asserted traditional territory, Kitkatla First Nation.

This ecological reserve represents the extensive bog and fen ecosystems found on outer islands of the north coast. These wetlands have unique communities of mosses, and are known for their high diversity of plant species including a number of rare plant species. The ecological reserve also contains nesting habitat for several birds that have a restricted breeding range within the province, including the sandhill crane and the Cassin’s auklet which nests on Glide Islands. Additionally, an isolated beaver population lives on Dewdney Island.

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The ecological reserve protects a representative area of the Hecate Lowland Ecosection while also protecting provincially important rare bird habitats and plant species. The remote location of the ecological reserve limits educational opportunities. Hakai Conservation Study Area, which is also on the outer coast, provides opportunities for recreational activities such as kayaking and boating. Other protected areas on the north and central coast that complement existing protected areas are recommended in the recently completed Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and in the ongoing Central Coast LRMP, and further sites will be identified through the North Coast LRMP that is getting underway.

Other ecological reserves on the outer north coast are: Byers/,Conroy/Harvey/Sinnett Islands Ecological Reserve, and Moore/ McKenny/Whitmore Islands Ecological Reserve. These two ecological reserves are noted for their exceptional seabird and marine mammal populations, and in contrast to Dewdney and Glide Ecological Reserve, only contain small areas of land.

Ecological Reserve Attributes

Conservation

• Protects a small area of the moderately represented Hecate Lowlands Ecosection. Currently 4% of this ecosection is included in the protected areas system. Dewdney and Glide Islands Ecological Reserve is the second greatest contributor (6% of overall representation) to the representation of this ecosection behind Hakai Conservation Study Area (85%).
• Protects 3,845 hectares of the CWHvh2 subzone (Coastal Western Hemlock very wet Hypermaritime subzone, Central variant). This variant is well represented in the protected areas system (9.96%). Dewdney and Glide Islands Ecological Reserve provides the third greatest extent of representation (2.5%) in the provincial protected areas system behind Hakai Conservation Study Area (31%) and Vladimir J. Krajina Ecological Reserve (4%). South Moresby National Park Reserve provides the most representation of the CWHvh2 subzone.
• Protects extensive bog and fen wetland ecosystems representative of the outer islands of the north coast.
• Contains the following rare plant species, Gmelin’s sedge (Carex gmelinii) (Blue-listed, G4G5, S2S3), bog rush (Juncus stygius) (Blue-listed, G5, S2S3), Calder’s lovage (Ligusticum calderi) (Blue-listed, G3, S3), bog adder’s-mouth orchid (Malaxis paludosa) (Blue-listedG4, S2S3) and Queen Charlotte butterweed (Senecio moresbiensi) (Blue-listed, G3, S3) as listed by the Conservation Data Centre
• Contains the following rare bird species: Cassin’s auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus)(Blue listed, G4, S3B,SZN), sandhill crane (Grus canadensis)(Blue listed, G5, S3B,SZN), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)(Yellow listed, G4, S4) and great blue heron (Ardea herodias ssp fannini)(Blue listed, G5T4, S3B, S5N) as listed by the Conservation Data Centre
• Protects important nesting habitat for Cassin’s auklet and sandhill crane
• Contains the following rare plant communities that are Blue-listed (S3) with the Conservation DataCentre, CWHvh2/16 Sitka spruce / reedgrass (Picea sitchensis / Calamagrostis nutkaensis), and CWHvh2/13 Western redcedar/Sitka spruce – Skunk cabbage (Thuja plicata/Picea sitchensis – Lysichitum americanum ).
• Protects a special forest and wetlands complex on Dewdney Island where the forest grows in a fringe around the circumference of the island surrounding an interior wetland environment.

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• Has unique bryophyte assemblages
• Contains an isolated beaver population
• Chum, coho and pink salmon spawn in a small creek on Dewdney IslandResearch and Education

• Holds potential for research on breeding populations of several rare bird and plant species and on an isolated beaver population.
• Contains potential for research on the functioning of outer coast wetland ecosystems, including hydrology, wetland development and plant community dynamics.
• Offers limited opportunities for public education because of the ecological reserve’s remote location and a public access closure that stipulates a permit is required for all access (OIC # 1920/1977).
• Other Values of Interest

• The Environmental Stewardship Division has not identified cultural values in the ecological reserve. First Nations traditional use studies may provide relevant information.

Commercial Business Opportunities

• Due to the sensitive nature of the ecological reserve, human use activities, except for research and limited education, should be discouraged. There are no opportunities for commercial use.

Significance in the Protected Areas System

• One of the few protected areas conserving an example of the outer islands of the north coast of British Columbia.
• The ecological reserve’s coastal wetland ecosystems and associated rare plant communities are a special feature.
• Exceptional features include bird nesting habitat, Dewdney Island’s special forest and wetlands community and an isolated, outlying beaver population.Land Uses, Tenures and Interests AccessThe ecological reserve, accessible by boat or floatplane, is located in eastern Hecate Strait, 135 kilometres southwest of Kitimat and 175 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. The ecological reserve is closed to public access as directed by the June 16, 1977, Order-in-Council 1920/77 to protect ground nesting birds and their habitat. Approved access to this ecological reserve (permit only for Environmental Stewardship Division management purposes) is gained by helicopter, floatplane and boat, with safe moorage available in Gillen Harbour.Existing Tenures, Alienations and Encumbrances

• The Environmental Stewardship Division issued a permit to the Canadian Coast Guard to operate navigation lights on Jacinto Island.