March 2005

Government of Yukon
Department of the Environment

Tatshenshini River

The Yukon portion of the Tatshenshini River was designated a Canadian Heritage River in September 2004. It was nominated in June 1998 as one of the requirements under the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Final Agreement . The preparation of a Tatshenshini management strategy began in 1999, with extensive consultations focusing on three main issues: recreational use, size of the management area, and access routes.

Located in one of the wildest areas in the world, the Tatshenshini is known for its wilderness, wildlife and salmon. It provides significant recreational opportunities in a pristine and scenic mountainous setting. Its establishment as a Canadian Heritage River complements the existing network of protected areas consisting of Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park that, together, form the adjacent World Heritage Site as designated under UNESCO.

The management strategy focuses on monitoring visitor activities along the river corridor to ensure that the recreational, cultural and natural values remain intact. The management area includes the upstream portion of the watershed and is approximately 1,400 km 2 in size.

The designation of the Tatshenshini as a Canadian Heritage River does not affect existing legislation, regulations or policies related to land or resource uses. Existing and proposed uses of the watershed will continue to be permitted within these existing legislative frameworks. Yukon, Parks Canada, BC Parks, and the US National Park Services will jointly manage the Tatshenshini in accordance with their own mandates and respective areas of responsibilities.

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