Channel Darter

Species information

The following is a report on progress made towards the protection and recovery of Channel Darter (Percina copelandi), in Ontario from 2007 to 2021, based on Ontario’s species-specific recovery policy. This report meets the legislative requirement for a review of progress under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA or “the Act”). Channel Darter is listed as special concern on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List under the ESA.

Channel Darter has been classified as a species at risk since 2000. It was originally classified as a threatened species on the Vulnerable, Threatened, Endangered, Extirpated or Extinct Species of Ontario List. It was listed as threatened under the ESA when it came into force in June 2008.

The species was re-classified as a special concern species on August 1, 2018, following changes to species’ assessment criteria used by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario ^{footnote 1[1]}.

The species-specific recovery policy for Channel Darter, known as the Government Response Statement (GRS) was published in 2017 and includes the government’s recovery goal for the species and the actions and priorities it intends to lead or support to help achieve that goal. The GRS considers science advice provided in the recovery strategy, when developing recovery actions for the species. As legislated in the Act, the purpose of this Review is to report on progress made towards implementing the protection and recovery actions in the GRS. The review can also help identify opportunities to adjust and adapt the implementation of protection and recovery actions to achieve the recovery goal for the species.

Further information about Channel Darter, including the threats that it faces, and actions being taken to help protect and recover this species is available on the Government of Ontario webpage for Channel Darter. A summary on the progress towards the protection and recovery of Channel Darter and an annual update on the broader species at risk program (i.e. the Introduction to the 2022 Review of Progress report) is available on the Review of Progress towards the Protection and Recovery of Ontario’s Species at Risk webpage.

Snapshot: Progress towards the protection and recovery of Channel Darter

Progress towards meeting the recovery goal

• The recovery goal in the Government Response Statement (GRS) for Channel Darter in Ontario is to maintain existing self-sustaining populations in Ontario and support natural increases in abundance through threat mitigation.
• Progress has been made towards implementing all of the government-led actions. Progress has been made towards implementing all of the government-supported recovery objectives and a majority of the associated actions. Examples of progress include:
  • maintaining or improving the quality of Channel Darter habitat in Ontario through projects led by Ontario Parks, stewardship projects funded through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, and through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership: Cost Share Funding environmental stewardship funding programs for farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
  • research conducted to better understand the instream flow needs of spawning Channel Darter along the Trent River, in collaboration with Parks Canada, as well as research conducted to determine the potential impact of Round Goby on Channel Darter through a multi-year study.
  • collaborations with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada to promote and distribute the ‘Baitfish Primer’ to anglers and commercial bait operators to help educate them on how to identify baitfish species from other species including Species at Risk and Invasive Species
• In alignment with the GRS, it is recommended that efforts continue to fill knowledge gaps and mitigate threats to the species. Research should continue to determine the habitat needs of all life-stages and threats to the species, and will help to inform the development of a standardized protocol and additional best management practices.

Occurrences and distribution

• Twenty-one populations of Channel Darter have been documented in southern Ontario. Currently, 17 of these populations are extant, whereas the remaining four are considered historical. Since 2008, the status of one population changed from extant to historical based on the date that it was last observed, while two populations were updated from historical to extant as their existence was confirmed through survey efforts. Three populations of Channel Darter have been newly-identified since 2008.

Government-supported stewardship projects

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario has enabled its stewardship partners to conduct 16 projects ($677,821 in funding) that have supported the protection and recovery of Channel Darter.
• The government’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 783 individuals who volunteered 4932 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Channel Darter. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $1,063,386.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions 410 hectares of habitat were enhanced for Channel Darter.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Channel Darter, to 139,905 individuals.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

• The Government of Ontario has issued 10 ‘protection or recovery’ permits for this speciesunder clause 17(2)(b) of the ESA.
• Eight drainage agreements were entered into for Channel Darter. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
• One hundred and sixteen activities have been registered for the species. The activities were registered under‘Aquatic species’ (section 23.4), ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9), ‘Hydro-electric generating stations and dams’ (section 23.12), ‘Species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17), and ‘Threats to human health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18)under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Reporting on the progress towards the protection and recovery of Channel Darter

The implementation of government-led and government-supported actions demonstrates progress towards reaching the desired objectives and the recovery goal set out in the GRS.

Progress towards implementing government-led actions

Progress has been made towards implementing all government-led actions identified in the GRS. Common actions for the government to lead as it works towards achieving a species’ recovery goal include:

• Assess opportunities, through the provincial bait policy review, to reduce the potential ecological risk associated with the harvest, use and movement (e.g., spread of invasive species and disease) of bait, including ways to reduce risk to aquatic species and their habitats.
• Continue to contribute to local and binational efforts to remediate Great Lakes Areas of Concern including the Bay of Quinte, Detroit River, and St. Clair River.
• Continue to implement the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan to address the invasive species (e.g., Round Goby) that threaten Channel Darter.
• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
• Encourage the submission of Channel Darter data to the Ministry’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
• Protect Channel Darter 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 Channel Darter. Support will be provided where appropriate through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services.
• Encourage collaboration, and establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to reduce duplication of efforts.

Additionally, the government has directly undertaken the following species-specific action:

• Collaborate with federal partners, such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada, to implement protection and recovery actions including those related to instream flow needs and investigating the impact of Round Goby on Channel Darter.

Collaborative efforts by the Government of Ontario and its partners to protect and recover Channel Darter and its habitat

In 2012, 2017 and 2018, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section (ARMS) studied the instream flow needs of spawning Channel Darter along the Trent River (e.g., Reid et al. 2016). In the fall of 2018, this research was taken a step further by assessing the effectiveness of different flow release strategies to improve habitat suitability in collaboration with Parks Canada. Preliminary results of these studies have been shared through presentations to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and a draft report has been initiated.

ARMS is also supporting the investigation of the potential impact of Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) on Channel Darter in collaboration with DFO through a multi-year study initiated in 2009. This work has involved targeted searches for Round Goby and Channel Darter through annual electrofishing surveys along the Trent River (2009-2018) and surveys along adjacent rivers with Channel Darter populations (Moira and Salmon rivers), as well as an investigation of microhabitat use and overlap with Round Goby (e.g. LeBaron and Reid in review, LeBaron and Reid 2021, and Reid 2019). At the same time, ARMS also supported targeted searches for Channel Darter in beach habitats of the Laurentian Great Lakes between 2009 and 2018 (LeBaron et al. 2020).

In addition to these research and monitoring programs, Ontario’s Sustainable Bait Management Strategy (2020) commits to the following actions that may assist in the recovery of Channel Darter:

• removal of 15 species from the permitted baitfish list, including nine darter species that may be confused with Channel Darter
• establishment of four Bait Management Zones (BMZ) that affect the movement, use, and possession of baitfish and leeches to protect lakes and rivers from harmful invasive species and fish diseases (in effect as of January 1, 2022)
• working with industry to develop a Best Management Practices Guide to harvesting bait, including measures to help avoid impacts to Species at Risk and their habitats

The Government of Ontario continues to work with DFO to promote and distribute the ‘Baitfish Primer’ to anglers and commercial bait operators to help educate them on how to identify baitfish species from other species including Species at Risk and Invasive Species. 

Additionally, the ninth Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, 2021 came into effect on June 1, 2021. This is a five-year agreement that sets out specific actions that the federal and provincial governments will take, together with Great Lakes partners, to restore, protect and conserve the water quality and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes, and includes the connecting river systems of St. Marys, St. Clair including Lake St. Clair, Detroit, Niagara and St. Lawrence.

Habitat management and outreach initiatives for aquatic species at risk, including Channel Darter, are also being implemented through several Government of Ontario programs. Ontario Parks supports known and potential Channel Darter habitat through measures such as managing recreational pressures and invasive species at provincially protected areas including Rondeau, Port Burwell, Lighthouse Point, and Fish Point. They also raise awareness of the threat of invasive species to aquatic species at risk through their educational programming. In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs encourages farmers to implement environmentally-friendly agricultural and farming practices through their Canadian Agricultural Partnership: Cost Share Funding environmental stewardship funding programs and personalized Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans.

Key progress made towards implementing other government-led actions is described in the following sections.

Guides and resources

The Ontario Waterpower Association has developed Best Management Practices to help mitigate impacts of waterpower operation and development projects on select fish species at risk, including Channel Darter. For details, please visit the Ontario Waterpower Association website.

Occurrences and distribution

Channel Darter has been documented in three areas across southern Ontario: in the Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie drainages, the Bay of Quinte drainage, and the St. Lawrence River drainage. Twenty-one populations ^{footnote 2[2]} are included in the provincial record. As of 2021, 17 populations are considered extant (i.e., observed within the past 20 years) and four populations are considered historical. ^{footnote 3[3]} Eight extant populations are estimated to have “good” and/or “fair” population viability and three extant populations are estimated to have “fair and poor” or “possibly poor” population viability. Viability has not been assessed for six extant populations.

The government’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) received 294 records of this species between 1928 and 2019 that come from a variety of sources. One hundred and eighty-four of these records were submitted since 2008, when the Endangered Species Act came into effect. 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. For example, since 2008, survey efforts have resulted in the identification of three new populations of Channel Darter: one in the Trent River, one in the Ottawa River and one in the Upper St. Clair River, and the reclassification of two populations from historical to extant in Port Burwell and Erieau/Rondeau Bay. Despite several years of targeted sampling for one Lake St. Clair population in Mitchell’s Bay, researchers failed to find^{footnote 4[4]} this population, which has resulted in its reclassification from extant to historical.

New observations of Channel Darter are likely the result of increased search effort and education about the species and may not represent actual population increases, but rather increased knowledge about the distribution of the species.

It is possible that there are observations of Channel Darter that have not been submitted to the government. Encouraging the submission of observations of this species is included in the GRS as a government-led action. Submission of species observations 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 Channel Darter, and any other species at risk observed, to the NHIC for incorporation into the provincial record of observations.

• 294
  observations of this species were submitted to the NHIC since 2008

Government-supported stewardship projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for Channel Darter is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program (SARSP) the government has supported 16 projects ($677,821) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Channel Darter^{footnote 5[5]}. In addition to the government funding, partners with projects designed to benefit multiple species at risk, including Channel Darter reported they were successful in securing additional funding ($1,063,386) from other sources. These amounts include 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 783 individuals who volunteered 4,932 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Channel Darter, which has an estimated value of $202,296. Partners also reported that through both their efforts and the efforts of their volunteers to implement GRS actions, they were successful in enhancing 410 hectares of habitat that will benefit Channel Darter. In addition, stewardship partners reported providing ecosystem-based outreach on multiple species, including Channel Darter, to 139,905 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 a partner to conduct research on genetics-based mapping of rare stream fishes in Southwestern Ontario.

The remainder of this section highlights projects supported through the SARSP as well as the corresponding government-supported recovery actions for the species.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) has helped to improve habitat conditions for several aquatic species at risk in Ontario, including Channel Darter. Over two years, OFAH’s Community Stream Steward Program was supported by funding from the SARSP. This program enhanced over 100 hectares of aquatic habitat in several rivers across central and southern Ontario, including tributaries of the Trent River, by working with landowners to implement water quality improvement projects on their properties. Landowner projects included fencing and water crossing installations to exclude cattle from watercourses, as well as tree and shrub planting along riverbanks and streambanks to reduce erosion. Over 500 volunteers contributed to these efforts. This program also included several workshops and training sessions to promote aquatic habitat stewardship actions by citizens. These projects supported the implementation of Action No. 5 (High Priority), 6 and 7 in the Government Response Statement, as described below.

Species at Risk Stewardship Program

• 
  16

  projects included Channel Darter

• 
  $677,821

  for projects that included Channel Darter

• 
  $1,063,386

  in additional funding and in-kind support

• 
  783

  volunteers

• 
  4,932

  volunteer hours

• 
  139,905

  people received outreach

• 
  410

  hectares of habitat enhanced

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

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

Ten permits have been issued for Channel Darter since the species has been protected under the ESA, all of which were ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits. ‘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. Of the 10 permits, one was issued exclusively for Channel Darter, and nine were issued for multiple species, including Channel Darter. Permits were issued to proponents to conduct activities such as general aquatic inventories and research, fish population monitoring to determine the effectiveness of shoreline restoration projects and species-specific surveys to help a proponent avoid areas with Channel Darter during a bridge construction project. All permits required submitting observations of Channel Darter and other species at risk to the issuing Ministry to add to the provincial records.

Eight drainage agreements were entered into for Channel Darter. 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:

• determining if proposed activities (i.e. drainage construction, improvements, maintenance, and/or repairs) will occur in a sensitive area for a fish species and contacting the issuing Ministry for further direction if this is the case
• stabilizing banks and controlling sedimentation and erosion while conducting activities
• undertaking inspections in areas where drainage activities are occurring and sharing inspection results with the issuing Ministry

One hundred and sixteen activities that may affect Channel Darter or its habitat have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. Three activities were registered under ‘Aquatic species’ (section 23.4), 14 activities under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9), two activities under ‘Hydro-electric generating stations and dams’ (section 23.12), four activities under ‘Species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17) and 93 activities under ‘Threats to human health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18). These registrations require the registrant to comply with all conditions of the regulation, such as:

• preparation of a mitigation plan by one or more persons with expertise in relation to every species that is the subject of the plan, using the best available information on steps that may help minimize or avoid adverse effects on the species
• isolating the work area within the watercourse in a manner that prevents members of the species from entering the work area, and relocating any fishes within the work area to suitable habitat for the species
• refraining from carrying out work during a period of reproduction for the species or any other sensitive period for the species

• 10
  protection or recovery permits
• 8
  agreements
• 116
  registrations

Progress towards implementing government-supported actions

Government-supported actions are organized under overarching recovery objectives. Progress has been made towards achieving all government-supported recovery objectives and implementing most of the associated actions identified in the GRS for Channel Darter.

Under this objective, considerable progress has been made toward implementing Action No. 1 (High Priority), while initial progress has been made toward implementing Action No. 2 (High Priority) and Action No. 4.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and several organizations supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program have conducted targeted surveys to locate Channel Darter in several watersheds across southern Ontario (Action No. 1 (High Priority)), which has resulted in the discovery of three new populations since 2008. MNRF has also supported research on the changes in the historical distribution of Channel Darter in Lake Erie (Reid and Mandrak 2008) and electrofishing effort required to detect riverine fish (Reid and Haxton 2017), which supports this action.

As described above, MNRF and its partners have conducted research and monitoring to determine Channel Darter habitat needs (e.g. instream flow needs and habitat mapping) (Action No. 2 (High Priority)) and to evaluate the impacts of invasive species on Channel Darter, such as Round Goby (Action No. 4).

Under this objective, moderate progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 5 (High Priority).

Several projects led by Ontario Parks and supported by government funding programs, such as the Species at Risk Stewardship Program (SARSP), have helped to maintain and improve the quality of Channel Darter habitat across southern Ontario. For example, many SARSP-supported projects helped to stabilize shorelines (e.g. through tree and shrub planting) and restore habitat through the removal of invasive, non-native plant species that degrade and destroy habitat, such as Phragmites.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is also a partner, and one of the main funders, of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup. This is a collaborative, community-based program dedicated to improving the health of the Detroit River (where Channel Darter was historically found) by researching and monitoring the effectiveness of remediation efforts and conducting on-the-ground remediation work (e.g. community tree plantings and garbage clean-ups).

Several other Government of Ontario programs and partners are also helping to implement this action. For example:

• The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs supports the development and implementation of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans on individual farms across the province, which promote environmentally-friendly farm operations (e.g. by reducing nutrient loading from fertilizers in adjacent lakes and watercourses).
• The Ontario Waterpower Association has developed Best Management Practices to help mitigate impacts of waterpower operation and development projects on select fish species at risk, including Channel Darter.
• The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is working with Parks Canada to prepare a report on the effectiveness of different flow release strategies to improve habitat suitability for Channel Darter.
• Several authorizations granted under the ESA required proponents to implement measures, such as stabilizing banks and controlling sedimentation and erosion, to maintain Channel Darter habitat while conducting authorized work.

Considerable progress has been made towards implementing all actions under this objective.

Progress has been made towards these actions through numerous outreach and education initiatives led and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Ontario Parks, and their partners, including Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program that is celebrating its 30th year of invasive species programming and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup. Progress has also been made through publications such as the Baitfish Primer and several peer-reviewed research articles that are based on research and monitoring efforts described above. Additionally, authorizations that allowed Channel Darter research or work in Channel Darter habitat included conditions for proponents to avoid or minimize impacts to the species and its habitat.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

The recovery goal for Channel Darter is to “maintain existing self-sustaining populations in Ontario and support natural increases in abundance through threat mitigation”. Efforts made towards the government-led and government-supported actions have helped to make progress towards this goal. For example, recent survey efforts have identified new Channel Darter populations and habitat management actions have supported the maintenance and restoration of Channel Darter habitat.

Significant progress has been made over the last several years to increase awareness of, and engagement in protecting and recovering Channel Darter as well through stewardship work, collaboration between Federal and Provincial ministries, and outreach targeted at a wide range of interest groups (e.g., farmers, commercial bait operators, anglers, waterpower industry).

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, this review of progress can be used to help identify whether adjustments to the implementation of GRS actions are needed, to achieve the protection and recovery of the species. Based on progress to date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for Channel Darter, particularly the implementation of actions identified as high priority, should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species.

Although initial progress has been made towards the action to determine habitat needs (Action No. 2 (High Priority)) and evaluate potential threats (Action No. 4), efforts to date have focused on only a few habitat needs and threats (e.g. flow regimes and invasive species, respectively). Expanding research to identify additional, and emerging, needs and threats will support the continued persistence of this species in Ontario.

While there has been much focus on the progression of other actions, the following actions require additional support to aid the protection and recovery of the species:

• Action No. 3 - Develop and implement a standardized monitoring program at known locations to detect changes in populations (e.g., abundance, demographics) and habitat conditions, including the presence of invasive species.
• Action No. 5 (High Priority) - Minimize threats in and around the species’ habitat by undertaking activities and completing effectiveness monitoring for these activities, including:
  • developing, implementing and updating best management practices to reduce siltation, turbidity, nutrient loading, and runoff of pollutants
  • developing, implementing and updating best management practices, based on best available information, to minimize the impact of altered flow regimes

Although numerous Channel Darter surveys and studies have been conducted over the last several years, as described above, a standardized monitoring program has not yet been developed or implemented at known locations for this species. Similarly, best management practices (BMPs) to undertake activities in Channel Darter habitat have only been developed for waterpower operations, but BMPs are still needed for a broader audience. Fortunately, much of the work discussed in this review, such as research on the effectiveness of different flow release strategies, can help to inform the development of BMPs for additional sectors.

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 Channel Darter should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species, particularly those actions identified as high priority in the GRS.

Protecting and recovering Channel Darter 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 Channel Darter in Ontario.

References

• LeBaron, A. and S.M. Reid. Targeted surveys for Channel Darter and Round Goby along the Trent, Moira, Salmon, and Napanee rivers in 2021. Can. Dat. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. (in revision after DFO peer review)
• LeBaron, A., and S.M. Reid. 2021. Targeted surveys for Channel Darter and Round Goby along the Trent and Moira Rivers 2001, 2009-2019. Can. Data Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1332
• LeBaron, A., M. Parna, M. Sweeting, J. Barnucz, and S.M. Reid. 2020. Targeted surveys for Channel Darter and Eastern Sand Darter in beach habitats of the Laurentian Great Lakes, 2009-2018. Can. Data. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1307
• Reid, S.M. 2019. Summer microhabitat use and overlap by the invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and native darters (Percina spp.) in the Trent River (Ontario, Canada). Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 420: 23.
• Reid, S.M, and N.E. Mandrak. 2008. Historical changes in the distribution of Threatened channel darter (Percina copelandi) in Lake Erie with general observations on the beach fish assemblage. Journal of Great Lakes Research 43: 324-333.
• Reid, S.M, and T.J. Haxton. 2017. Backpack electrofishing effort and imperfect detection: Influence on riverine fish inventories and monitoring. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 33(6): 1083-1091.
• Reid, S.M, S. Brown, T. Haxton, J. Luce, B. Metcalfe. 2016. Habitat Modelling in Support of the Recovery of Channel Darter (Percina copelandi) Populations along the Trent River, Ontario. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Secretariat Document 2016/043. v + 28p.