March 2001

Government of Canada
Parks Canada
National Parks

Wolf Lake (Gooch Aa)

Wolf Lake is located in the southern Yukon, about 200 km east of Whitehorse, near the community of Teslin. The area surrounding Wolf Lake includes rugged mountains along both sides of the Continental Divide north of the Yukon/British Columbia border, and the headwaters of the Liard, Morley and Wolf Rivers. A great variety of vegetation communities occur, in part because of the difference in elevation (up to 2,100 metres). Treeless tundra is common, along with forested lowlands and valleys. Outstanding features in the area include important winter range for the Wolf Lake herd of woodland caribou; the Wolf River, a highly productive habitat for moose and beaver; a rich population of large predators, fish and birds; and remnant populations of mountain goats and Stone's sheep. The historical stability of the Wolf Lake predator-prey ecosystem, particularly wolves and caribou, is of great scientific interest.

In early 1998, Parks Canada held initial discussions with the Teslin Tlingit Council and the Teslin Renewable Resources Council concerning a possible feasibility study for a new national park in the area. In December 1998, the Yukon Government released its Protected Areas Strategy, which identified the Wolf Lake (Gooch Aa) area as one of three priority areas for protected areas planning in the Yukon (also see articles on the CPAWS Yukon Chapter and the Yukon Protected Areas Strategy).

Discussions and consultations are ongoing in Teslin to determine if there is local support for a park feasibility study, to be undertaken by a variety of partners and led by Parks Canada. In September 1999, four residents of Teslin visited Haines Junction to learn more about Kluane National Park and Park Reserve of Canada and the relationship between that National Park/Reserve and the community. A public open house, held in early 2000, learned more about Vuntut National Park of Canada and how the people of Old Crow benefit from the Park; several residents of Old Crow made presentations in Teslin.

At the request of the Teslin Renewable Resources Council, the Yukon Bureau of Statistics undertook a comprehensive community survey to investigate local attitudes and values toward renewable resource management issues and protected areas; the results of which were jointly released in May 2000.

The survey concluded that parks will generate both strong support and opposition. The concept of a park is seen as quite close to the core values of the community. However, some residents feel that a park is not consistent with traditional activities. Many respondents stated that they would like more information on the establishment and management of a park.

If the Teslin Tlingit Council, the Teslin Renewable Resources Council and the Yukon Government agree, the park feasibility study could begin in 2001.

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