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Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan 2013

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Ta’tla Mun Special Management AreaManagement Plan

2013

For additional copies of this management plan contact:

Director, Fish and Wildlife BranchEnvironment Yukon (V-5)PO Box 2703Whitehorse, YukonY1A 2C6

This management plan may be cited as:

Government of Yukon and Selkirk First Nation. 2013. Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan. Environment Yukon, Whitehorse, Yukon, 15 pages.

ISBN: 978-1-55362-661-9

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Plan Development and Public Involvement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Management Concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Fisheries and Resource Use

Fish and Fish Habitat

Access Management

Recommendations and Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Fisheries and Resource Use

Fish and Fish Habitat

Access Management

Management Plan Review Schedule

Appendix 1 - Summary of Fisheries Projects at Ta’tla Mun SMA . . . . . 16

|1 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

Introduction The principal objectives in the development of special management areas in Yukon First Nation final land claim agreements are to maintain important features of Yukon’s natural or cultural environment for the benefit of Yukon residents and all Canadians while respecting the rights of Yukon Indian people and Yukon First Nations. To achieve this objective, several special management areas have been established within the traditional territory of the Selkirk First Nation in accordance with provisions as set out in the Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement. The following objectives are specific to the Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area as outlined in Schedule B of Chapter 10 of the Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement:

• To ensure conservation in the management and use of the freshwater fish resources and their habitat in the lake known as Ta’tla Mun;

• To enhance and promote the full participation of the Selkirk First Nation and Selkirk people in the management of the freshwater fish resources in Ta’tla Mun;

• To integrate the relevant knowledge and experience of both Selkirk people and the scientific communities in respect of Ta’tla Mun in order to achieve conservation;

• To recognize the importance of Ta’tla Mun to Selkirk people and to protect the use of Ta’tla Mun by Selkirk people;

• To facilitate the priority of the freshwater fish food needs of Selkirk people over other uses of Ta’tla Mun;

• To provide quality sport fishing opportunities in Ta’tla Mun; and

• To deal fairly with all users of Ta’tla Mun.

Background |2

Background The Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area (Ta’tla Mun SMA) became established with the signing of the Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement in July of 1997. The management plan was finalized and approved by the parties in 2001. The Ta’tla Mun SMA encompasses all ecosystem components associated with the freshwater habitat in the lake locally referred to as “Ta’tla Mun” or “Tatlmain Lake” as listed in the Yukon Gazetteer. It is situated 40 kilometres southeast of Pelly Crossing (62°37¢N 135°59¢W), in south central Yukon.

The boundary of the Ta’tla Mun SMA is inclusive of all surface waters within the high water mark of the lake. This constitutes an area of approximately 3,380 hectares. The Ta’tla Mun SMA is about 23 kilometres in length and is situated in an east to west aspect

Figure 1. Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area

|3 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

(Figure 1). The surface elevation of Ta’tla Mun is approximately 500 metres above sea level. Several small islands are also associated with the Ta’tla Mun SMA; all but one are situated in the narrows of the west arm of the lake.

The surrounding terrain is characterized by rolling hills and plateaus with many small and often intermittent streams that flow into the lake from the surrounding steep hillsides. Mica and Ta’tla creeks form the principle drainages within the Ta’tla Mun SMA. Surface waters flow from the lake at the Mica Creek outlet, then through Towhata Lake before entering the Pelly River. The Ta’tla Mun SMA is situated in the central Yukon plateau of the boreal cordillera ecoregion. The climate is cold and semi-arid with a mean annual temperature of approximately –3.5°C.

Historically, Ta’tla Mun was a core area of traditional use by the Northern Tutchone. This aboriginal group was one of the largest and most powerful of the Northern Tutchone people. Archeological evidence associated with this lake is indicative of several thousand years of human occupation. The recovery of stone tools suggests people first came to the area soon after glacial ice sheets melted away about 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. A total of 27 prehistoric sites have been identified along the Ta’tla Mun shoreline. The Mica Creek outlet was the location of a large fishing village where people would gather in late fall to net spawning whitefish. Spawning whitefish were taken in dragnets, in fish traps and gaffed as people remained at this location throughout the winter months. In the winter season whitefish and lake trout were also taken with nets and hooks through the ice at the lake narrows. The abundance of fish within Ta’tla Mun permitted larger family groups to remain throughout the winter. Toward the end of the last century, most of the Ta’tla Mun people disappeared as a result of epidemics and/or conflicts with other groups. While no one today lives year-round at Ta’tla Mun, the Selkirk First Nation maintains a trail to the lake and has built a culture camp near the site of the old fishing village.

Within the past century Ta’tla Mun became the site of commercial fisheries beginning with the arrival of Hudson Bay Company explorers to the area between 1848 and 1851. Whitefish were taken for food for both people and dogs. During the gold rush a commercial fishery on the lake supplied miners in Dawson and later Mayo with whitefish and trout. Between 1908 and 1916 harvests of all freshwater fish combined from Ta’tla Mun ranged from 6,000 to 23,000 kilograms annually.

Background |4

The fish community within the waters of Ta’tla Mun is dominated by lake trout (myaat), lake whitefish (lyok degay) and northern pike (tátli). Ta’tla Mun is known for its large lake trout that can attain a weight of over 10 kilograms and are particularly sought after by sport or recreational anglers. Movements of fish to and from Ta’tla Mun have also been documented. Perhaps the most notable are migrations of broad whitefish or tezrá that formerly occurred between Ta’tla Mun, Towhata Lake and the Pelly River through Mica Creek (Appendix 1).

While the Ta’tla Mun SMA is accessible by aircraft in all seasons, snowmachines are currently the most popular method of getting to the lake, primarily in the late winter season. Currently there is one ATV / snowmachine trail that accesses the lake. The trail begins in Pelly Crossing, Yukon.

Plan Development and Public InvolvementA steering committee was established in November 1998 whose purpose was to prepare a management plan for Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area. Details with respect to membership, plan objectives and implementation are outlined in Schedule B of Chapter 10 of the Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement. A secretariat service prepared meeting minutes, organized workshops and helped draft the plan.

The preparation of the management plan required the inclusion of a process for public consultation that, for greater certainty, included consultation with Selkirk people and the Yukon public. Consultation was achieved through advertised public workshops that focused on the identification of issues that then provided the framework on which the plan was developed. Workshops were held in Pelly Crossing and Whitehorse. Workshops also enabled the involvement by the Selkirk Renewable Resources Council and representatives of organizations and individuals who had an interest in Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area.

Upon completion of the workshops, the drafting of the management plan proceeded using information that was prepared, presented and/or recorded at these workshops. Information included technical data from government files, Elder interviews, Selkirk First Nation

|5 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

cultural history and oral presentations. Drafts of the management plan were reviewed by the steering committee, and then submitted to the Selkirk Renewable Resources Council for public review. In 2001, the plan was approved by both the Selkirk First Nation and the Government of Yukon.

In 2008, a review of the approved management plan and its implementation was jointly conducted by representatives of the Selkirk First Nation and Environment Yukon. The development of the updated management plan required several meetings between representatives of the Selkirk First Nation and Environment Yukon. Information contained in the original plan was reviewed and additional information was tabled and discussed. Recent information included the number of special fishing permits that were issued annually, technical survey summaries, reported fish harvests and ongoing habitat concerns in the Ta’tla Mun SMA. The results of this consultation and information exchange were considered in preparing this updated management plan.

Management Concerns

Fisheries and Resource Use

One of the primary objectives of this management plan is to ensure conservation in the management and use of the freshwater fish resources and their habitat in Ta’tla Mun. These freshwater resources include at least eight known species of fish: lake trout or myaat (Salvelinus namaycush), lake whitefish or lyok degay (Coregonus clupeaformis), broad whitefish or tezrá (Coregonus nasus), longnose sucker or tats’aat (Catostomus catostomus), burbot or teł vók (Lota lota), northern pike or tátli (Esox lucius), Arctic grayling or t’a (Thymallus arcticus), and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). Historically many of these species were of some importance as a food base to the aboriginal people who first used the lake. Elders have indicated that some species such as whitefish, northern pike, burbot and occasionally trout were preferred over others. Whitefish were of special importance as they were easily harvested when they formed spawning aggregations during the fall, primarily at the Mica Creek outlet of the lake. Of the whitefish, the broad whitefish or tezra, was by far the most valued species because of its excellent taste and size. Fish resources were traditionally shared with people of aboriginal

Background |6

and non-aboriginal origin, as they are today. Aboriginal people still harvest fish from the lake; but not to the extent as in the past, when many families were dependent solely on the lake for food. Current harvests of whitefish therefore are small compared to what they once were. Harvesting primarily occurs during the fall spawning period. Additional fish harvests during the summer are associated with the periodic use of the culture camp located at the site of the old fishing village.

Sport, or recreational, anglers primarily venture to Ta’tla Mun during the late winter by snowmachine although aircraft access is also possible throughout the year. Anglers are required by law to have two types of documentation before fishing: 1) a Yukon Sport Fishing Licence (as required for fishing in all waters in Yukon), and 2) a specific Yukon Sport Fishing Licence to Fish in Ta’tla Mun. The Ta’tla Mun sport fishing licence has been in place since 1993 and it enables management agencies to monitor fish harvests and angling effort on the lake through mandatory reporting. In the event where harvests and/or angling pressure become excessive, the issuance of sport fishing licenses can be managed to control and direct harvest and effort. While both governments felt it important to continue the licensing system, some aspects of its current administration, enforcement and compliance could be improved. The development of a standard set of conditions that would apply to all anglers who frequented the lake was identified as a priority. In recent years there have been very few licenses issued.

The designation of Ta’tla Mun as a High Quality Water was revoked in 2001. Since 2001, an aggregate catch limit of five fish per day and ten fish in possession became mandatory as a result of a recommendation in the Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan. The catch limit includes all released fish as well as those retained, and requires anglers to stop fishing after catching five fish in one day. This change in regulation was made to address concerns about excessive catch and release practices and potential high mortality of the trophy-sized lake trout at Ta’tla Mun. First Nations members, particularly Elders, find the concept of live release disrespectful and believe it will ultimately harm the fish population.

Recreational anglers are attracted to Ta’tla Mun by its remote aesthetic, scenic landscapes, good fishing, and abundance of large lake trout. These features have always been alluring to entrepreneurs who promote the lake as an ideal candidate for a

|7 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

commercial wilderness/fishing lodge development. Many members of the Selkirk First Nation remain apprehensive about this type of development, while others see it as a potential economic opportunity for the community of Pelly Crossing.

Fish and Fish Habitat

The fish populations and habitat in the Ta’tla Mun SMA are generally considered to be pristine, as they have been historically for Northern Tutchone people who depended on the lake for food. While the maintenance of fish habitat is a key objective to this plan, many factors outside the boundaries of the Ta’tla Mun SMA have the potential to influence fish habitat in the lake. Changes to either the quality or quantity of surface waters in streams that feed the lake, whether from natural disturbances or human activities, can have a significant effect on fish and fish habitat downstream within the Ta’tla Mun SMA. To establish management recommendations specific to the Ta’tla Mun SMA, without some consideration to adjacent habitat, was felt by the steering committee to be a significant weakness in the plan. During the workshops many concerns were raised that specifically focused on issues outside the current boundaries of the Ta’tla Mun SMA. Issues such as logging of riparian habitat, shoreline development, forest fires and impacts of beaver dams (especially in the Mica creek drainage) were frequently identified as issues at the public workshops. While many issues of this nature cannot be resolved in the current plan, there was general consensus about the need to have the Ta’tla Mun SMA plan identify these issues and recommend a process or strategy for resolution. It was felt that a number of options to assess and manage ecological impacts from land and water-based disturbances within the watershed could be pursued. These options include but may not be limited to, the use of current assessment processes and/or the participation in any future watershed or land use planning processes. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada is the management authority with respect to fish habitat.

Background |8

Access Management

The ease of access, whether by air or land, is fundamental to the management of freshwater fish harvests within the Ta’tla Mun SMA. Generally, as access is improved to areas that were formally remote, there is a subsequent increase in fish harvest. As with other wildlife, improved access usually results in the need for more restrictive regulations with respect to resource use. Improved access can also encourage other types of resource-based activities that can impact fish habitat and sites of archeological significance. While the current management plan is confined to the area bounded by the Ta’tla Mun SMA, access management is a critical issue to the planning process.

The issue of road and trail development continues to be a focus of discussion for the Selkirk First Nation. Currently one trail that originates in Pelly Crossing provides limited access by ATVs and snowmachines to the Ta’tla Mun SMA. The trail is located upon Selkirk First Nation settlement lands for virtually its entire length. It is recognized that any trail improvements would have significant management implications to the Ta’tla Mun SMA. There is strong support to maintain the current access in its present condition, without improvements, other than for general maintenance, for the term of the plan. Signage has been erected at the trailhead explaining the significance of the Ta’tla Mun SMA and the status of the land (Category A) over which the trail passes. By discouraging and prohibiting where possible ground access other than on the existing trail, additional access points into Ta’tla Mun SMA will be curtailed.

As the present trail into the Ta’tla Mun SMA is located entirely on settlement land, Selkirk First Nation has the power to enact laws to control the operation of vehicles that utilize the trail through their selfgovernment land agreement. By this mechanism, traffic could be managed to minimize disturbances to wildlife while also alleviating disharmony between cultural activities and other uses during specific times of the year. While regulations to manage and control vehicle use would be initiated by the Selkirk First Nation, any regulations that are developed would need to be in accordance with the objectives of this management plan and Chapter 6 (Access) of the Selkirk First Nation Final Agreement.

|9 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

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aps r

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as w

ith

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aint

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day

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he

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reat

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l Fi

shin

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a re

crea

tiona

l fish

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com

petit

ion

in w

hich

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e th

an 2

5 pe

ople

pa

rtici

pate

. The

goa

l of c

atch

ing

man

y fis

h fo

r rec

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iona

l pur

pose

s is c

ontra

ry to

the

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

man

agem

ent p

lan.

•D

o no

t iss

ue re

crea

tiona

l fish

ing

derb

y pe

rmits

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to a

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m

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Management Recommendations |10

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elop

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un S

MA

is a

n id

eal c

andi

date

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al re

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deve

lopm

ent

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use

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s sce

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land

scap

es, g

ood

fishi

ng a

nd th

e ab

unda

nce

of la

rge

lake

trou

t an

d no

rther

n pi

ke. M

any

mem

bers

of t

he

Selk

irk F

irst N

atio

n ar

e ap

preh

ensi

ve a

bout

th

is ty

pe o

f dev

elop

men

t and

its i

mpa

cts

to th

e la

ke. O

ther

s see

it a

s a p

oten

tial

econ

omic

opp

ortu

nity

for t

he c

omm

unity

of

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ssin

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t sup

port

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eatio

nal

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ilder

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dev

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ake

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at w

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nviro

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herit

age

and

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slat

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atio

ns.

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pla

n w

ould

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by

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irk F

irst

Nat

ion

and

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n go

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t.

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FNO

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ng to

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de

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by m

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rs o

f Se

lkirk

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t N

atio

n

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re th

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ives

of t

he S

elki

rk F

irst

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ion

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l Agr

eem

ent,

spec

ifica

lly a

s it

refe

rs to

faci

litat

ing

the

prio

rity

of fo

od fi

sh

need

ove

r oth

er u

ses i

s res

pect

ed.

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aint

ain

the

prio

rity

of fr

eshw

ater

fis

h fo

od n

eeds

of S

elki

rk F

irst N

atio

n pe

ople

.

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, EY

Ong

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ve

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f the

m

anag

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t pla

n.

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fish

ing

by F

irst N

atio

n m

embe

rs w

ith

a Sh

arin

g A

gree

men

t

No

perm

it is

requ

ired

for t

hose

Firs

t Nat

ion

mem

bers

who

wis

h to

fish

for f

ood

with

in

Ta’tl

a M

un S

MA

, pro

vide

d th

eir r

espe

ctiv

e Fi

rst N

atio

n ha

s neg

otia

ted

a sh

arin

g ag

reem

ent w

ith th

e Se

lkirk

Firs

t Nat

ion.

H

owev

er, t

here

is a

requ

irem

ent t

o gi

ve so

me

notifi

catio

n of

inte

ntio

ns to

a re

pres

enta

tive

of th

e Se

lkirk

Firs

t Nat

ion.

Litt

le S

alm

on/

Car

mac

ks F

irst N

atio

n an

d th

e Fi

rst N

atio

n of

Na-

Cho

Nyä

k D

un a

re th

e on

ly F

irst

Nat

ions

that

cur

rent

ly h

ave

a sh

arin

g ag

reem

ent.

•C

ontin

ue to

requ

ire c

ourte

sy n

otifi

catio

n to

Sel

kirk

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t Nat

ion,

no

perm

its

requ

ired.

SFN

Ong

oing

to a

chie

ve

desi

red

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

m

anag

emen

t pla

n.

|11 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

Fish

erie

s an

d Re

sour

ce U

se

TOPI

CIS

SUES

REC

OM

MEN

DAT

ION

SIN

VO

LVED

A

GEN

CIE

SIM

PLEM

ENTA

TIO

N

TIM

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AM

E

Food

fish

ing

by F

irst N

atio

n m

embe

rs w

ithou

t a

Shar

ing

Agr

eem

ent

For t

hose

mem

bers

of a

Firs

t Nat

ion

with

out

a sh

arin

g ag

reem

ent w

ho w

ant t

o fo

od fi

sh

with

in T

a’tla

Mun

SM

A, n

otifi

catio

n of

in

tent

ions

mus

t be

give

n to

a re

pres

enta

tive

of th

e Se

lkirk

Firs

t Nat

ion.

Rep

ortin

g of

ha

rves

ts m

ay b

e re

quire

d de

pend

ing

on th

e na

ture

of t

he fi

sher

y.

•C

ontin

ue to

requ

ire w

ritte

n co

nsen

t fro

m

Selk

irk F

irst N

atio

n. R

epor

ting

may

be

requ

ired.

SFN

Ong

oing

to a

chie

ve

desi

red

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

m

anag

emen

t pla

n.

Dom

estic

Fis

hing

&

Com

mer

cial

Fi

shin

g

Dom

estic

fish

ing

is th

e ha

rves

ting

of

fish,

usu

ally

by

gilln

et, t

hat i

s use

d so

lely

fo

r per

sona

l con

sum

ptio

n an

d ex

clud

es

food

fish

ing

by F

irst N

atio

n m

embe

rs.

Com

mer

cial

fish

ing

is th

e ha

rves

ting

of

fish,

usu

ally

by

gilln

et, w

hich

are

then

sold

, tra

ded

or b

arte

red.

Whi

le n

eith

er a

ctiv

ity h

as

been

lice

nsed

in th

e re

cent

pas

t for

Ta’

tla

Mun

, in

the

even

t an

appl

icat

ion

is re

ceiv

ed,

sanc

tion

from

bot

h SF

N a

nd Y

G.

•D

o no

t iss

ue c

omm

erci

al o

r dom

estic

fis

hing

lice

nses

.EY

Ong

oing

to a

chie

ve

desi

red

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

m

anag

emen

t pla

n.

Management Recommendations |12

Fish

and

Fis

h H

abita

t

TOPI

CIS

SUE

REC

OM

MEN

DAT

ION

INV

OLV

ED

AG

ENC

YIM

PLEM

ENTA

TIO

N

TIM

EFR

AM

E

Land

and

Wat

er

Use

Land

- and

wat

er-b

ased

dis

turb

ance

s with

in

the

wat

ersh

ed b

ut o

utsi

de th

e bo

unda

ries o

f th

e Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A, h

ave

the

pote

ntia

l to

influ

ence

the

ecol

ogic

al in

tegr

ity w

ithin

the

SMA

. W

ithou

t som

e co

nsid

erat

ion

of th

is

linka

ge th

e lo

ng-te

rm su

stai

nabi

lity

of th

e SM

A c

ould

be

com

prom

ised

.

•C

onsi

der t

he o

bjec

tives

of t

he T

a’tla

Mun

SM

A a

nd th

e re

com

men

datio

ns o

f thi

s pl

an in

all

revi

ews o

f lan

d an

d w

ater

-bas

ed

dist

urba

nces

out

side

the

boun

darie

s of t

he

SMA

that

may

influ

ence

Ta’

tla M

un.

•C

ontin

ue to

ass

ess p

oten

tial e

colo

gica

l im

pact

s to

Ta’tl

a M

un S

MA

from

land

- an

d w

ater

-bas

ed d

istu

rban

ces t

hrou

gh

appr

opria

te re

view

pro

cess

es.

SFN

, YG

Ong

oing

to a

chie

ve

desi

red

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

m

anag

emen

t pla

n.

Lake

Tro

ut

Popu

latio

nsLa

ke tr

out a

re o

ne o

f the

mos

t sen

sitiv

e sp

ecie

s to

over

har

vest

ing

in th

e Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A.

•C

ontin

ue to

per

iodi

cally

mon

itor l

ake

trout

ab

unda

nce

with

in th

e Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A.

EY, S

FNO

ngoi

ng to

ach

ieve

de

sire

d ob

ject

ives

of t

he

man

agem

ent p

lan.

Oth

er fi

sh

spec

ies

Som

e fis

h sp

ecie

s in

Ta’tl

a M

un u

se h

abita

t ou

tsid

e th

e bo

unda

ries o

f the

Ta’

tla M

un

SMA

. B

eave

r dam

s and

low

wat

er le

vels

ca

n ad

vers

ely

affe

ct a

cces

s to

Ta’tl

a M

un b

y m

igra

tory

fish

. M

igra

tory

fish

are

impo

rtant

to

the

ecol

ogy

of T

a’tla

Mun

and

as a

food

so

urce

for S

elki

rk P

eopl

e.

•M

onito

r acc

ess o

f tho

se fi

sh sp

ecie

s tha

t m

igra

te fr

om in

side

the

boun

darie

s of t

he

Ta’tl

a M

un S

MA

into

Mic

a C

reek

.

EY, S

FN

Ong

oing

to a

chie

ve

desi

red

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

m

anag

emen

t pla

n.

•R

esto

re a

cces

s of t

hese

fish

to th

eir k

now

n hi

stor

ic ra

nges

in c

oope

ratio

n w

ith p

artie

s an

d ot

her a

ffect

ed b

odie

s.

SFN

|13 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

Acce

ss M

anag

emen

t

TOPI

CIS

SUE

REC

OM

MEN

DAT

ION

INV

OLV

ED

AG

ENC

YIM

PLEM

ENTA

TIO

N

TIM

EFR

AM

E

Gro

und

Acc

ess

to th

e Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A

The

curr

ent a

cces

s int

o Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A is

al

mos

t ent

irely

on

unde

velo

ped

Selk

irk F

irst

Nat

ion

land

. As s

uch,

mot

oriz

ed v

ehic

les

can

be m

anag

ed th

roug

h th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

app

ropr

iate

legi

slat

ion.

Whi

le a

nyon

e ha

s the

righ

t to

ente

r, cr

oss a

nd st

ay fo

r a

reas

onab

le p

erio

d of

tim

e fo

r non

-com

mer

cial

re

crea

tion

on u

ndev

elop

ed S

FN la

nd, t

here

ar

e so

me

resp

onsi

bilit

ies t

o be

con

side

red

rega

rdin

g pu

blic

safe

ty, l

iabi

lity

and

dam

age

to se

ttlem

ent l

and

with

resp

ect t

o th

e us

e of

th

e tra

il.

•D

evel

op a

n ac

cess

man

agem

ent p

lan

asso

ciat

ed w

ith th

e tra

il in

to th

e Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A to

add

ress

issu

es o

f tra

il m

aint

enan

ce, v

ehic

le u

se a

nd g

arba

ge.

•M

aint

ain

and,

if n

eces

sary

, upd

ate

the

curr

ent s

ign

at th

e tra

ilhea

d to

info

rm

user

s of a

ny a

cces

s iss

ues o

r reg

ulat

ions

.

SFN

, YG

With

in 1

0 ye

ars o

f m

anag

emen

t pla

n ac

cept

ance

by

parti

es.

Fish

erie

s res

ourc

es a

re so

met

imes

bes

t m

anag

ed th

roug

h th

e m

anag

emen

t of a

cces

s.

Gen

eral

ly, a

s acc

ess i

mpr

oves

to a

n ar

ea

or la

ke, a

cor

resp

ondi

ng in

crea

se in

hum

an

use,

fish

har

vest

and

/or h

abita

t dis

turb

ance

s us

ually

bec

ome

appa

rent

. B

y m

anag

ing

the

leve

l and

eas

e of

acc

essi

bilit

y, h

uman

rela

ted

impa

cts c

ould

be

min

imiz

ed in

the

Ta’tl

a M

un S

MA

. A

cces

s man

agem

ent w

ithin

the

wat

ersh

ed c

an b

e ac

hiev

ed th

roug

h ex

istin

g pr

oces

ses p

rovi

ded

for i

n le

gisl

atio

n.

•C

ontin

ue to

dis

cour

age

whe

re p

ossi

ble

the

esta

blis

hmen

t of n

ew ro

ads i

nclu

ding

w

inte

r roa

ds, t

hat w

ould

pro

vide

new

or

impr

oved

gro

und

acce

ss to

the

Ta’tl

a M

un

SMA

, thr

ough

the Y

ESA

B p

roce

ss.

SFN

, YG

Ong

oing

to a

chie

ve

desi

red

obje

ctiv

es o

f the

m

anag

emen

t pla

n.

Management Recommendations |14

Acce

ss M

anag

emen

t

TOPI

CIS

SUE

REC

OM

MEN

DAT

ION

INV

OLV

ED

AG

ENC

YIM

PLEM

ENTA

TIO

N

TIM

EFR

AM

E

Enfo

rcem

ent

Enfo

rcem

ent p

atro

ls a

re d

esira

ble

to e

nsur

e co

mpl

ianc

e w

ith a

nglin

g re

gula

tions

es

peci

ally

dur

ing

perio

ds o

f pea

k us

e.

Red

uced

ang

ling

catc

h lim

its a

t Ta’

tla M

un

seem

to h

ave

resu

lted

in c

urta

iling

inte

rest

by

recr

eatio

nal a

ngle

rs; f

ew Y

ukon

Spo

rt Fi

shin

g Li

cens

es fo

r the

Ta’

tla M

un S

MA

ha

ve b

een

issu

ed si

nce

2005

.

•C

ondu

ct e

nfor

cem

ent p

atro

ls o

f Ta’

tla

Mun

dur

ing

peak

per

iods

of u

se.

EYO

ngoi

ng b

ased

on

issu

ance

of s

peci

al

angl

ing

perm

its.

SFN

has

resp

onsi

bilit

ies f

or m

anag

ing

spec

ified

har

vest

ing

right

s of i

ts m

embe

rs

and

for e

nfor

cing

its l

egis

latio

n, w

hen

it is

de

velo

ped

and

impl

emen

ted,

that

gov

erns

th

ese

activ

ities

.

•SF

N G

ame

Gua

rdia

ns w

ill p

atro

l are

as a

s an

d w

hen

appl

icab

le.

SFN

Ong

oing

Her

itage

Pr

ovis

ion

for p

ublic

acc

ess i

s pro

vide

d fo

r in

the

Selk

irk F

irst N

atio

n Fi

nal A

gree

men

t.

How

ever

, arc

heol

ogic

al su

rvey

s in

the

past

ha

ve id

entifi

ed so

me

site

s of s

igni

fican

ce th

at

have

bee

n di

stur

bed

by c

ampi

ng.

A n

eed

was

iden

tified

to p

rote

ct th

ese

site

s fro

m

furth

er d

istu

rban

ce.

•Pr

otec

t her

itage

site

s of a

rche

olog

ical

si

gnifi

canc

e as

app

ropr

iate

and

arti

fact

s as

prov

ided

for i

n C

hapt

er 1

3 of

the

Selk

irk

Firs

t Nat

ion

Fina

l Agr

eem

ent.

•C

ontin

ue to

pro

vide

a m

ap w

ith e

ach

issu

ed Y

ukon

Spo

rt Fi

shin

g Li

cens

e fo

r Ta

’tla

Mun

out

linin

g ar

eas t

o av

oid

whi

le

cam

ping

in th

e Ta

’tla

Mun

SM

A.

EY, S

FNO

ngoi

ng to

ach

ieve

de

sire

d ob

ject

ives

of t

he

man

agem

ent p

lan.

|15 Ta’tla Mun Special Management Area Management Plan

Man

agem

ent P

lan

Revi

ew S

ched

ule

TOPI

CIS

SUE

REC

OM

MEN

DAT

ION

INV

OLV

ED

AG

ENC

YIM

PLEM

ENTA

TIO

N

TIM

EFR

AM

E

Man

agem

ent

Plan

Rev

iew

Man

agem

ent p

lan

shou

ld b

e up

date

d pe

riodi

cally

to re

mai

n cu

rren

t with

ev

olvi

ng le

gisl

atio

n an

d im

plem

enta

tion

of

reco

mm

enda

tions

.

•R

evie

w m

anag

emen

t pla

n 10

yea

rs fr

om

the

appr

oval

dat

e.

•A

men

d pl

an so

oner

if n

eede

d an

d if

agre

ed to

by

the

parti

es.

EY, S

FN,

SRR

C10

yea

rs o

r soo

ner.

GLO

SSA

RY O

F A

CR

ON

YM

S

EY –

Env

ironm

ent Y

ukon

SFN

– S

elki

rk F

irst N

atio

nSM

A –

Spec

ial M

anag

emen

t Are

aSR

RC

– S

elki

rk R

enew

able

Res

ourc

e C

ounc

il

Appendix 1 - Summary of Fisheries Projects at Ta’tla Mun SMAYear Project People Involved

1993 Fish Index Survey of Ta’tla Mun Darin Isaac (SFN)Gerry Kuzak (YG)Stephen Silverfox (SFN)Susan Thompson (YG)

1999 Small Mesh Lake Trout Abundance Survey of Ta’tla Mun - 0.55 LT per gillnet hour

Terri Lee Isaac (SFN)Nick de Graff (consultant)

1999 Mica Creek Restoration Project - barrier survey and mitigation

Darin Isaac (SFN)Stephen Silverfox (SFN)Don Trudeau (SFN)SFN beaver crew (SFN)

2000 Salmonid Restoration Project - Needlerock, Mica and Willow creeks assessment.

Ken Nordin (consultant) Mark O’Donoghue (YG)Paul Sparling (consultant)Nick de Graff (consultant)

2001 Ta’tla Mun SMA Management Plan

Approved by Parties

Fred Green (SFN)Darin Isaac (SFN)Mark O’Donoghue (YG)Don Toews (YG)Nick de Graff (Consultant)

2002 Pelly River – Broad Whitefish Radio Tagging Project Linch and Bob Curry (SFN)Terry Lee Isaac (SFN)Nick de Graff (consultant)

2004 Small Mesh Lake Trout Abundance Survey of Ta’tla Mun - 0.50 LT per gillnet hour

April Baker (SFN)

Nick de Graff (consultant)

2005 Pelly River Community Stewart Project - Caribou, Grayling, Mica, Needlerock and Willow creeks assessment.

Cheryl Edwards (SFN)Bonnie Huebschwerlen (SRRC)Ann Marie Jepp (SFN)Douglas Silverfox (SFN)Nick de Graff (consultant)

2006 Pelly River Community Stewart Project - Caribou, Grayling, Mica, Needlerock and Willow creeks assessment.

Scott Bradley (student)Calvin Menzi (SFN)Kevin Vaughan (student)Nick de Graff (consultant)

Year Project People Involved

2007 Pelly River Community Stewart Project - Caribou, Grayling, Mica, Needlerock and Willow creeks assessment.

Kiefer Johnny (SFN)Calvin Menzi (SFN)Christina Salba (student) Nick de Graff (consultant)

2011 Lake Trout Population Assessment Ta’Tla Mun. George Magrum (SFN)Eugene Alfred (SFN)Eliza Moses (SFN)Lars Jessup (YG)Aaron Foos (YG)Nathan Millar (YG)