In 2005, the work of the Peel River Watershed Planning Commission commenced. Representatives from communities that have interest in the Peel Plateau including the Tetlit Gwichin First Nation (TGFN) in the Northwest Territories, Nacho Nyak Dun First Nation (NNDFN) in Mayo, Tr¿ondek Hwech¿in in Dawson, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN) in Old Crow, and YTG are involved in this process. In 2002 and 2004, the Yukon Government opened petroleum dispositions in the Peel Plateau region where a large complex of wetlands rich with wildlife and flora, known as the Turner Lakes is located. Turner Lakes was designated as an important wetland area by the Yukon Wetlands Technical Working Group. Little development has occurred on the Peel and the desire to develop land-use objectives by the planning commission before interest from outside land-users escalates, is paramount In 2002, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), in partnership with other agencies, completed an earthcover mapping project of a four million hectare area of the Peel River watershed (Ducks Unlimited Inc. 2003). The detailed land cover mapping products will be used to help assist the land-use planning process for the Peel Plateau region.
