NWT Protected Area Strategy

Sambaa K’e (Trout Lake)

Last updated: November 2008

The Sambaa K’e (salm-bah-k) candidate protected area is approximately 10,600 km² and is situated in the south-central Dehcho region.

Sambaa K’e is a rich and diverse landscape of cultural and ecological value which has taken care of the Sambaa K’e people for generations. Of critical importance is the Trout Lake watershed, much of which lies within the Sambaa K’e Candidate Protected Area.
The Sambaa K’e people maintain a very traditional lifestyle, relying on the land for basic necessities and to keep their culture strong.
The area is rich in wildlife and fish and is important for subsistence harvesting. Moose, wolverine, many species of waterfowl, and some species at risk including boreal woodland caribou and rusty blackbirds are found throughout the Sambaa K’e area .

The Canadian Wildlife Service has sponsored Sambaa K’e area as a Candidate Protected Area. The agency will be seeking permanent protection for the area under the Canada Wildlife Act.
Most of the Sambaa K’e Candidate Protected Area is currently protected through the Dehcho Interim Measures Agreement, which expires in October 2010.
Sambaa K’e is in Step 5 of the PAS process. A working group has been established, and documentation of the area's values is mostly complete.

The Sambaa K’e Working Group will continue to bring together interested parties to assess the area's values.
The working group is discussing options for final designation, boundaries and management of the area. The group will prepare a recommendations report to be presented to communities and other stakeholders.
After a public review, the working group will incorporate recommendations into a Recommendations Report.

2008 - Sambaa K’e | Hydrocarbon Assessment Summary Report (link)
2007 - Sambaa K’e | Non-Renewable Resource Assessment Phase 1 - Petroleum (link)
2007 - Sambaa K’e | Hydrocarbon Potential Summary Report (pdf)
2006 - Sambaa K'e | Ecological Assessment Phase 1 (pdf)