PEEL WATERSHED PLANNING REGION:
LMU 15: Peel Plateau East
Land Use Designation
Wilderness Area-Boreal Caribou
Land Status
Non-Settlement Land
Traditional Territories
Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Tetłit Gwich’in Primary Use Area
Area
1,256 km2 (2% of Region)
Objectives
- Ecological integrity is maintained.
- Helps meet requirements under the federal SARA, with respect to protecting critical habitat of the Boreal caribou herd.
- Permitted land use activities do not significantly impact movement and habitats of caribou.
- Meaningful consultation is done with the TG and NND regarding any new significant land-use activities that might cause surface disturbance.
Rationale for Designation
- Unique overlap of key habitats including Yukon’s core habitat of Boreal caribou herd.
- Yukon’s obligations under SARA with respect to Boreal caribou.
- No big-game outfitting activities and no tourism/recreation activities.
Cumulative Effects Thresholds
Relative to LMU Size*
Surface Disturbance (%)
Linear Density (km/km2)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.2692
0.2986
Cautionary
0
0
Critical
0
0
On the ground amounts**
Surface Disturbance (km2)
Linear Disturbance (km)
Current disturbance (2020)
3.38
374.9
Room under cautionary threshold***
0
0
Cautionary
0
0
Critical
0
0
*These are proportional to the size of the LMU, and correspond to table 3-2 of the Approved 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.
Amount of disturbance relative to the cautionary theshold:
%
Surface Disturbance
%
Linear Disturbance
Biophysical Setting
Setting
Sparsely treed and plain with wetlands.
Ecoregions
Fort McPherson Plain
Bioclimatic Zones
Taiga Wooded and Taiga Shrub
Image Explanation
Plain with sparse forests, wetlands and historic seismic lines are characteristic of LMU 15. (CWS photo)
Ecological Resources
Caribou
Moderate and high habitat suitability for the Boreal caribou herd.
Moose
Variable quality late winter moose habitat – generally moderate, with ribbons of high. High habitat use along incised tributaries.
Marten
Extensive and concentrated moderate to high winter habitat suitability.
Sheep
No sheep habitat.
Fish
Fish presence likely throughout.
Grizzly Bear
Low habitat suitability increasing to moderate along riparian areas.
Peregrine Falcon
Birds (General)
Extensive high quality waterbird habitat; moderate breeding spp. richness and species of conservation concern.
Vegetation
Low endemism/rarity. Low-mid elev. dry/wet shrub and conifer forest; riparian forests and shrubs.
Wetlands, Lakes and Riparian Areas
Extensive wetlands, including part of a Yukon Key Wetland.
Permafrost
Extensive high water content permafrost expected.
Special Features
Heritage, Social and Cultural Resources
Heritage Resources
TG historic travel route and use area.
Palaeontological Resources
Economic Development
Transportation and Access
High concentration of old winter roads and linear features (e.g., seismic lines). Somewhat close to the Dempster Highway.
Traditional Economy
TG traditional harvesting and wildlife areas and seasonal land use.
Recreation and Tourism
No identified current recreation values.
Forestry
Little potential for forestry.
Big Game Outfitters and Trapping
No registered concessions.
Oil and Gas Resources
Peel Plateau and Plain basin with moderate (northeast) potential; one abandoned well.
Mineral Resources
Unknown mineral potential.
Special Management Considerations
- The Boreal Caribou Recovery Plan is relevant to management of land-use activities in this unit.