YLUPC
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Artwork: Yukon Graphic Recording

INTENT STATEMENT

The vision is healthy ecosystems that support wildlife and cultural relationships, while allowing limited, sustainable development.

This LMU contains many Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in artefacts and heritage sites, including historic trails and burial sites. It also includes abundant intact wetland habitat, which has strong intrinsic value and provides important ecosystem services for fish and wildlife, including caribou, sheep, moose, salmon, and migratory birds. While there is localized mineral exploration and development, the area as a whole remains relatively undeveloped and difficult to access.

The LMU is designated as an ISA 1 to preserve wetland and habitat values and cultural connections, while still allowing a small amount of additional development, including on Settlement Land.

TR’ËHUDÈ AND STEWARDSHIP

Along this river, you can see white ash embedded in the cliffs from a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. The river runs white with silt; if you are quiet when you paddle, you can hear the silt hitting against the bottom of your canoe.

At its confluence, the distinct water flowing from the White River into the Yukon is a breathtaking sight. The stories of this river and the events that occurred long ago are an important part of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in’s history.

LMU DIRECTIONS

  1. Development should take every precaution to minimize disturbance to the isolated sheep populations and sheep habitat along the White River.
  2. No new access through, or development in, mapped caribou habitat or wetlands.
  3. 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.
  4. With regards to the White River:
    1. Do not block the flow of water in the White River.
    2. Do not allow 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.
PRIORITY VALUES
  • Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Culture, Heritage, and Hän Language
  • Water
  • Plant and Animal Relations
VALUES
Land–People Relationship
  • Generally inaccessible for recreation, but there are recreational boating opportunities on the White River.
Community Culture
  • Not applicable.
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Culture, Heritage, and Hän language
  • Several archaeological resources and heritage sites, and a traditional trail along the White River.
  • The mouth of the White River is a traditional gathering place.
  • This area is important for maintaining the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in way of life and connections to the land, including important areas for harvesting and hunting.
Community Resilience
  • Potential source population for moose moving into more highly harvested areas.
Water
  • Contains the White River and its tributaries, which feed into the Yukon River.
Plant and Animal Relations
  • Areas of frequent use by migratory birds, including Sandhill Cranes and key areas for raptor nesting (Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon key habitat on White River).
  • Key beaver habitat along the North Ladue River year-round, as well as important stream and pond-dwelling habitat.
  • Isolated populations of sheep at lower elevations along the White River and near its mouth.
  • Species-at-risk expected to occur include little brown myotis, spiked saxifrage, gypsy cuckoo bumble bee, Suckley’s cuckoo bumble bee, western bumble bee mckayi subspecies, barn swallow, common nighthawk, transverse lady beetle, horned grebe, bank swallow, lesser yellowlegs, olive-sided flycatcher, rusty blackbird, short-eared owl, and wolverine.
  • Species-at-risk known to occur includes grizzly bear.
  • Important habitat for freshwater fish.
Salmon
  • Important habitat for migrating and spawning salmon along the White River.
Caribou
  • Key migration routes and winter habitat for the Fortymile and Nelchina caribou herds.
Moose
  • Extensive good moose habitat, including WKAs for late winter use.
Landscapes
  • Part of the Klondike Plateau ecoregion and the Boreal Cordillera ecozone.
  • Includes remnant rare mammoth steppe ecosystem, low-elevation steppe meadows, unique riparian streams.
  • Presence of known mineral licks.
Wetlands
  • Contains wetlands that provide important habitat for birds.
  • Ensuring wetland habitat remains intact has been noted as an important stewardship duty for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in.
Sustainable Local Economy
  • The White River Landscape Unit of Dawson Forest Resources Management Plan is designated as a hinterland forest zone with a low priority for long-term planning.
  • Predominantly high to significantly prospective mineral potential, with active placer exploration and mining, and quartz exploration tenure within the area.
  • Active trapping concessions in the area.
  • This is not a high-visitor use area, but has potential for increased wilderness tourism activities, especially due to its remoteness.

Indicator gauges

Surface disturbance (km²)
Linear disturbance (km)

Cumulative effects