YLUPC
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Region:
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Designation:
Area:
Image Gentle mountains separated by often broad valleys characterize LMU 6. (CWS photo)
Land Status Non-Settlement Land, NND Settlement Land (S-135B, S-149B)
Objectives
  • Wilderness character is maintained.
  • First Nations’ cultural activities are practiced without significant disturbance from other land-use activities.
  • Unfettered movement and habitat use of Porcupine and Hart River caribou herds, Dall’s sheep and other large mammals.
  • Wilderness tourism and outfitting activities that are consistent with the objectives above.
Rationale for Designation
  • Extensive habitat and key areas for the Hart River herd which is of the Northern Mountain ecotype, listed as “Special Concern” under SARA.
  • Extensive general winter and fall use areas for the Porcupine caribou herd.
  • Extensive sheep habitat valued by outfitters and the TH.
  • Provides connectivity between Tombstone Territorial Park and LMU 4 to the west, and LMU 8 to the east.
  • Generally high ecological values, no coal, oil and gas potential, and generally low potential for carbonate-hosted zinc-lead and Wernecke Breccias.
Biophysical Setting
Setting A large mountainous watershed punctuated with bands of flatter, forested terrain.
Ecoregions Mackenzie Mountains, North Ogilvie Mountains, transition to Eagle Plains.
Bioclimate Zones Taiga Wooded, Taiga Shrub and Alpine (minor Boreal).
Ecological Resources
Significant Wildlife and Fish Habitats
Caribou High value winter habitat of the Hart River herd concentrated along forested valley bottoms and flatter terrain. Moderate value winter habitat of the Porcupine herd throughout. Both herds have extensive key and general use winter and fall areas scattered throughout this unit.
Moose Broad swathes of high habitat suitability and use in valley bottoms, and in narrow bands along smaller tributaries; low to nil late winter habitat suitability in higher country.
Marten In headwaters, the high value winter habitat is in valley-bottom forests. Moderate-high quality habitat becomes more extensive toward the Peel River.
Sheep Extensive areas of highly suitable winter habitat with documented (TK, big game outfitters, scientific) habitat use. Scattered licks and movement corridors.
Fish Scattered known fish occupancy sites; fish presence likely in rivers and lower gradient tributaries. Little fish data for this area.
Grizzly Bear Mostly moderate habitat suitability in low to mid elevations; high in riparian areas.
Peregrine Falcon High potential for peregrine falcon foraging and nesting along the lower Hart River and Peel River.
Birds (General) High value waterbird habitat in riparian areas; low breeding bird species richness overall but higher in riparian areas; high number of species of conservation concern.
Vegetation Moderate-high endemism and rarity along upper Rae Creek and below West Hart River. Low-mid elevation wet and dry shrub, subalpine shrub, and alpine exposed rock.
Wetlands, Lakes and Riparian Areas Large wetland complexes on the Hart River and scattered wetlands. Three sizeable lakes in the headwaters (Worm, Elliot, and Hart Lakes).
Permafrost Continuous permafrost is predicted.
Special Features Several mineral licks and several possible wildlife passes.
Heritage, Social and Cultural Resources
Heritage Resources Numerous travel routes connecting to the Blackstone River, to the Dempster Highway and Tombstone (via West Hart River), to Little Wind River (via Waugh Creek), to Wind River (via Hungry Lakes), and through Rae Creek. Several cabins (TH, NND).
Palaeontological Resources Sedimentary rocks in this area have high potential to yield Paleozoic fossils.
Economic Development
Transportation and Access Few old winter roads in the lower section of the unit; a conceptual access route has been identified between Waugh Creek and West Hart/Dempster Highway. Three airstrips. Floatplane landing at three lakes.
Traditional Economy TH traditional harvesting and wildlife areas and TG seasonal land use; TH fish harvesting.
Recreation and Tourism Very high values for wilderness paddling. Extensive wilderness hiking in the headwaters of the West Hart and Hart Rivers. Road access to West Hart. Fly-in put-in access in the upper Hart River (Hart Lake, Elliot Lake, and Worm Lake). Horseback touring.
Forestry Little potential for forestry.
Big Game Outfitters and Trapping Blackstone Outfitting Ltd. and Midnight Sun Outfitting Ltd.; high value hunting.
Oil and Gas Resources No potential.
Mineral Resources Approximately 950 quartz claims and no proven deposits; low copper/gold/uranium potential; moderate zinc-lead potential; moderate-high general potential.
Special Management Considerations
  1. The administrative boundary between NND and TH traditional territories runs through the central-west part of the unit.

Indicator gauges

Surface disturbance (km²)
Linear disturbance (km)

Cumulative effects