Lake Chubsucker

Species information

This chapter provides a review of progress towards the protection and recovery of Lake Chubsucker in Ontario from 2007 to 2017.

Lake Chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta) is a small, robust fish belonging to the sucker family. Adults measure less than 254 millimetres in length and have a wide head, blunt snout, and deep olive to greenish-bronze back and sides. In Canada, it is only found in southwestern Ontario, where it occupies coastal wetlands in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair (for example, Long Point, Rondeau and Point Pelee), Lyons Creek (Niagara River), and the Old Ausable Channel and L Lake (Lake Huron). Lake Chubsucker is a warmwater species, with a preferred temperature range of 28 to 34 degrees Celsius. It prefers clear, well-vegetated coastal wetlands, bays, channels and ponds with slow-moving or still waters. Substrates are clay, silt and sand mixed with organic debris. The diet of this omnivorous bottom feeder includes small crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic insects, filamentous algae, and plant material.

The species faces several threats to its survival and recovery, including habitat loss due to the draining of wetlands, increased turbidity and siltation, and nutrient loading caused by agricultural practices. Invasive species such as European Common Reed (Phragmites australis australis) and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) degrade the habitat of Lake Chubsucker. European Common Reed grows in dense stands which crowd out native plant species and alter the vegetation composition of the habitat. The Common Carp has a feeding behaviour of uprooting aquatic vegetation which elevates turbidity levels. Other threats to Lake Chubsucker include altered water flow, climate change, incidental harvest, changes to trophic dynamics, and barriers to movement.

Lake Chubsucker is listed as threatened at the provincial level (Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List) and endangered at the federal level (Schedule 1 under the Species at Risk Act). Globally, it is considered to be secure (NatureServe Explorer).

Provincial status

Prior to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA or “the Act”) the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) assessed Lake Chubsucker as threatened. It was listed on the SARO List as threatened in 2000, but was not regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act. The species retained its threatened status when the ESA came into force in 2008. COSSARO reassessed Lake Chubsucker in 2009 and reconfirmed its status as threatened. Lake Chubsucker continues to be listed as threatened under the ESA. In future assessments, COSSARO may consider information gained through protection and recovery actions regarding the species’ threats and trends in population and distribution.

Species and habitat protection

Protecting Lake Chubsucker and its habitat are key components in the implementation of the ESA and continue to be government-led actions, as identified in the government response statement (GRS). As a threatened species, Lake Chubsucker has been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken under the ESA since it came into force in 2008. The species’ habitat has been protected from being damaged or destroyed since June 30, 2013, based on the general habitat definition in the ESA. The ESA does not require a habitat regulation to be developed for transition^{footnote 1[1]} species such as Lake Chubsucker.

Any person who negatively impacts Lake Chubsucker or its habitat without prior authorization may be prosecuted under the ESA.

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy for Lake Chubsucker was published on June 15, 2012, which was in advance of the date required by the ESA. Recovery strategies are advice to government and represent the best available scientific knowledge. The strategy identifies the habitat needs of the species and the threats that it faces, while recommending objectives and approaches for its protection and recovery. The recovery strategy also includes recommendations on the areas of habitat to be considered in the development of a habitat regulation.

Government response statement

The government published the GRS for Lake Chubsucker on May 31, 2013. The GRS is the Government of Ontario’s species-specific policy on what is needed to protect and recover a given species, and includes the associated recovery goal.

To help achieve this goal, the government leads, supports and prioritizes recovery actions identified in the GRS. Common actions for the government to lead as it works towards achieving a species’ recovery goal are provided in section 2.5 of the Species at Risk Program Status (2008-2015). Specific actions in the GRS for the government to lead that is specific to this species, and not included in the typical actions in section 2.5 are:

• Develop a Lake Chubsucker population and distribution monitoring protocol
• Investigate the effectiveness of coastal wetland habitat restoration activities to recover Lake Chubsucker populations

The GRS for Lake Chubsucker also lists 12 actions the government supports others to undertake for the species. These government-supported actions fall under the objectives identified in the GRS, which are:

• Enhance and restore degraded habitat and address major threats
• Improve understanding of Lake Chubsucker habitat use and threats
• Increase knowledge of Lake Chubsucker distribution and populations
• Increase public awareness about the Lake Chubsucker, its habitat requirements, the role of healthy aquatic ecosystems, and opportunities for stewardship

Government-funded projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for Lake Chubsucker is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program the government has supported 12 projects ($467,360) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Lake Chubsucker.^{footnote 2[2]} All of these projects targeted multiple species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker, and partners reported that they were successful in securing additional funding ($945,203) from other sources. This amount includes in-kind support in the form of time and expertise provided by volunteers.

Stewardship partners reported that provincial funding helped them to secure in-kind support by involving 889 individuals who volunteered 4,104 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker, which has an estimated value of $99,450. The stewardship partners also reported that through their efforts and the efforts of their volunteers to implement actions contained in the GRS, they were successful in enhancing more than 155 hectares of habitat expected to benefit multiple species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker. In addition, the partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker, to 65,330 individuals.

The government also supports proponents in conducting research that addresses important knowledge gaps for species at risk. Through the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, the government provided funding to several partners to conduct research on filling knowledge gaps about the species, understanding their relationship to species at risk mussels, and better understanding threats to the existing habitat.

The remainder of this section highlights a project supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program as well as the corresponding government-supported recovery actions for the species.

In 2009 Long Point Region Conservation Authority received funding from the Species at Risk Stewardship Program to implement a project entitled “Ecosystem Restoration on a Watershed Basis in the Long Point Region.” Lake Chubsucker was one of multiple species at risk targeted, which all occur in the Big Creek, Turkey Point and Long Point marshes, or the watercourses that empty into these features. The project objectives relevant to Lake Chubsucker were to:

• Improve water quality in the project area; and
• Connect and recreate habitat along watercourses on watersheds that influence the Big Creek, Turkey Point and Long Point marshes.

Key project activities included habitat restoration, habitat creation, construction of sediment basin wetlands, and adjacent upland restoration. The project resulted in the creation of five headwater wetlands to act as sediment basins and create aquatic wetland habitat. Additionally, two floodplain wetlands/oxbow scars were created to connect habitat along watercourses, and eight buffer planting or enhancement projects were undertaken. The project garnered support and involvement from other agencies, including Ontario Power Generation, the Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program, and Scouts Canada.

This project supports the GRS action to restore degraded habitat near current or historic locations of Lake Chubsucker to facilitate natural recolonization. Managing sediment at a watershed scale and increasing connectivity of wetland habitat are key factors that may allow for natural recolonization by existing populations.

Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

• 
  12

  projects included Lake Chubsucker

• 
  $467,360

  for multi-species projects that included Lake Chubsucker

• 
  $945,203

  in additional funding and in-kind support

• 
  889

  volunteers

• 
  4,104

  volunteer hours

• 
  65,330

  people received outreach

• 
  
  
  155

  hectares of habitat enhanced

Efforts to minimize adverse effects on Lake Chubsucker

Supporting partners through permits and their associated conditions is an important government-led action.

Since the species has been protected under the ESA, eight permits have been issued for Lake Chubsucker all of which were ‘protection or recovery’ permits (i.e., 17(2)(b)). ‘Protection or recovery’ permits are issued if the purpose of the activity is to assist in the protection or recovery of a species at risk. All permits were issued for multiple species, including Lake Chubsucker. These projects were primarily related to monitoring the species and the surrounding habitat area, but also included restoration activities.

Five drainage agreements were entered into for Lake Chubsucker. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment). Conditions of the agreements involve implementing actions in the mitigation plan, including, but not limited to:

• Undertaking appropriate sediment and erosion control
• Mapping sensitive areas for the species before undertaking any work
• Completing work outside of the seasonal timing windows and sensitive periods for the species

Six activities that may affect Lake Chubsucker or its habitat have been registered for the purposes of the Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. This includes two activities registered under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9), one activity registered under ‘Ecosystem protection’ (section 23.11), one activity registered under ‘Species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17), and two activities registered under ‘Threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18) of Ontario Regulation 242/08. The registrations require the registered individual to comply with all conditions of the regulations, such as:

• Take reasonable steps to minimize adverse effects of the activity on the species identified in the notice of drainage work form;
• Prepare a mitigation plan using best available information on steps that may help minimize or avoid adverse effects on the species; and
• Reporting observations of the species using the Ontario Species at Risk Observation Reporting Form and submitting it to the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).

Occurrences of Lake Chubsucker in Ontario

Ten populations^{footnote 3[3]} of Lake Chubsucker have been documented in Ontario. Eight are considered to be extant (i.e., observed within the past 20 years) and two are considered to be historical^{footnote 4[4]}.

Since 2008, the government’s central repository at the NHIC has received 285 records of the species. Over 150 of these records occurred since 2008, and the remainder were observations that took place prior to 2008 but were not submitted to NHIC until a later date. Records received since 2008 comprise more than 80 percent of the 346 total observations of Lake Chubsucker that have taken place since it was first recorded in 1949. Records submitted have helped to refine where the species is known and has been known to occur and have provided additional information on the species’ habitat and threats.

Increased monitoring in the areas where Lake Chubsucker is found, including both targeted and general fish community monitoring, have increased in frequency since 2002. This recent monitoring has resulted in an increase in species records, and a change in status for multiple identified populations. Seven populations which were considered to be historical in 2008 have been reassessed as extant with viability estimates ranging from poor to fair. One new population was also identified based on sampling records that occurred in 2003 and 2004 but were only obtained by the government through the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) species assessment in 2008. The newly identified population, which was found in proximity to one of the known populations, is likely to be the result of increased search effort for Lake Chubsucker and unlikely to represent a recent population increase, as these records occurred prior to 2008.

It is also important to note that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in partnership with MNRF and the University of Toronto has increased sampling effort for Lake Chubsucker since 2008 in an effort to learn more about the species’ habitat requirements, measure potential impacts to the species from selected human activities, and develop a survey protocol to meet the objectives of the GRS as discussed in the following sections.

It is possible that there are observations of Lake Chubsucker that have not been submitted to the government. Encouraging the submission of observations of this species to the government is included in the GRS as a government-led action. Submission of species observations to the government increases our knowledge of where they occur and can play an important role in assessing the viability of species populations.

Everyone is encouraged, or may be required by an authorization or approval, to submit observations of Lake Chubsucker, and any other species at risk observed, to the NHIC for incorporation into the provincial record of observations.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

Summary of progress

Progress has been made towards all of the government-led actions and the majority of the government-supported actions outlined in the GRS for Lake Chubsucker. The Government of Ontario has directly undertaken actions to:

• Develop a Lake Chubsucker population and distribution monitoring protocol
• Investigate the effectiveness of coastal wetland habitat restoration activities to recover Lake Chubsucker populations
• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA
• Encourage the submission of Lake Chubsucker data to the government's central repository at the NHIC
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario
• Protect the Lake Chubsucker and its habitat through the ESA
• Support conservation, agency, municipal, industry partners and Indigenous communities to undertake activities to protect and recover the Lake Chubsucker. Support will be provided where appropriate through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and advisory services
• Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts

Of particular interest is the work carried out by MNRF in partnership with DFO and the University of Toronto to develop a monitoring protocol that will be applicable to Lake Chubsucker and four additional fishes at risk. Efforts directed towards this goal have included the collection of fish using an assortment of methods, preliminary interpretation and modelling of collected data, and the completion of a published research paper. Work is currently ongoing to develop a complete protocol that can be used for future assessments of Lake Chubsucker.

Government-supported actions are organized under recovery objective focus areas. Progress has been made towards all of the government-supported recovery objectives and the majority of the associated actions identified in the GRS for Lake Chubsucker.

Under the objective to enhance and restore degraded habitat and address major threats, considerable progress has been made towards all of the actions.

• Encourage the development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to implement best management practices (BMPs) for wetlands, rural streams and drains near current or historic locations (Action No. 1 – High Priority).
• Work with landowners, drainage supervisors, engineers and contractors to limit the effects of drainage activities, dredging, and vegetation removal on Lake Chubsucker habitat (Action No. 2 – High Priority).
• Restore degraded habitat near current or historic locations of Lake Chubsucker to facilitate natural recolonization (Action No. 3).
• Implement the Ministry's BMPs for the control of European Common Reed within Lake Chubsucker habitats (Action No. 4).

The first and second action have been implemented through projects carried out by local conservation authorities and non-profits supported by the government. Multiple outreach and stewardship projects were implemented to work directly with rural landowners and encourage the use of BMPs for drain work and other agricultural activities. In addition, government research staff have carried out two projects focused on assessing the impacts of drain cleanout in Lake Chubsucker habitat with evaluation of potential mitigation measures. The third and fourth actions have been addressed by local conservation authorities carrying out restoration projects in the Lake Chubsucker habitat areas. While completing these projects and undertaking other works in the area the BMPs for European Common Reed were utilized to maximize project success. 

Under the objective to improve understanding of Lake Chubsucker habitat use and threats, moderate progress has been made towards the majority of the actions.

• Determine the seasonal habitat needs of all life-stages of Lake Chubsucker (Action No. 5 – High Priority).
• Investigate the impact of regulated water levels on Lake Chubsucker habitat and the level of connectivity between diked wetlands and adjacent waters (Action No. 6).
• Assess local and watershed-scale impacts of invasive species and sediment and nutrient runoff from streams on Lake Chubsucker populations and habitat (Action No. 7).

Action No. 5 and Action No. 6 were both partially addressed through research projects completed by government research staff in partnership with DFO and the University of Toronto. Work was completed to assess fish habitat use of restored marsh and open water wetlands which included evaluation of Lake Chubsucker occupation of these areas. An additional research project intended to look at mitigating the impacts of drain maintenance provided valuable information on the seasonal usage of these features by Lake Chubsucker for important life processes. 

Under the objective to increase knowledge of Lake Chubsucker distribution and populations, considerable progress has been made towards most of the actions.

• Monitor occupied sites to evaluate the health, abundance, and population demographics of existing populations (Action No. 8 – High Priority).
• Conduct targeted surveys in priority areas with suitable habitats (i.e., tributaries of the upper Niagara River) and historically occupied locations (i.e., tributaries of Big Creek Long Point region, Jeanettes Creek and Tea Creek) to determine whether Lake Chubsucker is present (Action No. 9).
• Monitor Lake Chubsucker watersheds for invasive species of concern in cooperation with existing aquatic ecosystem monitoring efforts and identify early opportunities for mitigation (Action No. 10).

Action No. 8 and Action No. 9 have been implemented by both the government and DFO through increased targeted and general monitoring programs in Lake Chubsucker habitat. This monitoring of historically occupied locations has identified multiple extant populations as noted above and provided valuable demographic information. Additional monitoring of fish community populations, including species at risk, has been completed by multiple conservation authorities within Lake Chubsucker habitat areas.

Under the objective to increase public awareness about the Lake Chubsucker, its habitat requirements, the role of healthy aquatic ecosystems, and opportunities for stewardship, considerable progress has been made towards both of the actions.

• Develop outreach materials that highlight the Lake Chubsucker's needs, threats to its habitat, and the importance of implementing BMPs and distribute these materials to the public, conservation partners, the fishing community and other key stakeholders. Encourage the use of existing invasive species reporting systems, such as the Invading Species Hotline (Action No. 11).
• Work with existing aquatic ecosystem recovery efforts to promote community involvement and implement recovery actions on a watershed basis (Action No. 12).

Action No. 11 and Action No. 12 have been addressed through multiple outreach and education campaigns delivered by conservation authorities and non-profit organizations. Education days targeting anglers, landowners, community members, and field naturalists have been completed through the Lake Chubsucker range. Materials have also been developed and delivered through website development, mail-outs, and targeted brochure drop-off campaigns to properties within high quality habitat areas. In particular, a Baitfish Primer has been distributed by MNRF and DFO to help educate anglers and bait harvesters on the appearance and range of Lake Chubsucker while communicating the restrictions around catching this species. Newsletters, social media, and the establishment of demonstration sites were also utilized by various agencies to provide information on Lake Chubsucker, among other species, and promote involvement of local individuals in preservation and restoration of the species’ habitat.

The recovery goal for Lake Chubsucker is to maintain current population levels and, where feasible, restore degraded habitat near current or historic locations where there may be possibility for natural recolonization. Effort made towards the government-led and government-supported actions has helped to make progress towards the recovery goal for Lake Chubsucker. For example, multiple habitat restoration projects have been completed in Lake Chubsucker habitat resulting in 155 hectares of habitat improvements which may benefit the species and promote the maintenance of existing populations. Large amounts of monitoring work have also been completed to develop an appropriate sampling protocol and ensure accurate information on the status of known populations of the species. In addition, this sampling has provided data showing that seven populations previously considered to be historical in Ontario are in fact extant and continuing to persist. Collection of data records has also identified a new population in an area where they were previously unknown.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, this review of progress can be used to help identify whether adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of the species. Based on progress to date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for Lake Chubsucker should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species, particularly those actions identified as high priority in the GRS. Relative to actions that have received a stronger level of support, the following actions require additional work to the progress that has been made and may be prioritized in future activities and associated decisions regarding the protection and recovery of the species:

• Determine the seasonal habitat needs of all life-stages of Lake Chubsucker (Action No. 5 – High Priority)
• Investigate the impact of regulated water levels on Lake Chubsucker habitat and the level of connectivity between diked wetlands and adjacent waters (Action No. 6)
• Assess local and watershed-scale impacts of invasive species and sediment and nutrient runoff from streams on Lake Chubsucker populations and habitat (Action No. 7)
• Monitor Lake Chubsucker watersheds for invasive species of concern in cooperation with existing aquatic ecosystem monitoring efforts and identify early opportunities for mitigation (Action No. 10)

Moving forward, protecting and recovering Lake Chubsucker will continue to be a shared responsibility that will require the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities. Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. The government can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake a project. By working together, progress can continue to be made towards protecting and recovering Lake Chubsucker in Ontario.

Summary of progress towards the protection and recovery of Lake Chubsucker (2007 to 2017)

Provincial status

Lake Chubsucker is classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Prior to its transition to the ESA, Lake Chubsucker was listed as threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List, but was not regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act. The species has been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken under the ESA since 2008, and its habitat has been protected from damage or destruction under the ESA since 2013.

Species-specific documents and guidance published by the government

• Recovery Strategy for Lake Chubsucker (2012)
• Lake Chubsucker: Ontario Government Response Statement (2013)

Government-supported stewardship projects

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario has enabled its stewardship partners to conduct 12 projects ($467,360) that have supported the protection and recovery of multiple species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker.
• The government’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 889 individuals who volunteered 4,104 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $945,203.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions 155 hectares of habitat were enhanced for Lake Chubsucker and other species at risk that inhabit the same ecosystem.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Lake Chubsucker, to 65,300 individuals.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

• The government has issued eight permits for this species: all of these permits were protection or recovery’ permits issued under clause 17(2)(b) of the ESA.
• Five agreements were entered into for Lake Chubsucker. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
• Six activities have been registered for the species. The activities were registered under ‘ Drainage works’ (section 23.9), ‘Ecosystem protection’ (s.23.11), ‘Species protection, recovery activities (s.23.17)’, and ‘Threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18) under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Occurrences and distribution

• Ten local populations of Lake Chubsucker have been documented in southwestern Ontario. Currently, eight of these populations are extant, whereas the remaining two are considered historical. Since 2008, the status of seven populations changed from historical to extant as their existence was confirmed through more intensive monitoring efforts. One population of Lake Chubsucker has been newly-identified since 2008 based on data collected prior to 2008.

Related information

Categorizing and Protecting Habitat under the Endangered Species Act

Natural Heritage Information Centre

Ontario’s Endangered Species Act

Ontario’s Endangered Species Act Regulation 242/08

Ontario Recovery Strategy and Government Response Statement for Lake Chubsucker

Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act

Species at Risk in Ontario List

Species at Risk Stewardship Program