Resources Branch

Our Mandate

The Resources Branch will take its mandate from the proposed Lands and Resources Act. The branch is responsible for the implementation of Chapter 16, Fish and Wildlife, and Chapter 17, Forest Resources, of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Final Agreement.

Wildlife Management

Resources Branch activities include a wildlife resource inventory, wildlife research, population and habitat management, and a fish and wildlife management plan.

Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee

BullCaribouThe Resources Manger represents the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council  on the Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee, which, in 2008, merged with the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Program. Starting in April 2008, the Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee has three years to complete an assessment of wildlife in the Southern Lakes Region and make recommendations to the Yukon and First Nation governments.

Established in the Kwanlin Dün and Carcross/Tagish First Nations final agreements, the objectives of the Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee are to coordinate

  • the management of moose, caribou, sheep and other wildlife populations and habitats in the Southern Lakes Region to promote the recovery and conservation of wildlife with consideration for the future subsistence needs of local First Nations and the needs of other users, both consumptive and non-consumptive
  • the involvement of and improvement of communications among First Nations and other governments, including British Columbia and other groups, with regard to all aspects of the recovery and management of caribou, moose, sheep and other wildlife populations and habitats in the Southern Lakes Region
SalmonFish Management

Resources Branch activities focus on a fish resource inventory, fish research, population and habitat management, and salmon restoration and enhancement projects.

Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Community Stewardship

The Resources Branch

  • monitors and maintains past restoration and enhancement projects
  • assists with on-going Ta’an Kwäch’än Council  stock restoration projects
  • investigates potential constraints to fish and habitat
  • assists department managers in the collection of biological or other samples
  • provides training, stewardship, employment opportunities and builds capacity for Ta’an Kwäch’än citizens

Fox Creek Chinook Stock Restoration

See a PowerPoint 2017 presentation by Fish and Wildlife Program Coordinator, Deb Fulmer, about the Fox Creek Chinook restoration project.

The Resources Branch

  • undertakes all permitting and regulatory processes to re-introduce Chinook salmon stocks to Fox Creek in 2008, including Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board screening and permitting through the Yukon Transplant Committee (Yukon Government and Department of Fisheries and Oceans)
  • plans for and arranges incubation of brood stock in 2008/2009
  • prepares a long-term stock restoration plan

Range Road Dump Clean-up and Stabilization

With continuing funding from the Northern Strategy Trust for the Yukon River and McIntyre Creek Riparian Clean-Up project, in 2008/2009 the Resources Branch

  • samples the groundwater to determine if groundwater contamination is a true concern
  • researches other dumpsite reclamation projects to determine the most appropriate options
  • consults governments and stakeholders to determine possible future uses for the site
  • develops a reclamation plan, including revegetation prescriptions
  • consults governments and stakeholders to determine acceptance of the reclamation plan
  • applies for land-use permits and obtain other approvals as required

Yukon River Working Group

The Yukon River Working Group, an off-shoot of the Yukon River Salmon Management Regime, keeps renewable resources managers abreast of particulars from the previous salmon and forecasts the size of the run for the next season. The is also a forum to discuss management plans and and catch efforts for each First Nation community. In the 2008 season our Resources Branch will participate in weekly, Yukon River-wide tele-conferences to exchange information about the salmon run size, catch effort and border escapement.

Harvest Management

Grizzly BearResources Branch harvest management focuses on

  • harvest surveys
  • game guardian program
  • hunter and trapper education
  • Category 1 trapline management
  • outfitter relations
  • basic needs negotiations

Harvest information is key to meeting our obligations under Chapter 16, Fish and Wildlife, of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Final Agreement. It is important that citizens share this information with us. If there was ever to be a restriction on Ta’an Kwäch’än citizens’ right to harvest, the harvest information would be used to establish our total allowable harvest. If this information is not available, proving that there is a need would be extremely difficult if not impossible.

Yukon River Salmon Basic Needs Allocation

Yukon River salmon basic needs allocation is another obligation under Chapter 16, Fish and Wildlife, of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Final Agreement. Currently, a negotiations framework is being developed between Yukon First Nations. Our Resources Branch mails annual surveys and salmon catch calendars to Ta’an Kwäch’än citizens. The responses from our citizens will affect the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council’s fish and wildlife management capabilities.

Forest Management Planning

ClimateChangeThe Resources Branch will  develop the terms of reference for a forest management plan.

Climate Change Research and Adaptation

Resources Branch climate change research focuses on

  • gathering of relevant information
  • providing information and education
  • assessing potential impacts on future resource and environmental management decisions
Departmental Documents
Links