Rouge National Urban Park: multiple species action plan (proposed)

Official title: Multi-species Action Plan for Rouge National Urban Park of Canada [Proposed]

Species at Risk Act

Action Plan Series

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)Footnote 2  agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of action plans for species listed as Extirpated, Endangered, and Threatened for which recovery has been deemed feasible. They are also required to report on progress five years after the publication of the final document on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Under SARA, one or more action plan(s) provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in the recovery strategies for the species. The plan outlines what needs to be done to achieve the population and distribution objectives (previously referred to as recovery goals and objectives) identified in the recovery strategies, including measures to address the threats and monitor the recovery of the species, as well as the proposed measures to protect critical habitat that has been identified for the species. The action plan also includes an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation. The action plan is considered to be one resource in a series of documents that are linked and should be taken into consideration together with the COSEWIC status reports, management plans, recovery strategies, and other action plans produced for these species.

The Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency (the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change) is the competent minister under SARA for the species found in Rouge National Urban Park of Canada and has prepared this action plan to implement the recovery strategies as they apply to the Park, as per section 47 of SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the province of Ontario, and the Rouge National Urban Park First Nations Advisory Circle as per section 48(1) of SARA.

Implementation of this action plan is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to all of those who contributed to the content of this plan, especially the Rouge National Urban Park First Nations Advisory Circle (FNAC), partner communities, stakeholders, and experts who participated in discussions and planning meetings in the fall and winter of 2018, the site analysis meetings held in December 2019 and March 2020, and the provision of written feedback on the draft version of this plan. Special thanks goes out to individuals from: Birds Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Friends of Rouge National Urban Park; the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters; Ontario Streams; the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre; the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; the Toronto Zoo; the University of Toronto- Scarborough; York Region Federation of Agriculture; Jarmo Jalava- Independent Consultant; and to all those who contributed their time, expertise and information throughout this process.

The development of this action plan was strengthened by the participation of representatives from the FNAC communities who contributed to Parks Canada's current understanding of areas of mutual interest. The Rouge National Urban Park FNAC consists of: the seven Williams Treaties First Nations – Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Beausoleil First Nation – as well as Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Huron-Wendat Nation.

Executive summary

The Multi-species Action Plan for Rouge National Urban Park of Canada applies to lands and waters occurring within the boundaries of Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP) of Canada, including Bead Hill National Historic Site. The plan meets the requirements set out in the Species at Risk Act (SARA s.47) for species requiring an action plan that regularly occur at this site. Measures described in this plan will also provide benefits for other species of conservation concern that regularly occur at RNUP. For the purposes of this plan, "regularly occurring" indicates that the species has been observed at the site at least once in the past ten years.

Where it has been determined that the site can implement management activities to help recover and/or manage a species, site-specific objectives are identified in this plan and represent the site's contribution to objectives presented in federal recovery strategies and management plans. Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are protected by existing regulations and management regimes in national parks, national urban parks, and national historic sites as well as by SARA. Additional measures that will contribute to the survival and recovery of the species at the site are described in this plan. These measures were identified based on threats and actions outlined in federal and provincial status assessments and recovery documents, as well as knowledge of the status and needs of each species at each site. Population monitoring measures are also identified for the species for which management activities at the sites can contribute to recovery.

Critical habitat has already been identified in RNUP for Blanding's Turtle and Bashful Bulrush and more may be identified in the future when possible. No additional critical habitat is identified in this action plan. Measures used for protection of existing critical habitat are described.

Measures proposed in this action plan will have limited socio-economic impact and place no restrictions on land use outside of RNUP. The implementation of Farm Management Plans and incorporation of best management practices into agricultural practices may present minimal socio-economic costs to Park farmers as outlined in Section 5.1. Direct costs of implementing this action plan will be borne by the Parks Canada Agency (PCA). Indirect costs are expected to be minimal, while benefits will include positive impacts on ecological integrity, greater awareness and appreciation of the value of biodiversity to Canadians, and opportunities for engagement of local communities and Indigenous groups.

1. Context

Canada's first national urban park, Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP), was officially established in May 2015 and protects some of the highest quality habitat in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Once fully established, it will span 79.1 km² in the heart of Canada's largest and most diverse metropolitan area, overlapping the cities of Toronto, Markham, and Pickering, and the Township of Uxbridge (Figure 1). Within the park is evidence of 10,000 years of human history relating to the presence of Indigenous Peoples, agricultural settlement, recreational use, and environmental stewardship. One particularly significant site that is included within RNUP boundaries is the Bead Hill National Historic Site, the only known remaining and intact 17^th-century Seneca village site in Canada. RNUP has a long history of agriculture heritage and about half of its land area is managed by Park farmers through agricultural leases. The Park's natural and cultural diversity and urban setting pose opportunities and challenges never before encountered in any other place under the Parks Canada Agency's (PCA) protection.

RNUP contains some of the largest and highest quality examples of forest, meadow, riverine, and inland and coastal wetlands in the urban and near-urban landscape of the GTA. The Park also contains small remnants of rare habitats such as oak savannah, and some of the northern-most reaching remnants of Carolinian woodlands in Ontario. The Park extends across three watersheds (Rouge River, Petticoat Creek and Duffins Creek) in the eastern portion of the GTA, thus contributing tangibly to the overall health of those ecosystems.

The southern portion of the Park lies at the northern edge of the Carolinian Life Zone and supports a high diversity of flora and fauna. It predominantly consists of mature forested ravine complexes in addition to steep valley slopes along the Rouge River, bluffs, expansive floodplains, and the largest coastal wetland in the City of Toronto, the Rouge Marsh. The Rouge Marsh is among the region's most ecologically valuable and productive habitats; it provides a number of essential ecosystem services, and provides important habitat for many mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and fish species throughout their different stages of development. The northern portion of the Park lies at the southern limit of the Oak Ridges Moraine. In the north, the landscape is predominantly level and dominated by agricultural lands, with wetland and forested pockets and corridors intertwined. It also forms a key ecosystem connection within the Greenbelt between Lake Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Rouge's relatively high biodiversity and ecological richness can be attributed to the Park's location and its many variations in topography, microclimates, soil type and land use.

Human presence has long been part of the Rouge's trajectory, with over 10,000 years of recorded human history in the area, including rich and diverse Indigenous history. Although settlers have been farming the Rouge Valley since 1804, the first farmers in this area were Indigenous communities who started growing corn and other crops around 700 AD. Significant increases in human disturbances correspond with Euro-Canadian settlement in the 18th-century and the proliferation of logging, milling, and industrial agriculture. Modifications to the landscape intensified in the 20^th-century and much of the area's original landscapes were further altered or disturbed by housing developments, aggregate mineral extraction, and the construction of service and transportation corridors. In recent years, unmanaged and increasing visitation, dumping, pollution, poaching, and the creation and use of several unofficial trails throughout sensitive habitats has resulted in significant human impacts in the Park, with many of these issues predating Parks Canada's presence and the creation of Rouge National Urban Park in 2015. Ecological impacts of past and current settlement and recreation activities include the introduction of numerous invasive alien plant species and feral animals, increased effects of hyper-abundant species, altered hydrological and fire regimes, the destruction of habitat from urban development, the extirpation of several species, and the increased use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers for use in forestry and agricultural operations.

The Park's ecological integrity will be maintained or restored through a wide range of actions that result in greater native biodiversity, better conditions for cold-water aquatic species, and enhanced ecological connectivity. Restoration projects throughout the Park will focus on improving conditions in five main types of ecosystems – forest, meadow, wetland, coastal marsh, and riverine. In agricultural landscapes in the Park, restoration programming will seek to find win-win opportunities where ecosystem function can be improved simultaneously with farming operations through enhancement of infrastructure or implementation of best management practices. Restoring wetlands and riparian vegetation along stream channels, re-naturalizing fallow areas, restoring marginal lands no longer used for agriculture, and working with Park farmers to enhance native species composition in hedgerows, woodlots, and pollinator habitats are all activities that will benefit the ecological integrity of Park ecosystems. Additionally, these activities will help to preserve Class 1 farmland, the rarest and most fertile in the country, in a landscape where farming is an activity with more than two hundred years of history.

Rouge National Urban Park is surrounded by a dynamic urban environment, including many residential, industrial and commercial developments that have the potential to greatly impact the ecological integrity of the Rouge. Infrastructure such as roads, highways, rail lines, hydro corridors, regional water mains, pipelines, and sewers traverse all parts of the Park and serve growing urban populations in the eastern portion of the GTA. While Parks Canada can implement conservation and recovery measures in RNUP, and enforce Agency legislation within its boundaries, many of the species and their habitats that are a focus of this action plan also extend beyond the boundaries of the Park. This is why the important partnerships that have been forged with the Park's conservation partners and community stakeholders are critical in species conservation and recovery efforts.

Parks Canada has worked with many partners and volunteers in RNUP to improve the ecological health of the Park and increase opportunities to support the recovery of species at risk. Parks Canada works closely with representatives from 10 Indigenous communities, as part of the Rouge National Urban Park First Nations Advisory Circle (FNAC), as well as other federal departments, the Province of Ontario, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the Toronto Zoo, local municipalities, academic partners, local conservation groups, farmers and community volunteers to conserve and protect species at risk and their habitats. Multiple measures in this plan involve engaging key conservation partners, road authorities, external landowners, leaseholders, and Park user groups to raise public awareness of the challenges facing species at risk in the GTA and encourage the use of best management practices and participation in citizen science opportunities.

Parks Canada will also work closely with the Rouge National Urban Park FNAC to meaningfully incorporate Indigenous Traditional and Modern Knowledge into management practices to conserve species at risk. The integration of Indigenous Traditional and Modern Knowledge into park management practices is an important and integral part of the PCA's commitment to become better stewards of the park now, and for future generations. By continuing to build and strengthen long term relationships with FNAC communities, Parks Canada will gain a better understanding of the ecological, cultural, and spiritual significance of the lands we are working to protect. This, in turn, allows Parks Canada to care for ecosystems using a holistic approach, through shared values and perspectives. Honoring and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into park planning, management, and operations will also empower relationships that contribute to further stewardship, increasing capacity to connect with Indigenous-led conservation projects and sharing Indigenous Traditional and Modern Knowledge on a broader scale with park tenants, visitors, and Canadians across the country.

Maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity is the first priority of national parks (Canada National Parks Act s.8(2)) and Canada's first national urban park (Rouge National Urban Park Act s.6(1)). Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are therefore protected by existing park legislation, rules and management regimes. In addition, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) prohibitions protecting individuals and residences apply automatically when a species is listed, and all critical habitat in national parks and national historic sites must be legally protected within 180 days of being identified.

Recovery measures for species at risk will be integrated within the framework of Parks Canada's Ecological Integrity Monitoring and Impact Assessment programs. Parks Canada maintains comprehensive and scientifically rigorous ecological integrity monitoring and restoration programs in Canada's national parks that are organized according to the major ecosystems present in the Park. These ecological integrity programs can be found in Park-specific State of the Park Reports^{Footnote 3} . The recovery measures described in this action plan are therefore organized in the same manner. Parks Canada's Ecological Integrity Monitoring programs make contributions to the recovery of species at risk by providing inventory and monitoring data that contribute to habitat management decisions, and through the implementation of habitat restoration projects and other conservation measures. The species-directed measures outlined in this plan will, in turn, contribute to maintaining and improving ecological integrity at the site by improving the conservation status of native species and their habitat and maintaining biodiversity. All projects that are proposed as part of this action plan will undergo the impact assessment process in order to ensure all potential negative impacts are identified and mitigated or avoided and that compensation is implemented, where required. Species at risk and critical habitat are two of the primary 'valued components' considered through the impact assessment process, along with various other components such as water quality and aquatic ecosystems, cultural and agricultural resources, socio-economic impacts and visitor experience.

A number of federal and provincial recovery strategies and plans, management plans, and action plans have been prepared for species considered in this action plan. Along with COSEWIC status assessments, those documents provide guidance for the recovery of individual species, including strategic directions, recovery objectives, critical habitat, and threats. This action plan was developed and will be implemented in a manner that is consistent with those recovery documents, and should be viewed as part of this body of linked strategies and plans.

1.1 . Scope of the action plan

The geographic scope of this action plan includes all federally owned lands and waters managed by Parks Canada in RNUP (Figure 1), including Bead Hill National Historic Site as it is wholly contained within the boundaries of the park. This multi-species action plan has been written specifically for RNUP because Parks Canada is legally responsible for species at risk on Parks Canada's lands and waters, has the ability to take direct conservation action, and deals with different threats, legislation, and management priorities than areas outside the sites.

This action plan addresses 41 SARA-listed species as well as nine other species of conservation concern that regularly occur^{Footnote 4}  in RNUP (Table 1). Extirpated, Endangered and Threatened species in the list require an action plan under SARA (s.47). This plan specifically addresses the portion of the species' population that occurs within RNUP. This approach both responds to the legislated requirements of SARA and provides Parks Canada with a comprehensive plan for species conservation and recovery at the site.

Additional action plans may be developed by partners that address other portions of the species' range extending beyond RNUP boundaries. This action plan should be considered along with any other action plan developed for species listed in Table 1 in order to have a comprehensive view of recovery actions that cover the full range of the species. Refer to the Species at Risk Public Registry to access other action plans. This action plan will be amended as required to meet SARA requirements.

2. Site-based population and distribution objectives

The potential for Parks Canada to undertake management actions at the site that will contribute to the recovery of each species was assessed. Site-specific population and distribution objectives were developed (Appendix A) to identify the contribution that the site can make towards achieving the national objectives presented in federal recovery strategies and management plans. Because they are directly linked to the site-based population and distribution objectives, monitoring activities are reported in Appendix A rather than in the tables of recovery measures (Appendices B & C). If there is little opportunity for the site to contribute to the recovery of a species, site-specific objectives and conservation measures may be limited to protection measures in place under the Rouge National Urban Park Act, the Canada National Parks Act, the Impact Assessment Act, and SARA, and population monitoring, habitat maintenance, and restoration through the existing management regimes at the site. For many species, population and distribution objectives for RNUP are not meaningful at the scale of this action plan for various reasons, including 1) threats cannot be controlled in the park or do not exist in the park (e.g., wide-spread disease, threats exacerbated by the surrounding dynamic urban environment, loss of overwintering habitat elsewhere); 2) species is only transient; or 3) population within the site is a very small part of the Canadian distribution or is unknown or unconfirmed.

3. Conservation and recovery measures

The opportunities for RNUP to contribute to national population and distribution goals for species at risk have been assessed and prioritized. In total, 76 conservation and recovery measures are outlined in Appendices B & C. Each measure includes an associated desired outcome, identifies the threat or recovery measure addressed through the implementation of the measure, and Appendix B includes a timeline for the desired outcome to be completed by. Desired outcomes reflect outcomes that are quantifiable and achievable over the five-year implementation period of this plan. Long-term conservation and recovery objectives such as increasing species usage of a restored or replaced habitat, eradicating invasive species from RNUP, and increasing the natural recruitment of a long-lived species are all longer term objectives, but are likely not achievable by 2026.

Many recovery measures outlined in this plan (Appendices B & C) will be conducted in collaboration with conservation partners in RNUP. Academic interest in the Park has also meant a consistent source of research that informs management and restoration efforts. Additionally, Parks Canada continues to engage Park leaseholders, visitors and volunteers to improve the ecological health of the Park and support the recovery of species at risk. The broad and diverse Park visitor base provides opportunities to connect with visitors through direct involvement in species recovery and to draw upon citizen science and volunteers in resource conservation. In 2017, for example, the Park held one of Canada's largest ever citizen science events, BioBlitz Canada 150. Educational events and programs of this nature are expected to continue in the years ahead.

This action planning process identified measures to achieve site-based population and distribution objectives, along with measures required to protect the species and learn more about them. The process of determining which measures will be conducted by the Park (Appendix B) and which measures will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources come available (Appendix C) involved a prioritization process. The process primarily considered ecological effectiveness of measures, and also included consideration of opportunities to increase the value of the visitor experience at the Park, opportunities to increase awareness through external relations, and fiscal opportunities and constraints. Wherever possible, Parks Canada is taking an ecosystem based approach, prioritizing actions that benefit numerous species at once to effectively and efficiently protect and recover species at risk.

Five themes emerge from the measures Parks Canada will take for species at risk recovery in RNUP: habitat restoration; active management; invasive species management; working together to fill knowledge gaps; and visitor engagement, education and outreach. These themes are briefly described below.

Habitat restoration

Parks Canada will continue to build on important work conducting broad-scale ecological restoration programming throughout RNUP including the creation and enhancement of habitat for species at risk. Within the five-year window of this plan, Parks Canada will restore more than 40 hectares of wetland and riparian habitat, 30 hectares of forest habitat, and 6 hectares of meadow habitat in RNUP. These deliverables are in addition to the more than 70 hectares of wetland and riparian habitat, 27 hectares of forest habitat and two hectares of meadow habitat that have already been restored since RNUP was created in 2015.

Developing and implementing a five-year ecological restoration plan will allow RNUP to prioritize sites for restoration work that will result in the highest gains from an ecological perspective. In collaboration with TRCA, a Restoration Opportunities Prioritization Framework specific to RNUP is being developed, which takes into account a wide variety of valued systems that may be impacted (e.g., species at risk, areas of cultural importance, agricultural operations and promoting a vibrant farming community, and aquatic ecosystems). The framework encompasses lands throughout the Park, including agricultural lands, and helps to identify objectives that complement restoration work, such as enhancing visitor experience and creating opportunities for partnership and public engagement.

Conceptual restoration plans for rare and remnant habitats that support species at risk in the Park (e.g. oak savannah, oak woodland) will be developed and implemented over the next three years. Restoration activities will include creation of additional habitat for species at risk and the enhancement of existing wildlife corridors in strategic locations throughout the Park where specific habitat types are limited (e.g. turtle and snake nesting, basking and overwintering habitat, and complex woody habitat for fish). Restoration goals will be achieved, in part, by prioritizing sites with high ecological value for species at risk. Targeted habitat restorations will include actions such as forest, riparian and meadow plantings, wetland restoration and enhancement, stream channel re-naturalization, wildlife barrier removals, priority invasive species removal, and the ongoing creation and implementation of plans for forest prescriptions, prescribed fires, mowing and cutting regimes and best management practices for farm operations.

Collaboration with the park's farming community to maintain and restore ecological integrity through the enhancement of natural habitats, as well as management of soils and water on agricultural properties has resulted in both ecological and agricultural gains. A few examples of how restoration efforts have and will continue to result in farmland enhancement include: improving farming conditions by increasing naturalized drainage, improving hydrology and water filtration through the creation of tile treatment wetlands, improving farm crossings while incorporating natural-bottom culverts and low-level crossings that facilitate aquatic species movement, and restoring the native species composition of hedgerows and associated vegetation buffers that act as wind breaks and prevent loss of soil, while providing habitat for pollinators that are necessary for crop and native plant pollination.

Active management

While habitat restoration is important for many species at risk at RNUP, there continues to be individual needs for certain species. Active management measures will include, but are not limited to:

• ongoing Blanding's Turtle reintroductions to supplement the original Park population. Parks Canada has worked with the Toronto Zoo to release nearly 400 two-year old Blanding's Turtles back into the wild and will continue to reintroduce head-started turtles in the coming years
• nest protection and egg collection, incubation, and release of Snapping Turtles, Midland Painted Turtles, Map Turtles, and Blanding's Turtles within the park. This initiative, led by PCA's resource conservation staff, will help to reduce the nearly 100% nest predation that occurs due to human subsidized predators such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes
• contributing to further improvements to wildlife passage across roads throughout the Park. In areas of the park that are heavily used as migration corridors for breeding or nesting, adjacent to wetlands, or that have been identified as road mortality hotspots, the installation and improvement of eco-passages and road mortality mitigation fencing will be considered, working in cooperation with intergovernmental agencies to identify key opportunities
• Parks Canada will develop and implement a Fire Management Plan for RNUP, which will include prescriptions for burns to facilitate the natural succession of fire-dependent ecosystems, such as meadows, native prairie, and oak woodland habitats within RNUP. In some circumstances, the succession of these meadows has resulted in the establishment of invasive species and reduced suitability of these habitats for species at risk. To encourage regeneration of native meadow species and to maintain RNUP's largest meadow at Bob Hunter Memorial Park and the new 19^th Avenue Welcome Area, prescribed burns will be implemented at these sites
• in partnership with park farmers, Parks Canada will work towards developing specific farm management plans and encourage the incorporation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) into farming practices in the Park. Through this process, tenant farmers and Parks Canada staff will be more aware of the needs of the farming community, of BMPs currently in place by park farmers, and of new and innovative BMPs that will encourage both agricultural and ecological sustainability. Examples of BMPs that will be encouraged include, but are not limited to: 1) managing agricultural grasslands such as pastures, hay fields, small grain fields, and fallow fields to support species at risk and pollinators; 2) making minor adjustments in harvest timing to support wildlife nesting and other seasonal wildlife needs; and 3) restoring hedgerows and associated buffers that benefit wildlife and habitat connectivity and are necessary for crop pollination

Invasive species management

Invasive species represent a significant threat to many of the species at risk in RNUP and are posing a threat to RNUP's overall ecological integrity. While there has been an ongoing effort to manage some of the most prevalent invasive species, such as dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum), European common reed (Phragmites australis australis), and Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), a larger initiative is planned and necessary for the coming years.

Developing and implementing an Invasive Species Management Plan (ISMP) will provide Parks Canada a framework to target invasive species in RNUP that are highest priority for removal and threaten species at risk and their habitats. Specific programs will combat invasive alien plant species such as Phragmites and dog-strangling vine. The Rouge Marsh Restoration Program will incorporate the removal of Phragmites through herbicide application for Phragmites established on dry land, and cutting and drowning methods for Phragmites cells originating underwater. Dog-strangling vine will be managed through herbicide applications in specific areas, and alternative management approaches such as biocontrol, manual removal methods, and planting native species to increase resilience to invasion. Invasive tree species are also pushing some species at risk trees, such as butternut, to the brink of extirpation due to hybridization with exotic plantings. A comprehensive park-wide butternut inventory will be conducted and the hybridization of each tree will be determined using phenotypic traits or genetic analyses where required. A list of butternut hybrids and invasive species known to readily hybridize with butternut will be maintained and used to prioritize future management activities.

Currently, RNUP's resource conservation staff manage a database to document observations of invasive species. Most of the invasive species management efforts, including herbicide applications to Phragmites and dog-strangling vine in the park thus far have been reactive, but through the implementation of the ISMP, early detection through the park's ecological integrity monitoring program, and the creation of a formalized Watch List, RNUP will work towards the proactive prevention of incoming invasive species.

An additional challenge for RNUP when combating invasive species includes the surrounding dynamic urban environment (e.g. residential backyards) and municipally and provincially owned infrastructure that traverses the park (e.g. roads, highways, rail lines, and hydro corridors). Parks Canada will collaborate with external land managers to combat invasive species in these areas and prevent park invasions or reinvasions.

In addition to invasive plant species, non-native fauna, diseases, and other pathogens also pose a threat to species at risk in RNUP. Actions to reduce impacts of common carp and impending threats of Asian carp species in the Rouge Marsh, and non-native turtles throughout RNUP wetlands will be addressed through this plan.

Working together to fill knowledge gaps

Research and monitoring is needed to fill gaps in the knowledge base necessary to build programs for some species at risk. Many of these measures will require partnerships and/or additional funding, and will benefit from the opportunity to work with the academic community, Indigenous partners, partner agencies, non-governmental conservation organizations, volunteers, and citizen scientist programs.

Many species at risk occupy anthropogenic structures such as chimneys and attics of houses, barns, and other outbuildings during part or all of their life cycle. Parks Canada manages over 1600 units of infrastructure (built assets) within RNUP, including those for public use, operational and commercial buildings, houses, and outbuildings such as sheds, garages, barns, stables, and silos. In cases where these structures are in a state of disrepair and removal or decommissioning must be considered due to health and safety concerns, habitat compensation will be considered or required, particularly in cases where species at risk have been observed actively inhabiting these structures. Barn Swallows, Chimney Swifts, Eastern Milksnakes, Eastern Ribbonsnakes, and Myotis bat species are intensively surveyed for at sites that are beyond a state of repair and are being considered for removal. Any structure that is actively used by any of these species will be replaced with the appropriate habitat compensation, or the integrity of the structure will be reassessed and considerations will be made to keep the structure or the part of the structure being used by the species. Best Management Practices and recommendations for these species at risk currently exist and are being implemented. Parks Canada is hoping to further contribute to these BMPs within RNUP by serving as a sample site to test, monitor, and evaluate many of the current proposed mitigations, designs, and monitoring methods that have been used throughout Ontario, Canada, and across borders.

In addition, targeted surveys are required in order to confirm the presence and/or distribution of several species such as Butternut, Western Chorus Frog, Eastern Pondmussel, and species at risk fishes. Inventory information is needed to better identify the role and importance of RNUP to the protection and recovery of these species.

Visitor engagement, education, and outreach

Visitor experience and outreach opportunities are also key to the success of this multi-species action plan. Located within a one hour's drive of 20% of Canada's population, RNUP has a unique opportunity to engage with hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, including a diversity of Canadians, newcomers, and international visitors. The park will contribute to broader species conservation by building awareness and encouraging stewardship among the visiting public. Special events and programming will be used to provide species at risk information during peak visitor seasons each year. Guided hikes throughout the year focus on connecting visitors with nature, sharing information on RNUP's history, and educating about species at risk, their habitats, and conservation and recovery measures underway in RNUP. On average over 170 guided hikes are led annually, reaching over 2,500 visitors each year.

Parks Canada will also engage and involve the public in meaningful recovery actions in RNUP for species at risk through volunteer and citizen science opportunities. Visitors will be encouraged to participate in species at risk inventory and monitoring by reporting sightings to the "Rouge National Urban Park Project" using the free iNaturalist app or by becoming an official RNUP volunteer and assisting with ecological surveys for nesting turtles, bat maternity roosts, species at risk pollinators, and helping at invasive species removal and restoration planting events.

Education and outreach opportunities in RNUP are not limited solely to our visitors and Park tenants. Including additional target partners in educational opportunities and messaging such as intergovernmental agencies, private businesses, and landowners on adjacent lands will allow RNUP to address threats within its boundaries, but also across the broader landscape extending outside of the Park. Working together on improving road management practices such as use of salt and invasive species management in right-of-ways, altering mowing regimes to benefit species like the Monarch and educating tenants and landowners on threats to turtles by hosting nest protection workshops are all activities that can contribute to the protection of species at risk within RNUP and on a broader landscape scale.

3.1. Measures already completed

Since the first official land transfer to the PCA in 2015, the Agency has been taking action towards the recovery of species at risk in RNUP. Conservation and recovery measures already completed include:

• over 72 ecological restoration and farmland enhancement projects, in partnership with TRCA, Indigenous partners and park farmers, resulting in the restoration of more than 70 hectares of aquatic habitat, more than 27 hectares of forest habitat, two hectares of meadow habitat and the planting of more than 126,000 native trees, perennials, shrubs and aquatic plants
• over one hectare of Phragmites removal and management in the Rouge Marsh and on tenanted farmland
• box culvert improvements and the installation of eco fencing along the roadsides at a site adjacent to a large wetland resulting in a significant decrease in road mortality, in partnership with the Toronto Zoo, TRCA, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, City of Toronto and City of Pickering
• the improvement, replacement, and installation of over 15 culverts in stream channels at farm crossings, resulting in reduced sedimentation and increased water flow and connectivity, in partnership with park farmers and the TRCA
• surveys of historical locations of extirpated plant species, such as Bashful Bulrush, and the completion of a feasibility study for reintroduction to RNUP
• surveys of suitable habitat for two SARA-listed species, Flooded Jellyskin and Pale-bellied Frost Lichen, to determine presence or absence in RNUP
• the first seasonal closure of sensitive wildlife habitat for ecological reasons
• the installation of approximately 400 metres of deer exclusion fencing to protect a sensitive forested area of RNUP
• the installation and monitoring of replacement habitat structures for Barn Swallows, snakes, and bats
• the development of ten ecological integrity monitoring measures, many of which allow Parks Canada staff in RNUP to collect inventory data on species at risk (e.g. bird and amphibian community monitoring, forest invasive species monitoring and deer browse surveys)
• the development of signage and visitor experience programs (e.g., Creature Feature, Wildlife Wednesdays) that promote the protection and recovery of species at risk;
• the creation and fostering of more than 20 new partnerships to enhance the protection of species at risk and their habitats
• in partnership with the Toronto Zoo: 1) the identification of hibernacula, nesting sites, and movement throughout the Park for Eastern Milksnake (in collaboration with the University of Waterloo) and Eastern Ribbonsnake; 2) acoustic monitoring, trapping, and radio-tracking of Myotis species to inform health of bat populations, their reproductive status, and to identify roosting sites and changes in species composition over the long- and short-term; and 3) the monitoring of turtle populations in RNUP, including nesting sites, road mortality hotspots, hibernation sites, and the release of 270 two-year-old Blanding's Turtles and nearly 185 hatchlings into RNUP wetlands
• the incubation and release of 176 hatchling Snapping Turtles and Painted Turtles from nests discovered in RNUP by Parks Canada staff in the first year of the program's implementation; and
• the first comprehensive compilation of a database of species at risk observations and reports from throughout the newly established RNUP boundaries, including the integration of data from three bioblitz events, research and collections reports, more than 15 different organizations and numerous individuals (e.g., NHIC, TRCA, Birds Canada, Ontario Nature, park staff and tenants, citizen scientists)

4. Critical habitat

Critical habitat is "the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species' critical habitat in the recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species" (SARA s.2(1)). Critical habitat has already been identified in RNUP for Blanding's Turtle and Bashful Bulrush in their respective recovery strategies. In cases where critical habitat identification is not complete, it will be identified in an upcoming or revised action plan or revised recovery strategy; refer to the schedule of studies in relevant recovery strategies for further details.

4.1. Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

Critical habitat identified in future versions of this action plan and in other recovery documents within RNUP will be legally protected from destruction as per section 58 of SARA. Other mechanisms that help to protect critical habitat in RNUP include Parks Canada's Impact Assessment program and the Research and Collection's permitting process. Specific measures to restore, enhance, and protect critical habitat in RNUP are included in Appendix B.

5. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and of benefits

The Species at Risk Act requires the responsible federal minister to undertake "an evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation".

5.1. Costs

The total cost to implement this action plan will be borne by Parks Canada through existing resources. This includes incremental salary costs, materials, equipment, and contracting of professional services for measures outlined in Appendices B and C. No major socio-economic costs to partners, stakeholders, or Indigenous Peoples are expected as a result of this action plan; however, the implementation of Farm Management Plans and incorporation of BMPs into agricultural practices may present some socio-economic costs to park farmers. In order to mitigate potential costs to farmers, decisions related to the implementation of these plans and practices will incorporate feedback from the agricultural community. In some situations, Parks Canada may reimburse or compensate farmers for implementing certain practices. Additional resources or partnerships will be sought to support the measures outlined in Appendix C.

Many of the proposed measures will be integrated into the operational management of the site and there will be few new costs. These costs to the government will be covered by prioritization of existing resources, funding and salary dollars at the site and should not result in additional costs to society.

The action plan applies only to lands and waters in RNUP, and does not bring any restrictions to land use outside the site. As such, this action plan will place no socio-economic costs on the public. However, minor restrictions may be placed on visitor activities, residential properties, and agricultural operations on RNUP lands and waters to protect and recover species at risk.

5.2. Benefits

Measures presented in this action plan for RNUP will contribute to meeting recovery strategy objectives for Threatened and Endangered species, and will also contribute to meeting management objectives for species of Special Concern. These measures are expected to have an overall positive impact on ecological integrity and enhance opportunities for appreciation of the site and the species by visitors and the general public. This action plan includes measures that could result in benefits to Canadians, such as positive impacts on biodiversity and the value individuals place on preserving biodiversity.

The proposed measures seek a balanced approach to reducing or eliminating threats to species at risk populations and habitats, and include protection of individuals and their habitat (e.g. restrictions to human activities within areas occupied by the species, combined with ongoing research and monitoring), potential species re-establishment, and increasing public awareness and stewardship (e.g. signage, visitor programs, and highlights in communications materials).

Potential economic benefits of the recovery of the species at risk found in this site cannot be easily quantified, as many of the values derived from wildlife are non-market commodities that are difficult to appraise in financial terms. Wildlife, in all its forms, has value in and of itself, and is valued by Canadians for aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, educational, historical, economic, medical, ecological and scientific reasons. The conservation of wildlife at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada's commitment to conserving biological diversity, and is important to Canada's current and future economic and natural wealth.

Implementing this action plan is expected to have positive benefits for park visitors, local residents, farmers, and Indigenous Peoples. Some activities in the plan may create opportunities for local residents to become involved in the recovery of species at risk and for cooperation and community partnerships in species at risk recovery. Benefits should be relatively evenly distributed across individuals in local communities, and opportunities for involvement will be available to all local residents. These include opportunities to learn about and take part in the recovery of culturally important species at risk, opportunities for visitors and partner communities to be involved in conservation issues, opportunities for integration of Indigenous Traditional and Modern Knowledge into conservation issues in RNUP, and greater awareness of Indigenous values and culture among local residents and visitors to the parks. In doing so, the plan supports the following goal under SARA: "the traditional knowledge of the [Indigenous] Peoples of Canada should be considered in the assessment of which species may be at risk and in developing and implementing recovery measures".

6. Measuring progress

Reporting on the implementation of the action plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the measures listed in Appendix B. Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the action plan will be done by assessing progress towards meeting the site-based population and distribution objectives. Progress will be assessed annually and a report summarizing the results of this plan will be issued at the end of the plan's initial five-year window.

7. References

Arancibia, D. under the supervision of Hélène Cyr. 2012. The Distribution and Status of Freshwater Mussel Populations in the Rouge River Watershed. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. 19 pp.

Barnhart, B., C. Toulouse, M. Young (Ed.), and D. Gasbarrini (Ed.). 2020. Eastern Milksnake Monitoring Rouge Park: 2018 and 2019 Report. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. 27 pp.

Barrett, S. under the direction of the Rouge Watershed Task Force. 2007. Rouge River Watershed Plan towards a Healthy and Sustainable Future. Report of the Rouge Watershed Task Force. 2007. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto, Ontario. ix + 192 pp.

Brown, H. 2010. Habitat Assessment and Recovery Planning for Species at Risk in Rouge Park [Final Report]. Rouge Park, Aurora, Ontario. 58 pp.

Bureau du Nionwentsïo- Nation huronne-wendat. Remis à Environnement et Changement climatique Canada. 2016. Écologie Historique et Connaissances Écologiques Traditionnelles Huronnes-Wendat Relatives à Douze Espèces Animales et Végétale dans le Wendake Sud [Historical Ecology and Traditional Huron - Wendat Ecological Knowledge Pertaining to Twelve Animal and Plant Species in South Wendake]. Nation huronne-wendat, Quebec. 136 pp.

Burke, P.S. 2012. Management Plan for the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) in Ontario. Ontario Management Plan Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Peterborough, Ontario. vi + 47 pp.

Chaput, G., D.K. Cairns, S. Bastien-Daigle, C. LeBlanc, L. Robichaud, J. Turple, and C. Girard. 2014. Recovery Potential Assessment for the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) for eastern Canada: mitigation options. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2013/133. v + 30 pp.

COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar (Nunavik population, Labrador population, Northeast Newfoundland population, South Newfoundland population, Southwest Newfoundland population, Northwest Newfoundland population, Quebec Eastern North Shore population, Quebec Western North Shore population, Anticosti Island population, Inner St. Lawrence population, Lake Ontario population, Gaspé-Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population, Eastern Cape Breton population, Nova Scotia Southern Upland population, Inner Bay of Fundy population, Outer Bay of Fundy population) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xlvii + 136 pp.

COSEWIC. 2011. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Silver Lamprey, Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence populations and Saskatchewan – Nelson Rivers populations Ichthyomyzon unicuspis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. Xiii + 55 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm).

COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Eastern Wood-pewee in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. x + 39 pp.

COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. ix + 46 pp.

COSEWIC. 2013. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Grasshopper Sparrow pratensis subspecies Ammodramus savannarum pratensis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. ix + 36 pp.

COSEWIC. 2015. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Yellow-banded Bumble Bee Bombus terricola in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. ix + 60 pp.

COSEWIC. 2017. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Redside Dace Clinostomus elongatus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xii + 63 pp.

COSEWIC. 2018. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. x + 52 pp.

COSEWIC. 2018. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Black Ash Fraxinus nigra in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xii + 95 pp.

COSEWIC. 2018. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xii + 63 pp.

COSEWIC. 2018. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Midland Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta marginata and the Eastern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta picta in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xvi + 107 pp.

Environment Canada. 2010. Recovery Strategy for the Butternut (Juglans cinerea) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa vii + 24 pp.

Environment Canada. 2011. Management Plan for the Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iii + 19 pp.

Environment Canada. 2011. Management Plan for the Yellow-breasted Chat virens subspecies (Icteria virens virens) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iii + 18 pp.

Environment Canada. 2012. Recovery Strategy for the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) and the Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. viii + 32 pp.

Environment Canada. 2012. Recovery Strategy for the King Rail (Rallus elegans) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 21 pp.

Environment Canada. 2013. Management Plan for the Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iii + 24pp.

Environment Canada. 2014. Recovery Strategy for the Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 41 pp.

Environment Canada. 2015. Management Plan for the Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iii + 27 pp.

Environment Canada. 2015. Management Plan for the Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus), Great Lakes population, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iv + 23 pp.

Environment Canada. 2015. Management Plan for the Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iv + 26 pp.

Environment Canada. 2015. Recovery Strategy for the Loggerhead Shrike, migrans subspecies (Lanius ludovicianus migrans), in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vii + 35 pp.

Environment Canada. 2015. Recovery Strategy for the Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata), Great Lakes / St. Lawrence – Canadian Shield population, in Canada, Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series, Environment Canada, Ottawa, vi + 50 pp.

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vii + 56 pp.

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vii + 49 pp.

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vii + 52 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2016. Management Plan for the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. iv + 45 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2016. Management Plan for the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. iv + 39 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2017. Management Plan for the Peregrine Falcon anatum/tundrius (Falco peregrinus anatum/tundrius) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. iv + 28 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Management Plan for the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. v + 37 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. viii + 59 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. vi + 107 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), the Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and the Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. ix + 172 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2019. Management Plan for the Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. iv + 46 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2019. Recovery Strategy for the Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. x + 120 pp.

Falconer, M., K. Richardson, A. Heagy, D. Tozer, B. Stewart, J. McCracken, and R. Reid. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. ix + 70 pp.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2018. Management Plan for the Northern Brook Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor), Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence populations, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. vi + 33 pp.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2018. Recovery strategy and action plan for the Eastern Pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. vi + 63 pp.

Golder Associates Ltd. 2011. Recovery Strategy for Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) – Northwestern Ontario, Great Lakes–Upper St. Lawrence River and Southern Hudson Bay–James Bay populations in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. vii + 77 pp.

Heagy, A., D. Badzinski, D. Bradley, M. Falconer, J. McCracken, R.A. Reid, and K. Richardson. 2014. Recovery Strategy for the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. vii + 64 pp.

Hodgkiss, S., J.V. Jalava, and the Rouge River Valley CAP Development Team. 2015. Rouge River Valley Signature Site Conservation Action Plan. 2015. Carolinian Canada Coalition, London, Ontario. x + 48 pp. + appendices.

Jalava, J.V. 2017. Feasibility of Reintroduction of Bashful Bulrush (Trichophorum planifolium) to Rouge National Urban Park. Prepared for Parks Canada. v + 39 pp.

Kirk, D.A. 2014. Management Plan for the Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in Ontario. Ontario Management Plan Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. viii + 32 pp.

Kirkpatrick, C., K. McKeown, D. Gasbarrini (Ed.), and M. Young (Ed.). 2020. Blanding's Turtle Head-Start Monitoring: Turtle Tracking 2018-19 Report. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. 18 pp.

Lee, R., S. Ritchie, J. Phillips, and B. Johnson. 2012. Rouge Park Blanding's Turtle Headstart Initiative. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. 55 pp.

Leermakers, C., M. Young (Ed.), and D. Gasbarrini (Ed.). 2020. Road Ecology in Rouge National Urban Park: 2019 Report. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. 10 pp.

MacGregor, R., J. Casselman, L. Grieg, J. Dettmers, W.A. Allen, L. McDermott, and T. Haxton. 2013. Recovery Strategy for the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. x + 119 pp.

Maddalena, M. 2018. Multi-Scale Patterns of Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) Habitat Selection and Behavioural Responses to Habitat Fragmentation (Master's Thesis). University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. x + 70 pp.

Maddelena, M.P., J.R. Rowe, M.E. Dyson, G. Blouin-Demers, and B.C. Fedy. 2020. Movement and Habitat Selection of Eastern Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) at Intact and Fragmented Sites. Copeia 108(4), 847-854.

Matczak, E., M. Donnelly, and T.J. Thorne under the direction of K.C.R. Kerr. 2020. Bat Population Assessment within Rouge National Urban Park: 2015-2019 Report. Native Bat Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. v + 56 pp.

McCracken, J.D., R.A. Reid, R.B. Renfrew, B. Frei, J.V. Jalava, A. Cowie, and A.R. Couturier. 2013. Recovery Strategy for the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. viii + 88 pp.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 2017. A Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario 2017–2030. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Toronto, ON

Parks Canada Agency. 2013. Detailed Assessment for the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in Rouge National Urban Park of Canada. Species at Risk Detailed Assessments. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. 12 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2013. Detailed Assessment for Eastern Pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta) in the Rouge National Urban Park. Species at Risk Detailed Assessments. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. 9 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2013. Detailed Assessment for the Few-Flowered Club-Rush (Trichophorum planifolium) in Rouge National Urban Park. Species at Risk Detailed Assessments. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. 9 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2013. Detailed Assessment for the Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in Rouge National Urban Park. Species at Risk Detailed Assessments. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. 11 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2019. Rouge National Urban Park Management Plan. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. ix + 73 pp.

Redside Dace Recovery Team. 2010. Recovery Strategy for Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. vi + 29 pp.

Ritchie, S., M. Kula, J. Phillips, and B. Johnson. 2011. Identifying Wetland Restoration Opportunities for Recovery of Species at Risk Turtles in Rouge Park. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. vii + 154 pp.

Ritchie, S. 2017. Overwintering Ecology of Head-started Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in an Artificial Wetland Complex (Master's Thesis). University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. vii + 84 pp.

Smith, T.W. and C.J. Rothfels. 2007. Recovery Strategy for Few-flowered Club-rush/Bashful Bulrush (Trichophorum planifolium (Sprengel) Palla) in Canada. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources by the Royal Botanical Gardens. Hamilton. vi + 22 pp.

Sodhi, D.S., S.W. Livingstone, M. Carboni, M.W. Cadotte. 2019. Plant invasion alters trait composition and diversity across habitats. Ecol Evol 9:6199-6210. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5130

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. 2012. Stewardship of Species at Risk in Grasslands and Farmlands of Rouge Park [Final Report]. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto, Ontario. 14 pp.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). 2015. Rouge National Urban Park – Terrestrial Biological Inventory and Assessment. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto, Ontario. 167 pp.

Tu, C., J. Pisapio, D. Lawrie, T. Rance with technical advisory input from S. Woolfenden and L. Yeager. 2010. Rouge River Watershed Fisheries Management Plan [DRAFT]. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto, Ontario and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. xvi + 212 pp.

Vandervelde, C., C. Jennings (Ed.), M. Young (Ed.), and D. Gasbarrini (Ed.). 2020. Rouge National Urban Park Turtle Nesting Report 2019. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. 22 pp.

Varga, S., J. Jalava, and J.L. Riley. (1991). Ecological Survey of the Rouge Valley Park. Open File Ecological Report 9104. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Aurora, Ontario. vii + 282 pp. + 5 folded maps.

Wijewardena, T., D. Gasbarrini (Ed.), and M. Young (Ed.). 2020. Blanding's Turtle Head-Start Project Mark-Recapture Study 2019. Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario. 16 pp.

Appendix A: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for species at risk in RNUP.

Appendix B: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted by the Parks Canada Agency in RNUP.

Appendix C: Other conservation and recovery measures that will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources become available.

Appendix D: Effects on the environment and other species

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is conducted on all SARA recovery planning documents, in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. The purpose of a SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making and to evaluate whether the outcomes of a recovery planning document could affect any component of the environment or achievement of any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy's^{Footnote 12}  goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that recovery actions may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process, which is based on national guidelines, directly incorporates consideration of all environmental effects, with a particular focus on possible impacts upon non-target species or habitats. The results of the SEA are incorporated directly into the plan itself, and are summarized below.

Overall, it is anticipated that implementation of this action plan will have a beneficial impact on non-target species, ecological processes, and the environment in RNUP. This plan puts into practice recovery goals presented in recovery strategies already developed for some of the species at risk in this plan, which were subject to SEAs during the development of those documents. Further, this action plan was developed to benefit all species at risk that regularly occur in RNUP; all of these species were considered in the planning process, any potential secondary effects were considered and mitigated, and where appropriate, measures were designed to benefit multiple species. The planning process was also guided by priorities identified in the park's ecological integrity monitoring program and the Park's management plan (Parks Canada Agency, 2019). Consequently, activities outlined in this plan address key management priorities aimed at improving the broader ecological health of the site. Finally, this plan outlines stewardship actions, educational programs, and awareness initiatives that will involve visitors, local residents, Indigenous organizations, and the general public. This will lead to greater appreciation, understanding, and action towards the conservation and recovery of species at risk in general.