PEEL WATERSHED PLANNING REGION:
LMU 2: Kit Range / North Cache Creek
Land Use Designation
Special Management Area
Land Status
Non-Settlement Land, TH Settlement Land (R-19B; S-33B, S-124B, S-180B, S-181B, S-202B)
Traditional Territories
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in
Area
977.7 km2 (1% of Region)
Objectives
- Wilderness character is maintained.
- Community cultural activities practised without significant disturbance.
- Unfettered movement and habitat use of Porcupine and Hart River caribou herds, Dall’s sheep and other
large mammals. - Wilderness tourism activities linked to the existing Tombstone Territorial Park that are consistent with the
objectives above.
Rationale for Designation
- North Cache Creek and area supports important cultural activities of the TH.
- Overlapping key wintering areas for two caribou herds: Porcupine caribou herd, and the Hart River herd.
- Overlapping caribou key areas only occur in two places in the Region.
- The Hart River herd is of the Northern Mountain ecotype, which is listed as “Special Concern”
under SARA.
- Sheep habitat valued by outfitters and the TH.
- National hotspot for plant endemism.
- Adjacency to Tombstone Territorial Park and the Dempster Highway Corridor improves suitability for
recreation, hunting/outfitting, and tourism. - Access to high mineral potential in the western end of LMU 2 through remaining unit cannot be reconciled
with values listed above.
Cumulative Effects Thresholds
Relative to LMU Size*
Surface Disturbance (%)
Linear Density (km/km2)
Current disturbance (2020)
0.1162
0.0526
Cautionary
0
0
Critical
0
0
On the ground amounts**
Surface Disturbance (km2)
Linear Disturbance (km)
Current disturbance (2020)
1.14
51.5
Room under cautionary threshold***
0
0
Cautionary
0
0
Critical
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.
Amount of disturbance relative to the cautionary theshold:
%
Surface Disturbance
%
Linear Disturbance
Biophysical Setting
Setting
Extensive tundra-like plains with mountains rising to the south and significant riparian zones.
Ecoregions
Mackenzie Mountains and North Ogilvie Mountains
Bioclimatic Zones
Taiga Wooded, Taiga Shrub and Alpine
Image Explanation
Gentle mountains interspersed with valleys with open forests characterize LMU 2. (YG photo)
Ecological Resources
Caribou
Unusual convergence of key/concentrated winter use areas for both the Porcupine and Hart river herds west of North Cache Creek.
Moose
High habitat suitability and use in valley bottoms and in narrow bands along smaller tributaries; low-nil late winter habitat suitability in higher country.
Marten
Generally poor quality winter habitat; significant pockets of moderate habitat occur.
Sheep
Some highly suitable winter habitat with documented (TK, big game outfitters, scientific) habitat use.
Fish
Fish likely present in rivers and lower gradient streams, including North Cache Creek; winter overflow and surface groundwater indicate good overwintering potential.
Grizzly Bear
Mostly moderate habitat suitability in low to mid elev.; high habitat suitability in riparian areas.
Peregrine Falcon
No known or predicted habitat.
Birds (General)
High value waterbird habitat in riparian areas; low to moderate breeding bird species richness; high number species of conservation concern in mountain valleys.
Vegetation
A national hotspot for plant endemism. Alpine plants, shrubs, and riparian coniferous forests.
Wetlands, Lakes and Riparian Areas
Few small riparian wetlands.
Permafrost
Extensive high water content permafrost expected for flatter pediments/plateaus on northern edge of unit.
Special Features
Heritage, Social and Cultural Resources
Heritage Resources
Culturally important places around North Cache Creek and Chapman Lake. Several historic camps and the current TH culture camp.
Palaeontological Resources
Sedimentary rocks in this area have high potential to yield Paleozoic fossils.
Economic Development
Transportation and Access
The Dempster Highway lies at the eastern boundary. Conceptual access route has been identified at the far western end of this unit between the Fifteen Mile River and the Miner River. The conceptual Dempster Highway lateral pipeline bisects unit away from highway.
Traditional Economy
TH “First Hunt” is often within this LMU. TH hunting and fishing.
Recreation and Tourism
High value hiking and recreation potential. Proximity to Dempster Highway gives options for “front-country” tourism.
Forestry
Little potential for forestry.
Big Game Outfitters and Trapping
Blackstone Outfitting Ltd. and Reynolds Outfitting Ltd; some high value hunting.
Oil and Gas Resources
No potential.
Mineral Resources
Approximately 40 quartz claims (as of 2023; 345 as of 2011); high copper/gold/uranium and zinc-lead potential at western end of unit.
Special Management Considerations
1. The proposed right-of-way for the Dempster Highway lateral pipeline passes through this unit.
2. The Hart River caribou herd and Porcupine caribou herd core wintering areas overlap in this unit.
3. Subsequent Dempster Highway sub-regional land use plan may apply to eastern part of unit – Dempster Corridor to be managed consistent with SMA objectives.