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THE KITIMAT ESTUARY
Wildlife viewing and birding year round
"This estuary, created by glacial erosion thousands of years ago, is now covered by rich salt marshes, grasslands and mudflats. Although parts have been altered by industry, it remains largely intact. Throughout the year, this five-hundred hectare area is a premier spot on the British Columbia Coast to watch wildlife and birds. You have the opportunity to see 112 species; one quarter of the birds recorded in BC....It also serves the time-honored Pacific Flyway Migration spring and fall as countless numbers of birds travel from the Arctic to destinations in California, Mexico, Central America and the tip of South America."
-Dennis Horwood, Former Park Naturalist, Teacher and Author of "Birds of the Kitimat Valley" Kitimat Centennial Museum, 1992.
When a coastal river, stream or creek drains into the ocean, and estuary is formed. As sea water is diluted with fresh water and as organic and inorganic nutrients mix, the biodiversity can rival that of a tropical rainforest. More than ten major estuaries can be reached by boat from our community: The Kitimat, Dala, Kildala, Gilttoyees, Foch, Miskatla, Kemano, Tribune, Kowesesas and Kitlope. Even more remarkable is the breadth of Estuary Classifications these represent: Fjord, Coastal Plain, Lagoon, Strand, Delta/Fan and Fan. Although less than 3% of British Columbia's coastline has estuaries, an estimated 80% of all coastal wildlife relies on estuary habitat. All are important salmon spawning and ocean species areas and with wetlands that support migrating birds and many other species.