Land Use Designation:

Integrated Stewardship Area 3

Land Status:

Non-Settlement Land

Area:

998 km²

Planning Region %

2.5%

Walking on the Land Together (Intent Statement)

The vision for this area will focus on sustainable development by means of cumulative effects management, access management, and the preservation of key values. It is important that this area remain open for current and future mineral interests without undermining its important environmental and cultural attributes. This area hosts an active advanced hard rock exploration program with associated infrastructure, and the site of a potential hard rock mine. It is also the location of important habitat and migration corridors for the Fortymile Caribou and Nelchina Caribou Herds.

While existing access in this area remains relatively unconnected to the Goldfields LMU, the proposed Northern Access Route would create substantial opportunities for increased accessibility.

Tr’ëhudè (Our Way of Life) & Stewardship

In Hän, Ttthetryän Dëk means ‘copper creek’ and is named so because the Coffee Creek area was a source for copper. Copper was used for making copper knives and jewellery pre-contact.

“There are traditional routes and trails in this area that connected the people of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in to the people of Alaska. The people of Alaska were the keepers of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in songs and dances, ‘The connection to Alaska is a connection to our language, traditions, and culture.’”

Angie Joseph-Rear, DRPC Commission Member

Special Management Directions (Recommendations to achieve Vision)

In addition to all applicable General Management Directions, this area is subject to:

1.      Area contains important caribou migration routes and ridgetops. Yukon Government and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in to identify appropriate conditions to minimize impacts to these areas from future development.

2.      Adjacent to this LMU there are small, isolated sheep populations that are particularly sensitive to disturbance. Access via land and air into this area should take every precaution to minimize disturbance to sheep.

3.      Efforts to enhance the use of this area for traditional economic activities and cultural/educational pursuits should be explored

4.      Heap-leach mining involves the use of chemicals, normally a cyanide solution, to extract precious metals from ore. Use of heap-leach mining practices in this area should take every precaution to not harm the surrounding aquatic environment. The collection of accurate and robust baseline data collection on groundwater and surface water quality parameters as well as continued monitoring for impacts will be important considerations for development in this area.

Cumulative Effects Thresholds

Relative to LMU Size*

Surface Disturbance (%)

Linear Disturbance (km/km2)

Current disturbance (2020)

0.41

0.16

Precautionary

0.5

0.25

Cautionary

1.5

0.75

Critical

2

1

On the ground amounts**

Surface Disturbance (km2)

Linear Disturbance (km)

Current disturbance (2020)

4.08

157

Room under cautionary threshold***

10.87

590

Precautionary

4.98

249

Cautionary

14.95

747

Critical

19.93

997

*These are proportional to the size of the LMU, and correspond to table 3-2 of the Recommended Plan. They are measured in the % of the LMU that can be disturbed (“Surface Disturbance”) and in km/km² (“Linear Disturbance Density”).

**These are amounts that can be measured and apply to the whole LMU and would be more familiar to project proponents and regulators. They are measured in km² of disturbance and in km of linear disturbance (e.g., roads, trails and cutlines).

***How much more disturbance can be added to existing disturbance before the cautionary threshold is reached.

Priority Objectives

ü  Habitat and migration pathways are sufficient to support historic population levels.

ü  Placer and quartz mine exploration and development is carried out in a sustainable way and contributes to a growing diversified economy.

ü  Mineral exploration and development contribute to local employment, economic stimulus, and long-term socio-economic benefits.

ü  People are able to access the land, water, and resources in a way that acknowledges and supports the values in the LMU and minimizes conflicts and cumulative effects.

Rationale for Designation

·        Area contains an active mineral exploration and potential mine site and ensuring that there is an adequate land base for mining to continue as a key economic development activity in the Planning Region is important.

·        The area also contains key habitat for caribou and sites of cultural history and significance to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in.

·        An ISA 3 designation with special management directions should meet the management intent for this area.

Ecological Integrity and Conservation Value

Birds

Presence of high elevation habitat (>1,000 m) important for some migratory bird species.

Caribou

Within the range of the Fortymile, Nelchina, and Klaza Caribou Herds. Contains important summer and winter habitat, as well as key ridges for migratory caribou in the spring and fall.

Ecosystem Representation

Furbearers

Grizzly Bear

Landscape Connectivity

Moose

Contains good habitat for moose.

Salmon and other Fish

Watercourses are likely to contain resident fish species.

Sheep

Considered to contain scattered sheep habitat generally and adjacent to isolated sheep populations along Yukon and White rivers.

Species at Risk

Vegetation and Unique Features

Presence of some intact forests (>140 years old).

Water

Contains tributaries to Yukon River.

Wetlands

Some wetland habitat identified on small tributaries to Yukon River, including swamp and fen.

Culture, Heritage Resources and Community Value

Community Value

Low recreation potential except for limited use along the Yukon River.

Heritage Resources and Sites

Presence of archaeological sites and recorded historic resources near Yukon River and area contains cultural significance to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in.

Traditional Economy / Traditional Uses

This LMU has considerable historical value, along with present day use and future potential for harvesting, trapping, and hunting. Important areas for connecting to the land through the practice of land use activities. This area is important for maintaining Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in way of life and connections to the land.

Socio-economic Value

Agriculture

Energy

Forestry

Within the Yukon River South landscape unit for the Dawson Forest Resource Management Plan, which has been designated for a medium priority for long-term planning, as the area has a higher conservation focus.

Mineral Resources

Highly prospective, and the sight of significant mineral exploration and development. Area contains an advanced hard rock exploration project and potential future hard rock mine site.

Outfitting and Trapping

Overlapping trapping concessions.

Tourism

Transportation and Access

Not currently accessible via land but contains considerable access from past and contemporary mineral exploration and development in area. Northern Access Road will result in increased access into this LMU.