Peel Watershed Planning Commission Starts Work On Land Use Scenarios

November 18th, 2008

See also: Peel conservation background information

The Peel Watershed Planning Commission has launched its process to develop land use scenarios in the Yukon’s Peel watershed. This will lead to preparation of the recommended land use plan in 2009. For more information, visit www.peel.planyukon.ca

According to the Commission’s press release in October 2008,

“Considerable research has been needed to paint a picture about resource values and interests in the Peel. With that now complete, we look forward to engaging the public in a fair and transparent approach to create a land-use plan that will serve Yukoners and all Canadians well into the future”.

“The current Scenarios phase is aimed at understanding current land-use interests, resource values and potential development into a set of options for preparation of a Draft Land-Use Plan over the next six months.”

In September 2008, the Commission released the Resource and Conservation Priorities Assessment reports.

Download these reports at:

www.peel.planyukon.ca/downloads/downpldo.html

What is the Planning Commission?

The Peel Watershed Planning Commission will recommend a draft regional land use plan for the Peel watershed. The Commission has six public members nominated by the Na-cho Nyak Dun, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, a joint Yukon Government/Vuntut Gwitchin nominee, a joint Yukon Government/ Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in nominee and two Yukon Government nominees.

The stated goal of the Peel Watershed Land Use Plan is “to ensure wilderness characteristics, wildlife and their habitats, cultural resources, and waters are maintained over time while managing resource use. These uses include, but are not limited to, traditional use, trapping, recreation, outfitting, wilderness tourism, subsistence harvesting, and the exploration and development of non-renewable resources.”

To comment on Peel Watershed Planning:

Peel Watershed Planning Commission

307 Jarvis Street, Suite 201
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2H3
Tel: (867) 667-2374
Fax: (867) 667-4624
Toll free: 1-866-353-2374
Email: info@planyukon.ca

To support Peel Watershed Conservation work:

Contact the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to take action, and to find out more about the public perspective on conservation values in the Peel watershed. www.cpawsyukon.org

Posted in Watershed Protection | No Comments »

Great Reviews and Testimonials for “Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed”

October 8th, 2008

Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed: A Traveller’s Guide, published by Juri Peepre and Sarah Locke in June 2008, features 8 of the premiere navigable tributaries of the vast Peel watershed. This well-illustrated book describes the fascinating natural and cultural history of the region, and provides paddling trip details for the Wind, Snake, Bonnet Plume, Hart, Blackstone, Rat, Peel and Ogilvie rivers. Rounding out the book contents, readers will find poetry, essays and the ongoing Peel watershed conservation story.

For on-line orders, visit www.yukonbooks.com, or purchase from Mac’s Fireweed, Up North Adventures, or CPAWS-Yukon in Whitehorse.

Reviews & Testimonials

Canadian Wilderness, Fall 2008

“If you’ve been reading Canadian Wilderness for a few years, you’ll already know about the remote, beautiful Peel watershed. Author Juri Peepre led a CPAWS national tour in 2007 to raise awareness about the need to conserve this relatively unknown area threatened by industrial development. Peepre and co-author Sarah Locke have now produced a comprehensive guide to canoeing and hiking this spectacular area. This well-researched account of the geography, natural and human history of the watershed is recommended for those planning a trip, and for vicarious paddlers too. For more on the Peel watershed, read the Spring 2007 and Fall 2005 issues of Canadian Wilderness online at www.cpaws.org”

The Thought Kitchen: blog.nau.com

“Your river notes were incredibly helpful. In fact, when we returned to Whitehorse we went straight to Mac’s Fireweed Books (which is a terrific bookstore – especially the magazine section) and bought multiple copies of your new book: Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed.”

Brian Brett, poet, novelist and journalist, Salt Spring Island, BC

“I got the book, and it’s wonderful. Dense and alluring. My heart just went out to be back on the river. I still dream of returning. I feel privileged to be in the new version.”

See also the blog comments posted earlier.

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New Book Published on Wild Rivers of the Yukon’s Peel Watershed

July 10th, 2008

Originally released June 24, 2008

Whitehorse-based authors Juri Peepre and Sarah Locke are pleased to announce the publication of their new book featuring the wild rivers of the Yukon’s Peel watershed.

Packed full of information, photographs and maps illustrating the fascinating natural and cultural history of the Peel River region, the book is a traveller’s guide to eight premiere mountain rivers including the renowned Three Rivers – the Wind, Snake and Bonnet Plume – as well as the Peel, Hart, Blackstone, Ogilvie and the legendary Rat River.

Reworked by Pleistocene ice, the rugged Peel region includes pockets of unglaciated Beringian landscapes and the northern limit of the boreal forest. A homeland to the Tetl’it Gwich’in and Nacho Nyak Dun, this still remote region attracted some of the Yukon’s earliest explorers, as well as fur traders, goldrushers and other adventurers. The Lost Patrol lost its way here, as did the Bishop who ate his boots.

With detailed logistics and river descriptions, along with suggestions for safe and low impact tripping, the book will appeal to paddlers, hikers and others interested in the North. Essays on conservation and wilderness travel round out the content of the book. The book celebrates a wild northern landscape which conservationists have worked to protect for more than 15 years.

Softcover, 220 pages, 16 maps, 147 contributed and archival photographs, printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.  Retail price: $24.95.

Available at Mac’s Fireweed on Main Street in Whitehorse, as well as other Yukon outlets, including CPAWS-Yukon, Up North Adventures, Nahanni River Adventures, Kanoe People and Coast Mountain Sports. For online orders, visit www.yukonbooks.com. For more information, contact Juri Peepre at jpeepre@yahoo.ca.

For more on the content, see About Our Book. If you have used the book on one of the rivers please leave a comment below! We would love to hear from you.

Posted in Book News | 8 Comments »

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