Ch. 3 Land - Environment Yukon

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Roads: The arrival of roads affected the people, the pattern of settlement and the wildlife in the Yukon. The Alaska Highway brought people, quantities of inexpensive southern goods, agricultural products, vehicles and dramatically increased the speed of travel. First Nation people were seriously affected by the road development. Families were relocated to highway communities, a change that significantly altered a way of life that was closely tied to hunting, fishing and gathering. River life and river communities were gradually abandoned. Food supply needs of military and civilian personnel during the construction of the Alaska Highway and the Canol Road resulted in over harvest that led to depleted wildlife Dawson Whitehorse Figure 3.24 Yukon Roads by Ecoregion populations in several areas. The Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary was created in 1943 and a ‘no hunting’ corridor was established along the Dempster Highway following its construction in the 1970s. A 0.5 km no hunting corridor now exists along the Dempster and a 0.8 km corridor along the Takhini Hot Springs and Annie Lake roads. In addition to their effect on wildlife, other potential environmental impacts of roads include: ■ incremental reduction of wilderness areas; ■ disruption of natural surface and sub-surface drainage patterns possibly leading to sloughing; ■ invasion of non-native vegetation species (e.g. foxtail barley) 4 ; and ■ increased refuse in remote areas accessed by road. Ecoregions Primary Highway Secondary Highway 4x2 Road 4x4 Road and Trail Watson Lake These potential problems can be avoided or mitigated through the review process and in the proper design and construction of the road. Air Transportation: Impacts of air transportation relate to the potential for noise to disrupt wildlife and the intrusion into wilderness areas when remote air strips are developed. Trails/rivers: The increased use of trails and rivers by recreational users is discussed in section 3.8. Legislation ■ Transportation on Yukon roads is subject to the Yukon Highways Act, Motor Transport Act, Motor Vehicles Act and the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act. ■ Road construction and upgrading are subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) (1992). In the future, the Development Assessment Process will apply. ■ Any roads which cross or otherwise impact a watercourse require licensing under the Yukon Waters Act. Permits may also be required under the Fisheries Act. ■ Roads on mining claims are subject to the new Quartz Mining Land Use Regulations (June 1999), and the Placer Mining Land Use Regulations (effective December 1999). ■ Small scale activities on Yukon lands that might damage the environment require approvals and permits pursuant to the Yukon Environment Act. Where land claims and protected areas are dissected by, or abut Yukon roads, how the roads and road rights of way should be managed, who the road belongs to and who is responsible for it must be taken into consideration. 6 6 ❧ Y U K O N S T A T E O F T H E E N V I R O N M E N T R E P O R T 1999
3.8 Tourism Tourism is gaining importance across Canada with a 25.5 per cent growth in tourism expenditures from 1986 to 1996. In 1998 tourism spending in Canada amounted to $47 billion, a seven per cent increase from 1997. Tourism is the fifth largest revenue generator as well as the fifth largest employer 1. Adventure travel is the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry in North America 2. Studies indicate that adventure travel and ecotourism are driving the Canadian tourism industry 3. The economic impact of tourism in the Yukon has been difficult to assess in the past due to its role in many sectors of the economy. In 1994, over $50 million in revenue to Yukon businesses was related to tourism. In 1996, $124 million was directly related to nonresident tourism. Over 2,000 jobs are directly related to tourism (11 per cent of the jobs in the territory) 4 and visitors to the Yukon are increasing (Figure 3.25). Growth in the Yukon tourism industry is expected in the over 45 year old age groups, a sector of the Canadian pop- Number of Visitors 310,000 300,000 290,000 280,000 270,000 260,000 250,000 240,000 230,000 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Figure 3.25 Visitors to the Yukon 1994 to 1998 ulation that will increase significantly as baby boomers age. About 43 per cent of the people interested in adventure tourism are over 45 5. What brings tourists to the Yukon? The Yukon landscape, scenery and wilderness are important in attracting both overseas and North American visitors to the territory. Forty-three per cent of visitors cited scenery as the most positive thing about their visit 6. Ninety per cent rated scenery as good to excellent and 94 per cent of visitors rated their wilderness/outdoor experience as good or very good value for the money 7. Sixty-nine per cent of air travelers to the Yukon in the summer of 1998 took part in some form of outdoor or wilderness activity and 59 per cent did some hiking; 36 per cent reported that wilderness was their most positive experience 8. From the statistics it is obvious that the Yukon wilderness is a major attraction for visitors. Visitors to the Yukon want to view the scenery, wildlife and experience the Yukon outdoors. Viewscapes are important. Some popular activities include canoeing, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, backpacking, and white-water rafting. Wilderness Tourism Statistics ■ 41,400 visitors (June-September 1994) participated in outdoor / wilderness adventures 6. ■ 550 parties per year enter the backcountry of Kluane National Park (level of use has remained constant over the last eight years) 9. ■ Approximately 2,125 people traveled the Upper Yukon, Teslin and Big Salmon rivers between June 13 and September 15, 1997; 39 per cent were from Germany, 23 per cent from Canada (including eight per cent Yukoners), 38 per cent from other European countries and others 10. ■ Recreational river travel on the Yukon River at Fort Selkirk has increased steadily over the last five years. ■ Whitewater river rafting on the Firth, Alsek and Tatshenshini rivers is popular. ■ Winter tourism is growing. In 1999, 13 companies offered dogmushing trips, others offer snowmobiling and winter camping 11. Relationship of Tourism to the Environment “Wilderness, scenery, pristine environment” are key motivators for people considering or choosing a trip to the Yukon, an expectation when they arrive; a key source of enjoyment when they are here, and an important factor in trip satisfaction. In discussing the impacts of tourism on the land of the Yukon, the 90 per cent of visitors to the Yukon who come by road cannot be ignored 12. Even though their numbers are large, the direct impact of these highway travelers on the wilderness, as defined in the section on wilderness, is slight as most do not leave the road corridors. The numbers of road visitors are still slowly increasing. These visitors require good roads, services and facilities including places to safely dispose of their waste and garbage. In addition to traditional road-side services, recent research indicates an increasing interest in road accessible, soft wilderness adventure for this market. Scenery and enjoying what they see to be Yukon wilderness is very important to them. The number of people attracted to the Yukon’s backcountry is increasing. Higher numbers of wilderness travelers (Yukoners and visitors) and wilderness outfitters are putting more stress on the wilderness. The most frequently mentioned serious problem encountered on the Yukon River was C H A P T E R 3 L A N D ❧ 6 7
Page 1 and 2: The Yukon is situated in the northw
Page 3 and 4: number of humans is immense. As cou
Page 5 and 6: Different data sources for 1999 tha
Page 7 and 8: ■ protecting core areas within ea
Page 9 and 10: within the study area in February 1
Page 11 and 12: 3.4 Mining Mining has been an impor
Page 13 and 14: An environmental review committee,
Page 15 and 16: Reclamation and Abandonment When th
Page 17 and 18: first bar of gold on November 23, 1
Page 19 and 20: This creates uncertainty and delays
Page 21 and 22: every year in the Yukon, but the an
Page 23 and 24: Direct Costs: ■ Picking up Whiteh
Page 25 and 26: The Yukon’s beverage container re
Page 27 and 28: Contaminant? In Carcross, the recen
Page 29 and 30: PROGRESS & CHALLENGES Since the 199
Page 31 and 32: with the objective of import replac
Page 33: still exist along the old trails an

Ch. 3 Land - Environment Yukon

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