The primary purpose of the reconnaissance inventory of Hanawald Lake was to gather information on the presence or absence of the fish in the lake, and to gather preliminary data on biophysical attributes of the lake. Hanawald Lake was a secondary lake included in a secondary level reconnaissance inventory of 34 lakes located in the northern portions of the Kalum, Kispiox, Bulkley and Morice Forest Districts.

Hanawald Lake is located approximately 38 km northwest of Fort Babine on Babine Lake, 105 km north of Smithers Airport, 5 km southeast of Gunanoot Lake and approximately 55 km northeast of Kispiox, B. C.