Ogden's Pondweed

Species description

Ogden’s Pondweed (Potamogeton ogdenii) is an underwater annual plant with branching, thread-like stems. It has narrow, greenish-brown leaves five to seven centimetres long. It can be difficult to identify as its appearance is very similar to eight other narrow-leaved pondweed species in Ontario. Because of difficulty in identifying the species, it may be less rare and more widespread in Ontario than currently thought.

Ogden’s Pondweed has been documented at three locations in southeastern Ontario. It grows in lakes, ponds and slow moving streams and is often associated with water with high alkalinity. The species is often associated with other pondweed species and is thought to have originated as a hybrid between Hill’s Pondweed and Flat-stem Pondweed. A map of the provincial distribution of Ogden’s Pondweed is available on the Government of Ontario’s species at risk website.

Potential threats to Ogden’s Pondweed include habitat loss such as shoreline development or loss of beaver ponds, competition from invasive plants such as Eurasian Water-milfoil and excessive nutrient input into aquatic habitats. The survival and recovery of the species may also be limited as natural disturbances or random events may result in significant losses to the low number of known populations in Ontario. Reproduction may also be limited by low population numbers as there are a low number of plants available to reproduce.

Ogden’s Pondweed is listed as endangered at both the provincial (Species at Risk in Ontario List) and federal (Schedule 1 under the Species at Risk Act) levels. It is globally rare and considered to be critically imperiled to imperiled.

Provincial status

The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) assessed Ogden’s Pondweed as endangered. Following this assessment, it was added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List in 2009. In future assessments, COSSARO may consider information regarding the species’ threats and trends in population and distribution gained through protection and recovery actions.

Species and habitat protection

Protecting Ogden’s Pondweed and enforcing the regulation protecting the specific habitat of the species are key components in the implementation of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) and continue to be government-led actions, as identified in the government response statement. As an endangered species, Ogden’s Pondweed has been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken since it was added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List in 2009. In addition, the habitat of Ogden’s Pondweed has been protected from being damaged or destroyed; habitat protection has been in place since 2009. Habitat protection was initially based on the general habitat definition in the ESA. In 2011, the government developed a habitat regulation for the species, which was within the timeframe required by the ESA, to provide clarity to the public and others on what areas are protected as Ogden’s Pondweed habitat (Ontario Regulation 242/08, section 28.1). The habitat regulation was developed based on consideration of both the habitat needs of the species and comments received through public consultation. Prior to 2009, there was no species or habitat protection for Ogden’s Pondweed. Further information on species and habitat protection is provided in section 2.3 of the introductory chapter of this document.

Any person who negatively impacts Ogden’s Pondweed or its habitat without prior authorization may be prosecuted under the ESA.

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy for Ogden’s Pondweed was completed on February 18, 2010, which was within the time frame required by the ESA. It represents the best science advice to government. The strategy identified the habitat needs of Ogden’s Pondweed and the threats that it faces, while recommending objectives and approaches for protecting and recovering it. The recovery strategy also included recommendations on the areas of habitat to be considered in the development of a habitat regulation.

Government response statement

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“the Ministry”) published the government response statement (GRS) for Ogden’s Pondweed on November 18, 2010, which was within the time frame required by the ESA. The GRS is government policy that identifies the Government of Ontario’s goal for the recovery of Ogden’s Pondweed.

To help achieve this goal, the government has committed to leading a number of recovery actions. Common actions for the government to lead as it works towards achieving a species’ recovery goal are provided in section 2.5 of the introductory chapter of this document. The GRS for Ogden’s Pondweed also outlines three actions for which the Ministry is using a variety of methods to support others to undertake. These government-supported actions fall under the objectives identified in the GRS, which are:

• Confirm existence of Ogden’s Pondweed in Ontario and determine its extent and abundance.
• Monitor population size and specific threats to the species and its habitat at confirmed sites.

The subsequent sections of this chapter provide a review of actions that the government has committed to leading or supporting to help achieve the recovery goal for Ogden’s Pondweed.

Supporting our partners

Supporting partners to undertake activities to protect and recover Ogden’s Pondweed through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, as well as through permits and their associated conditions, is an important government-led action identified in the GRS for the species. No authorizations or regulatory provisions have been issued or registered for this species. One stewardship partner who received funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund identified Ogden’s Pondweed as a target species (along with a variety of other species at risk) for BioBlitzs. BioBlitzs are volunteer-based biological inventories completed over a short period of time, where a group of volunteers, experts, and naturalists count and identify the total number of species in a specific area. Inventories were completed on private land in the same counties where Ogden’s Pondweed has been documented to occur. No Ogden’s Pondweed observations were reported during the BioBlitz; however, the stewardship partner reported involving 116 individuals who volunteered 1,178 hours of time to the project.

Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

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Occurrences of Ogden's Pondweed in Ontario

Natural Heritage Information Centre

Ogden’s Pondweed has been documented at three populations ^{footnote 1[1]} in southeastern Ontario. The species was first documented to occur in Hastings County in 1873, but due to a vague description of where the species was located, the population was not able to be re-confirmed. The species was identified at Murphys Point Provincial Park in 1974 and Davis Lock on the Rideau Canal in 1987. All populations have been determined from specimen samples of the species.

Nothing is known about the abundance or population extent at any of the three populations in Ontario. Surveys for the species were undertaken in 2005 and 2006 at Murphys Point Provincial Park and Davis Lock and the species could not be found. A two day survey occurred for Ogden’s Pondweed at Murphys Point Provincial Park in 2009 which also produced negative search results. Despite search efforts, no observations have been reported for any population of Ogden’s Pondweed within the past 20 years. Ogden’s Pondweed is difficult to identify in the field due to its close similarity to several other pondweed species and its rarity, therefore negative search results should not indicate the species’ absence. The habitat was considered to be suitable in the vicinity of where the two Ogden’s Pondweed populations were identified and there was little observed impact of invasive plant species on the suitability of the habitat. As a result, expert opinion maintains that the species is likely still present in Ontario (COSEWIC 2007). Encouraging the submission of Ogden’s Pondweed observations is included in the GRS as a government-led action.

Everyone is encouraged, or may be required by an authorization or approval, to submit observations of Ogden’s Pondweed, as well as other species at risk, to the Ministry’s Natural Heritage Information Centre for incorporation into the provincial record of observation.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal and recommendations

Summary of progress

Progress has been made toward all government-led actions and a single government-supported action outlined in the GRS for Ogden’s Pondweed. As indicated in this chapter, the Government of Ontario has directly undertaken actions to: encourage submission of Ogden’s Pondweed data to the Natural Heritage Information Centre; protect the species through the ESA and its habitat through a habitat regulation; and support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Additionally, as indicated in the introductory chapter of this document, the government has established and communicated annual priority actions for support (section 3.1); educated other agencies and planning authorities on the requirement to consider the protection of the species and its habitat (sections 3.3 and 4.4); and undertaken communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario (section 4.3).

Little progress has been made towards the government-supported recovery objectives for this rare and difficult to identify species. In light of this, the government has taken steps toward one of the objectives and one of its associated actions that is identified in the GRS for Ogden’s Pondweed. Under the objective to confirm existence of Ogden’s Pondweed in Ontario and determine its extent and abundance, progress has been made towards the one action listed through work completed by Ontario Parks:

• Conduct surveys in suitable habitat at and in close proximity to the most recent known sites (Murphys Point and Davis Lock), and document information about each occurrence (Action No. 1; High Priority).

Confirming the species presence is a challenging task due to difficulties in identification and the rarity of the species. Although Ogden’s Pondweed was not identified during surveys completed by Ontario Parks, it is suspected that the species is likely still persisting in Ontario due to the presence of suitable habitat in the vicinity of where the species has been documented. This is consistent with the recovery goal for Ogden’s Pondweed.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, the review of progress towards protecting and recovering Ogden’s Pondweed 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 Ogden’s Pondweed should continue to guide protection and recovery actions for the species, particularly for the action identified in the GRS as high priority.

Moving forward, protecting and recovering Ogden’s Pondweed 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 Fund or the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario. The Ministry 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 Ogden’s Pondweed.

Members of the public, organizations and Aboriginal groups with an interest in ensuring the persistence of Ogden’s Pondweed in Ontario are encouraged to contact MNRF to find out more about the resources that the Ministry can provide to assist with stewardship and research efforts to recover Ogden’s Pondweed.

Summary of progress toward the protection and recovery of Ogden's Pondweed in Ontario (2007 to 2014)

Provincial status

• Ogden’s Pondweed is classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). The species has been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken since 2009, and its habitat has been protected from damage or destruction since 2009.

Species-specific documents and guidance published by the government

• Recovery Strategy for Ogden’s Pondweed (Potamogeton ogdenii) in Ontario (2010)
• Ogden’s Pondweed: Ontario Government Response Statement (2010)
• Ogden’s Pondweed Habitat Regulation (Ontario Regulation 242/08; 2011)

Supporting our partners

• The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (“the Ministry”) support helped a stewardship partner to involve 116 individuals who volunteered 1,178 hours of their time toward protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Ogden’s Pondweed.
• The Ministry has not issued any authorizations for Ogden’s Pondweed and no activities have been registered under the ESA.

Occurrences and distribution

• Ogden’s Pondweed has been documented in three populations in southeastern Ontario. Surveys have occurred at two populations since 2005 and the species could not be found. However, suitable habitat is present in the vicinity of where the species has been documented and the species is likely still present in Ontario.

References and related information

• Categorizing and Protecting Habitat under the Endangered Species Act
• COSEWIC. 2007. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Ogden’s Pondweed Potamogeton ogdenii in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vi + 19 pp.
• 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 Ogden’s Pondweed
• Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act
• Species at Risk in Ontario List
• Species at Risk Stewardship Fund