YLUPC
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Area:
Image LMU 7 is characterized by rolling forested (front left) or recently burned (centre) terrain. A historic winter road (circa 1950s) to Eagle Plains is visible in this photo. (CWS photo)
Land Status Non-Settlement Land
Objectives
  • Ecological integrity is maintained.
  • Some culturally and ecologically-aware resource exploration and extraction that supports the local economies.
  • All permitted land use activity does not significantly impact movement and habitats of caribou.
  • Industrial activity does not result in any alteration to the Peel River’s viewscape.
Rationale for Designation
  • Adjacency to the Dempster Highway may allow development to occur more readily with less access-related impacts.
  • Highest oil and gas development potential in the Region.
  • No big-game outfitting activities and no tourism or recreation activities beyond the Peel River corridor.
  • Porcupine caribou use the entire unit, though only the extreme southwest corner falls in a concentrated winter use area. The biggest value of this unit for this herd likely is as a migration route. This calls for some limitations on industrial development.
  • Development will likely occur on relatively flat terrain, making the recommended cumulative effects monitoring more effective in limiting impacts on habitat in those areas, thus meriting a Zone IV designation.
Biophysical Setting
Setting Rolling forested plateau with incised creeks north of the Peel River and west of the Richardson Mountains.
Ecoregions Eagle Plains.
Bioclimate Zones Taiga Wooded.
Ecological Resources
Significant Wildlife and Fish Habitats
Caribou Moderate habitat suitability for the Porcupine herd, and includes general use areas for the fall migration, rutting, and winter seasons. Importance to the migration of the Porcupine herd may increase as development occurs to the north.
Moose Generally low late winter habitat quality, though ribbons of high value habitat follow major creeks.
Marten Variable winter habitat value, though generally moderate or high.
Sheep Virtually no sheep habitat.
Fish Fish likely present throughout the unit.
Grizzly Bear Moderate to high habitat suitability.
Peregrine Falcon Some peregrine foraging habitat along the Peel River.
Birds (General) High value waterbird habitat along riparian areas; variable breeding species richness and moderate numbers of species of conservation concern (with some high-value pockets).
Vegetation Low endemism and rarity. Low-mid elevation wet and dry herb and shrub communities, and dry coniferous forest.
Wetlands, Lakes and Riparian Areas Wetlands along the Peel River and a few scattered wetlands within the unit.
Permafrost Continuous permafrost is predicted.
Special Features Wildlife passes and Canyon Creek Canyon.
Heritage, Social and Cultural Resources
Heritage Resources TG and TH travel routes along Dalglish and Canyon Creeks to the Peel River; many VG and TG archaeological sites; TG culturally important places.
Palaeontological Resources The Eagle Plains and sandstone sedimentary rocks have known fossil localities, and this area (including Canyon Creek) has high potential to yield further discoveries.
Economic Development
Transportation and Access Adjacent to a short section of the Dempster Highway. Few old unclassified linear features and a historic trail to Eagle Plains via the Wind River. A conceptual access route has been identified in this unit. Two airstrips. Adjacent to a floatplane landing on the Peel River at Canyon Creek.
Traditional Economy TG seasonal land use and traditional harvesting and wildlife areas.
Recreation and Tourism Little current tourism beyond some paddling along the Peel River, though the canyon on Canyon Creek has very high tourism potential.
Forestry Little potential for forestry.
Big Game Outfitters and Trapping No registered concessions.
Oil and Gas Resources Eagle Plains basin; highest potential in the PWPR. Three abandoned wells and one capped well. Oil and gas permits (#0014 and #0015) and Significant Discovery Licenses (SDL-020 and SDL-021).
Mineral Resources Approximately 140 quartz claims; generally low mineral potential.
Special Management Considerations
  1. The proposed right-of-way for the Dempster Highway lateral pipeline runs along the western boundary.
  2. Major River Corridor management directions apply along the Peel River.
  3. Dempster Corridor management directions apply near the Dempster Highway.
  4. Subsequent Dempster Highway land use plan may apply near the Dempster Highway.
  5. Much of the unit was affected by fire in the summer of 2005.

Indicator gauges

Surface disturbance (km²)
Linear disturbance (km)

Cumulative effects