Trans Canada Trail Bridge over McIntyre Creek

The bridge that was built for skidoos and ATV's to cross the creek was built too wide, and now there are cars using the bridge to cross.  The previous pedestrian bridge was damaged by recreational vehicles driving over it, and now that it has been rebuilt to handle recreational vehicles, I am concerned that cars driving over it will  damage it, making it unuseable.

McIntyre Creek Educational Value - Oct 4, 2011

For the second time in two weeks,  a grade 4/5 class from Jack Hullund School was cycling in the area, scouting out where they would return for their Thursday science class.  With so much educational activity and value in the McIntyre Creek wildlife corridor,  it is really important to preserve the area, and stop the proposed road from Whistle Bend across the creek, and the development of Porter Creek D. 

We need more  than assurances from the City that they will  set aside a mere 100 meter belt where construction would not happen.  We need the Territorial Government, who own the land, to protect it and give it Park status where housing developments would not be allowed.

The Yukon College has not received their endowment lands for their educational purposes, and this should also be finalized before there are any discussions about putting either a road or houses in the area.

The City has clearly demonstrated that environmentally sensitive and protected areas as well as green belt areas are not safe from their land grab when they want to build houses.  City Planner Mike Gau was quoted in the Whitehorse Star stating "times change, and so do needs", which puts any green space in Whitehorse in danger.

The Great Miss-Stake - Press Conference September 29, 2011

The Friends of McIntyre Creek held a press conference today at McIntyre Creek to inform press and the politicians running for election where the proposed Porter Creek D development would be place, and how the proposed road from Whistle Bend would run over the McIntyre Creek and damage the surrounding area.

It was well attended by both press and members of the political parties running in the current territorial election.  A local school group cycling through this area during the Press conference, also stated their love of the area, and desire to see it remain undeveloped.

Sept 28, 2011

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“The Great Miss-Stake”

 Before You Vote Consider What Middle McIntyre Creek Could Look Like.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek have staked part of Middle McIntyre Creek to show where housing and roads could be constructed if City of Whitehorse proposals go ahead. Middle McIntyre Creek is the part of the McIntyre Creek watershed between the Alaska Highway and Mountainview Drive.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek’s intent is to help residents better understand where the  proposed Porter Creek D subdivision and roads connecting Whistle Bend to the Alaska Highway would be. The City of Whitehorse intends to consult about the proposed Porter Creek D subdivision, and roads across and parallel to McIntyre Creek, in the near future.

“In my experience people often don’t pay attention to consultations because they don’t fully understand what is being proposed,” said Friends of McIntyre Creek Vice President Gerry Steers. “We want to give people an idea of what Middle McIntyre Creek could end up looking like unless people who care about this area make this into an issue in the territorial election. The land is owned by Yukon government, it would be sold by Yukon government for housing, and the roads would be developed and paid for by Yukon government. People really need to ask their candidates in the territorial election whether a government led by their party would protect McIntyre Creek.”

The Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC) also say that the Yukon College Endowment Lands, which have not been designated and transferred, are a Yukon government issue. FOMC fears that the College Endowment Lands could end up being a nothing but a sliver of land. 

“This is a really important area for education. There are diverse types of habitat, including wetlands and old growth forest here,” said Steers “and it won’t be any good for nature education if it is full of roads and houses – except education about the fact that after a natural area is destroyed it can’t be re-created.”

The Friends of McIntyre Creek are encouraging Whitehorse citizens to have a look at the area that FOMC has staked, and then look at the development in Whistle Bend to get an appreciation for what could occur if Porter Creek D and roads to link Whistle Bend with the Alaska Highway are built – before voting. 

“The City says that the huge clear cuts in Whistle bend were a result of a mistake – well it would be a huge mistake to build any roads and houses in Middle McIntyre Creek at all,” said Steers.

The attached photos are of the construction ongoing in Whistle Bend Phases 1 and 2 (Sept. 23, 2011) and what a new road clearing looks like.

The Friends of McIntyre Creek are working to maintain urban natural habitat and preserve a valued area for future generations of Yukon people. This issue is already being raised at the door with political candidates in the ridings near McIntyre Creek.

The attached map is what the City was last proposing as a development for Porter Creek D in the McIntyre Creek area.
 

Educational Value of McIntyre Creek

When the new school season opened, there were several groups of students found roaming around the McIntyre Creek area.  Some came on bicycles, and others from the Yukon College were able to walk from the College to pursue their studies of biology  and Renewable Resources in the real outdoor world of McIntyre Creek.  It is important for everyone to recognize the value of the area to everyone, and to realize that no development that would encroach on this wild life corridor should be allowed.

This area belongs to all of us for recreation, wildlife, and educational studies, and should be protected.

Photos by Gerry Steers

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup 2011

 The Takhini North Community Association, the Friends of McIntyre Creek, the Yukon Fish and Game Association and the Klondike Snowmobile Association organized a cleanup of McIntyre Creek as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. Volunteers met September 25 to clean up the area around the pump house pond.

Restoration Work September 24, 2011

Photos by Gerry Steers















I have been on a cross Canada trip this past 4 months, and just back in time to witness a restoration project at McIntyre Creek, at the pumphouse near the Yukon College.

A group of biologists and volunteers, with the help of Yukon Fish and Game Association (YFGA) , restored a section of McIntyre Creek next to the Army Pumphouse Pond.

Spruce saplings were harvested from previously distrurbed sites. They were planted on a one-meter grid. Willow live stakes were acquired from donor stock in adjacent areas. Re-bar was first pounded into the ground to make holes. The live stakes were then placed in the holes and tapped until they were well seated. Soil was deposited around each live stake and tamped in. Water was poured around each stake. A pole fence was constructed to the north side of the ford to block vehicle access. The site will be watered in the spring and summer of 2012 and 2013 to enhance potential for success.

The project has a broad range of broad community partners and is being supported through
Environment Canada's Environmental Damages Fund, Yukon College, Environment Yukon, the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee, and Friends of McIntyre Creek.

A number of young volunteers from the Ukraine were volunteer labour on this project. Having personally witnessed the hard, rocky ground they were digging in, I don't doubt they felt they were in some gulag, and would no doubt have many sore, and aching parts after a day of hard labour.

For more photos go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/friends_of_mcintyre_creek/?saved

Spring activities

check out http://yukonbirdobservatories.blogspot.com for days to view the birdbanding operations in McIntyre Creek. There are a great many interesting birds to see while visiting this site.