Northern Riffleshell, Snuffbox, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Rayed Bean

Introduction

This chapter provides a review of progress toward protection and recovery of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox in Ontario from 2007 to 2015. These five species have been grouped into one chapter because they share a government response statement (GRS). The GRS for these species identifies one recovery goal and common actions the government leads or supports to help achieve the recovery goal for all five species. Multi-species GRS may be used when two or more species share common ecosystems, geographic distributions, threats and/or biological needs. In these cases, combined actions can address the needs of a group of species more effectively than species-specific actions.

Species information

Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox are all freshwater mussel species. These species have several similarities and differences. All five species share the same threats and other factors that influence their ability to survive and recover; however, each species has a unique appearance and, although the species mainly live in the same waterbodies, they each prefer slightly different habitats. The following is a description of each species' physical appearance and habitat preferences followed by a description of where the species are found in Ontario, the threats they face and their limiting factors.

Northern Riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) is a small, colourful mussel that grows from 4.5 to 7.5 centimetres in length. The species' shell is brownish-yellow to yellowish-green with green lines. The shell of female Northern Riffleshells is rounded at the edge; this distinguishes females from males. Northern Riffleshell lives in riffle areas of rivers with steady to moderate flows and riverbeds that are rocky and sandy with firmly packed sand and fine to coarse gravel.

Rayed Bean (Villosa fabalis) is a small, oval-shaped mussel that grows less than four centimeters in length. Rayed Bean can be light or dark green and is covered with wavy, dark green lines. Rayed Bean is typically found buried in sand or gravel in shallow, clear headwaters and riffle areas of small tributaries and can often be found buried among the roots of aquatic plants.

Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia) is a medium to large-sized mussel that grows up to 13 centimetres in length. Adults of this species have a thick, mahogany-coloured shell with dark bands that develop as the mussel ages. Juveniles are a tan colour with green lines. Round Pigtoe generally inhabits medium to large rivers in mud, sand or gravel deeper than three metres as well as on sand and gravel bars. In smaller rivers, the species can be found buried in gravel and larger rocks, in or below riffles of water. Round Pigtoe can also be found in shallow, near shore areas of lakes with firm, sandy bottoms.

Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua) is a small mussel that grows to a maximum of approximately 42 to 49 millimetres in length in Ontario. Salamander Mussel has an elongated, oval-shaped shell that is smooth and quite thin. Salamander Mussel is yellowish-tan to dark brown in colour and, unlike other mussel species, does not have any shell markings. Salamander Mussel inhabits medium to large rivers with calm to swift currents. The species inhabits areas with sand, silt, mud and/or gravel substrates and is often found under large, flat rocks.

Snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra) is a small mussel that grows less than seven centimetres in length. Snuffbox has a distinct solid, thick shell that is triangular-shaped in males and elongate in females. Snuffbox is yellowish to yellowish-green with dark green, interrupted lines that resemble dripping paint. Snuffbox lives in riffle areas or shoals of small to medium-sized rivers and streams with swift currents. Snuffbox has also been known to live in lakes. The species can inhabit areas with a variety of substrates, including sand, gravel, cobble or boulder. Snuffbox has been found in water between 0.5 and 2.5 metres deep and can either be entirely buried or slightly exposed.

In Canada, Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Hickorynut, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox are only found in southwestern Ontario. All five species can be found in the Sydenham River; however, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox are only found in the East Sydenham River, and Rayed Bean is only found in a 50 kilometre stretch of the East Sydenham River. Although Snuffbox has recently been found in the East Sydenham River; it has previously been known to occur in the Ausable, Grand, Niagara, Sydenham, and Thames Rivers, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Erie. Round Pigtoe is mainly found in the St. Clair River delta; however, remnant populations are also found in the near shore waters of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair and the Grand and Thames Rivers. Rayed Bean can be found in the North Thames River, and Northern Riffleshell is found in the Ausable River.

All five species face several threats to their survival and recovery. The main threats to these species are large amounts of suspended sediment, nutrient loading, changing water temperature and invasive species.

The survival and recovery of these species are influenced by other factors as well. For example, larval mussels (glochidia) live on the gills of a host fish where they receive nourishment for the first part of their lives. This means that mussel reproduction relies on the presence and abundance of host fish species. This reliance can influence their ability to survive and recover. Another limiting factor for mussels is their restricted mobility, which makes them vulnerable to habitat changes in their immediate vicinity.

All five species are listed as endangered at both the provincial (Species at Risk in Ontario List) and federal (Schedule 1 under the Species at Risk Act) levels. Globally, these species range from vulnerable to imperiled.

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 all five species as endangered. The species were listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as endangered, but were not regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act. The species retained their endangered status 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 these species and their habitat are key components in the implementation of the ESA , and continue to be government-led actions, as identified in the government response statement. As endangered species, all five mussels have been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken under the ESA since it came into force in 2008. In addition, their habitat has been protected from being damaged or destroyed since June 30, 2013, based on the general habitat definition in the ESA. Transition to the ESA provided increased protection for these species and their habitat over what may have been provided prior to 2008 through other legislation or policies.

The ESA does not require a habitat regulation to be developed for transition species^{footnote 1[1]} such as Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox. However, the habitats of these species are still protected from being damaged or destroyed under the general habitat definition in the ESA.

Any person who negatively impacts these species or their habitat without prior authorization may be prosecuted under the ESA.

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox was published on September 10, 2010, 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 each species and the threats they face. The strategy also recommends objectives and approaches for protecting and recovering these five species. 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 Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF or "the Ministry") published the government response statement (GRS) for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox on June 15, 2011, which was within the timeframe required by the ESA. The GRS is government policy that contains the Government of Ontario’s goal for the recovery of these five species.

To help achieve this goal, the government leads and supports 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). In addition, the GRS lists the following specific action for the government to lead to help protect and recover these species:

• Encourage other agencies to ensure that wastewater treatment plants and stormwater management facilities are functioning effectively so as to maintain or improve water quality in the habitat of Northern Riffleshell, Snuffbox, Round Pigtoe, Mudpuppy Mussel and Rayed Bean.

The GRS for these five mussels also lists 10 actions the Ministry supports others to undertake for the species. These government-supported actions fall under the objectives identified in the GRS, which are:

• Address knowledge gaps related to the distribution, abundance, demographics and habitat use of existing mussel populations and host fishes;
• Confirm or identify threats, evaluate their relative importance and implement remedial actions to minimize their impacts; and
• Increase public awareness of the distribution, threats and stewardship opportunities related to these mussel species.

Government funded projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for these species is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund the Ministry has supported a total of 23 projects ($1,100,752) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox. All of these projects targeted multiple species at risk, including combinations of these five species. Of the 23 projects, 17 involved Northern Riffleshell, 14 involved Snuffbox, 13 involved Round Pigtoe, 11 involved Rayed Bean and 5 involved Salamander Mussel.

In total for the 23 projects, partners reported that they were successful in securing additional funding ($1,818,451) from other sources. This amount includes additional funding and in-kind support in the form of time and expertise provided by volunteers.

In total, stewardship partners reported that provincial funding helped them to secure in-kind support by involving 1,068 individuals who volunteered 12,784 hours of their time toward protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Northern Riffleshell, Salamander Mussel, Snuffbox, Round Pigtoe and Rayed Bean. This volunteer time has an estimated value of $258,215. These projects were also successful in enhancing 153 hectares of habitat expected to benefit multiple species at risk, including these five mussel species. In addition, the partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including these five mussel species, to 748,503 individuals.

The Ministry 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 Ministry provided funding to a total of three projects for these species. These projects were conducted to determine the most suitable sediment type and stream flow rate for juvenile and adult mussels, and to assess the ability of mussels to feed in water with varying amounts of suspended sediment. Two of the three projects apply to all five of the species while the third project applies to Snuffbox.

The remainder of this section highlights several projects that were supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund and the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario and their corresponding government-supported recovery actions.

Several partners have investigated the feasibility of breeding mussels in captivity to support efforts to increase population abundance. From 2011 to 2015, researchers working under the direction of Dr. Josef Ackerman at the University of Guelph were funded to develop a method for growing juvenile mussels in captivity. This work built on previous research to identify the host fish for various mussel species at risk, which took place between 2005 and 2010 and was funded in part by the Ministry. To develop a method for juvenile mussels, the researchers raised numerous Rayed Bean, Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox individuals in the lab. For all three of these species, they measured the growth and survival rates of individuals. Specific to Snuffbox, they studied the optimal diet and water conditions (e.g., temperature, sediment concentration) required to increase the survival rate of individuals grown in captivity. Northern Riffleshell and Round Pigtoe were both studied to determine the most effective host fish for the species. Two potential host fish species were compared for Northern Riffleshell; one species was found to produce more juvenile mussels. Two host fish species were tested for Round Pigtoe, but neither species produced any juvenile mussels. This was the first test ever conducted in Canada to determine the host fish for Round Pigtoe. The researchers also surveyed two different sections of the Sydenham River in 2011 and 2014 where they found individuals of Round Pigtoe, Northern Riffleshell, Snuffbox and Rayed Bean. These projects support the following three actions listed in the GRS for these five species: investigate the feasibility of augmenting the existing populations and of establishing actively managed refuge sites to minimize the impacts of invasive mussels; continue testing to determine the fish hosts of the Round Pigtoe; and determine the habitat requirements for all life stages. This research has contributed to investigating the feasibility of augmenting the existing populations by determining the most suitable habitat conditions for juvenile and adult mussels of these species. Determining the most suitable habitat conditions has helped determine the best conditions for artificially growing these mussels. Understanding how to artificially grow a species and what habitat characteristics it requires in its natural habitat are two important considerations for determining the feasibility of augmenting a population.

Since 2010, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA) has received funding to carry out the Sydenham River Habitat Stewardship Program. This program encourages the agricultural community to use best management practices (BMPs) for reducing nutrient sedimentation and nutrient loading in rural streams and drains. The main goals of the project are to educate local landowners about the species at risk in the Sydenham River and to provide assistance to landowners who wish to undertake BMPs in areas close to the watercourse. Each year the Conservation Authority advertises the program by meeting with hundreds of landowners, distributing flyers at agricultural events, and publishing newspaper advertisements. Approximately 65,000 species at risk newsletters are distributed annually throughout the SCRCA watershed in local newspapers. From 2010 to 2015, the program funded 75 projects including 41 riparian buffer projects, 16 stream bank stabilization projects, seven wetland creation projects, two well decommissioning projects, two sediment trap projects and nine projects that combined wetland creation and prairie restoration or riparian buffer creation. Combined these projects resulted in the creation or rehabilitation of 15 hectares of wetland and the planting of 94 hectares of trees, shrubs, tallgrass prairie and grasses, including over 28 kilometres of buffer directly along the watercourse. The Conservation Authority ensures the quality of each project by providing assistance during the project, including a follow-up program after each project is completed. These projects have supported the GRS action to encourage development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to incorporate BMPs for rural streams and drains and to develop materials and programs to increase public awareness of these mussels, the potential impacts of invasive species and stewardship options.

For several years, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) has been working with partners, including staff from the Ministry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, to implement a monitoring program using a network of permanent monitoring stations in the Ausable River. In 2008, 2011 and 2013, the ABCA received funding to conduct mussel and host fish surveys in the Ausable River to determine the presence and abundance of Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox as well as their host fishes. These surveys gathered baseline data for the species and are part of a long-term monitoring program to assess changes in the mussel populations. During the surveys, data were collected to determine the habitat requirements of Snuffbox and Northern Riffleshell, as well as other mussel species. This habitat data included information on water depth and velocity, sediment characteristics, algae growth, amount of sunlight and aquatic plants present. Surveys have also helped to identify an additional site that should be monitored over time to track changes in the Snuffbox population. ABCA has also developed materials and programs to increase public awareness of mussels. In 2011, the ABCA received funding from MNRF to educate local communities about mussel species at risk by giving presentations to children at schools and through a public outreach event. Overall, these projects have supported the GRS actions to implement a monitoring program using the established network of permanent monitoring stations to track changes in the distribution and abundance of the mussels and their host fishes; to determine the habitat requirements for all life stages; and to develop materials and programs to increase public awareness of these mussels.

Federal actions to protect and recover mussel species at risk in Ontario

MNRF works closely with the federal government to protect and recover species at risk in Ontario. The collaboration is particularly strong when it comes to aquatic species. As a result, several federal agencies have done work that aligns with actions identified in the GRS for these five mussel species. The following paragraphs describe some of this work and the GRS actions supported by it.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has led two recovery teams to develop ecosystem-based action plans for aquatic species at risk in the Ausable and Sydenham River watersheds. These teams include members from the Government of Ontario, conservation authorities, stewardship councils and universities. Both action plans are designed to benefit all fish and mussel species at risk in the watershed, as well as other species that may benefit from restoration and protection of the watershed. These plans each include over 20 measures to support the recovery of target aquatic species at risk. Measures include extensive stewardship projects, management actions, community awareness and outreach activities as well as research and monitoring. These recovery efforts have been underway for over a decade and remain ongoing with support from the federal Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk. These efforts support the GRS action to work with existing ecosystem recovery efforts to implement recovery actions on a watershed basis.

DFO has completed several actions to promote and enhance expertise in freshwater mussel identification and biology. Each year, DFO runs a freshwater mussel identification course in Ontario. The course has trained hundreds of individuals over the past decade. In addition, DFO has developed and funded the development of tools to help identify, sample and relocate mussel species at risk. These tools include a guidance document that outlines protocols and methods for sampling and relocating mussel species and a freshwater mussel identification app for smartphones which is now available for free download on iTunes.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has played a significant role in identifying and evaluating threats to mussels at their various life stages. This research is important for designing effective protection and recovery actions. ECCC has conducted studies with a range of mussel species, including some species at risk, and has examined the impact of municipal wastewater effluent and road runoff, including road salt, on wild and caged mussels. The studies found that municipal wastewater effluent and urban runoff can negatively affect mussel immune systems and damage their gill cells (Gillis 2012; Gillis et al. 2014a, 2014b). In addition, laboratory toxicity studies have revealed that the chloride levels in some important mussel habitats in southern Ontario can reach levels that are toxic to mussel larvae (i.e., glochidia)(Gillis 2011). The results of the road salt study were provided to the Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment and contributed to the development of the Chloride Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life (CCME 2011). In a recent study ECCC found that chemicals in pharmaceuticals and personal care products ( PPCPs), which are released to the environment by municipal wastewater treatment plants, can build up in mussel tissues (de Solla et al. 2016). This study detected 43 PPCPs from many pharmaceutical classes in the mussels' tissue, including anti-bacterial agents, antibiotics, antihistamines and progestins. Research is ongoing to determine the significance of this finding and whether the accumulated PPCPss pose a threat to mussels.

Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

• 
  $0

  for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox exclusively

• 
  $1,100,752

  for multi-species projects that included Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox

• 
  $1,818,451

  in additional funding and in-kind support

• 
  23

  projects included combinations of these five species

• 
  1,068

  volunteers

• 
  12,784

  volunteer hours

• 
  153

  hectares of habitat enhanced

• 
  748,503

  people received outreach

Efforts to minimize adverse effects on and create an overall benefit for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox

Supporting partners through permits and their associated conditions, is an important government-led action. A total of 13 permits have been issued for these five species since they were protected under the ESA, including 12 'protection or recovery permits' (i.e., 17(2)(b) permit) and one 'overall benefit permit' (i.e., 17(2)(c) permit). '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 12 'protection or recovery permits', four permits included all five mussel species, five permits included all species except for Salamander Mussel, and three permits were issued specifically for Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox. These permits allowed stewardship partners to carry out actions to help recover the species. Partners conducted surveys to determine the presence and abundance of the five mussel species as well as their fish hosts in the Ausable River watershed using the network of permanent mussel monitoring stations throughout the watershed. To expand this network, partners added several new permanent mussel monitoring stations in the Ausable River watershed. Conducting surveys at these monitoring stations allowed partners to gather and analyze information on the habitat requirements of the species. In addition, several permitted projects have also conducted research to determine the most effective method of raising juvenile mussels in order to artificially increase the size of current populations. The 'overall benefit permit' applied only to Salamander Mussel, Rayed Bean and Round Pigtoe. This permit allowed the construction of a new bridge. In order to avoid or minimize adverse effects to mussels, this project followed the 'Protocol for the Detection and Relocation of Freshwater Mussel Species at Risk in Ontario – Great Lakes Area (OGLA)' developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Several conditions of these permits were designed to implement government-supported actions identified in the GRS for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox, including:

• Improving municipal stormwater management by installing storm water quality control mechanisms (e.g., oil-grit separator) in storm sewers;
• Improving erosion control around storm sewer outfalls to reduce impacts from river bank degradation; and
• Enhancing the riparian buffer along rivers which contain these mussel species to reduce runoff.

Further information regarding 'overall benefit permits' is available through Ontario’s Environmental Registry.

A total of 36 agreements were entered into for the five species. Of these 36 agreements, 12 involve Northern Riffleshell, 13 involve Rayed Bean, 28 involve Round Pigtoe, 13 involve Salamander Mussel and 16 involve Snuffbox. The 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:

• Training for on-site workers on handling SAR and to raise awareness of SAR;
• Specific activities have been identified which should not occur in a sensitive area during a sensitive period due to likelihood of impact (e.g., minimize water level draw downs and de-watering of sensitive areas during sensitive periods); and
• Where an activity must occur within a sensitive area for fish and/or mussels, prior notification is required. MNRF will consult with DFO and the local Conservation Authority on appropriate mitigation measures.

Sixteen activities that may affect Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel or Snuffbox, or their habitat, have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. Eleven activities are registered under 'Drainage works' (section 23.9), one activity under 'Ecosystem protection' (section 23.11), one activity under 'Possession for educational purposes, etc.' (section 23.15), two activities under 'Species protection, recovery activities' (section 23.17) and one activity under 'Threats to health and safety, not imminent' (section 23.18). Of the 11 'Drainage works' registrations, seven involve Snuffbox and Round Pigtoe, five involve Northern Riffleshell and Salamander Mussel, and four involve Rayed Bean. The 'Ecosystem protection' registration only involves Round Pigtoe. The 'Possession for educational purposes, etc.' registration involves all five species. The 'Species protection, recovery activities' registration includes four of the five mussel species with the exception of Salamander Mussel. The 'Threats to health and safety, not imminent' registration only involves Snuffbox. These registrations require the registered individual to comply with all conditions of the regulations, such as:

• Carrying out the activity under the supervision of a person with expertise in the species;
• Conducting training for those carrying out the activity on species and habitat identification for the species, the potential effects of the activity on the species and its habitat, and how to minimize adverse effects;
• Preparing a mitigation plan including the steps to minimize or avoid adverse effects of the activity and how the effectiveness of these steps will be monitored;
• Taking immediate steps to minimize adverse effects on the species and their habitat; and
• Preparing a mitigation plan and updating this plan every five years.

Occurrences of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox in Ontario

Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC)

Since 2008, the Ministry has received 863 newly-submitted observations of the five species. This total number of observations is comprised of 168 Northern Riffleshell observations, 159 Rayed Bean observations, 245 Round Pigtoe observations, 32 Salamander Mussel observations and 259 Snuffbox observations. These records are based on observations between 1885 and 2013 and come from a variety of sources. These records have helped to broaden our understanding of where the species are known to occur and have helped to assess the viability of several populations. For example, since 2008, submissions of observations have helped provide updated occurrence information for four populations of Northern Riffleshell, two populations of Rayed Bean, six populations of Round Pigtoe, one population of Salamander Mussel and two populations of Snuffbox in Ontario. In addition, two populations, one of Northern Riffleshell and one of Round Pigtoe, have been newly-discovered since 2008 when the five species gained species protection under the ESA. It is possible that there are observations of these five mussel species that have not been submitted to the Ministry. Submission of observations of these species to the Ministry increases our knowledge of where they occur and can play an important role in assessing the viability of a population.

The following provides additional detail on the species and where they exist in Ontario.

Northern Riffleshell

Eight populations^{footnote 1[1]}of Northern Riffleshell have been documented in Ontario. Five local populations of Northern Riffleshell are currently considered to be extant (i.e., have been observed within the past 20 years), two are considered to be historical^{footnote 2[2]}, and one is considered to be extirpated (i.e., no longer exits). Northern Riffleshell is classified as extant in the Sydenham, Ausable and Maitland rivers as well as the St. Clair delta. A juvenile mussel was recently found in the Ausable River, which suggests that limited recruitment is occurring. Prior to 2008, Northern Riffleshell was classified as historical in Lake Erie and extirpated in the Thames River. Since 2008, the status of Northern Riffleshell in the Detroit River has also changed from extant to historical. A change from extant to historical reflects our knowledge of the population and may not be indicative of a change to the population.

Rayed Bean

Four populations of Rayed Bean have been documented in Ontario. Two populations are considered to be extant, and two are considered to be extirpated. Rayed Bean is extant in the North Thames and Sydenham rivers. The species appears to currently occupy a 122 kilometre section of the East Sydenham River and a 13 kilometre section of the North Thames River. Rayed Bean is extirpated in the Detroit River and Lake Erie.

Round Pigtoe

Eighteen populations of Round Pigtoe have been documented in Ontario. Nine populations are considered extant, and nine are considered to be historical. Round Pigtoe is extant in the Sydenham, Thames and Grand rivers as well as the Lake St. Clair delta. Prior to 2008, Round Pigtoe was deemed historical in the Niagara river, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. Since 2008, Round Pigtoe has also been considered historical in the Detroit River, two more areas of Lake Erie and in one area of the Grand River.

Salamander Mussel

Five populations of Salamander Mussel have been documented in Ontario. Four populations are considered to be extant, and one is considered to be historical. Salamander Mussel is extant in the Sydenham and Thames rivers as well as the Lake St. Clair delta; it is historical in the Detroit River. The NHIC has received far fewer observations for Salamander Mussel compared to the other four species. This is likely because Salamander Mussel has very unique habitat requirements, so it is difficult to find during traditional mussel surveys. In addition, the distribution of Salamander Mussel in North America suggests that Ontario is the most northern limit of the species' range and therefore it may be naturally rare in Ontario.

Snuffbox

Eleven populations of Snuffbox have been documented in Ontario. Four populations are considered to be extant, and seven are considered to be historical. Snuffbox is extant in the Ausable, Sydenham and Thames rivers. Prior to 2008, Snuffbox was deemed historical in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair as well as a portion of the Thames River. Since 2008, the Detroit River population of Snuffbox has changed from extant to historical. A change from extant to historical reflects our knowledge of the population and may not be indicative of a change to the population. Since 2008, 259 Snuffbox observations have been submitted to the NHIC. This is the most observations of any of the five mussel species. However, according to a 2013 progress report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, it is difficult to determine whether Snuffbox has become more abundant over time or whether more Snuffbox are being found because of increased survey efforts.

Everyone is encouraged, or may be required by an authorization or approval, to submit observations of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel or Snuffbox, as well as every other species at risk, to the Ministry’s Natural Heritage Information Centre for incorporation into the provincial record of observations.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

Summary of progress

Progress has been made toward all government-led actions and all government-supported actions outlined in the GRS for the five species. The Government of Ontario has directly undertaken actions to:

• Encourage submission of species data to the Natural Heritage Information Centre;
• Protect the species and their habitat through the ESA;
• Support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species;
• Establish and communicate annual priority actions for support;
• Educate other agencies and planning authorities on the requirement to consider the protection of the species and its habitat; and
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.

In addition the GRS for these species states that Ontario will encourage other agencies to ensure that wastewater treatment plants and stormwater management facilities are functioning effectively so as to maintain or improve water quality in the habitat of the species. For a description of the work completed for this action, please see the above section entitled 'Stormwater and Wastewater Management – Protecting Mussel Habitat in Ontario'.

Government-supported actions are organized under over-arching recovery objectives. Progress has been made toward all of the government-supported recovery objectives and all of the associated actions that are identified in the GRS for the five species.

Under the objective to address knowledge gaps related to the distribution, abundance, demographics and habitat use of existing mussel populations and host fishes, progress has been made towards the first and third actions, while considerable progress has been made towards the second and fourth actions for Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox:

• Implement a monitoring program using the established network of permanent monitoring stations to track changes in the distribution and abundance of the mussels and their host fishes, habitat use and the presence of invasive mussel species (Action No. 1; High Priority);
• Determine the habitat requirements for all life stages (Action No. 2; High Priority);
• Continue testing to determine the fish hosts of the Round Pigtoe (Action No. 3; High Priority);
• Investigate the feasibility of augmenting the existing populations and of establishing actively managed refuge sites to minimize the impacts of invasive mussels (Action No. 4); and

Progress toward this objective has been made through numerous projects funded by the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, two research projects funded through the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, MNRF research and survey work as well as two monitoring programs established by Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The MNRF Fish Culture Section has made progress toward the fourth action by determining how to artificially grow Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox.

Under the objective to confirm or identify threats, evaluate their relative importance and implement remedial actions to minimize their impacts, progress has been made toward the fifth action, initial progress has been made towards the sixth action, and considerable progress has been made toward the seventh action:

• Encourage development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to incorporate best management practices (BMPs) for rural streams and drains. These BMPs should include restoring a healthy riparian zone, reducing access by livestock, establishing manure-storage and runoff collection systems, encouraging conservation tillage and improving faulty septic systems (Action No. 5; High Priority);
• Work with landowners, drainage supervisors, engineers and contractors to limit the effects of drainage activities on mussel habitat (Action No. 6); and
• Identify and evaluate threats to all life stages to inform protection and recovery actions (Action No. 7).

The fifth action has been supported through several projects funded through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund. The sixth action was supported through actions taken by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the seventh action has been supported through research work by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Under the objective to increase public awareness of the distribution, threats and stewardship opportunities related to these mussel species, considerable progress has been made toward the eighth and the tenth actions and progress has been made toward the ninth action:

• Develop materials and programs to increase public awareness of these mussels, the potential impacts of invasive species and stewardship options (Action No. 8);
• Work with existing ecosystem recovery efforts to implement recovery actions on a watershed basis (Action No. 9); and
• Promote and enhance expertise in freshwater mussel identification and biology (Action No. 10).

The eighth action has been supported by more than a dozen projects funded through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund. The ninth action has been supported by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. The tenth action was supported through three projects funded through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund as well as work by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, including the annual Ontario Freshwater Mussel Identification Workshop.

The recovery goal for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Hickorynut, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox is to protect populations of the species, improve the habitat where they occur and to investigate the feasibility of augmenting the existing populations. Effort made toward the government-led and government-supported GRS actions has helped to make progress toward this goal. For example, the Ministry has funded projects, such as the Sydenham River Habitat Stewardship Program, which help improve the habitat of the species. In addition, as highlighted throughout this chapter, substantial efforts have been made to address knowledge gaps for these species, including those regarding the species' distributions, abundances and threats. A considerable amount of work has also been done to collect information on the distributions and abundances of these species. This work has been carried out through ongoing search efforts by conservation authorities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and MNRF. Recent search effort has been particularly strong in the Ausable, Sydenham, Grand and Thames Rivers, as well as the St. Clair River delta, where established networks of permanent monitoring stations track changes in the distribution and abundance of these species.

These efforts have updated the presence of 15 known populations of these species and discovered two new populations since 2008. Seven populations of the species have been classified as historical by the NHIC since 2008; however, this classification simply indicates that no updated information is available. The majority of these historical populations are located in the Detroit River and Lake Erie where less information is available for the species. The fact that all known populations of the species are still thought to exist is consistent with the goal of protecting populations of the species. The recovery goal also states that the government supports investigating the feasibility of augmenting the existing populations. As described in previous sections, research conducted by the MNRF and University of Guelph has made considerable progress toward this part of the recovery goal. Information gained through research and stewardship projects, as well as our increased understanding of the abundance and distribution of these species, will help to inform future actions to protect these species and improve the habitats in which they occur.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, the review of progress towards protecting and recovering Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox can be used to help identify whether adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of these species. Based on progress to-date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for these five mussels should continue to guide protection and recovery actions for the species, particularly actions identified as high priority in the GRS. Relative to actions that have received a high level of support, the following actions have received support to a lesser degree and may be considered in future decisions regarding the protection and recovery of the five mussel species:

• Although progress has been made to implement a monitoring program using the established network of permanent monitoring stations to track changes in the distribution and abundance of Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox (Action No. 1; High Priority), further work is required to track changes in the distribution and abundance of Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe and Salamander Mussel. In addition, more emphasis could be placed on monitoring the species' habitat use, the distribution and abundance of their host fish and the presence of invasive mussel species for all five species.
• Although considerable progress has been made to determine the habitat requirement for all life stages of Northern Riffleshell and Snuffbox (Action No. 2; High Priority) further work is required for Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe and Salamander Mussel.
• Although progress has been made, further work is required to determine the fish hosts of the Round Pigtoe (Action No. 3; High Priority); to encourage development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to incorporate best management practices for rural streams and drains (Action No. 5; High Priority); and to work with existing ecosystem recovery efforts to implement recovery actions on a watershed basis (Action No. 9; High Priority).
• Actions that build on the work already completed regarding the feasibility of augmenting existing populations of the species and establishing actively managed refuge sites to minimize the impacts of invasive mussels should be supported to identify and inform subsequent steps related to this action (Action No. 4).
• Further work is required in order to work with landowners, drainage supervisors, engineers and contractors to limit the effects of drainage activities on mussel habitat (Action No. 6) as limited progress has been made towards this action for all five species.

Moving forward, protecting and recovering these five species 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, Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario or the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program. 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 Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox in Ontario.

Summary of progress toward the protection and recovery of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox (2007 to 2015)

Provincial status:

• Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox are classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Prior to their transition to the ESA, the five species were listed as endangered on the Species at Risk in Ontario List, but were not regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act. The five species have been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken under the ESA since it came into force in 2008, and their habitats have been protected from damage or destruction since 2013.

Species-specific documents and guidance published by the government:

• Recovery Strategy for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox (2010)
• Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox: Ontario Government Response Statement (2011)

Government-supported stewardship projects:

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry ("the Ministry") has enabled its stewardship partners to conduct a total of 23 projects ($1,100,752) that have supported the protection and recovery of multiple species at risk, including a combination of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox.
• The Ministry’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 1,068 individuals who volunteered 12,784 hours of their time toward protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $1,818,451.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions 153 hectares of habitat were enhanced for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel, Snuffbox and other species at risk that inhabit the same ecosystem.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox to 748,503 individuals.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery:

• The Ministry has issued 13 permits for these five species: 12 'protection and recovery permits' were issued under clause 17(2)(b), and one 'overall benefit permit' was issued under clause 17(2)(c) of the ESA.
• A total of 36 agreements were entered into for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
• Sixteen activities have been registered for this species. The activities were registered under 'Drainage works' (section 23.9), 'Ecosystem protection' (section 23.11), 'Possession for educational purposes, etc.' (section 23.15), 'Species protection, recovery activities' (section 23.17), and 'Threats to health and safety, not imminent' (section 23.18) under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Occurrences and distribution:

• In total, there are 46 populations of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox that have been documented in southwestern Ontario. These 46 populations are comprised of eight populations of Northern Riffleshell, four populations of Rayed Bean, 18 populations of Round Pigtoe, five populations of Salamander and 11 populations of Snuffbox. Currently, 24 of these populations are extant, 19 are considered historical and 3 are considered extirpated. Since 2008, one population of Northern Riffleshell and one population of Round Pigtoe have been newly-discovered and updated occurrence information has been provided for 15 populations of these species.

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 for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Hickorynut, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox
• Ontario Government Response Statement for Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Hickorynut, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox
• Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act
• Species at Risk in Ontario List
• Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

References

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