NORTH YUKON PLANNING REGION:
LMU 1: Van Tat K’atr’anahtii (Old Crow Flats) Special Management Area
Sub-unit #1A: Vuntut National Park
Land Use Designation
Protected Area
Land Status
National Park of Canada
Traditional Territories
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Area
4,373 km2 (7.2% of Region)
Biophysical Setting (LMU 1)
Setting
Extensive wetland complex with surrounding basin and low mountains.
Ecoregions
Old Crow Flats, Old Crow Basin, British Richardson Mountains and Davidson Mountains.
Bioclimatic Zones
Taiga Wooded, Taiga Shrub, Alpine and Tundra (minor).
Habitat Types
Wetland and riparian; low elevation coniferous forest, shrub and herb; high elevation sparsely vegetated, herb, shrub and rock.
Watersheds
Porcupine River (Old Crow River and tributaries).
Image Explanation
Old Crow Flats Core Wetlands, LMU #1B (CWS photo)
Overview
Vuntut National Park is managed under the Vuntut National Park Management Plan (Parks Canada et al. 2004). A detailed description of the ecological, cultural and economic values of Vuntut National Park is contained in Gray and Alt (2001) and Parks Canada et al. (2004). Vuntut National Park protects a portion of the Old Crow Flats wetlands complex and unglaciated uplands of the British Richardson Mountains. Protection and interpretation of ecological and cultural resources is the primary management objective for the Protected Area. The park was established in 1993 as part of the Old Crow Flats SMA through the VGFN Final Agreement.
See also Parks Canada’s website for this park here.
Special Management Considerations
- See Vuntut National Park Management Plan (Parks Canada et al., 2004).
- See Old Crow Flats Management Plan (Yukon Department of Environment and Vuntut Gwitchin Government, 2006). This plan and more information on the Van Tat K’atr’anahtii (Old Crow Flats) Special Management Area are found here.
Cumulative Effects Thresholds
Relative to LMU Size*
Surface Disturbance (%)
Linear Disturbance (km/km2)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.001
0.001
Cautionary
0.000
0.000
Critical
0.000
0.000
On the ground amounts**
Surface Disturbance (km2)
Linear Disturbance (km)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.03
2.2
Room under cautionary threshold***
-0.03
-2.2
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.