Environmental and conservation groups opposed to a $200-million hydroelectric project near Port McNeill have vowed to fight to the end to stop it.

The Wilderness Committee and fish conservation groups are pooling resources and devising a strategy intent on fighting Kwagis Power's proposed Kokish River project, which was granted an environmental assessment certificate by the province this week.

"We are really concerned - it's a terrible project which, in our way of thinking, should never have gone ahead right smack dab in the middle of four species of salmon, char and dolly varden habitat," said Wilderness Committee spokeswoman Gwen Barlee.

Barlee said the committee and conservation groups are still in shock over the granting of the certificate given that the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and provincial Environment Ministry rate the Kokish River as a highvalue fish habitat.

The project along the Kokish involves diversion of water into a nine-kilometre pipe constructed under and beside existing roads near the river to a powerhouse downstream of the Telegraph Cove Road bridge.

Water would enter the pipeline at an elevation of 258 metres above sea level and drop to 20 metres at the powerhouse, where the rush of water would turn turbines that generate electricity. The water would then return to the river.

Up to 45 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 15,000 homes - is to be produced and delivered to B.C. Hydro's power grid.

Kwagis Power, owned by Brookfield Renewable Power and the 'Namgis First Nation, has an electricity purchase agreement with B.C. Hydro to deliver power by April 2014.

The project still must be approved by DFO.

Brian Braidwood, president of the Steelhead Society of B.C., said their group and the Wilderness Committee will be working to get their message out.

The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office said the Kwagis project is not expected to result in significant adverse effects, based on measures included as conditions of the certificate. Conditions include construction oversight by an independent environmental monitor and ensuring no obstruction of fish migration.