Muskwa-Kechika Management Area
Last updated on August 17, 2023In 1997, the Fort St. John and Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs) recommended that the Muskwa-Kechika be formally designated as a separate jurisdiction to ensure its wilderness characteristics, wildlife and habitat are maintained over time while allowing resource development and use, including recreation, hunting, timber harvesting, mineral exploration and mining, oil and gas exploration and development. Government accepted these recommendations and the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area and Management Plan were approved by an Order-In-Council (OIC) under the Environment and Land Use Act later that year.
In 1999, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act was enacted. In 2000, government approved the Mackenzie LRMP, which included a recommendation to expand the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, increasing the total area by approximately 50%. In 2001, the act was amended to include this addition. In 2002, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan originally approved by OIC was made a regulation under the act.
Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act provides legal direction for land use and resource management within the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan Regulation provides general management intent for the area, and specifies direction for resource management zones within the Fort St. John and Fort Nelson LRMP areas. The regulation does not include specific direction for resource management zones within the Mackenzie LRMP area because the Muskwa-Kechika Management Plan pre-dated approval of the Mackenzie LRMP. Note that the regulation refers to the following schedules in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Order (Order-In-Council 1997-1367) - effective Dec 11, 1997:
Landscape Unit Objectives
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act requires establishing landscape unit objectives prior to approval of forest stewardship plans. Objectives have been established for the following landscape units in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area:
- Mackenzie LRMP area: Obo, Fox
- Fort Nelson LRMP area: Liard River Corridor Park, Sharktooth, Major Hart, Boreal, Kechika, Rabbit, Netson, Muncho, Churchill, Sulphur 8 / Mile, Tuchodi, Gathto, Prophet
Oil and Gas Pre-Tenure Plans
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act requires pre-tenure planning for oil and gas exploration and development prior to the disposition of petroleum and natural gas rights in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. Pre-tenure plans have been approved for five areas: Upper Sikanni, Halfway-Graham, Muskwa West, Besa Prophet, and Sulphur / 8 Mile.
- Pre-tenure Plan Areas within the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area - Map (PDF, 0.5MB)
- Upper Sikanni Management Plan - 1995 (PDF, 0.1MB)
- Pre-Tenure Plans for Oil and Gas Development in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area - 2004 (PDF, 4.7MB)
Pre-tenure plans do not set management direction for geophysical activities. Direction for geophysical activities with the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is provided by the Oil and Gas Commission.
Recreation Management Plan
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act requires approval of a recreation management plan prior to approval of commercial backcountry recreation tenures within the area. A recreation management plan for the original area, (prior to the MacKenzie Addition), was approved in 2001. A plan for the entire Muskwa-Kechika Management Area was developed in 2005, but was not formally approved.
Park Management Plans
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act specifies that management of ecological reserves and provincial parks within the area be consistent with park management plans. BC Parks is responsible for developing park management plans for the following ecological reserves and parks:
- Dall River Old Growth Provincial Park
- Denetiah Provincial Park & Denetiah Corridor Protected Area
- Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park & Protected Area
- Finlay Russel Provincial Park & Protected Area
- Graham - Laurier Provincial Park
- Horneline Creek Provincial Park
- Kwadacha Wilderness Provincial Park
- Liard River Corridor Provincial Park & Protected Area
- Liard River West Corridor Park
- Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
- Muncho Lake Provincial Park
- Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park & Protected Area
- Ospika Cones Ecological Reserve
- Prophet River Hot Springs Provincial Park
- Redfern-Keily Provincial Park
- Sikanni Chief River Ecological Reserve
- Stone Mountain Provincial Park
- Toad River Hot Springs Provincial Park
Wildlife Management Plan
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area Act specifies that wildlife management and allocation be consistent with the wildlife management plan. A wildlife management plan was developed for the entire Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. The plan consists of two parts. The strategic document presents wildlife outcomes for which the B.C. government has responsibility. The technical manual, which supports the strategic document, provides comprehensive management direction for technical personnel responsible for implementation. The strategic document was legally enacted by ministerial order in 2009.
Access Management
The integration of management activities within the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, especially those related to road access, is central to achieving the general management intent. Motorized vehicle access has been managed within the Muskwa-Kechika area since 1994, originally under the Muskwa-Kechika Access Management Regulation pursuant to the Wildlife Act. In 2003, this regulation was repealed and replaced with the Public Access Prohibition Regulation.
- Public Access Prohibition Regulation (pursuant to the Wildlife Act)
Plan Status: Approved, legally established
Plan Area: 6,384,441 hectares
Natural Resource Regions: Northeast, Omenica
Natural Resource Districts: Peace, Fort Nelson, Mackenzie
Timber Supply Areas: Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Mackenzie
Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board
Contact information
Contact us if you have questions about land and resource management in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.
778 576-8901