Situated in the Gwich’in settlement Area (GSA), the Rat River is inhabited by anadromous Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) that are harvested by both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit beneficiaries. The harvest of Dolly Varden from the Rat River occurs during the summer at feeding areas along the coast (by the Inuvialuit) and during upstream migration in the Mackenzie Delta (by both Gwich’in and Inuvialuit). Dolly Varden stocks are co-managed under an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) whose signatories include Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, Fisheries Joint Management Committee, and Parks Canada Agency. The Rat River Working Group, the co-management body that makes recommendations for harvest levels for Dolly Varden stocks in the GSA, has supported research activities that facilitate implementation of the IFMP, including studies to monitor harvest levels and assess population status. Population studies (e.g., abundance estimates, biological and genetic sampling) and coastal harvest monitoring activities allow for a comprehensive assessment of this stock. The data are used to inform co-management partners on the status of Dolly Varden from the Rat River.

The Resource Management Area (RMA) dataset is comprised of all the polygons that represent the resource management areas of the 17 Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) - Subregional in Alberta. This dataset does not include the RMAs of Local IPR plans due to the resource restraint. Future enhancement of this data set to include Local IRP plans is feasible when resources are available. A Resource Management Area is an area identified within a Sub-Regional IRP plan for more detailed land and resource management intent on a landscape assessment. Generally, a Resource Management Area is characterized by an intent statement and detailed resource management objectives and guidelines. However, there are IRP plans which have their own specific RMA definitions. Plans include, Lakeland Sub-Regional IRP: A RMA is a geographic area of common resource management intent. There is a management intent statement for each resource management area. The intent statement expresses the resource priorities for the area. Kananaskis Country Sub-Regional IRP: RMA areas identify broad units of land within the planning area which have distinct management intents and specific management objectives.

This GIS dataset depicts the locations of thalwegs (paleo-channels) incised in the bedrock surface of NTS map area 84L ( line features). The data are created in ArcInfo format and output for public distribution in Arc export (E00) and shapefile formats.

The data represent the locations of thalwegs (paleo-channels) incised in the bedrock surface. Segments of three major buried valleys are present: the Muskwa Valley, the Red Earth Valley and Gods Valley in the northeastern portion of the area.

This GIS dataset depicts the surficial geology of the Meekwap Lake area (NTS 83K/NE) (GIS data, polygon features). The data were created in geodatabase format and output for public distribution in shapefile format. These data comprise the polygon features of Alberta Geological Survey Map 559, Surficial Geology of the Meekwap Lake Area (NTS 83K/NE).

All available bathymetry and related information for Buck Lake were collected and hard copy maps digitized where necessary. The data were validated against more recent data (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 'SRTM' imagery and Indian Remote Sensing 'IRS' imagery) and corrected where necessary. The published data set contains the lake bathymetry formatted as an Arc ascii grid. Bathymetric contours and the boundary polygon are available as shapefiles.

All available bathymetry and related information for North Buck Lake were collected and hard copy maps digitized where necessary. The data were validated against more recent data (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 'SRTM' imagery and Indian Remote Sensing 'IRS' imagery) and corrected where necessary. The published data set contains the lake bathymetry formatted as an Arc ascii grid. Bathymetric contours and the boundary polygon are available as shapefiles.

Biophysical or ecosystem mapping is built on the principle that vegetation composition and distribution responds in predictable ways to specific abiotic terrain conditions. Terrain (surficial geology) mapping and subsequent stratification into ecosystem units forms the basis for local-scale biophysical mapping. Biophysical mapping is therefore an integrated system of mapping which describes both terrain conditions (surficial material type, slope, landscape position, drainage and permafrost conditions) and ecological factors (vegetation community and structure, and soil moisture and nutrient regimes).The Watson Lake area was selected for a pilot biophysical mapping project because of imminent resource activities in southeastern Yukon. Local-scale (1:50 000) biophysical mapping was carried out in the 105A/2 NTS map area during 2004 in cooperation with Yukon Environment, Yukon Geological Survey and Cryogeographic Consulting. Analysis of hard copy 1:40 000-scale aerial photographs was conducted to outline preliminary terrain (surficial geology) and ecosystem units. Four weeks of summer field work was then conducted to ground truth the preliminary aerial photograph interpretation and develop a more detailed ecological classification system for southeast Yukon. Following the field season, the corrected mapping was digitized using stereo-georeferenced high-resolution scanned aerial photographs in Microstation Diap Viewer. Subsequent geographic information system (GIS) manipulation was performed in ArcGIS 9.0. Part of the purpose of the project was to develop a methodology for performing biophysical mapping using these technological tools.

This GIS dataset depicts the surficial geology of the Meekwap Lake area (NTS 83K/NE) (GIS data, line features). The data were created in geodatabase format and output for public distribution in shapefile format. These data comprise the line features of Alberta Geological Survey Map 559, Surficial Geology of the Meekwap Lake Area (NTS 83K/NE).

This GIS dataset depicts the locations of thalwegs (paleo-channels) incised in the bedrock surface of NTS map area 84M (line features). The data are created in ArcGIS and output for public distribution in shapefile formats.