Vancouver Lamprey: action plan (proposed)

Official title: Action Plan for the Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) in Canada (Proposed)

This document lays out the detailed steps we can take to help the Vancouver Lamprey population in Canada. It also shows critical habitat for the species.

Action Plan for the Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) in Canada
Proposed
2018
Vancouver Lamprey

Recommended citation:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2018. Action Plan for the Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. iv + 36 pp.

For copies of the Action Plan, or for additional information on species at risk, including Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, residence descriptions, recovery strategies, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Cover illustration: Adult Vancouver Lamprey. Photo credit: Joy Wade.

Également disponible en français sous le titre
«Plan d'action pour la lamproie de Vancouver (Lampetra macrostoma) au Canada [proposition]»

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, 2018. All rights reserved.
ISBN ISBN to come
Catalogue no. Catalogue no. to come

Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of action plans for species listed as extirpated, endangered, or threatened for which recovery has been deemed feasible. They are also required to report on progress five years after the publication of the final document on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is the competent minister under SARA for the Vancouver Lamprey^{Footnote 1}  and has prepared this Action Plan to implement the Recovery Strategy, as per Section 47 of SARA. In preparing this Action Plan, the competent minister has considered, as per Section 38 of SARA, the commitment of the Government of Canada to conserving biological diversity and to the principle that, if there are threats of serious or irreversible damage to the listed species, cost-effective measures to prevent the reduction or loss of the species should not be postponed for a lack of full scientific certainty. To the extent possible, this Action Plan has been prepared in cooperation with environmental non-government organizations, industry and species experts as detailed in Appendix B, First Nations (Cowichan Tribes), and the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment as per section 48(1) of SARA.

As stated in the preamble to SARA, success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and actions set out in this Action Plan and will not be achieved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada or any other jurisdiction alone. The cost of conserving species at risk is shared amongst different constituencies. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this Action Plan for the benefit of the Vancouver Lamprey and Canadian society as a whole.

Under SARA, an action plan provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in the recovery strategy for the species. The plan outlines recovery measures to be taken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other jurisdictions and/or organizations to help achieve the population and distribution objectives identified in the recovery strategy. Implementation of this Action Plan is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

Acknowledgements

This Action Plan was prepared by Alyssa Gerick (Fisheries and Oceans Canada; DFO), with contributions from Sean MacConnachie (DFO), and Joy Wade (Fundy Aqua Services). Participants of the Action Planning Workshop (Appendix B) contributed valuable information and ideas toward the development of this Action Plan.

Executive summary

The Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) was listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. This Action Plan is considered one in a series of documents that are linked and should be taken into consideration together, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Report (COSEWIC 2008), the Recovery Potential Assessment Research Document (Harvey 2015), and the Recovery Strategy for the Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) in Canada (VLRT 2007).

The Vancouver Lamprey is a freshwater fish endemic to the Cowichan valley watershed in southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. It is a scaleless, eel-like, jawless fish with a circular-shaped mouth, distinguished from similar species through variations in tooth patterns (COSEWIC 2008).

This Action Plan outlines measures that provide the best chance of achieving the population and distribution objectives for the species, including the measures to be taken to address the threats and monitor the recovery of the species. The population and distribution objectives for the Vancouver Lamprey (previously referred to as recovery goals and objectives) identified in the Recovery Strategy are as follows:

Recovery goal

The recovery goal for Vancouver lamprey is to ensure its long-term viability within its natural range. It is likely that this species will always remain at some risk due to its extremely limited distribution.

Recovery objectives^{Footnote 2} 

1. Maintain a self-sustaining population of Vancouver lamprey within Cowichan^{Footnote 3}  and Mesachie^{Footnote 4}  lakes that is resilient to short-term habitat perturbations
2. Maintain, and where possible enhance, the ecological integrity of habitat for Vancouver lamprey
3. Increase scientific understanding of Vancouver lamprey through additional investigation of its taxonomic status, natural history, critical habitat and threats to the species’ persistence
4. Foster awareness of Vancouver lamprey and its conservation status, and encourage active local involvement in stewardship and habitat protection

Section 1.2 outlines the measures to be taken under the following strategies, per the species’ Recovery Strategy (VLRT 2007):

1. establish and support a Recovery Implementation Group (RIG) or alternative working group for Vancouver lamprey
2. address information gaps that inhibit conservation of Vancouver lamprey
3. clarify and address threats to Vancouver lamprey
4. conduct studies to help define critical habitat for Vancouver lamprey
5. develop and implement a long-term monitoring program
6. establish water quality and water use objectives for Cowichan and Mesachie lakes
7. develop a comprehensive water management plan for each basin
8. inform and educate stakeholders and the general public about the species and general biodiversity values
9. work with local governments, land developers, and others to improve and encourage watershed stewardship
10. develop sound protocols for scientific investigations (e.g., limit number of fish collected each year, etc.)

Section 33 of SARA prohibits the damage or destruction of a species’ residence. A detailed description of Vancouver Lamprey’s residence is provided in Section 2 of this Action Plan and is also available on the Species at Risk Public Registry.^{Footnote 5} 

For the Vancouver Lamprey, critical habitat is identified to the extent possible, using the best available information, and provides the functions and features necessary to support the species’ life‑cycle processes and to achieve the species’ population and distribution objectives. This Action Plan identifies critical habitat for Vancouver Lamprey as (Section 3.1):

1. Cowichan, Bear, and Mesachie lakes
2. Mesachie Creek (flowing between Bear and Mesachie lakes)
3. eight tributaries flowing into Cowichan Lake (Meade’s Creek north; two unnamed streams in the “Old Motel” area; Miracle, Sutton, Shaw, and Nixon creeks; Robertson River) from their deltas to 100 m upstream
4. Halfway Creek (flowing into Mesachie Lake), from its delta to 100 m upstream
5. riparian areas of 15 – 30 m width^{Footnote 6}  extending inland from the high water mark of streams described in b), c) and d), and portions of Cowichan Lake in the Hawes Bay and “Old Motel” areas

It is anticipated that the protection of the species’ critical habitat from destruction will be accomplished through a SARA Critical Habitat Order made under subsections 58(4) and (5), which will invoke the prohibition in subsection 58(1) against the destruction of the identified critical habitat (Section 3.3).

An evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the Action Plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation is provided in Section 4.

1. Recovery actions

1.1 Context and scope of the action plan

The Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) was listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. This Action Plan is part of a series of documents regarding the Vancouver Lamprey, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada COSEWIC (COSEWIC 2008) Status Report,^{Footnote 7}  the Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) Research Document (Harvey 2015),^{Footnote 8}  and the Recovery Strategy for the Vancouver Lamprey (Lampetra macrostoma) in Canada (VLRT 2007)^{Footnote 9}  that should be taken into consideration together. Under SARA, an action plan provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in a recovery strategy for the species. A recovery strategy also provides background information on the species and its threats and critical habitat information.

The Vancouver Lamprey is a parasitic fish that is eel-like in appearance: it is scaleless and jawless, with a circular-shaped mouth, distinguished from similar species through variations in tooth patterns (COSEWIC 2008). It is endemic to the Cowichan valley watershed in southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Specifically, its distribution includes: Cowichan, Bear, and Mesachie Lakes, Mesachie Creek, and the lower reaches of streams flowing into the occupied lakes (Figure 1).

Robust abundance estimates do not exist for Vancouver Lamprey; however, MacConnachie and Wade (2016) summarize sampling studies from the 1980’s to 2015 that suggest a potential decline. Further research, particularly into the relationship between prey availability and lamprey abundance, is required to confirm abundance estimates and trends.

Anthropogenic threats identified in the Recovery Strategy include: water and land use impacting habitats; recreation impacting habitats or individuals; degradation of water quality;^{Footnote 10}  alteration of prey base; and, climate change.^{Footnote 11} 

Figure 1. Distribution of Vancouver Lamprey

The Recovery Strategy defined population and distribution objectives (previously referred to as recovery goals and objectives) for the Vancouver Lamprey as follows:

Recovery goal

The recovery goal for Vancouver Lamprey is to ensure its long-term viability within its natural range. It is likely that this species will always remain at some risk due to its extremely limited distribution.

Recovery objectives^{Footnote 12} 

1. Maintain a self-sustaining population of Vancouver Lamprey within Cowichan^{Footnote 13}  and Mesachie ^{Footnote 14}  lakes that is resilient to short-term habitat perturbations
2. Maintain, and where possible enhance, the ecological integrity of habitat for Vancouver Lamprey
3. Increase scientific understanding of Vancouver Lamprey through additional investigation of its taxonomic status, natural history, critical habitat and threats to the species’ persistence
4. Foster awareness of Vancouver Lamprey and its conservation status, and encourage active local involvement in stewardship and habitat protection

Under Section 47 of SARA, the competent minister must prepare one or more action plans based on the recovery strategy. Therefore, action planning for species at risk recovery is an iterative process. The Implementation Schedule in this Action Plan may be modified in the future depending on the progression towards recovery.

1.2 Measures to be taken and implementation schedule

Success in the recovery of this species is dependent on the actions of many different jurisdictions; it requires the commitment and cooperation of the constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and measures set out in this Action Plan.

This Action Plan provides a description of the measures that provide the best chance of achieving the population and distribution objectives for Vancouver Lamprey, including measures to be taken to address threats to the species and monitor its recovery, to guide not only activities to be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, but those for which other jurisdictions, organizations and individuals have a role to play. As new information becomes available, these measures and the priority of these measures may change. Fisheries and Oceans Canada strongly encourages all Canadians to participate in the conservation of the Vancouver Lamprey through undertaking measures outlined in this Action Plan.

Table 1 identifies the measures to be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support the recovery of the Vancouver Lamprey. First Nations and Indigenous organizations have identified interest in supporting DFO, as appropriate, with Table 1 activities.

Table 2 identifies the measures to be undertaken collaboratively between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and its partners, other agencies, organizations or individuals. Implementation of these measures will be dependent on a collaborative approach, in which Fisheries and Oceans Canada is a partner in recovery efforts, but cannot implement the measures alone. As all Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this Action Plan, Table 3 identifies the remaining measures that represent opportunities for other jurisdictions, organizations or individuals to lead for the recovery of the species. If your organization is interested in participating in one of these measures, please contact the Species at Risk Pacific Region office at sara@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Implementation of this Action Plan is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

2. Residence

Section 33 of SARA prohibits the damage or destruction of a species’ residence. SARA defines a residence as “…a dwelling place, such as a den, nest or other similar area or place that is occupied or habitually occupied by one or more individuals during all or part of their life cycles, including breeding, rearing, staging, wintering, feeding or hibernating;” [s. 2(1)]. The following (the residence statement) is a description of a residence for Vancouver Lamprey.

2.1 Location of the species’ residence

Vancouver Lamprey construct nests in or near tributary deltas of streams flowing into either Cowichan or Mesachie lakes, or in Cowichan, Bear, or Mesachie lakes themselves. A biophysical description of nest site attributes is found in the first row of Table 5. Specific nesting or spawning locations have not been identified in Cowichan Lake, although one location has been identified in Mesachie Lake near the delta of Halfway Creek (Beamish and Wade 2008). The presence of extremely small ammocoetes^{Footnote 22}  in tributary deltas in Cowichan Lake suggests spawning or nesting locations are in very close proximity.

2.2 Structure, form and investment

Both sexes participate in building a nest before depositing and fertilizing eggs. Vancouver Lamprey construct nests by excavating a small depression by vibrating their bodies and carrying individual pebbles short distances using their oral disc.

2.3 Occupancy and life-cycle function

Adults die following spawning, and fertilized eggs remain in the nest until they hatch. The nests that Vancouver Lamprey construct are therefore considered residences under SARA while they are supporting the essential life-cycle processes of spawning (from mid-May to late August with a peak in mid-June) and subsequent egg incubation.

3. Critical habitat

3.1 Identification of the species’ critical habitat

3.1.1 General description of the species’ critical habitat

Critical habitat is defined in SARA as “… the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in a recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species.” [s. 2(1)]

Also, SARA defines habitat for aquatic species as “… spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply, migration and any other areas on which aquatic species depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes, or areas where aquatic species formerly occurred and have the potential to be reintroduced.” [s. 2(1)]

For the Vancouver Lamprey, critical habitat is identified to the extent possible, using the best available information, and provides the functions and features necessary to support the species’ life-cycle processes and to achieve the species’ population and distribution objectives.

This Action Plan identifies critical habitat for Vancouver Lamprey as: Cowichan, Bear, and Mesachie lakes; Mesachie Creek (flowing between Bear and Mesachie lakes); the lower 100 m of eight tributaries flowing into Cowichan Lake; the lower 100 m of Halfway Creek flowing into Mesachie Lake; and, riparian widths of 15 – 30 m extending inland from aforementioned streams and two specific areas of Cowichan Lake.

The critical habitat identified in this Action Plan is sufficient to achieve the species’ population and distribution objectives. Remaining information gaps with respect to the extent of tributary habitat usage, the role of lacustrine riparian habitats in lamprey life processes, and specific parameters of existing critical habitat attributes are addressed by recovery measures 2, 7 and 8 respectively. Completion of these recovery measures may result in identification of additional areas or further refinement of critical habitat in the future.

3.1.2 Information and methods used to identify critical habitat

Critical habitat identification for Vancouver Lamprey has been informed by the publicly available research document Information in support of the identification of critical habitat for the Cowichan (Vancouver) Lamprey (Entosphenus macrostomus) (MacConnachie and Wade 2016) and Review of the information to support the identification of critical habitat for the Cowichan (Vancouver) Lamprey (MacConnachie and Wade in prep.), both of which reflect the outcomes of a related peer review process undertaken through DFO’s Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. In order to define the width of riparian components of critical habitat the Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR; B.C. Reg. 376/2004) methods were applied to a sub-set of in-flowing streams and two lacustrine areas where extremely small ammocoetes were found (inferring either spawning locations, or close proximity to spawning locations). Riparian critical habitat areas resulting from the RAR analysis range in width, depending on site characteristics.

Critical Habitat was identified based on best available science and includes tributary deltas and surrounding nearshore lake habitat, stream habitat, pelagic lake habitat, and riparian habitat features (Table 5). Critical habitat for Vancouver Lamprey has been identified using the bounding box approach, which is described in more detail below.

3.1.3 Identification of critical habitat

Geographic information

For the Vancouver Lamprey, critical habitat (Figures 2 through 12) is identified as:

1. Cowichan, Bear, and Mesachie lakes
2. Mesachie Creek (flowing between Bear and Mesachie lakes) 
3. eight tributaries flowing into Cowichan Lake (Meade’s Creek north; two unnamed streams in the “Old Motel” area; Miracle, Sutton, Shaw, and Nixon creeks; Robertson River) from their deltas to 100 m upstream
4. Halfway Creek (flowing into Mesachie Lake), from its delta to 100 m upstream
5. riparian areas of 15 – 30 m width^{Footnote 23}  extending inland from the high water mark of streams^{Footnote 24}  described in b), c) and d), and portions of Cowichan Lake^{Footnote 25}  in the Hawes Bay and Old Motel areas

Figure 2. Geographic extent of aquatic critical habitat for Vancouver Lamprey (for riparian components of critical habitat refer to Appendix C)

The location(s) of the critical habitat’s functions, features and attributes have been identified using the Bounding Box approach. This means that the critical habitat is not comprised of the entire area within the identified boundaries but only those areas within the identified geographical boundaries where the described biophysical feature and the function it supports occur, as described in Table 5.

Table 4. Geographic coordinates associated with Figure 2, and approximate total area of aquatic critical habitat for Vancouver Lamprey

Approximate total area within which aquatic critical habitat is found: 613 ha

Biophysical functions, features and attributes

Table 5 summarizes the best available knowledge of the functions, features and attributes for each life stage and for each geographic location of the Vancouver Lamprey (refer to Section 4.3 of the Recovery Strategy on ‘Needs of the Species’ for full references). Note that not all attributes in Table 5 must be present in order for a feature to be identified as critical habitat. If the features as described in Table 5 are present and capable of supporting the associated function(s), the feature is considered critical habitat for the species, even though some of the associated attributes might be outside of the range indicated in the table.

The following anthropogenic features are excluded from the critical habitat: any human-made infrastructure (e.g. buildings, docks, marinas, the weir between Cowichan River and Cowichan Lake).

Summary of critical habitat relative to population and distribution objectives

These are areas that, based on current best available information, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans considers necessary to achieve the species’ population and distribution objectives required for the survival of the species. Additional critical habitat may be identified in future updates to the Action Plan.

3.2 Examples of activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat

The following examples of activities likely to result in the destruction^{Footnote 29} of critical habitat (Table 6) are based on known human activities that are likely to occur in and around critical habitat and would result in the destruction of critical habitat if unmitigated. The list of activities is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and has been guided by the threats described in Section 5 of the Recovery Strategy. The absence of a specific human activity does not preclude or restrict the Department’s ability to regulate that activity under the SARA. Furthermore, the inclusion of an activity does not result in its automatic prohibition, and does not mean the activity will inevitably result in destruction of critical habitat. Every proposed activity must be assessed on a case-by-case basis and site-specific mitigation will be applied where it is reliable and available. Where information is available, thresholds and limits have been developed for critical habitat attributes to better inform management and regulatory decision making. However, in many cases knowledge of a species and its critical habitat’s thresholds of tolerance to disturbance from human activities is lacking and must be acquired.

3.3 Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

Under SARA, critical habitat must be legally protected from destruction within 180 days of being identified in a recovery strategy or action plan. For the Vancouver Lamprey’s critical habitat, it is anticipated that this will be accomplished through a SARA Critical Habitat Order made under subsections 58(4) and (5), which will invoke the prohibition in subsection 58(1) against the destruction of the identified critical habitat.

4. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits

The Species at Risk Act requires that an action plan include an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation (SARA 49(1)(e), 2003). This evaluation addresses only the incremental socio-economic costs of implementing this Action Plan from a national perspective as well as the social and environmental benefits that would occur if the Action Plan were implemented in its entirety, recognizing that organizations or agents other than the federal government may be better placed for implementation of certain aspects of the plan. It does not address cumulative costs of species recovery in general nor does it attempt a cost-benefit analysis. The intent of this evaluation is to inform the public and to guide decision making on implementation of the Action Plan by partners.

The protection and recovery of species at risk can result in both benefits and costs. The Act recognizes that “wildlife, in all its forms, has value in and of itself and is valued by Canadians for aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, educational, historical, economic, medical, ecological and scientific reasons” (SARA 2003). Self-sustaining and healthy ecosystems with their various elements in place, including species at risk, contribute positively to the livelihoods and the quality of life of all Canadians. A review of the literature confirms that Canadians value the preservation and conservation of species in and of themselves. Actions taken to preserve a species, such as habitat protection and restoration, are also valued. In addition, the more an action contributes to the recovery of a species, the higher the value the public places on such actions (Loomis and White, 1996; DFO., 2008). Furthermore, the conservation of species at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada’s commitment to conserving biological diversity under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The Government of Canada has also made a commitment to protect and recover species at risk through the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk.  The specific costs and benefits associated with this Action Plan are described below.

4.1 Benefits of implementing this action plan

The impacts on Vancouver Lamprey of the recovery measures in this plan are unknown but likely positive. As indicated above, Canadians value species for a number of reasons, including non-market benefits (i.e. existence, bequest and option values)^{Footnote 30} . Activities that positively affect the recovery of species with non-market benefits may result in positive benefits to Canadians. 

The recovery measures for Vancouver Lamprey may also provide broader benefits to other species. For example, monitoring and research activities may provide information on other species or habitat conditions that would be useful in their management. As well, the evaluation of land and water management options in Vancouver Lamprey habitat may provide benefits to other species that also depend on those habitats, while best practices for land development may provide benefits to both Vancouver Lamprey and its prey species, such as salmonids.

4.2 Socio-economic costs of implementing this action plan

The Implementation Schedule separates recovery measures into three tables. Table 1 includes measures to be undertaken by DFO with the full costs borne by the Government of Canada.  Table 2 includes measures to be undertaken collaboratively between DFO and partners; the costs of these measures would be borne jointly by government and partners. The measures in Table 3 provide opportunities for other jurisdictions, organizations and individuals to support the recovery of Vancouver Lamprey; these costs would be borne primarily by parties other than the Government of Canada. Government costs would come from existing allocations.

The majority of the measures in the Plan are research activities, focused on gathering information on habitats and prey species. These are very low cost activities that are primarily scheduled to be conducted in the short-term (i.e. first five years). The measures to develop a monitoring plan and implement the plan are very low cost measures to be conducted in the medium- (6 to 10 years) and long-term (10+ years). The development of guidelines and strategies around allowable harm, land and water management options and best management practices for land development are very low cost measures, which would occur principally in the short-term, but also in the medium-term. The costs associated with the stewardship and education measures in Table 3 are unknown, but likely very low cost based on similar actions for other species. These measures are anticipated for the duration of the Action Plan, and most costs would likely be borne by parties other than Government of Canada.

The direct annual costs of all the measures in the Action Plan are likely very low (i.e. less than $50,000/year), with some additional in-kind costs likely for partners, organizations and individuals for measures in Tables 2 and 3. Indirect costs are not anticipated. The costs will be distributed across the short-, medium- and long-term.

5. Measuring progress

The performance measures presented in the associated Recovery Strategy provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives.

Reporting on implementation of the Action Plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the strategies identified in the Recovery Strategy.

Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the Action Plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing the results of monitoring the recovery of the species and its long term viability, and by assessing the implementation of the Action Plan.

Appendix A: Effects on the environment and other species

In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2010), SARA recovery planning documents incorporate strategic environmental assessment (SEA) considerations throughout the document. The purpose of a SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making and to evaluate whether the outcomes of a recovery planning document could affect any component of the environment or achievement of any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that strategies may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process based on national guidelines directly incorporates consideration of all environmental effects, with a particular focus on possible impacts upon non-target species or habitats. The results of the SEA are incorporated directly into the Action Plan itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

By promoting the recovery of the Vancouver Lamprey in the wild this Action Plan will benefit the environment, thereby contributing to FSDS Theme III (Protecting Nature and Canadians), Goal 4 (Conservation and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat, and Protecting Canadians). Specifically, it will help to attain the following associated target: to have populations of federally listed species at risk exhibit trends that are consistent with the objectives of recovery strategies and management plans.

The actions identified in this Plan address threats such as: water and land use impacting habitats; recreation impacting habitats or individuals; and, alteration of prey base. By addressing these threats, the actions will contribute to the overall ecosystem health, which may provide benefits to other species, such as Coho Salmon, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, and Dolly Varden, as well as ecological services to Canadians living in the area.

Vancouver Lamprey co-exist with other fish species found in the Cowichan watershed, such as salmonids. Ammocoetes filter feed on detritus and suspended organic matter, while juveniles and adults parasitize salmonids (COSEWIC 2008). Though some mortality of the host fish occurs, scarring suggests that the Vancouver Lamprey mostly feed without killing the host (Beamish 1982 in COSEWIC 2008). Additionally, the species appears to have historically coexisted with a healthy population of salmonids in Cowichan and Mesachie Lakes (NatureServe 2006 in COSEWIC 2008). Though predation on Vancouver Lamprey is not highly reported, eggs are likely preyed upon by other fishes, and more mature stages are likely preyed upon by birds and mink (Scott and Crossman 1973, Close et al. 2002, Cochran et al. 1992, and Beamish 1980 in COSEWIC 2008). Significant adverse effects on other species are not anticipated as the result of the implementation of this Action Plan.

Given the considerations outlined above, the benefits of this Action Plan to the environment and other species are expected to outweigh any adverse effects that may occur.

Appendix B: Record of cooperation and consultation

Action plans are to be prepared in cooperation and consultation with other jurisdictions, organizations, affected parties and others as outlined in SARA section 48. DFO hosted an action planning workshop in the Town of Lake Cowichan, British Columbia the afternoon of September 19, 2016 to seek input on the development of this Action Plan. Information on participation is included below.

Organizations represented

1. British Columbia Conservation Foundation
2. British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment
3. Cowichan Lake and River Stewardship Society
4. Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable
5. Cowichan Tribes
6. Cowichan Valley Regional District
7. Fisheries and Oceans Canada
8. Fundy Aqua Services
9. Q’ul-lhanumutsun Aquatic Resources Society
10. TimberWest

Workshop participants identified knowledge gaps and provided input on potential recovery measures addressing key threats. Discussions focused on the importance of: proponents, water managers, and landowners taking specific habitat requirements into consideration during the planning and conduct of their activities; reducing stigma (associated with parasitism and false associations with invasive lamprey) and communicating the Threatened status of the species; and, the general need for further research to inform knowledge gaps.   

DFO also hosted a community open-house the same evening and in the same location as the workshop, to share information and seek input from those potentially affected by, or interested in, the Action Plan. Attendees were predominantly positive about Vancouver Lamprey recovery, and participated in discussions about SARA and species biology, threats, and recovery.

Additional stakeholder, Aboriginal, and public input will be sought through the publication of the proposed document on the Species at Risk Public Registry for a 60-day public comment period.

All feedback received will be considered in the finalization of the Action Plan.

Appendix C: Riparian critical habitat maps

The following maps represent widths of riparian critical habitat associated with particular areas identified as aquatic critical habitat; they should be taken into consideration along with the content of Section 3 of this Action Plan. Riparian critical habitat widths extend inland from the high water mark of identified water bodies.

Refer to Section 3.1.3 for a description of anthropogenic features excluded from critical habitat.

Table 7. Geographic coordinates associated with Figures 3 through 13, and approximate total area of riparian critical habitat for Vancouver Lamprey

Approximate total area within which riparian critical habitat is found: 15 ha

Figure 3. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Halfway Creek

Figure 4. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Hawes Bay

Figure 5. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Meade’s Creek North

Figure 6. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with the western portion of Mesachie Creek

Figure 7. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with the eastern portion of Mesachie Creek

Figure 8. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Miracle Creek

Figure 9. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Nixon Creek

Figure 10. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with the Old Motel Area

Figure 11. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Robertson River

Figure 12. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Shaw Creek

Figure 13. Geographic extent of riparian critical habitat associated with Sutton Creek

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