Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell

Introduction

This chapter provides a review of progress toward protection and recovery of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell in Ontario from 2007 to 2015. These two 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 these 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

Round Hickorynut (Obovaria subrotunda) is a small to medium-sized, freshwater mussel that, in Canada, can grow up to 6.5 centimetres in length. It has a thick, smooth, dark brown to olive-brown shell with a lighter coloured band along one side and can be distinguished from other mussels by its round shape. In Canada, Round Hickorynut is known to exist in the Sydenham River, Lake St. Clair and a location in the Thames River. Historically, the species had also been known to occur in western Lake Erie, the Welland, Grand, and Detroit rivers, and two other locations in the Thames River. Round Hickorynut is typically found in medium to large rivers with sand or gravel substrates and steady, moderate flows up to two metres deep; however, the species has also been found in shallow areas of lakes with firm sand.

Kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus fasciolaris) is a medium to large-sized, freshwater mussel that grows to approximately 12 centimetres in length. Kidneyshell has a yellowish-brown kidney-shaped shell with regularly spaced, interrupted green lines that look like square-shaped spots. In Canada, Kidneyshell only exists in Ontario, specifically in the Sydenham and Ausable rivers, Medway Creek (a tributary to the Thames River) and the Lake St. Clair delta. Fresh shells were found in the Lower Thames River (near Tate Corners) in 2011 and the Middle Thames in 2005, indicating presence of the species at those locations as well. Historically, the species had also been known to occur in Lake Erie and the Detroit, Grand, Welland and Niagara rivers. Kidneyshell prefers shallow areas with clear, fast-flowing water over gravel and sand substrates.

Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell face several threats to their survival and recovery. The lake and river populations of these mussel species face different threats. The main threat for lake populations is Zebra and Quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis). These invasive mussels attach to the shells of native mussels and inhibit their feeding, respiration, excretion and movement. The main threat for river populations is water quality degradation from pollution and siltation. Water with large amounts of suspended sediment, particularly fine sediments from agricultural runoff, can clog the species’ gills and interfere with feeding, respiration and reproduction. The watersheds where these species are found in Ontario have extensive agricultural activity.

The survival and recovery of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell are also influenced by limiting factors associated with their biology. For example, mussels depend on host fish species to complete their reproductive process. Larval mussels (glochidia) live on the gills of a host fish to receive nourishment for the first part of their lives. Threats that affect the distribution and abundance of host fish species also threaten the mussels themselves. Another limiting factor for mussels is their limited ability to disperse, which makes them highly vulnerable to habitat degradation in their vicinity.

Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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, they are considered to be secure.

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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell as endangered. They 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell and applying habitat protection provisions are key components in the implementation of the ESA, and continue to be government-led actions, as identified in the species’ government response statement. As endangered species, Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell have been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken under the ESA since it came into force in 2008. In addition, the habitats of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell have 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 the species and their habitats 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^{footnote 1[1]} species such as Round Hickorynut or Kidneyshell. 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 Round Hickorynut or Kidneyshell or their habitat without prior authorization may be prosecuted under the ESA.

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell was published on September 10, 2010, which was in advance of the date required by the ESA, 2007. Recovery strategies are advice to government and represent the best available scientific knowledge. The strategy identified Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell habitat needs and the threats that they face, while recommending objectives and approaches for protecting and recovering the species. 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell.

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 toward achieving a species’ recovery goal are provided in section 2.5 of the Species at Risk Program Status (2008-2015). One specific action for the government to lead to help protect and recover Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell is:

• 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell.

The GRS for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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;
• Identify threats to the species, 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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 15 projects ($839,407) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell. All of these projects targeted multiple species at risk, including either one or both of these mussel species. Of the 15 projects, all projects involved Kidneyshell and five involved Round Hickorynut.

In total for the 15 projects, partners reported that they were successful in securing additional funding ($1,281,440) from other sources. This amount includes additional funding and 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 869 individuals who volunteered 10,622 hours of their time toward protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Kidneyshell or both mussel species, which has an estimated value of $222,150. The stewardship partners also reported that through their efforts and the efforts of their volunteers to implement actions contained in the GRS, they were successful in enhancing 92 hectares of habitat expected to benefit multiple species at risk, including Kidneyshell or both Kidneyshell and Round Hickorynut. In addition, the partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including these two mussel species, to 701,903 individuals.

The Walpole Island Heritage Centre received funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund in 2010 to develop a program to engage youth in environmental stewardship called the Bkejwanong Eco-Keepers. Youth participated in a broad range of skill development and training sessions including initiatives to transfer Traditional Ecological Knowledge about Walpole Island First Nation’s natural heritage and to train youth in species identification, including mussel, plant, tree, and reptile species, and methods for field data collection. Youth participants were responsible for organizing community outreach events and sharing information about species at risk with community members at workshops and children’s events as well as in local publications, displays and radio interviews. For example, the youth organized a workshop with Fisheries and Oceans Canada that focused on six freshwater mussel species found within Walpole Island First Nation, including Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell as well as Wavy-rayed Lampmussel, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, and Northern Riffleshell, which are reviewed in another chapter of this report. The workshop covered the freshwater mussel life cycle and biology, species identification, threats to the species, and recovery actions. After completing the program, participants reported having a better understanding of species at risk and that the program influenced their educational and career choices in a positive way. This project supported the action to develop materials and programs to increase public awareness of these mussels, threats to the species and stewardship opportunities and the action to promote and enhance expertise in freshwater-mussel identification and biology.

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent received support from the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund to improve water quality and habitat for aquatic species at risk within municipal drains and downstream natural heritage features in the Rondeau Bay, Lake St. Clair and Thames River watersheds. The objectives were to restore riparian habitat along municipal drains in an agricultural landscape and to educate landowners about the importance of biodiversity and protecting the habitat of species at risk. This project was modeled after the success of previous riparian buffer projects in neighbouring counties and benefited from partnerships with local landowners, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, Tallgrass Ontario, Stewardship Kent, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Target restoration sites were identified and prioritized based on available data (e.g., sites known to have poor water quality or inadequate riparian vegetation). Following landowner consultation, the sites were planted with native grasses using a seed drill. Water samples were tested before and after riparian buffers were planted along municipal drains to detect changes to water quality. The project resulted in over three hectares of riparian buffers planted along municipal drains and four hectares of native species planted at wetland restoration sites. This work directly benefits the freshwater mussel species at risk that live in these watersheds by improving water quality, stabilizing eroding banks, and reducing sedimentation and run off of nutrients. This project supported the GRS actions to work with landowners, drainage supervisors, engineers and contractors to limit the effects of drainage activities on mussel habitat; work with existing ecosystem recovery efforts to implement recovery actions on a watershed basis; develop materials and programs to increase public awareness of these mussels, the potential impacts of invasive species and stewardship options; and to incorporate best management practices for rural streams and drains including restoring a healthy riparian zone.

The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority has received funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund over multiple years to implement a monitoring program using a network of permanent monitoring stations in the Ausable River. This project conducted mussel and host fish surveys and collected data to determine habitat conditions for Kidneyshell and other species at risk mussels. This project has supported the high priority actions to implement a monitoring program using the established network of permanent monitoring stations; and determine the habitat requirements for all life stages.

The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority received funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund to implement a multi-year program that encourages the agricultural community to use a variety of approaches to reduce sedimentation and nutrient loading in rural streams and drains. This project implements the high priority government-supported action to encourage development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to incorporate best management practices for rural streams and drains, including restoring a healthy riparian zone.

The chapter on the Progress Toward the Protection and Recovery of Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Round Pigtoe, Salamander Mussel and Snuffbox provides additional detail about the outcomes of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority projects briefly described above, as well as information about research on species at risk freshwater mussels, including host fish species research, that has been conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Stormwater and wastewater management – protecting mussel habitat in Ontario

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) delivered on the government-led action to encourage other agencies to ensure that wastewater treatment plants and stormwater management facilities are functioning effectively to maintain or improve water quality in the habitat of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell through implementation of the Protocol for Conducting a Storm Water Control Study; the Protocol for the Sampling and Analysis of Industrial/Municipal Wastewater, Version 2.0 and the Policy Review of Municipal Stormwater Management in the Light of Climate Change. The review included policies, acts, or regulations within MOECC’s mandate of environmental protection, such as the Ontario Water Resources Act and the 2003 Stormwater Management Planning and Design Manual, as well as non-regulatory best practices for stormwater management. A multi-agency Stormwater Management Working Group contributed extensively to the review.

MOECC provided funding support for research projects by Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) on stormwater pond discharge temperature control and infiltration methods, which informed the CVC and TRCA Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Planning and Design Guide (2010) for municipalities and developers. MOECC also worked with the Canadian Standards Association on a training course for sustainable stormwater management and designing road and parking lot infiltration systems.

MOECC also launched a program called Showcasing Water Innovation, which demonstrates leading edge, innovative and cost-effective solutions for managing drinking water, stormwater and wastewater systems in Ontario communities. In 2011, the province put out the call for funding applications. Thirty-two projects were chosen to receive funding, and each project is now well under way. The projects are featured on the Government of Ontario’s website.

• 
  $0

  For Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell exclusively

• 
  $839,407

  For multi-species projects that included these species

• 
  $1,281,440

  in additional funding and support

• 
  15

  projects included these species

• 
  869

  volunteers

• 
  10,622

  volunteer hours

• 
  92

  hectares

• 
  701,903

  people received outreach

Efforts to minimize adverse effects on Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell

Supporting partners through permits and their associated conditions, is an important government-led action. A total of 11 permits have been issued for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell since these species have been protected under the ESA. Eleven ‘protection or recovery’ (i.e., 17(2)(b)) permits were issued for Kidneyshell, including seven permits that also listed Round Hickorynut. These permits enabled a variety of organizations to undertake activities such as conducting surveys and monitoring, scientific research and mussel identification training. ‘Protection or recovery permits’ are issued if the purpose of the activity is to assist the protection or recovery of a species at risk.

In total 23 agreements were entered into for one or both of these species. Eighteen of the 23 agreements included Round Hickorynut and 20 agreements included Kidneyshell. 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 the activity will occur in a sensitive area for a mussel species;
• Contacting the Ministry for direction prior to undertaking an activity in a sensitive area for a mussel species;
• Undertaking mitigation measures for sediment control, erosion control and bank stabilization; and
• Following established guidelines for specific activity types (e.g., bridge maintenance, culvert maintenance, temporary stream crossing, etc.) as set out in Ontario Operational Statements.

Fifteen activities that may affect Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell or their habitat have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. Ten of these activities are registered under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9) and include improvements or maintenance to drainage works or ditches by municipalities. The remainder of the activities are registered under ‘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). These registrations support projects related to pipeline repair, mussel identification training, species surveys, erosion control and dyke rehabilitation.

These registrations require the registered individual to comply with all conditions of the regulation, such as:

• Preparing and implementing a mitigation plan developed by an expert on the species including taking steps to minimize adverse effects on the species and its habitat;
• Taking reasonable steps to control erosion and sediment, and to stabilize water banks in any area affected by the activity if the area is the habitat of the species;
• Reporting observations of the species to the Ministry using the Rare Species Reporting Form;
• Conducting training on species and habitat identification, the potential effects of the activity on the species and its habitat and how to minimize adverse effects; and
• Reporting annually on the effectiveness of mitigation actions set out in the plan.

Occurrences of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell in Ontario

Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC)

Eleven populations^{footnote 1[1]} of Round Hickorynut have been documented in Ontario. Three of the populations are considered to be extant (i.e., observed within the past 20 years), seven are considered to be historical^{footnote 2[2]}, and one is considered to be extirpated (i.e., no longer in existence). The extant populations are located in the Lake St. Clair delta, the Sydenham River and a section of the Thames River that runs through Oneida First Nation, where one fresh^{footnote 3[3]} shell was found in 2005. The most significant population of Round Hickorynut in Canada is located in the Lake St. Clair delta, within Walpole Island First Nation. Since 2008, two populations changed from extant to historical (the population at Tate’s Bridge on the Thames River and the population on the Detroit River and southwest end of Lake St. Clair) based on the date the species was last observed at the location. A change from extant to historical reflects our knowledge of the population and may not be indicative of a change to the population itself. The seven historical locations of Round Hickorynut include the Grand River (Lower), the Thames River in the Chatham area and at Tate’s Bridge, Lake Erie in the areas of Pelee Island, East Sister Island, and Kingsville, and the Detroit River and southwestern end of Lake St. Clair. The Welland River population is considered to be extirpated.

Since 2001, live Round Hickorynut individuals have only been reported from the Lake St. Clair delta and Sydenham River populations. Despite the fresh shell found in 2005, there is some uncertainty regarding the status of the Thames River population, which is not identified as extant in the 2013 Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Appraisal Summary for Round Hickorynut.

Fourteen populations of Kidneyshell have been documented in Ontario. Six of these populations are extant (i.e., have been observed within the past 20 years) and eight are considered to be historical. The extant populations are in the Ausable and Sydenham rivers, the Thames River (at Tate Corners and the Middle Thames), Medway Creek (a tributary to the Thames River) and the Lake St. Clair delta. The six extant populations are based on reports of live individuals at four of these locations and whole (i.e., both valves) fresh shells found at the two locations in the Thames River. The Ausable River population is the largest in Canada and includes a new observation of 64 live Kidneyshell individuals in Nairn Creek, which was reported following monitoring work conducted by a Species at Risk Stewardship Fund partner in 2011.

The 2013 COSEWIC Status Appraisal Summary indicates that Kidneyshell populations in the Sydenham River appear stable, but populations in Lake St. Clair and the Ausable River continue to decline. This report states that populations in the Sydenham and Ausable River appear to be reproducing, but populations in Medway Creek and Lake St. Clair are not reproducing. Kidneyshell was thought to be likely extirpated from the Thames according to the 2003 COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report, but live individuals were found in Medway Creek in 2006 and 2008 through increased search effort. The Medway Creek population was included as extant in the 2013 COSEWIC Status Appraisal Summary on the Kidneyshell in Canada and the 2013 Recovery Strategy for the Round Hickorynut (Obovaria subrotunda) and Kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus fasciolaris) in Canada. The discoveries of whole fresh shells at Tate Corners and in the Middle Thames River also indicate presence of Kidneyshell in the Thames River. A whole fresh shell was found at Tate Corners (in the Lower Thames) in 2011, and one was found in the Middle Thames in 2005. Despite the whole fresh shells found in 2011 and 2005, there is some uncertainty regarding the status of these two populations, which are not identified as extant in the 2013 COSEWIC Status Appraisal Summary for Kidneyshell.

The eight historical locations of Kidneyshell include the Niagara River, the Grand River in the areas of Caledonia and Cayuga, the Lower Grand River and Lowbanks-Lake Erie shoreline, Lake Erie in the areas of Port Colborne, Kingsville, and Pelee Island, Hen Island, and East Sister Island, the Lower Thames River, and the Detroit River and southwestern end of Lake St. Clair.

Since 2008, the Ministry has received approximately 120 records for Round Hickorynut and 302 records for Kidneyshell. These records come from a variety of sources and are based on observations between 1890 and 2011 for Round Hickorynut and 1885 and 2013 for Kidneyshell. Records submitted have helped to redefine where these species are known and have been known to occur and have provided additional information on the species’ habitat and threats. It is possible that there are observations of these species that have not been submitted to the Ministry. Encouraging the submission of observations of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell to the Ministry 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell, 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell. The Government of Ontario has directly undertaken actions to:

• Encourage submission of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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 their habitat; and
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.

In addition to these government-led actions, 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 Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell.

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 toward each of the four actions:

• Implement a monitoring program using the established network of permanent monitoring stations to track changes in the distribution and abundance of the species 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);
• Confirm the host fish species for the Round Hickorynut (Action No. 3; High Priority); and
• Investigate the feasibility of augmenting existing populations of the species and of establishing actively managed refuge sites to minimize the impacts of invasive mussels (Action No. 4).

The actions have been implemented through several projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, conditions of authorizations, and research conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The MNRF Fish Culture Section has also made progress toward the fourth action by determining how to artificially grow Kidneyshell.

Under the objective to identify threats to the species, evaluate their relative importance and implement remedial actions to minimize their impacts, progress has been made toward each of the three actions:

• Encourage development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to incorporate best management practices for rural streams and drains. These best management practices 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).

These actions have been implemented through projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund and conditions of authorizations.

Under the objective to increase public awareness of the distribution, threats and stewardship opportunities related to these mussel species, progress has been made toward each of the three actions:

• 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).

These actions have been implemented through projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund and conditions of authorizations.

The recovery goal for Kidneyshell and Round Hickorynut is to protect populations of the species, to 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. The Ministry has funded projects to restore degraded habitats and improve water quality in areas where these species occur. Efforts have been made to address knowledge gaps regarding the distributions and abundance of these species through increased surveys, provision of training on mussel identification and collection of data from an established network of permanent monitoring stations. Research activities funded by the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund and the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, as well as research conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, have made significant advancements in determining the feasibility of augmenting existing populations of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, the review of progress toward protecting and recovering Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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 the species should continue to guide protection and recovery actions, 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; this may be considered in decisions regarding the protection and recovery of Kidneyshell and Round Hickorynut:

• Further work is required to implement a monitoring program using the established network of permanent monitoring stations to track changes in the distribution and abundance of the species and their host fishes, habitat use and the presence of invasive mussel species (Action No. 1; High Priority); encourage development and use of Environmental Farm Plans and Nutrient Management Plans to incorporate best management practices for rural streams and drains, including 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 effects of drainage activities on mussel habitat (Action No. 6); and to work with existing ecosystem recovery efforts to implement recovery actions on a watershed basis (Action No. 9).
• Although progress has been made toward confirming the host fish species for Round Hickorynut, further research is required to complete this action (Action No. 3; High Priority). As stated in the 2013 federal recovery strategy, host identification experiments identified Blackside Darter (Percina maculata), Fantail Darter (Etheostoma flabellare) and Iowa Darter (Etheostoma exile) as host fishes for Round Hickorynut in Canada (McNichols 2007), but additional research is needed to identify primary hosts and to confirm functional hosts by studying how the distributions of the mussel and its host overlap in time and space. There may be other species that act as hosts for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell that have yet to be examined in Canada (e.g., Eastern Sand Darter for Round Hickorynut, although this has not been tested in the laboratory). Fish surveys have been performed in the Ausable, Thames and Sydenham rivers to gain a better understanding of population characteristics and ranges for known host fishes for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell.

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).Moving forward, protecting and recovering Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell 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 toward protecting and recovering Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell in Ontario.

Summary of progress toward the protection and recovery of Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell (2007 to 2015)

Provincial status:

Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell are classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Prior to their transition to the ESA, they were listed as endangered on the Species at Risk in Ontario List, but were not regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act. The species have been protected from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken under the ESA since it came into force in 2008, and their habitat has been protected from damage or destruction since 2013.

Species-specific documents and guidance published by the government:

• Recovery Strategy for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell (2010)
• Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell: 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 15 projects ($839,407) that have supported the protection and recovery of multiple species at risk, including Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell.
• The Ministry’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 869 individuals who volunteered 10,622 hours of their time toward protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $1,281,440.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions 92 hectares of habitat were enhanced for Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell and other species at risk that inhabit the same ecosystem.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Round Hickorynut and Kidneyshell, to 701,903 individuals.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery:

• The Ministry has issued 11 permits for this species, all of which are ‘protection and recovery’ permits issued under clause 17(2)(b) of the ESA.
• A total of 23 agreements were entered into for one or both of these species. These agreements were enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment).
• Fifteen activities have been registered for these 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.

Occurences and distribution:

• There are 11 populations of Round Hickorynut that have been documented in Ontario. Currently, three of these populations are extant, whereas seven are considered historical and one is extirpated. Since 2008, the status of two populations changed from extant to historical based on the dates that they were last observed.
• There are 14 populations of Kidneyshell that have been documented in Ontario. Currently, six of these populations are extant, whereas the remaining eight are considered historical. Since 2008, observations have been made at four of the extant populations.

Related Information

• Categorizing and Protecting Habitat under the Endangered Species Act
• Natural Heritage Information Centre
• Ontario’s Endangered Species Act
• Ontario’s Endangered Species Act Regulation 242/08
• Ontario Recovery Strategy and Government Response Statement for Round Hickorynut
• Ontario Recovery Strategy and Government Response Statement for Kidneyshell
• Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act
• Species at Risk in Ontario List
• Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

References

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) 2011. Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life: chloride. Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines, 1999 (and Updates). Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Winnipeg.

COSEWIC. 2013. COSEWIC status appraisal summary on the Round Hickorynut Obovaria subrotunda in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xxiv pp.

COSEWIC. 2013. COSEWIC status appraisal summary on the Kidneyshell Ptychobranchus fasciolaris in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xxvi pp.

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