Omineca

Regional Overview

The Omineca region is located in the central interior of British Columbia. Major cities in the Omineca region include Prince George, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, and Vanderhoof. 

The geography of the Omineca region is diverse and encompasses mountain ranges, plateaus, and numerous lakes and rivers. Takla, Stuart, and Williston Reservoir are major lakes within the Omineca region.

Major rivers in the region include portions of the Fraser, Nechako, Finlay, Skeena, Stuart, Nation, Parsnip, and McGregor Rivers.  The vegetation of the region varies considerably and contains low-elevation to alpine forests.

Omineca Region benefits from a rich diversity of Indigenous communities that contribute to all aspects of the region's culture and economy.

Activities and Trends

Many natural resource industries occur in the region including forestry, mining, and mineral exploration, energy transmission systems, hydroelectric power, transportation, agriculture and range, hunting and trapping, and recreational activities.

In recent years, the Omineca region has experienced several major disturbances, including numerous large-scale wildfires and flooding. The region has also experienced significant bark beetle infestations, which have resulted in salvage harvesting across much of the region.

Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of these events in the future and increase summer drought. Research and planning are underway and will continue to identify strategies to increase the region’s resilience to climate change. 

Work Underway

As part of the Cumulative Effects Framework, there are three values that are undergoing assessment within the Omineca region:

1. Grizzly Bear
2. Moose
3. Old Growth Forest

The Omineca Environmental Stewardship Initiative Demonstration Project is currently the primary cumulative effects project in the Omineca region. This project is in partnership with Carrier Sekani First Nations and the Province of B.C. and aims to assess the current state and cumulative effects of natural and development-related disturbance on Moose, Forest Biodiversity, and several watershed values.

For more information, visit the Environmental Stewardship Initiative website. 

Regional Reports