Can You Swim the Skeena?

Photo by Brian Huntington

KM 0: The Sacred Headwaters

This vast region in northern British Columbia is the birthplace of three iconic salmon watersheds: the Skeena, Stikine, and Nass Rivers. Local Tahltan people call the area Klabona, which loosely translates as “headwaters.”

The Sacred Headwaters is an area of cultural and ecological significance. But the region is also rich in mineral and energy resources, including coal and coalbed methane. Several industrial development projects were proposed for the area, such as Fortune Minerals’ open-pit Klappan Coal Mine and Royal Dutch Shell’s Klappan Coalbed Methane Project.

Between 2004 and 2009, Shell Canada proposed to develop thousands of wells to extract up to as much as 8.1 trillion cubic feet (230 km3) of coalbed methane gas.

These projects would have threatened the water supply and destroyed sacred cultural sites. Due to these threats and other community concerns, resource development in the Sacred Headwaters was halted. However, this victory was not without its challenges; a group of Tahltan elders and leaders were arrested for blocking the road leading to the proposed mine site. The arrests sparked a decades-long movement that eventually protected the area.

In 2019, The B.C. government and Tahltan Nation signed the historical Klappan land-use plan that advances reconciliation and embraces the Klappan Valley’s significant social, cultural, environmental, and economic values. 

Collective community efforts helped safeguard vital salmon habitats and ensure the area’s cultural heritage is preserved for future generations.

The Upper Skeena

This part of the Skeena Watershed provides an important refuge for wildlife, hosts critical salmon habitat, and is largely untouched- despite some forestry, mining, and energy interest in the area.

The vast wilderness of the Upper Skeena Watershed presents a unique opportunity for achieving innovative conservation outcomes through Indigenous-led Land Use Planning. Examples of Indigenous-led land use plans in the region use enhanced land management standards that protect biological and ecological diversity, climate, and culture and consider future generations. These plans operationalize reconciliation and provide a clear path forward for how, when, and where development can occur to both minimize impacts and conflict.

Given that it is more cost-effective to protect intact forests rather than rebuild what has been lost, the vast wilderness of the Upper Skeena also presents exciting opportunities for carbon offset projects. These projects can play a crucial role in securing long-term protection of the area, helping the climate, and offering sustainable non-timber economic opportunities for local communities.

KM 337: Babine Confluence

The Babine watershed is a world-renowned system, marked by its rich ecology and cultural importance to the Indigenous communities who call Babine home. The Babine hosts a globally significant steelhead run and the Skeena’s largest population of Sockeye salmon, making it a critical part of the fishing and tourism industries. The Babine system supports important populations of moose, mountain goats and grizzly bears. Development pressures within the Babine watershed are growing as forestry cutting permits are issued to multiple large-scale licensees, and a pipeline corridor is proposed north of the Babine River. Watersheds like the Babine play a crucial role in climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and water management. Protecting systems like the Babine helps mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure water availability for future generations.

KM 440: Witset

The Wetzin’kwa (Bulkley-Morice) is home to the Skeena watershed’s largest chinook salmon population and hosts sockeye, coho and steelhead. Witset (Moricetown) Canyon is renowned for its dramatic landscape and an important traditional Wet’suwet’en selective dipnet fishing site. The Wet’suwet’en also uses the Witset Canyon site to collect information on salmon returns and health, supporting essential conservation efforts in response to the diminishing returns of salmon returning to their territory due to climate change and worsened by land-use activities such as logging, mining, and agriculture. However, further upstream from the Witset Canyon, there is hope for salmon. While climate warming has negatively affected previously productive salmon systems, melting glaciers in the Upper Wetzin’kwa may create new suitable salmon habitats in the future.

Photo by Johnathon Patrick

Skeena & Bulkley Confluence

The confluence of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers, located near the ancient village of Gitanmaax and present-day Hazelton, has long been an important meeting place for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

For millennia, this area has served as a vital fishing site and transportation hub for the Gitxsan people. The Village of Hazelton, often referred to as “Old Town,” has maintained its character since its founding in 1866. It has historically served as the central navigation hub of the region, evolving from a point along ancient trails to a location facilitating travel by canoes, pack trains, and dog sleds. Eventually becoming a stop for paddle-wheelers from the Northwest Coast.

Today, this area is not only a cultural treasure but also essential for salmon conservation. It supports all five species of Pacific salmon as well as steelhead trout, both of which are crucial for the health and sustainability of our communities that depend on these two significant rivers.

KM 511: Kitselas Canyon

Nestled along the banks of the Skeena River, Kitselas Canyon is home to the Gitselasu people of the Ts’msyen Nation. The rich cultural and archeological history of the canyon, coupled with its dramatic setting, led to a Canadian National Historic Site designation in 1972.

Archaeological evidence shows continuous habitation for at least 6,000 years. Once home to six ancestral villages, the canyon was a key transportation and trade hub. In Sm’algyax, Gitselasu means “People of the Canyon,” reflecting their role as toll-keepers for travellers on the Skeena.

Today, guided and self-guided tours offer a glimpse into the canyon’s rich cultural and historical significance.

This year saw the return of the Kitselas fishwheel to the Canyon—a selective fishing method used by Indigenous fishers for generations. Its revival symbolizes a meaningful step toward sustainable, community-driven food harvesting practices.

KM 521 Terrace

Terrace, BC, has long been shaped by the Skeena River and the salmon that sustain it. For millennia, the Kitselas and Kitsumkalum nations gathered here, relying on the river’s abundant salmon runs for food. The construction of the CN rail line and World War II further cemented Terrace’s role as a hub for trade and transportation.

Today, Terrace thrives as a vibrant and diverse community, with the Skeena River as its life-giving artery. It is renowned worldwide for its incredible salmon and steelhead fisheries. Anglers from around the globe fuel the local economy, supporting businesses and preserving traditions tied to these iconic fish.

As proud stewards of salmon conservation, our head office is located in Terrace. Stop by to check out our merchandise and learn more about how salmon continues to shape our community and its future.

KM 624: Tyee Test Fishery

Established in 1956 and operated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), The Tyee Test Fishery provides one of the longest-running and most consistent data sets on salmon populations in the Skeena River.

Drift gillnets are set daily during the salmon migration season, typically from late June to early September. The captured salmon are identified by species, counted, and measured before being released. Other data collected include the number of fish caught, their size, and the timing of their return.

This information is vital for managing commercial, recreational, and Indigenous fisheries and conservation efforts.

The data is used by fisheries managers, scientists, and Indigenous groups to monitor trends in salmon abundance, assess the impacts of environmental changes, and develop strategies for sustainable fisheries management.

KM 651 North Pacific Cannery – Port Edward

Established in 1889, the North Pacific Cannery is the oldest intact salmon cannery on the West Coast of North America. Its preserved architecture and breathtaking wilderness setting offer visitors a unique glimpse into BC’s industrial, economic, and cultural history through guided tours, special exhibits, and interactive experiences. Its coastal location was ideal for processing the abundant fish caught in the surrounding waters. This industry played a significant role in the economic development of nearby Prince Rupert and the region.

Our Education Program hosted a free Youth Conservation and Leadership Camp for ages 12-18 this summer. Over the week, participants explored the Skeena Watershed, delving into its rich history and vital connection to salmon. A highlight was touring the North Pacific Cannery and spending the night in its heritage bunkhouse, bringing history to life in an unforgettable setting.

KM 651: Lelu Island and Flora Bank / Skeena River Estuary

The Skeena estuary, located at the mouth of the Skeena River near Port Edward, BC and Lax Kwa’laams, is a vital transition zone where freshwater from the Skeena River mixes with the saltwater of the Pacific Ocean. This creates a unique and productive ecosystem that supports a wide variety of species, including fish, birds, and marine mammals.

The estuary is particularly crucial for juvenile salmon, providing a rich feeding ground and a relatively safe environment for them to transition from freshwater to saltwater and grow before they head out to the open ocean.

The Skeena Estuary is a biodiversity hotspot and hosts diverse habitats, including salt marshes, eelgrass beds, mudflats, and intertidal zones, which support a wide range of plant and animal life. This biodiversity is critical for maintaining the overall health of the ecosystem and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Tsimshian, who have lived in the area for thousands of years.

The estuary and its resources are integral to their traditional way of life, providing food, materials, and a connection to their ancestors. The health of the Skeena Estuary is directly tied to the health of the local fisheries, which are a major source of livelihood for many communities, contributing over $110 million per year.

The estuary supports commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing, particularly for salmon. Estuaries like the Skeena play a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. They act as buffers, absorbing storm surges, reducing coastal erosion, and sequestering carbon.

Protecting the Skeena estuary is vital for maintaining these natural defences. The estuary has been the focus of various conservation initiatives aimed at protecting its unique habitats and the species that depend on them. These efforts are crucial in the face of threats such as industrial development, pollution, and climate change. What happens in the estuary can have far-reaching effects on the entire Skeena watershed and the adjacent coastal waters.

In summary, the Skeena Estuary is a vital ecological and cultural region with significant environmental, economic, and social importance. Its protection and sustainable management are essential for the well-being of both local communities and the broader Food Chain.