NORTH YUKON PLANNING REGION:
LMU 12: Ni’iinlii’njik (Fishing Branch) SMA
Sub-unit #12B: Fishing Branch HPA
Land Use Designation
Habitat Protection Area
Land Status
Yukon public land (Habitat Protection Area)
Traditional Territories
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Area
979 km2 (1.6% of Region)
Biophysical Setting (LMU 12)
Setting
Rugged mountainous unit with broad, sparsely forested valleys.
Ecoregions
North Ogilvie Mountains and Eagle Plains (minor).
Bioclimatic Zones
Taiga Wooded, Taiga Shrub and Alpine.
Habitat Types
Low to mid-elevation coniferous forest, shrub and herb; high elevation sparsely vegetated, herb, shrub and rock; minor amount wetland and riparian.
Watersheds
Porcupine River (Fishing Branch River, Cody Creek and several small tributaries of Miner River).
Image Explanation
Rugged, high elevation sparsely vegetated mountains characterize the Nahoni Range in Ni'iinlii'njik. (CWS photo)
Overview
The Fishing Branch HPA is part of the Ni’iinlii’njik SMA, and is also managed under Yukon Department of Environment and Vuntut Gwitchin Government (2004a). A detailed description its ecological, cultural and economic values is contained in the management plan. The Fishing Branch HPA encompasses many ecological and heritage resources, and is intended to act as a buffer for the core Protected Area. The HPA is managed to maintain ecological integrity and protect heritage resources, but is not withdrawn from land disposition and resource exploration and development. The current management plan should be referenced for guidelines regarding any land use activity within the HPA.
Special Management Considerations
- See Fishing Branch HPA Management Plan (Yukon Department of Environment and Vuntut Gwitchin Government, 2004a).
- Southern boundary is adjacent to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Traditional Territory (south of 66°N latitude).
Cumulative Effects Thresholds
Relative to LMU Size*
Surface Disturbance (%)
Linear Disturbance (km/km2)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.009
0.011
Cautionary
0.000
0.000
Critical
0.000
0.000
On the ground amounts**
Surface Disturbance (km2)
Linear Disturbance (km)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.09
10.6
Room under cautionary threshold***
-0.09
-10.6
Cautionary
0.00
0.0
Critical
0.00
0.0
*These are proportional to the size of the LMU, and correspond to table 3-2 of the Approved Plan. They are measured in the % of the LMU that can be disturbed (“Surface Disturbance”) and in km/km2 (“Linear Disturbance Density”).
**These are amounts that can be measured and apply to the whole LMU and would be more familiar to project proponents and regulators. They are measured in km2 of disturbance and in km of linear disturbance (e.g., roads, trails and cutlines).
***How much more disturbance can be added to existing disturbance before the cautionary threshold is reached.