Conservancy overview
Manzanita Cove Conservancy was established as part of government’s land use decision for the north coast planning area. The conservancy protects the viewscape surrounding a historical point of interest centred on an 1896 US Army Corp of Engineers stone house that dates from the United States-Canada boundary dispute in the late 19th century. Manzanita Cove Conservancy protects an anchorage at the mouth of Portland Canal and is located on the east side of Wales Island. Manzanita Cove Conservancy covers 27 hectares of upland and 35 hectares of foreshore. The conservancy includes the land portion of Wales Island adjacent to Manzanita Cove, and the foreshore and intertidal areas covered by water within 200 metres of the high tide line.
Advisories
Manzanita Cove Conservancy is located along the northwest coast of British Columbia and is within the asserted traditional territories of the Coast Tsimshian 1 and the Kitsumkalum First Nation. It is also within the asserted traditional harvest area of the Kitselas First Nation. The conservancy is situated approximately 20 kilometres north of Lax Kw’alaams (Port Simpson), 45 kilometres north of Metlakatla and 50 kilometres north of Prince Rupert.
Learn more about this conservancy
Conservancy details
- Date established: June 27, 2008
- Size: 62 hectares (27 ha upland and 35 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
History
An 1896 United States Army Corp of Engineers stone house that dates from the Canada and United States boundary dispute in the late 19th century is located on the south side of Manzanita Cove, near the mouth of the cove.
Cultural Heritage
Manzanita Cove Conservancy encompasses a bay and surrounding upland and intertidal area where the Coast Tsimshian have strong cultural interests, including the desire to pursue their traditional activities as they have done for millennia, in a manner that sustains the biological diversity and natural values of the bay.
The area has been, and continues to be, an important source of natural resources for food, medicines, cultural materials, and economic goods.
To date, no known archaeological sites have been recorded in the conservancy. The lack of identified archaeological sites in Manzanita Cove is typical for the British Columbia north coast where few detailed archaeological assessments have been completed. Future archeological site inventories may yet identify additional cultural heritage and archaeological resources within the Manzanita Cove Conservancy.
Manzanita Cove Conservancy plays a role in preserving and maintaining cultural heritage values for ongoing social, ceremonial, economic and cultural uses by First Nations, and protecting the viewscape of the historic stone house.
Conservation
Knowledge of the conservancy’s flora and fauna, especially ecosystems, ecological communities and species of conservation concern, is incomplete.
Wildlife
Marine wildlife species that have been recorded in or near the conservancy are: gray whales, harbour porpoises, humpback whales, killer whales, marbled murrelets, and pacific white-sided dolphins.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.