Beaver River Watershed

There's a proposal for a 65km road to access mineral claims throughout the Beaver River Watershed, located just south of the Peel. It has been assessed by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB) which recommended in its Evaluation Report that it proceed but with certain conditions. YCS is against this road, as was clearly stated in our submission to YESAB. YCS respectfully suggested to YESAB that they recommend against this project proceeding for the following reasons:

There are alternative options to an all season road.
Negative impacts on fish and animals due to cumulative impacts and habitat fragmentation.
A full assessment of the impacts on salmon habitat of all the culverts and bridges has not been completed prior to this assessment.
Land-use planning has not occurred.

CPAWS Yukon has nicely summarized these and other environmental concerns in a blog post.

Following the YESAB evaluation, the Government of Yukon and First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun have agreed to prepare a land use plan for the Beaver River watershed. This agreement was announced in a joint press release titled Government of Yukon and the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun reach agreement on ATAC tote road. A copy of the actual agreement is available here. The planning committee consists of 2 Na-Cho Nyäk Dun delegates and 2 Yukon government delegates, all four will guide the planning process. More information on the Beaver River watershed planning process is available here.

Community meetings have been held by the planning committee, including one in Whitehorse on Feb 6 2019 where this slideshow was presented. The planning committee has issued this map showing in detail possible proposed routing of the road.

Beaver River watershed map showing potential road - map by the planning committee