The project is located on northeastern Vancouver Island in the Regional District of Mount Waddington, approximately 50 km southeast of Port Hardy and 15 km east of the Town of Port McNeill. The Kokish River watershed (370 km2) is situated among the Vancouver Island Ranges, and bounded on the west by the Nimpkish Valley and the east by the Tsitika Valley.
The Kokish River watershed contains 2 major drainages, the Bonanza River and the East Fork Kokish River, which merge just downstream of Ida Lake. Below the confluence, the Kokish River descends about 250 m as it flows through two narrow bedrock-controlled canyons, then widens as it approaches the Telegraph Cove Road and Beaver Cove Railway bridges. Downstream of the bridges, the Kokish River is joined by the Tsulton River, before discharging to Beaver Cove and the marine waters of Johnstone Strait.
An intake and low weir will be located about 0.5 km downstream of Ida Lake, below the confluence of the Bonanza and East Fork Kokish rivers. Diverted water will be conveyed from the intake to a powerhouse near the Telegraph Cove Road and Beaver Cove Railway bridges via a buried pipeline. The water will be passed through turbines in the powerhouse to generate hydroelectricity. All diverted water will be returned to the Kokish River via a tailrace. The generated power will be transmitted to the BC Hydro 138 kV grid via a 0.5 km transmission line.
The Project is located within the traditional territory of the ‘Namgis First Nation, a member of the limited partnership that, with Brookfield Renewable Power, constitutes Kwagis Power. Discussions are underway with the Tlowitsis First Nation, which also claims traditional territory in the Kokish River watershed.