The Future of Yukon's magnificent Peel Watershed is being decided now
Strong, conservation-oriented Peel Watershed Plan recommended by Planning Body
CPAWS Yukon Celebrates with all Conservationists
Public Opinion Poll Shows Vast Majority of Yukoners Strongly Favour Peel Protection
February, 2010
Yukon issues interim protection for entire Peel Watershed
The Yukon Government has issued interim protection for the entire Peel Watershed in the form of a one-year withdrawal from mineral staking and for the issuance of further subsurface rights to oil & gas and coal. Learn more here.
December, 2009
The Peel Watershed Planning Commission has posted its Recommended Plan for the Peel Watershed on their Web site at the following link:
www.peel.planyukon.ca/index.html
The plan has been sent to the Parties for review as required by the Umbrella Final Agreements. CPAWS Yukon is reviewing the plan and will post comments shortly.
September, 2009
Since April 28, 2009 when the Yukon and First Nations appointed Peel Planning Commission released the Draft Peel Watershed Land Use Plan, hundreds of public letters in support of conservation were submitted by the June 30th deadline.
Thanks to your input, the Commission has repeatedly heard how valuable the unique and globally significant Peel watershed is to Yukoners, Canadians, Americans and Europeans.
The public made a strong case for significant improvements to the Draft Plan encouraging the Planning Commission to fully protect at least 50% of Yukon's Peel Watershed for conservation, cultural, and diversified economic values.
What's Next?
July-August-September-October-November: The Commission considers the last round of public, First Nations and Yukon Government input on the Draft Plan and with improvements, directs their staff to create the Recommended Land Use Plan.
End of November: The Recommended Land Use Plan is presented to the First Nations and Yukon Governments for consideration. The Commission does not formally seek public input on the Recommended Plan but it is public information.
December-January: The First Nations and Yukon Governments negotiate the Recommended Plan, which will take an indefinite amount of time.
2010: After negotiations and consultations, the Governments provide comments to the Commission. The Commission then creates the Final Recommended Plan. It is then expected that the First Nations and Yukon Governments will agree to a Final Recommended Plan at some point in 2010.
The Peel watershed is a gem of Canada's boreal region and is the northern anchor of the Yellowstone to Yukon connectivity corridor. It is equivalent to Canada's flagship natural wonders such as Banff, Jasper and Nahanni. It is one of the last remaining intact mountain boreal ecosystems of its kind and is well deserving of full protection.
Stay Tuned!
- Join our mailing list for monthly updates: info@cpawsyukon.org
- Follow the news in the local media
- Express your concerns as letters to the editors of the Yukon News and Whitehorse Star.
- Talk to your MLAs. They are your elected representatives.
The Draft Plan
The Draft Peel Watershed Land Use Plan proposed to protect only 11% of disconnected portions of the Watershed leaving the heart of the area – the Wind, Snake, Bonnet Plume and most of the Hart River Watersheds – open to roads.
The Draft Plan proposed that no new mining claims be allowed in the above mentioned watersheds; however, all existing mining claims would be grandfathered, which means that exploration could continue on over 12,500 claims with the possibility of uranium, coal or iron ore mining developments. Winter road access would be granted for exploration and several routes were proposed for all-season roads for potential mines.
The plan demonstrates a lack of commitment to full protection of complete watersheds despite compelling support from the public, First Nations, Guide Outfitters and the Yukon Tourism Industry Association. The Planning Commission needs to value and incorporate this support into the development of the Recommended Plan.
To view the Draft Plan, go to: www.peel.planyukon.ca.
The Peel Watershed has been recognized as an internationally significant wild place. Those of you who have been there or heard about it understand why. This 68,000 km2 watershed accounts for 14% of the Yukon. It encompasses six vast watersheds - the Wind, Snake, Bonnet Plume, Hart, Blackstone and Ogilvie. It is home to one of our largest and most remote woodland caribou herds, along with a bounty of other thriving species including migratory birds, moose, grizzly, black bear, lynx, wolverine and more. It encompasses the traditional homeland of four First Nations. It is a vital source of clean drinking water and a stable economic driver in our tourism, recreation and guide outfitting industries.
We want to ensure we keep all these qualities long into the future.
For more information about the Peel Watershed campaign or background information visit:
www.cpawsyukon.org/peel-watershed
We are in Whitehorse. Contact us anytime. We like to hear from you, at:
info@cpawsyukon.org
For more information about the Peel Watershed land use planning process, visit:
www.peel.planyukon.ca
Have you been to the Peel Watershed?
You can add comments directly onto a map of the Peel Watershed at:
www.peel.planyukon.ca/planning/plangeo.html
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