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Image explanation Rolling forested hills with wet valley-bottom habitats are characteristic of the Eagle Plains area.
Land Status Yukon public land and VGFN Settlement land (VG R-02A, R-06A, R-08A, R-12A, S-07A).
Biophysical Setting
Setting Rolling forested plateau.
Ecoregions Eagle Plains.
Bioclimate Zones Taiga Wooded.
Habitat Types Low-mid elevation coniferous and mixed-wood forest and shrub; wetland habitats in valley bottoms; minor riparian.
Watersheds Porcupine River (Ellen and Shaeffer creeks; Chance Creek – tributary to Whitestone River; several tributaries flowing to Eagle River).
Ecological Resources
Significant Wildlife and Fish Habitats
Porcupine Caribou General fall rutting and winter use area. Some concentrated use occurs in western and northern portions near Porcupine River and Whitefish Wetlands, and in the southern portion near the Dempster Highway and VG R-08A.
Moose Significant seasonal habitats. Shaeffer, Chance, and Ellen creeks, plus several small tributaries, contain the highest values.
Marten Moderate to high value habitats; mixed-wood riparian and upland habitats are most important.
Sheep No sheep populations.
Fish No documented over-wintering habitat.
Other Species
Wetlands and Lakes Significant wetlands along lower Shaeffer Creek; wet habitats occur in most valleys.
Riparian Areas Shaeffer, Chance, and Ellen creeks, plus several smaller tributaries.
Major River Corridors Porcupine and Eagle rivers.
Heritage, Social and Cultural Resources
VGFN Heritage Routes and Sites Old Crow to Whitestone Village, and Old Crow to Johnson Creek Village via White Snow Mountain.
Other Heritage and Historic Resources Important historical use area, with highest use near Whitestone and Johnson Creek villages. Documented archaeological sites in southeast portion near Dempster Highway.
Current Community Use Areas Vicinity of Whitestone and Johnson Creek villages, Whitefish Wetlands, and Dempster Highway corridor.
Economic Development
Transportation and Access Dempster Highway Corridor and Old Crow winter road. A conceptual access route has also been identified in this unit1.
Traditional Economy Caribou harvesting along Dempster Highway (fall, winter, spring); summer travel and harvesting in major river corridors.
Tourism and Recreation High summer values and activity along Dempster Highway. Eagle Plains Lodge is an important tourism service center. Major river corridors (Eagle and Porcupine) receive highest recreation use. Whitestone and Johnson Creek villages are potential future tourism nodes.
Oil and Gas Resources Highest potential in the region; LMU #9 contains the most prospective portion of Eagle Plain oil and gas basin.
Mineral Resources Low or no potential, except a small portion in southeast with high potential.
Aggregate (Gravel) Resources Many existing gravel quarries along Dempster Highway corridor. High river terraces along Eagle River represent possible future sources2.
Special Management Considerations
  1. Potential new all-season access roads from Dempster Highway require careful assessment and management.
  2. Unit overlaps or is adjacent to Tetlit Gwich’in Secondary Use Area, Na-cho Nyak Dun Traditional Territory (east of Dempster Highway), and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Traditional Territory (south of 66°N). TH R-block (TH R49A) is adjacent to southwestern boundary.
  3. Northern portion of unit is adjacent to LMU #8, Whitefish Wetlands.
  4. Approximately 25% of unit was affected by wildfires in 2004 and 2005.
1 Yukon Government, Department of Energy Mines and Resources. 2003. Conceptual study report to identify potential natural resource infrastructure access corridors Yukon, 2002-2003. Prepared by Access Consulting Group, Whitehorse, YT. March, 2003. 89 pp.

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Cumulative effects