Wild Hyacinth

Species information

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

Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) is a long-lived, perennial member of the Liliaceae family that grows up to 70 centimetres tall. In mid to late May, Wild Hyacinth blooms with up to 100 pale blue to white star-shaped flowers in spike-like clusters that attract pollinating insects. Wild Hyacinth bulbs are edible and were historically a staple native food plant of Indigenous peoples.

Wild Hyacinth is primarily distributed in the Mississippi drainage basin of the southeast and midwest United States, where it is of conservation concern throughout its range. Wild Hyacinth has an extremely limited historic and extant range in Canada, where it only grows on islands in Lake Erie, including Pelee Island. This region of Ontario is characterized by long growing seasons and dry summers, and Wild Hyacinth grows in partial to moderately shady openings in woodlands, shrubby areas, and forest edges with rich soils over limestone bedrock. The restricted climactic conditions that are required for growing may limit the dispersal and range expansion of Wild Hyacinth populations.

Wild Hyacinth faces several threats to its survival and recovery in Ontario. A main threat is hyper-abundant Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), whose large breeding colonies on islands in Lake Erie destroy vegetation. Other threats include browsing and trampling by Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), habitat loss to development, and invasive species such as Garlic Mustard (Alliaria pertiolata).

The survival and recovery of Wild Hyacinth may be influenced by other factors as well. The illegal collection of Wild Hyacinth for horticulture, spread of invasive species, and natural succession to closed canopy conditions which render sites unsuitable for Wild Hyacinth populations may threaten their survival.

Wild Hyacinth is listed as threatened at the provincial level (Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List) and federal level (Schedule 1 under the Species at Risk Act). Globally, it is considered to be apparently 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 Wild Hyacinth as threatened. Following this assessment, Wild Hyacinth was listed as threatened in 2000, but was not regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act. The species retained its threatened status on the SARO List when the ESA came into force in 2008. 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 Wild Hyacinth 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, Wild Hyacinth 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 Wild Hyacinth.

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

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy for Wild Hyacinth was published on January 11, 2013, 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 Wild Hyacinth on October 11, 2013 which was within the timeframe required by the ESA. 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. An action 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 of the Species at Risk Program Status (2008-2015) is:

• Continue to monitor the impacts of Double-crested Cormorants in East Sister Island Provincial Park to determine whether habitat restoration and reintroduction of Wild Hyacinth to formerly occupied habitat is feasible.

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

• Protect and enhance existing Wild Hyacinth habitat and address major threats
• Increase knowledge of Wild Hyacinth population trends, biology, habitat, and threats
• Educate local groups to promote the protection of Wild Hyacinth

Government-funded projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for Wild Hyacinth is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program the government has supported one project designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Wild Hyacinth. The project targeted multiple species at risk, including Wild Hyacinth and focused on conducting outreach to landowners and stakeholders in southwestern Ontario through targeted workshops and the distribution of species at risk factsheets and posters. The purpose of the project was to build landowner conservation capacity by sharing available guidance and information on potential funding sources when undertaking stewardship activities.

Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

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  1

  project included Wild Hyacinth

Efforts to minimize adverse effects on Wild Hyacinth

Supporting partners through permits and their associated conditions is an important government-led action. To date, no permits have been issued for Wild Hyacinth.

Two agreements were entered into for Wild Hyacinth. 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:

• Mapping sensitive areas for the species
• Not undertaking any activities that would involve physical disturbance to vegetated banks or the killing and/or removal of vegetation through chemical or mechanical means in a sensitive area, unless otherwise authorized
• Recording all encounters with Wild Hyacinth and the resulting mitigation measures

One activity that may affect Wild Hyacinth or its habitat has been registered for the purposes of ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9) of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. This registration enabled activities such as maintaining municipal drains. The registrations require the registered individual to comply with all conditions of the regulation, such as:

• Preparing and implementing a mitigation plan developed by an expert using the best available information on steps that may help minimize or avoid adverse effects on the species
• Updating mitigation plans every five years to include information obtained while monitoring the effects of the activity
• Preparing an annual report that includes, but is not limited to recording the steps taken when carrying out the activity and the associated effectiveness of those steps

Occurrences of Wild Hyacinth in Ontario

Eight populations^{footnote 2[2]} of Wild Hyacinth have been documented in Ontario. Six are considered to be extant (i.e., observed within the past 20 years), one is considered to be historical^{footnote 3[3]} and one is considered to be extirpated.

Since 2008, the government’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) has received 12 records of the species. These records are based on observations in 2012 and 2013 and come from a variety of sources. 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.

Wild Hyacinth was first observed in Ontario in 1882. Three of the six extant populations were classified as extant in 2008 and were changed to historical in 2009. New observations from 2002, 2003 and 2013 sent from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and Parks Canada resulted in these populations being considered extant again. Deliberate surveys for Wild Hyacinth were conducted in 2012 and 2013 by NHIC staff in collaboration with Parks Canada.

It is possible that there are observations of Wild Hyacinth 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 Wild Hyacinth, 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 one of the government-supported objectives outlined in the GRS for Wild Hyacinth. The Government of Ontario has directly undertaken actions to:

• Continue to monitor the impacts of Double-crested Cormorants in East Sister Island Provincial Park to determine whether habitat restoration and reintroduction of Wild Hyacinth to formerly occupied habitat is feasible
• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA
• Encourage the submission of Wild Hyacinth 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 Wild Hyacinth and its habitat through the ESA
• Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Indigenous communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover Wild Hyacinth. Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services
• Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts

Monitoring of Double-crested Cormorants in East Sister Island Provincial Park continues to be implemented annually and involves a variety of impact measures, including Double-crested Cormorant nest counts, vegetation community monitoring, and tree health assessments.

Government-supported actions are organized under recovery objective focus areas. Progress has been made towards one of the government-supported recovery objectives in the GRS for Wild Hyacinth.

Under the objective to educate local groups to promote the protection of Wild Hyacinth, initial progress has been made through a project supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, which worked to build conservation capacity and provide a mechanism to educate on species at risk in southwestern Ontario, including Wild Hyacinth. Workshops were attended by landowners and stakeholders and resource materials, including guidance on conducting stewardship projects and finding available funding were distributed.

The recovery goal for Wild Hyacinth is to maintain self-sustaining populations at all existing sites and, where recolonization may be feasible, restore degraded habitat at historic locations. Effort made towards the government-led and government-supported actions has helped to make progress towards the recovery goal for Wild Hyacinth. The provincial record of observations suggests that Wild Hyacinth is persisting in Ontario as three of the six extant populations were recently re-considered from historical to extant status. Monitoring of the impacts of Double-crested Cormorants at East Sister Island Provincial Park is being implemented. The results of this monitoring will help inform a determination of whether recolonization may be feasible to formerly occupied habitat of Wild Hyacinth, in alignment with the recovery goal.

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 Wild Hyacinth should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species, particularly those actions identified as high priority in the GRS or actions that have received less support and may be considered in future activities and associated decisions regarding the protection and recovery of the species:

• Develop and implement best management practices for maintain or improving Wild Hyacinth habitat by removing invasive species, maintaining semi-open forest conditions during flowering, and preventing inadvertent trampling (Action No. 1 – High priority)
• Identify and protect key sites through land securement in connection with existing initiatives and partners (Action No. 2)
• Develop and implement a standardized monitoring strategy for Wild Hyacinth to document Wild Hyacinth population size and dynamics, reproductive success, characterization of habitat, and assessment of threats (Action No. 3 – High priority)
• Research the conditions for successful Wild Hyacinth establishment, including pollination and dispersal mechanisms and distances (Action No. 4)
• Undertake research into Wild Hyacinth population viability that takes into account its reproductive biology, dispersal and establishment conditions (Action No. 5)

Although initial progress has been made to educate local groups to promote the protection of Wild Hyacinth, further work is required to implement the following actions:

• Develop educational and outreach materials on the sensitivity of Wild Hyacinth to inadvertent collection, trampling, or interbreeding with horticultural hyacinth varieties, and distribute to local stewardship organizations, horticultural clubs, and native plant nurseries (Action No. 6)
• Collaborate with First Nations to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge, where available, into outreach initiatives (Action No. 7)
• Work with conservation groups and initiatives in the Lake Erie islands area to coordinate the strategic implementation of actions with broader ecosystem recovery efforts (Action No. 8)

While monitoring of the impacts on Double-crested Cormorants on East Sister Island Provincial Park is being implemented as identified in the government-led actions in the GRS, the feasibility to reintroduce Wild Hyacinth to formerly occupied habitat has not yet been evaluated and more work is required to complete this action.

Moving forward, protecting and recovering Wild Hyacinth 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 Wild Hyacinth in Ontario.

Summary of progress towards the protection and recovery of Wild Hyacinth (2007 to 2017)

Provincial status

Wild Hyacinth is classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Prior to its transition to the ESA, Wild Hyacinth was listed as threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario 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 Wild Hyacinth (2013)
• Wild Hyacinth: Ontario Government Response Statement (2013)

Government-supported stewardship projects

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario enabled its stewardship partners to undertake a project that has supported the protection and recovery of multiple species at risk, including Wild Hyacinth. The project focused on conducting outreach to landowners and stakeholders in southwestern Ontario through targeted workshops and the distribution of species at risk factsheets and posters to build landowner conservation capacity.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

• Two agreements were entered into for Wild Hyacinth. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
• One activity has been registered for the species. The activity was registered under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9) under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Occurrences and distribution

• Eight populations of Wild Hyacinth have been documented in southwestern Ontario. Currently, six of these populations are extant, whereas the remaining two are considered historical and extirpated, respectively. Since 2008, the status of three populations changed from extant to historical and then was subsequently re-considered as extant again based on new observations suggesting that Wild Hyacinth is persisting in Ontario.

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 Wild Hyacinth
• Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act
• Species at Risk in Ontario List