Table of Contents
Forward and Approvals Page……………………………………………………………………………………………..i

Introduction

Purpose of the Management Direction Statement ……………………………………………………………………..1 Context…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Ecological Reserve Attributes

Conservation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 Research and Education………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Other Values of Interest ………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Commercial Business Opportunities……………………………………………………………………………………….2 Significance in the Protected Areas System……………………………………………………………………………..2

Land Uses, Tenures and Interests

Access……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4 Existing Tenures, Alienations and Encumbrances………………………………………………………………………4 Adjacent Patterns of Land Use……………………………………………………………………………………………..4 First Nations Interests …………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 Other Agency Interests………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4 Private and Public Stakeholder Interests …………………………………………………………………………………4

Ecological Reserve Role Statement ………………………………………………………………………………….4

Management Commitments and Issues

Management Direction from Previous Planning…………………………………………………………………………4 Management Issues…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Management Direction

Priority Management Objectives and Strategies………………………………………………………………………..6 Consultation and Future Planning…………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Figures

Figure 1 – Regional Context Map ………………………………………………………………………………………….3 Figure 2 – Tenures and Land Uses Map………………………………………………………………………………….5

Appendix 1

Table of Acceptable Activities, Uses and Facilities……………………………………………………………………7

Page

ii

 Creek Ecological Reserve Management Direction Statement

Introduction
Purpose of the Management Direction Statement

Management direction statements (MDS) provide strategic management direction for all 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.

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 Gamble Creek Ecological Reserve (E.R. #133) on March 28, 1991 by Order-in-Council 415/91 under the Ecological Reserve Act. The Protected Areas of British Columbia Act provided legislated status to the ecological reserve boundaries on June 12, 2000. The ecological reserve is located 23 kilometres southeast of Prince Rupert along Highway 16, and covers 1,026 hectares of hypermaritime north coast forest and bog vegetation in the Coastal Western Hemlock and Mountain Hemlock biogeoclimatic zones. The ecological reserve is within the asserted traditional territory of the Tsimshian First Nations.

This ecological reserve conserves a lowland to mid-elevation forest and bog complex that is common on the north coast but is not well represented in other protected areas in the protected area system. Nearby provincial parks include Prudhomme Lake Park, which provides full camping facilities, and Diana Lake Park, which provides day-use opportunities.

1

Ecological Reserve Attributes Conservation[bulletlist]

• Protects a small area of the moderately represented Hecate Lowlands Ecosection. Currently 4% of this ecosection is included in the protected areas system.
• Protects approximately 400 hectares of the CWHvh2 (Coastal Western Hemlock very wet Hypermaritime subzone, Central variant). This variant is well represented in the protected areas system (9.96%).
• Protects approximately 600 hectares of the MHwh (Mountain Hemlock wet hypermaritime subzone, Windward variant). This variant is moderately represented in the protected areas system (5.18%). Gamble Creek Ecological Reserve provides the greatest extent of representation of the MHwh among provincial protected area designations (5.62%). South Moresby National Park Reserve provides most of the representation of the MHwh subzone.
• The ecological reserve is likely to contain the following rare plant communities that are listed with the Conservation Data Centre: CWHvh2/04 Western hemlock – Sitka spruce / lanky moss (Tsuga heterophylla – Picea sitchensis / Rhytidiadelphus loreus) (blue-listed), and CWHvh2/13 Western redcedar/Sitka spruce – skunk cabbage (Thuja plicata/Picea sitchensis – Lysichitum americanum) (blue listed).
• Protects a forest and bog complex typical of the north coast.
• Contains forest with all exposure aspects and a wide elevation sequence.
• Protects a small area of grizzly bear habitat with suitability rated as moderate at higher elevations

  and low at low elevations.

  Research and Educational

• Provides research and education opportunities focused on forest/wetland complexes on the hypermaritime north coast

Other Values of Interest

• The Environmental Stewardship Division does not have knowledge of cultural resource information. Local First Nations, however, have been working on traditional use studies that may provide additional information about the ecological reserve.

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

• Protects a small example of a typical forest and wetland complex that is common on the north coast.
• Provides opportunity to research this ecosystem type in an undisturbed setting.
• MAP