Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Friday, July 13, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A new study is putting a number on Yellowknife's most valuable green spaces, though not everyone agrees on the order.

The new Ecological Resources Inventory examined and categorized 40 Yellowknife locales to determine which are the most ecologically sensitive ("conservation value") and most under pressure for development ("land use pressure"), developing an overall "conservation value" score.

The report gives Yellowknife regions such as Frame Lake, Negus Point and Fiddler's Lake the highest score (most value) while putting Niven Lake East, the CBC Outcrop and Niven Lake South at the bottom of the list (least value).

The study cites Frame Lake's "geologic and ecological" value as part of the rationale.

The year-long, 200-page study was presented to council during a committee meeting last month, led by operations manager Nick Lawson, of Jacques Whitford Ltd.

He said the scores depend on a number of factors, including geology, wildlife habitat, uniqueness and future plans for development. In more specific categories, Yellowknife Ski Club is listed as having the highest conservation value, while School Draw/Franklin Avenue is under the highest land use pressure.

The sites were drawn from public consultations with a "small and very knowledgeable group of people," Lawson said.

The lists sparked considerable debate during the committee meeting, as nearly every councillor had a take on the rankings.

City Counc. Bob Brooks said the study overlooked an important region - Yellowknife River.

"This is totally contrary to everything I've been dealing with for the last 10-15 years," he said.

"I'm concerned there is not enough interest being paid to help protect the watershed area."

Coun. Kevin Kennedy, meanwhile, called the study a "fascinating report." He said it was a valuable tool with which to plan future development, as it also makes recommendations on how to preserve the regions. In the case of Frame Lake, the study recommended nature preservation zoning "to protect the site's ecological values."

He said this was important to ensure council will "never have another Niven Lake in our city," and nature preserves are maintained.

Recently, councillors took issue with Niven residents cutting down trees along the Niven Lake trail.

During the presentation, Mayor Gord Van Tighem pointed out recent changes to city lands. The Yellowknife Ski Club, for example, is now part of Akaitcho lands.

The Ecological Resource Inventory is available to the public at the City of Yellowknife website.