Artwork: Yukon Graphic Recording

INTENT STATEMENT

The vision for this area is sustainable development supported through cumulative effects management, access management, and the identification and preservation of key areas.

The mining industry remains a significant economic activity for the Region, and the Dawson Placer Mining District is by far the most productive placer mining district in the territory. This LMU also offers many opportunities for hunting, harvesting, and gathering, and contains areas of ecological, historical, and cultural significance to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. It has high tourism, forestry, and recreational value. Dawson residents share a deep and enduring connection to this area.

The LMU is bordered by the Klondike, Stewart, and Yukon rivers, each of which carries significant ecological and cultural importance. These waterways shape the landscape and support a wide range of traditional and contemporary uses. Active trapping occurs throughout the LMU, supported by a healthy furbearer population. The area also sustains a notably strong moose population, which contributes to subsistence harvesting and cultural practices. The Hunker–Bonanza loop and secondary roads provide significant access opportunities.

This is the busiest area in the Region and requires thoughtful planning to minimize conflict between user groups. Going forward, shared access and resource use will be key strategies to reduce pressure on the landscape and continue to support sustainable local economies. The Plan acknowledges the long-standing and respectful relationships between Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and placer miners, which continue to shape land use and stewardship. The Plan’s directions aim to support both sustainable economic development and cultural continuity and use of the land.

This LMU contains a high proportion of the Region’s wetlands, many of which overlap with areas of mineral interest and active industry. Wetlands are culturally and ecologically significant and play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, water quality, and landscape resilience. They present a unique stewardship opportunity, particularly for the placer mining industry, the predominant land user in this area. This LMU is not considered a sacrifice zone; instead, it is a place where responsible development, harvesting, and multiple uses can coexist (Nän käk ndä tr’ädäl). The pace and scale of industrial activity must be carefully managed to allow the land to heal, with clear thresholds and reclamation practices guiding long-term sustainability. Careful management is needed to balance development pressures with the protection of culturally and ecologically important areas.

This LMU is designated as an ISA 4 in consideration of the existing level of disturbance and the desire to allow ongoing mineral exploration and development, as these activities are major contributors to the Region’s economic strength and socio-cultural fabric. In addition to supporting industry, the area plays an important role in tourism and Community Culture. It is an important area for subsistence and licensed moose harvesting, as well as traditional economic pursuits. Stewardship and LMU directions provide safeguards for wildlife habitat, ensuring that industrial activity can coexist with recreational and traditional land uses. Given the desire for continued growth of industry, this area warrants the highest thresholds for development.

TR’ËHUDÈ AND STEWARDSHIP

The gold rush that began in the late 1890s brought enormous changes to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in way of life, and the search for gold continues to this day. While this area is known to the outside world as an active gold mining landscape, it is first and foremost a place where Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in have travelled, gathered, and harvested for generations. It is a place of recreation, community, and harvest, and is strongly connected to Chu Kon Dëk (the Yukon River), which makes it culturally important.

“We [Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in] have always tried to work with the placer mining industry here.”

– Debbie Nagano, Dawson Regional Planning Commission Chair

LMU DIRECTIONS

1. Opportunities to promote awareness of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in cultural history and contemporary land use in this area should be explored.
2. Development should be planned to minimize impacts to identified key habitats for valued species.
3. Efforts to enhance the recreational aspects of this area should be explored (including the Ridge Road Heritage Trail, Discovery Claim, and Dredge #4).
4. This LMU is prioritized for an Access Management Plan for new and existing access. Specifically, the Access Management Plan must:
   1. Include ways to reduce conflict between users and user groups.
   2. Prevent traditional activities from being displaced as a result of user conflicts.
   3. Promote the use of existing access and sharing of access routes.
   4. Acknowledge the proposed Northern Access Route and its impacts on this LMU and its values.
   5. Address the impact of access on moose in the LMU, specifically where increased access leads to increased hunting and harvesting.
5. With regards to the Indian and Stewart rivers:
   1. Do not block the flow of water in either 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.
6. 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.