NORTH YUKON PLANNING REGION:
LMU 6: Ahvee and Sharp Mountains
Land Use Designation
Integrated Management Area, Zone III
Land Status
Yukon public land
Traditional Territories
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
Area
2,714 km2 (4.4% of Region)
Biophysical Setting (LMU 6)
Setting
Mountainous unit separating Eagle Plains and Old Crow Basin.
Ecoregions
North Ogilvie Mountains, Eagle Plains and Old Crow Basin.
Bioclimatic Zones
Taiga Wooded, Taiga Shrub and Alpine (minor).
Habitat Types
High elevation sparsely vegetated, herb, shrub and rock; low elevation coniferous forest and shrub; minor wetland and riparian.
Watersheds
Porcupine River (headwaters of Johnson, Pine, David Lord and Cody creeks and Bluefish River).
Image Explanation
Ahvee Mountain is a significant Porcupine caribou herd habitat. (CWS photo)
Cumulative Effects Thresholds
Relative to LMU Size*
Surface Disturbance (%)
Linear Disturbance (km/km2)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.040
0.056
Cautionary
0.375
0.375
Critical
0.500
0.500
On the ground amounts**
Surface Disturbance (km2)
Linear Disturbance (km)
Current disturbance (2020)
1.08
151.9
Room under cautionary threshold***
9.10
865.7
Cautionary
10.18
1017.7
Critical
13.57
1356.9
*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.
Amount of disturbance relative to the cautionary theshold:
%
Surface Disturbance
%
Linear Disturbance
Ecological Resources
Porcupine Caribou
Caribou concentrated use in four seasons - fall migration, rutting, winter and spring migration.
Moose
Significant habitats in all seasons. High quality habitat in upper David Lord, Johnson and Pine creek corridors.
Marten
Moderate - high quality habitat in forested valleys.
Sheep
No known sheep populations.
Fish
Identified over-wintering habitat in Porcupine River.
Other Species
Significant bear habitat at headwaters of David Lord Creek
Wetlands and Lakes
David Lord and Johnson/Pine creek corridors contain wetlands.
Riparian Areas
David Lord, Johnson and Pine creek valleys.
Major River Corridors
Porcupine River
Heritage, Social and Cultural Resources
VGFN Heritage Routes and Sites
Old Crow to Whitestone Village and Old Crow to Johnson Creek Village, via White Snow Mountain.
Other Heritage and Historic Resources
Significant heritage resource values. Documented archaeological sites.
Current Community Use Areas
Sharp Mountain, Lone Mountain and Johnson Creek.
Economic Development
Transportation and Access
Old Crow winter road runs along Johnson Creek valley.
Traditional Economy
Winter subsistence harvesting.
Tourism and Recreation
Low interests and activity (outside of Porcupine River corridor).
Oil and Gas Resources
Overall low - moderate potential; northern margin of unit is in Eagle Plain oil and gas basin.
Mineral Resources
High potential in western portion of unit.
Aggregate (Gravel) Resources
No identified resources.
Special Management Considerations
- Important caribou concentrated use area during several seasons. In the western portion of the unit, Ahvee, Veeshridlah and Nest (Chii Too Choo) mountains are among the most intensively used areas in the region. Most significant habitats are high-mid elevation, non-forested areas.
- Southern boundary is adjacent to Ni’iinlii’njik (Fishing Branch Wilderness Preserve).
- Maintain opportunities for community use and subsistence harvesting (winter season).
- Existing routing of Old Crow winter road should be maintained.