Terry Kruger
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 08/00) - From the southwest city boundary to Burwash Point on the east shore of Yellowknife Bay, the city has 23 kilometres of waterfront.

How to best use that space is the focus of the city's waterfront management plan.

To simplify the process, the plan breaks the waterfront down into seven zones, which the city calls "littorals." Each zone has a specific set of project and policy proposals.

Negus Point/Tin Can Hill

This area has been identified for a variety of uses and protection, from trails to a boat launch, viewpoint and campsite.

It's also being recommended that no further private development be allowed in this area.

- Negotiate an agreement to use the boat launch on Miramar Con mine property.

- Develop high rock view point and trail.

- Build a wilderness and heritage park for both summer and winter use, including overnight parking.

School Draw/Woodyard

A mix of residential development and wetlands, this one kilometre of waterfront has been identified for the development of community docks, parks and preservation of wetlands.

- Design and construct a waterfront park in the School Draw/Dettah ice road area, that could provide beach-like access, open space for kite flying and a dock for small water craft, such as canoes and kayaks.

- Community/neighbourhood docks at the ends of 44th Street, 45th Street, 47th Street, and 48th Street at Pumphouse #1. These docks could be rented to boat owners in the neighbourhood.

- Complete the Woodyard Waterfront Park Study with linkages to the city-wide trail system and public access to the shoreline in the form of a dock for small water craft.

Old Town/Joliffe Island

This is one of the most complex and diverse areas of the waterfront, with uses ranging from light industrial to wetlands.

- Improve public access to shoreline by acquiring land, entering into public/private joint-use agreements and by "providing access points where people can see, feel and hear the waterfront activity."

- Provide community dock facilities for the houseboat community and users of Joliffe Island.

- Control development along the shoreline, Joliffe and other islands, and on Yellowknife Bay so that "the present uses and ambience ... is preserved."

- Reach agreements with federal and territorial agencies that give the city control of public land along the shoreline including the lake bed within a specified distance of the ordinary high water mark.

Ndilo

The city has no jurisdiction over this land, occupied by the Yellowknife Dene First Nation.

Old Town/Back Bay

Much of this area is fully developed, with private docks, commercial uses and residential areas, but there are still possibilities for further development.

- Enhance access by developing viewpoints and small waterfront parks on land controlled by the city.

- Establish community dock facilities in the areas adjacent to Latham Island and Back Bay wetlands.

- Lease areas that cannot sustain park or commercial development to adjacent property owners.

Back Bay/Giant mine

Most of this area is "well preserved, pristine natural shoreline with high rock outcrops and several accessible rocky beaches."

- Enhance public access with a waterfront park, trails, boat launch and viewpoints.

- Development of the Giant mine property will be determined by further study to assess the need for reclamation, remediation, fish habitat preservation and other issues.

Yellowknife River East Shore

There are only a few points where vehicles can access the shoreline, one being the territorial park and boat launch. The plan suggests that preserving the area in its natural state should be the present goal.

- Prohibit development until there is pressure, at which time further study will be undertaken.

- Land along the shoreline should not be leased and subdivided.

- Develop Burwash Point -- site of the old Burwash mine -- as a heritage waterfront park.