YLUPC
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Artwork: Yukon Graphic Recording

INTENT STATEMENT

The vision is to protect the function of the wetland complex as fully as possible and to respect the cultural and ecological values it holds. The area has deep intrinsic value and is important for maintaining ecological, social, and cultural connections for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. The long-term vision for this LMU is that industrial development will end, with the ultimate goal of fully protecting the wetland complex in its entirety for its ecological and cultural value.

This LMU is a Special Management Area to protect the Scottie Creek and Ladue River wetland complexes. Protecting these will help safeguard important ecosystems, including valuable waterfowl staging and nesting habitat and moose calving grounds. The SMA will also protect the cultural and heritage resources in the LMU, as well as provide protection for a portion of the Klondike Plateau ecoregion, and will support landscape connectivity beyond the boundaries of the Region.

TR’ËHUDÈ AND STEWARDSHIP

Wetlands provide many socio-cultural values for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, including their inherent value on the landscape, harvesting opportunities, preservation of social connections and cultural vitality, and the ability to practise stewardship. Stewardship is a central tenet of Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in culture.

Ensuring wetland habitat remains intact is an important stewardship duty for Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. Although Scottie Creek is not currently an area of high traditional activity, preserving this area so that future generations can reconnect with it is important to Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Citizens.

LMU DIRECTIONS

  1. Development footprint is allowed according to ISA 2 surface disturbance and linear feature density thresholds.
  2. Mineral development is allowed only within existing mineral tenure. Withdraw all other lands from quartz and placer mineral staking.
  3. Due to the associated risks, heap-leach mining is not supported in this LMU under the current regulatory regime and with commonly used technologies.
  4. Access:
    1. Continued use of existing winter access road.
    2. Outside of gaining access to existing dispositions, new surface access is not allowed.
  5. Scottie Creek Wetlands and Ladue Wetlands are nominated as Wetlands of Special Importance.
  6. The SMA Management Plan should consider the priority values.
  7. 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.
PRIORITY VALUES
  • Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Culture, Heritage, and Hän Language
  • Plant and Animal Relations
  • Wetlands
VALUES
Land–People Relationship
  • Mining and trapping activities provide opportunities for stewardship.
Community Culture
  • Archeological and traditional sites provide opportunities for community members to learn about the Region’s history and heritage.
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Culture, Heritage, and Hän language
  • High traditional use area with trails and camps; one identified archaeological site.
  • Limited access results in limited opportunities for harvesting and gathering.
Community Resilience
  • Wetlands provide significant ecosystem services, including water filtration and flood attenuation.
Water
  • Ladue and White rivers.
Plant and Animal Relations
  • Important waterfowl staging and nesting habitat.
  • Scottie Creek Flats is a year-round Wildlife Key Area for beaver and muskrat.
  • Species-at-risk known to occur is the grizzly bear.
  • Species-at-risk expected to occur includes 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.
  • The North Ladue River contains habitat of high concern for migratory birds.
  • The Yukon Floater is Yukon’s only known freshwater mussel.
Salmon
  • The presence of the Yukon Floater suggests there may once have been salmon in Scottie Creek.
Caribou
  • Located within the winter ranges of the Fortymile and Nelchina caribou herds.
Moose
  • Moderate moose populations exist within areas of extensive good moose habitat.
Landscapes
  • Represents the Klondike Plateau ecoregion.
Wetlands
  • Contains extensive, largely undisturbed wetlands that host rare and endemic species such as Weak Sedge, Beach-head Iris, and Yukon Floater.
Sustainable Local Economy
  • Located within the White River Landscape Unit of the Forest Resources Management Plan, identified as low priority for planning with a high conservation focus.
  • Significantly prospective, with active placer and quartz claims.
  • Active trapping concession.
  • Currently minimal interest in tourism activities.

Indicator gauges

Surface disturbance (km²)
Linear disturbance (km)

Cumulative effects