The scenic Stafford Estuary Conservancy at the head of Loughborough Inlet, on the west coast of British Columbia.

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Loughborough Inlet is a deep fjord in the Coast Mountain Range of mainland British Columbia, situated midway between Knight Inlet and Bute Inlet north of the Discovery Islands. The scenic inlet is approximately 35 kilometres long, and the Stafford River estuary is located at the head of the inlet. During the 20th century, the head of the Loughborough Inlet was subjected to intensive resource extraction, including clear-cut logging and salmon fishing, which lead to the degradation of the Stafford River estuary and a serious decline in salmon runs. The Stafford Estuary Conservancy was created in 2007 to protect the estuary and 742 hectares of upland and foreshore immediately surrounding the mouth of the Stafford River, and promote recovery of the ecosystem. The grasses and sedges of the estuary now provide a valuable food source for black and grizzly bears in the spring.

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Size: 6666px × 4444px
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Photo credit: © Cliff LeSergent / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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