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The magnificent 17,575 hectare (43,430 acre) Homathko River -Tatlayoko Protected Area protects the spectacular Homathko River Valley and the western shore of Tatlayoko Lake and preserves a low elevation transect of the Coast Mountains, from the wet rainforest to the dry interior Douglas fir forests. As such it is of high ecological importance. This low elevation park creates a diversity of habitats for both plants and animals, and also provides an important wildlife corridor between the coast and interior. The wind-blown aquamarine waters of Tatlayoko Lake are exceptionally dramatic, being coloured by silt pulverized by the surrounding glaciers. The park attracts fishermen, hikers, trail riders, windsurfers, and expert river kayakers. While this is a remote area in southern BC, its grandeur makes Homathko River-Tatlayoko well worth visiting.

location

To reach the Homathko River-Tatlayoko Protected Area location travel west from Williams Lake along Highway 20 for 175 km (110 mi) to just before the tiny community of Tatla Lake. From there follow signs to Tatlayoko Lake, 30 km (18 mi) to the south. The protected area can be accessed by walking along the beach at the north end of Tatlayoko Lake (an area owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada). Alternatively, it is possible to reach the area by boat from the east shore of Tatlayoko Lake. However small boats should use caution in crossing this extremely windy lake. The word "Tatlayoko" is in fact derived from the native Tsilhqot'in language, and means "lake of the big winds".


Click on the map to view an enlargement


"The wind-blown aquamarine waters of Tatlayoko Lake are exceptionally dramatic, being coloured by silt pulverized by the surrounding glaciers."


wildlife

The Homathko River-Tatlayoko Protected Area is ecologically important for several reasons. For one, it preserves one of the few river bottom transitions across the Coast Mountains from the rainforest to the interior plateau. This change from a moist to a dry climate means that the park protects a large variety of forest types. Within the protected area seven of BC's 14 biogeoclimatic zones are found, including Interior Douglas Fir, Montane Spruce, Sub-boreal Pine-Spruce, Englemann Spruce-Subalpine Fir, Alpine Tundra, Coastal Western Hemlock, and Mountain Tundra. Some of these forests are particularly important because of their age. The protected area includes significant stands of old growth interior Douglas fir, hemlock and red cedar.

The area is also important for its role in protecting a low elevation travel route for wildlife through the Coast Mountain range. This valley bottom environment also contains habitat and waterways that sustain populations of moose, waterfowl and fish. The valleys of the Homathko and its tributary the Mosley are important to grizzlies, as they enable them to migrate through the Coast Range, travelling between salmon runs on the Homathko and Chilko Rivers. Other fish found in the area include bull trout, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. There are also populations of mule deer, who utilise parts of the park as winter range, mountain goats, and a wide variety of birds are found in the area.


"The valleys of the Homathko and its tributary the Mosley are important to grizzlies, as they enable them to migrate through the Coast Range, travelling between salmon runs on the Homathko and Chilko Rivers."


recreation

canoeistThe Homathko River-Tatlayoko Protected Area was created to ensure the protection of the low elevation ecosystem transition from rainforest to dry interior Douglas fir forest, as well as its wildlife populations. As such, there are no developed recreational facilities in the park. Visitors must therefore be well equipped and experienced. Those who wish to hike in the area should have a detailed map and be skilled in orienteering, as there are no marked or maintained trails. Rustic backcountry camping is permitted in the area.

The easiest recreational resource to utilise in the Homathko River-Tatlayoko area is the aquamarine waters of Tatlayoko Lake. It is suitable for boating, so long as caution is exercised. The lake is well known for its roaring winds, so small boats should never stray too far from shore. For those willing to brave the icy water (a wet suit is required), the dazzling setting makes for unsurpassable expert windsurfing. Downstream of the lake the tumultuous white water of the Homathko is considered to be quite dangerous and suited only for the most expert level river kayakers.

For those who enjoy fishing, the waters of Mosley Creek, Dumbell Lake and the Homathko River are home to several species of fish including Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. All fishers in BC are reminded that they will need a valid fishing license.


"The Homathko River-Tatlayoko Protected Area was created to ensure the protection of the low elevation ecosystem transition from rainforest to dry interior Douglas fir forest, as well as its wildlife populations."


history

The earliest known human use of the area was by the Tsilhqot'in and the Homalco native groups, to whom the low elevation route from the coast to the interior was important, especially to the former. The Tsilhqot'in people travelled downriver from the interior to fish for salmon at the head of Bute Inlet.

Later, in the mid-1800s, the corridor was proposed as a route to connect the Cariboo goldfields with the coast. Alfred Waddington and his crew began building a road, complete with many bridges, from Bute Inlet through Waddington Canyon in 1862. In the first year some 50 km (30 mi) of road was built. Local natives opposed the building of the road and at one point several of Waddington's men were killed while camping on a sandbar now known as Murderer's Bar. This led to a series of encounters between the Tsilhqot'in and the British colonial government, which came to be known as the Chilcotin War. As it turned out, the road was not engineered well enough to handle the weather, and within a year snow and spring runoff had washed away most of the bridges. Sections of this road can still be seen in some areas along the Homathko River though.

The more recent history of the area is characterised by an emphasis on conservation. Tatlayoko Lake, the Homathko River, and the adjacent Niut Mountains were proposed for protection in the late 1980s as a part of the Niut Wilderness Proposal. This proposal was advocated by a number of people in the Tatlayoko Lake area, especially Fritz Mueller and Sandy Hart of the Niut Wilderness Association. They envisioned a protected area stretching from the west side of Tatlayoko Lake to the Mosley (Westbranch) Valley, and south down the Homathko River, to protect virtually all of the Niut Mountain Range.


"Tatlayoko Lake, the Homathko River, and the adjacent Niut Mountains were proposed for protection in the late 1980s as a part of the Niut Wilderness Proposal. "



During the Cariboo Commission on Resources and the Environment (CORE) process, conservationists focussed so much attention on areas elsewhere in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region (particularly on the Cariboo Mountains east of Quesnel, the Itcha Ilgachuz, and the South Chilcotin) that the Niut Mountains proposal looked like it was not going to get any protection. At the last minute BC Spaces for Nature teamed up with the Niut Wilderness Society and pushed hard to encourage the BC government to protect a low elevation corridor through the Coast Mountains. This corridor started downstream of the Homathko Canyon and extended all the way up to the outlet of Tatlayoko Lake and also up into the Mosley (or Westbranch) Valley. As a result of this advocacy, the CORE process recognised the ecological values of protecting such a transition from the wet west side of the Coast Mountains to the drier interior. In the later stages of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land and Resource Management Planning process the boundaries of the protected area were extended all the way up the west side of Tatlayoko Lake. In 2000, the Tatlayoko Ranch at the north end of the lake, which adjoins the Homathko River-Tatlayoko Protected Area, was preserved by the Nature Conservancy of Canada due to ongoing effort by BC Spaces for Nature.


"They envisioned a protected area stretching from the west side of Tatlayoko Lake to the MosleyÉValley, and south down the Homathko River, to protect virtually all of the Niut Mountain Range. "



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