Ecological Reserve Attributes Conservation

• Gengietl Creek Ecological Reserve is situated in the Meziadin Mountains and Nass Basin ecosections. The Meziadin Mountains Ecosection is extremely poorly represented (0.50%). Gengietl Creek is one of only 2 protected areas in this ecosection and contributes 77.58% of the overall protected areas system representation of this ecosection. Nass Basin Ecosection is moderately represented in the protected areas system (6.2%). Gengietl Creek’s contribution is minimal (3% of overall representation); Swan Lake Upper Kispiox River is the principal contributor (77.58%).
• Four biogeoclimatic subzone/variants are found in the ecological reserve: Interior Cedar Hemlock – Moist Cold subzone; Hazelton variant (ICHmc2); Coastal Western Hemlock Wet Submaritime subzone; Montane variant (CWHws2); Mountain Hemlock, Moist Maritime subzone; Leeward variant (MHmm2); and Alpine Tundra (ATunp). The ICHmc2 is poorly represented in the protected areas system. Gengietl Creek Ecological is the third greatest contributor to the representation of this variant (8% of the overall representation of the variant), behind Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park and Seven Sisters Park and Protected Area.
• Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve protects an elevational sequence of forested ecosystems within the undisturbed coastal watershed of Gingietl Creek.
  Mature and old-growth forests that are representative of the Nass Basin Ecosection are protectedin the ecological reserve.

  Flora

• One provincially blue-listed plant community is located in Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve. In addition, one (1) red-listed, eight (8) blue-listed, and one (1) yellow-listed plant communities are associated with the biogeoclimatic subzone/variants that occur in the ecological reserve.
  It is likely that one or more of these provincially significant plant communities occur in theecological reserve, however inventory data are necessary to confirm their presence.
• Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve contains the provincially blue-listed black cottonwood – red-osier dogwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa / Cornus stolonifera) plant community. The black cottonwood community is at the most westerly limit of its natural range in the

  ecological reserve.

• Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve contains hybrid Engelmann – Sitka spruce (Picea engelmanni xP. sitchensis).
  Engelmann x Sitka spruce hybrids are relatively uncommon; the more common spruce hybrid is

  Engelmann x White spruce (Picea glauca ssp engelmanni).

• Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve contains mature and old-growth forests. Old-growth forests areprovincially significant and provide critical habitat for many wildlife species.

Six (6) forested plant communities that are associated with the biogeoclimatic subzones and

variants found in the ecological reserve are on the provincial red, blue, or yellow lists and may occur in the ecological reserve.
− Although the listed communities are particularly valuable in the old-growth stage,

conservation of early successional stages ensures old-growth attributes and habitats will continue to develop.

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• One (1) alpine plant community is provincially significant (Blue list) and may occur at the higher elevations in Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve

Fauna

• The ecological reserve provides valuable habitat for provincial blue-listed grizzly, as well as for moose, mountain goat, beaver, deer, eagles, and ravens.
• Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve provides fish habitat for the provincial blue-listed Dolly Varden, coho, and rainbow trout (FISS database 2003).
• Other provincial red- and blue-listed wildlife species may occur in the ecological reserve, however, inventory data are lacking.Research and Education

  Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve provides opportunities to study and research an undisturbed coastal watershed that contains an elevational gradient of forested ecosystems. Unlimited studies for forest and wildlife ecology, autecology of plant species and hydrology are possible in the ecological reserve.

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Recreation and Commercial Use

Recreational use is neither provided for nor encouraged. Opportunities associated with educational tours that are consistent with the Ecological Reserve Act and Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve are considered to be very limited.

Other Values of Importance

• A Nisga’a First Nation sustenance fishery occurs in the Nass River at the boundary of the ecological reserve.

• The Nisga’a First Nation collects medicinal plants from the ecological reserve. Significance in the Protected Areas System

• Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve protects an intact, undisturbed coastal watershed in the under-represented Nass Basin Ecosection. The watershed is extremely valuable as it is a low- elevation basin in the coastal/interior transition zone, an area that has been subjected to extensive forest harvesting.
• The ecological reserve protects an elevational gradient of mature and old-growth forested ecosystems that provide critical wildlife habitat.Land Uses, Tenures and Interests Access

• Access to the ecological reserve is by boat or on foot.
Boats can be launched from the south side of the Nass River, which is accessed by a logging road.

Existing Tenures, Alienations and Encumbrances

• Traditional useas per the Nisga’a Final Agreement Chapter 3 paragraph 100. Adjacent Patterns of Land Use

• Three trapping licences are adjacent to the ecological reserve: 0614T065, 0614T069 and 0614T067.
• One trapping licence 0614T066 includes the ecological reserve within its boundary but theecological reserve is excluded from the tenure by virtue of the ecological reserve designation.
• One guide outfitting licence 610G001 includes the ecological reserve within its boundary but the ecological reserve is excluded from the tenure by virtue of the ecological reserve designation.
• Nisga’a Lands, as defined in the Nisga’a Final Agreement, surround the ecological reserve. Nisga’a Lands include the former Indian Reserves of Zaulzap and Kitwilluchsilt.
• Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park is located 3 km to the southeast of the ecological reserve.
• Pine mushroom harvesting occurs adjacent to the ecological reserve.The mushroom harvest is regulated by the Nisga’a Lisims Government.
• Adjacent forestry on Nisga’a Lands occurs under the transitional provisions (2000 – 2005) for forestresources (Nisga’a Final Agreement, Chapter 5) and includes:
  No harvesting in the Nass Bottomlands polygon which lies south and at lower elevations to the

  west of the ecological reserve (Nisga’a Final Agreement – Appendix H details this area). 6

Southeast of the ecological reserve and north of the Nass River, a minimum of 80% of the forest cover will be retained at an age of at least 120 years (Nisga’a Final Agreement – Appendix H pine mushroom polygon).

First Nations Interests

• Provisions of the Nisga’a Final Agreement related to Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve are as follows:

•  The Nisga’a Nation is interested in ensuring that the Nisga’a Final Agreement is respected and that Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve continues as designated unless the Nisga’a Nation and the Province of British Columbia agree otherwise.
•  At the request of the Nisga’a Nation, the Nisga’a Nation and British Columbia will jointly determine whether, and the terms and conditions under which, a road across the ecological reserve can be located, constructed, and controlled, in a manner that will have minimal adverse impact on the unique ecological values for which the ecological reserve was established (Nisga’a Final Agreement, Chapter 3 Paragraph 116).
•  In accordance and subject to the Nisga’a Final Agreement, Nisga’a citizens have the right to traditional uses of the lands and resources within the ecological reserve, including domestic resource harvesting.
•  That the joint park management committee be the forum for reviewing and making recommendations in respect of:
  • −  Archaeological and other research projects, cultural and interpretive programs, publications,and communications strategies proposed for the ecological reserve.
  • −  Issues relating to the management of the ecological reserve; and
  • −  Issues relating to the traditional use of resources, including cedar trees.Other Agency Interests

• Nisga’a Lisims Government has an interest in and management responsibility for adjacent forests, mushroom harvesting, community development, and land use and management.
• Various provincial agencies have an interest and participate in adjacent resource use and implementation of the final agreement.
• The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Fisheries Committee, established pursuant to the Nisga’a Final Agreement, have an interest in the management of salmonids within the ecological reserve and adjacent watersheds.Private and Public Stakeholder Interests
  • Local residents
  • Friends of Ecological Reserves
  • Interested scientific communities

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Ecological Reserve Role Statement

The primary role of Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve is to conserve an undisturbed coastal watershed of wide elevational range for forest ecology, vegetation, wildlife ecology and hydrology studies.

Conservation Role

To protect the entire drainage system of Gingietl Creek and an elevational sequence containing four biogeoclimatic zones within the Nass Basin Ecosection.

Research and Education Role

Gingietl Creek offers researchers the opportunity to study and research an elevational gradient of mature and old growth forest with a focus on its ecology, vegetation, wildlife and hydrology.

Management Direction from Previous Planning

The Nisga’a Final Agreement provides direction into how the Nisga’a Nation is to be involved in the ecological reserve’s management (Chapter 3 paragraphs 98-118). This includes provisions to maintain the area’s designation, to investigate the feasibility of a road through the ecological reserve at some point and gives the park management committee authority to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to the ecological reserve and its management.

Originally, the ecological reserve was identified for possible ecological reserve status by the Ministry of Forests, Research Branch. Gap analysis conducted by the Prince Rupert Regional Protected Area Team identified the Nass Basin Ecosection, which the ecological reserve helps represent, as a Class I ecosection on a scale of I to IV (highest to lowest priority) for protection. This classification is based on existing gaps in representation and the extent of existing and anticipated disturbance to the ecosection.

Management Issues

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Management Direction
Priority Management Objectives and Strategies

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Consultation and Future Planning

Environmental Stewardship Division will review this MDS in about 5 years to account for increased knowledge about use, environmental impacts, and to account for changes in adjacent land use especially in relation to the end of the transition period related to forestry in the Nisga’a Final Agreement. The Skeena Region, Environmental Stewardship Division will continue to work with the Nisga’a Nation through the Joint Park Management Committee and maintain a liaison, as required, with Fisheries, Wildlife and Forestry Committees and activities conducted/established as part of the treaty.

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Figure 3 Table of acceptable uses, activities and facilities in the Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve.

Activity/Use/Facility

Acceptability

Y= allowed subject to conditions identified in the management direction statement or management plan

M= may be permitted if compatible with protected area objectives

N= not allowed
N1= allowed for expressed management purposes only
N2= present and allowed to continue but not normally allowed N3= subject to Nisga’a Final Agreement

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