Artwork: Yukon Graphic Recording

INTENT STATEMENT

The vision is a balance of multiple land uses, including residential, trapping, agriculture, tourism, industry, infrastructure, and traditional activities, while conserving key wildlife habitat, a healthy watershed, and clean drinking water. The North Klondike Highway is a critical route for transporting goods and people to Dawson City, further north, and seasonally to Alaska.

The designation as a sub-regional planning area indicates this LMU is a priority for planning, accompanied by the appropriate time and resources. It is not used to delay planning for this important area and should not be interpreted as such. This sub-regional plan should follow Chapter 11 of the THFA, and interim measures provided should be in place until sub-regional planning is completed.

TR’ËHUDÈ AND STEWARDSHIP

Tr’o, the first part of the Hän words Tr’ondëk and Tr’ochëk, refers to the rocks or “hammerstones” that were used to hammer stakes for fish weirs to catch salmon in the river. The namesake of the Klondike (Tr’ondëk) River demonstrates the importance of salmon to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (Dobrowolsky, 2014).

“The Tr’ondëk was full of big king salmon which were a bright ruby red colour and in numbers so great that it seemed as though you could walk across the river on them.”

– Dawson Regional Planning Commission

“These things are all connected and when you learn language you start digging into the past.”

– Angie Joseph-Rear, Dawson Regional Planning Commission

LMU DIRECTIONS

1. Interim Measures – applied upon Plan approval until sub-regional plan approved
2. This LMU is exempt from surface and linear disturbance tracking, as the appropriate indicators will be selected during the sub-regional planning process.
3. New spot land applications for permanent dispositions are discouraged.
   1. If a land disposition is allowed to proceed, development should first be considered within or close to existing settlement areas – for example, Dawson City, Bear Creek, Rock Creek, and Henderson Corner.
   2. New residential development in areas of high potential for agriculture, forestry and/or mineral exploration are discouraged.
4. Access to existing recreational trails should be maintained, and where land use conflicts occur, appropriate mitigations should be put in place.
5. Impacts to fish in the Klondike River, in particular salmon, should be mitigated.
6. Ensure Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Citizens have continued use and peaceful enjoyment of Settlement Land, as per the THFA. Particular attention should be given to Settlement Lands that intersect with other LMUs, such as R64B, R38A, S11B1, and C14B.
7. Expansion of Dawson City municipal boundaries would influence LMU boundaries for this LMU and potentially adjacent ones. If this occurs before sub-regional planning is complete, the Parties will work with the City of Dawson to ensure LMU values are not negatively impacted. Boundary changes would require a Plan amendment and close consideration during Plan Review.
8. Mitigate potential harmful impacts from development to the Klondike River watershed and Dawson City municipal water supply catchment area.
9. High-value agricultural land should be prioritized for agricultural purposes.
10. With regards to the Klondike River:
    1. Do not block the flow of water in the Klondike River.
    2. No ground disturbance or storage of contaminants (including fuel storage, outhouses, waste materials, and tailings ponds) within 30 m of the high-water mark.
    3. Reclamation of existing disturbances should be directed towards standards that protect heritage and water values.
    4. Use existing access points wherever possible.
    5. Access should be shared.
11. This area is located within important caribou herd ranges. It is crucial to maintain key caribou migration pathways and to minimize disturbance to key habitat. Stewardship Directions for the caribou overlays (Section 5.3.4) must be followed.
12. Sub-regional Planning
13. Within three years of Plan approval, a sub-regional planning process should be initiated, following the framework of Chapter 11 of the THFA.
    1. The Commission for this sub-regional plan, as required by Chapter 11, should be composed of members of the ongoing Commission. If those members choose not to participate, the Parties should find alternate Commission members.
    2. Collaboration with other planning partners is encouraged, and this includes the City of Dawson, the Klondike Development Organization, and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Community Development Corporation.
14. The goals of the sub-regional plan should include the following:
    1. Complement adjacent planning and development processes, such as the Central Tr’ondëk Land Management Area and those led by the City of Dawson.
    2. Ensure Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Citizens have continued use and peaceful enjoyment of Settlement Land, particularly on Settlement Land parcels that intersect with other LMUs, such as R64B, R38A, S11B1 and C14B.
    3. Consider the potential impacts of climate change, particularly regarding flooding around residential areas, wildlife habitats, and permafrost slumping.
    4. Protect municipal water supply, including discouraging contamination within the catchment area.
15. The outcomes of the sub-regional plan should include the following:
    1. Identify areas suitable for new residential development, including expansion of existing residential areas.
    2. Ensure areas of high agricultural potential are prioritized for agricultural and accessory uses to enhance food security in the Region.
    3. Determine the need for future commercial and industrial land uses and identification of appropriate locations.
    4. Identify areas that have potential mixed or multiple land uses, such as agriculture and mineral development.
    5. Identify new recreation areas, including walking and biking trails and places to swim.
    6. Identify areas that are appropriate for renewable energy generation.