Nooksack dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) and Salish sucker (Catostomus sp.): action plan (proposed)

Official title: Action Plan for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) and Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada [Proposed]

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Executive Summary
• 1.   Recovery Actions
  • 1.1   Scope of the Action Plan
  • 1.2   Critical Habitat
  • 1.3   Proposed Measures to Protect Critical Habitat
  • 1.4   Measures to be Taken and Implementation Schedule
• 2.   Socio-Economic Evaluation
• 3.   Measuring Progress
• 4.   Associated Plans
• 5.   References
• APPENDIX A: Effects on the Environment and Other Species
• APPENDIX B: Record of Cooperation and Consultation

Recommended citation:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2016. Action Plan for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) and Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Action Plan Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. v + 22 pp.

For copies of the recovery strategy, or for additional information on species at risk, including COSEWIC Status Reports, residence descriptions, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Cover photo credit: M. Pearson

Également disponible en français sous le titre

« Plan d'action pour le naseux de Nooksack (Rhinichthys cataractae) et le meunier de Salish (Catostomus sp.) au Canada »

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, 2016. All rights reserved.
ISBN: CW69-21/6-2012E-PDF
Catalogue no.: 978-1-100-21271-5

Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) 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 publication of the final document on the SAR public registry.

Under SARA, an action plan provides the detailed recovery planning that supports the strategic direction set out in the recovery strategy for the species. The plan outlines measures to help achieve the population and distribution objectives (previously referred to as recovery goals and objectives) identified in the recovery strategy, including the measures to be taken 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 one in a series of documents, together with the COSEWIC status report and the recovery strategy, that are linked and should be read interdependently.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is the competent minister under SARA for the recovery of the Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker and has prepared this action plan to implement the recovery strategy, as per section 47 of SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with the Province of British Columbia.

Success in the recovery of these species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and actions set out in this action plan and will not be achieved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this action plan for the benefit of the Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker and Canadian society as a whole.

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

Acknowledgements

In January and February 2011, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) held a series of workshops and community open house sessions to gather input for the development of the action plan for Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker, in conjunction with consultations on the Draft Recovery Strategy for Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp.) in Canada (2011). Various representatives from municipalities, regional districts, provincial ministries, federal agencies, First Nations, industry, agriculture, environmental non-governmental organizations and stewardship groups participated in these workshops and provided valuable input and ideas regarding actions that could be taken to support the survival and recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker. Similarly, a number of landowners and members of the public provided ideas through community open house sessions. This input was used by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to guide the development of this action plan and will be used to help guide the implementation of the actions identified in the plan wherever possible. Nadine Pinnell (DFO) authored this Action Plan, with contributions from Martin Nantel and Tom Brown from DFO.

Executive Summary

This Action Plan addresses the entire distribution of the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) and the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada.

Nooksack Dace are known from the Brunette River, Bertrand Creek, Fishtrap Creek and Pepin Brook watersheds in Canada. Section 1.3 and Appendix 2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008) provide further information on the distribution of Nooksack Dace.

Salish Sucker are known from the Salwein Creek/Hopedale Slough, Atchelitz /Chilliwack /Semmihault Creek, Elk Creek / Hope Slough, Bertrand Creek, Fishtrap Creek, Pepin Brook, Salmon River, Mountain Slough, Agassiz Slough, Miami Creek and Little Campbell River watersheds in Canada. Section 1.3 and Appendix 2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016) provide further information on the distribution of Salish Sucker.

The action plan identifies recovery measures to implement the broad approaches to recovery identified in the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008) and the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp cf. catostomus) in Canada(Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016) and listed below. These measures are intended to support progress towards the population and distribution objectives identified for Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker in Section 4.2 of both documents.

Critical habitat for Nooksack Dace was identified in the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008). Critical habitat for Salish Sucker was identified in the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016). Under SARA, critical habitat must be legally protected from destruction within 180 days of being identified in a recovery strategy or action plan. For Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker, it is anticipated that critical habitat will be protected from destruction by SARA Critical Habitat Orders.

The action plan identifies recovery measures to be taken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in cooperation and consultation with other agencies, organizations and individuals as appropriate, to support the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker. As all Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this action plan for the benefit of the Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker and Canadian society as a whole, the action plan also identifies actions that would contribute to the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker that could be voluntarily undertaken by other jurisdictions, groups and individuals interested in participating in the recovery of these species.

These actions relate to the following broad strategies or approaches for recovery:

• Reduce incidence of severe hypoxia in in-stream critical habitats (Salish Sucker)
• Establish and maintain adequate base flow in all habitats with high potential productivity (Nooksack Dace)
• Protect existing habitat, restore lost or degraded habitat and create new habitat (both species)
• Ensure the integrity and proper function and reduce the fragmentation of riparian areas throughout watersheds (both species)
• Reduce sediment entry into creeks and in-stream habitats (both species)
• Encourage stewardship among private landowners, local government and agencies, and the general public (both species)
• Reduce fragmentation of in-stream habitats (both species)
• Reduce toxic contamination of in-stream habitats (both species)
• Prevent new introductions of predator species (both species)
• Monitor recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker.

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

1.   Recovery Actions

1.1   Scope of the Action Plan

This Action Plan addresses the entire distribution of the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) and the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada.

Nooksack Dace are known from the Brunette River, Bertrand Creek, Fishtrap Creek and Pepin Brook watersheds in Canada. Section 1.3 and Appendix 2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008) provide further information on the distribution of Nooksack Dace.

Salish Sucker are known from the Salwein Creek/Hopedale Slough, Atchelitz /Chilliwack /Semmihault Creek, Elk Creek / Hope Slough, Bertrand Creek, Fishtrap Creek, Pepin Brook, Salmon River, Mountain Slough, Agassiz Slough, Miami Creek and Little Campbell River watersheds in Canada. Section 1.3 and Appendix 2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016) provide further information on the distribution of Salish Sucker.

This action plan identifies recovery measures to implement the broad approaches to recovery identified in the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008) and the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016). These measures are intended to support progress towards the population and distribution objectives that have been identified for Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker.

Section 4.2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008) lists the population and distribution objectives (previously referred to as recovery goal and objectives) for Nooksack Dace. Section 4.2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016) lists the population and distribution objectives for Salish Sucker.

1.2    Critical Habitat

Critical habitat for Nooksack Dace is identified to the extent possible in section 3.2 of the Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichtys cataractae) in Canada (Pearson et al., 2008). Critical habitat for Salish Sucker is identified to the extent possible in section 3.1 of the Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada(Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016). The recovery strategies also contain details about the identified critical habitat including geographic extent and biophysical features, functions and attributes. Examples of activities likely to destroy critical habitat are included in section 3.4 of the Nooksack Dace Recovery Strategy and section 3.2 of the Salish Sucker Recovery Strategy.

1.3   Proposed Measures to Protect Critical Habitat

Under SARA, critical habitat must be legally protected from destruction within 180 days of being identified in a recovery strategy or action plan. For Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker, it is anticipated that critical habitat will be protected from destruction by SARA Critical Habitat Orders.

1.4   Measures to be Taken and Implementation Schedule

Success in the recovery of these species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions and actions set out in this action plan and will not be achieved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone.

The purpose of this action plan is to outline what needs to be done to achieve the population and distribution objectives for the Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker to guide not only activities to be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, but those for which other jurisdictions, organizations and individuals have a role to play. Fisheries and Oceans Canada strongly encourages all Canadians to participate in the conservation of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker through undertaking priority recovery measures outlined in this action plan. In addition, where appropriate, Fisheries and Oceans Canada seeks to engage with organizations or individuals and enter into a Conservation Agreement under section 11 of SARA to implement the relevant conservation measures.

Table 1 identifies recovery measures to be led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in cooperation and consultation with other agencies, organizations and individuals as appropriate, to support the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker.

As all Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this action plan for the benefit of the Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker and Canadian society as a whole, Table 2 identifies measures that would support the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker that could be undertaken voluntarily by other jurisdictions, groups and individuals interested in participating in the recovery of these species. If your organization is interested in participating in one of these measures, please contact the Species at Risk Pacific regional office.

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

The broad strategies or approaches to recovery referenced in the tables below were outlined in the recovery strategies for Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker. Where a particular strategy or approach and the associated recovery measures are specific to only one species, the name of that species is specified after the description of the broad strategy.  Otherwise, the broad strategies and associated recovery actions are applicable to both species. It is important to note that many recovery measures relate to more than one broad strategy for recovery. Where this is the case, recovery measures are grouped under the broad strategy most relevant to the action in question.

As described above, Table 2 identifies measures that would support the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker that could be undertaken voluntarily by other jurisdictions, groups and individuals interested in participating in the recovery of these species.

Relevant government agencies, organizations and individuals interested in contributing to the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker may choose to undertake these or any other actions that could support the recovery of both species on a voluntary basis.

2.   Socio-Economic Evaluation

The Species at Risk Act requires that an action plan include an evaluation of the socioeconomic costs of the action plan and the benefits to be derived from its implementation (SARA 2003). This evaluation addresses only the incremental socio-economic costs of implementing this action plan from a national perspective as well as the social and environmental benefits that would occur if the action plan were implemented in its entirety, recognizing that not all aspects of its implementation are under the jurisdiction of the federal government. It does not address cumulative costs of species recovery in general nor does it attempt a cost-benefit analysis. Its intent is to inform the public and to guide decision making on implementation of the action plan by partners.

The protection and recovery of species at risk can result in both benefits and costs. The Act recognizes that “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” (SARA 2003). Self-sustaining and healthy ecosystems with their various elements in place, including species at risk, contribute positively to the livelihoods and the quality of life of all Canadians. A review of the literature confirms that Canadians value the preservation and conservation of species in and of themselves. Actions taken to preserve a species, such as habitat protection and restoration, are also valued. In addition, the more an action contributes to the recovery of a species, the higher the value the public places on such actions (Loomis and White, 1996; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2008).  Furthermore, the conservation of species at risk is an important component of the Government of Canada’s commitment to conserving biological diversity under the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The Government of Canada has also made a commitment to protect and recover species at risk through the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk.  

The following evaluation describes, to the extent possible, the benefits that may accrue, as well as the costs that governments, industry and/or Canadians may incur due to activities identified in this action plan. As well, this evaluation uses the time of listing as the baseline. The overall impacts (costs and benefits) of this Action Plan cannot be assessed with any level of certainty as several identified actions have yet to be negotiated.

This evaluation does not address the socio-economic impacts of protecting critical habitat for either species. Under SARA, DFO must ensure that critical habitat is legally protected within 180 days of the final posting of the recovery strategy or action plan. Where a SARA Critical Habitat Order will be used for critical habitat protection, the development of the Order will follow a regulatory process in compliance with the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulations (CDSR), including an analysis of the incremental impacts of the SARA Critical Habitat Orders that will be included in the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) (Government of Canada, 2007). As a consequence, no additional analysis of the critical habitat protection has been undertaken for the assessment of costs and benefits of the Action Plan.

Recovery actions for Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker began with their legal listing under SARA in 2005. These actions include various projects funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) under the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP), partnering with the province of British Columbia, universities and stewardship groups. To date, it is estimated that almost $1M in direct costs have been spent through HSP, SARA program funding and through stakeholder cash contributions on habitat identification research, habitat restoration and enhancement and encouraging stewardship actions for Salish Sucker and Nooksack Dace. Additional in-kind costs of approximately $1m related to delivering these projects have also been incurred by DFO, the Province of British Columbia, Fraser Valley Conservancy, Langley Environmental Partners Society and other partners and stakeholders.

Benefits

The benefits of recovery actions to maintain Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker populations outlined in this Action Plan are unknown but likely positive. Beyond the unquantifiable non-market benefits mentioned above, the recovery actions are also likely to provide broader ecosystem benefits, which in turn provide non-market benefits. Salish Sucker recovery actions that increase oxygen levels in the water and create complex deep pool habitats may also benefit two SARA listed species, Oregon Spotted Frog and Western Painted Turtle (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2012). Actions to protect and restore native riparian vegetation may also benefit other SARA-listed species, including the Pacific Water Shrew, Red-legged Frog, Western Toad, Mountain Beaver, Oregon Forestsnail, Vancouver Island Beggarticks, and Great Blue Heron (Pearson et al., 2008; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016). Finally, Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker recovery actions will benefit co-occurring native species including Steelhead, Cutthroat Trout, and Coho Salmon (Pearson et al., 2008; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2016).

Costs

Longer-term activities within this Plan cannot be assessed with any level of certainty. However, there is more certainty around the majority of the measures identified as on-going or short-term (2016 – 2021). Most of these activities focus on stewardship, research, and development of monitoring and assessment protocols. Overall, the costs (direct and in-kind) associated with these short-term actions will likely be low and spread over the next five years. The actions are primarily one-time projects, likely funded from existing federal resources or annual programs such as HSP or Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR).

Ongoing activity costs are mainly related to engagement, promotion and support of stewardship, as well as public education activities. Future expenditures cannot be determined as it is expected these activities would continue to be funded through existing annually funded government programs, where support is determined on a priority basis and based on availability of resources. However, based on past submissions and the types of projects this Plan incorporates, the direct costs would likely be low with some in-kind staff support from DFO, the province of BC and stewardship groups. In addition, most programs require a level of direct or in-kind support costs from the applicants as matching funds. The ongoing public education activities in the Plan would likely consist of development and dissemination of communication materials or engagement activities such as travel costs and workshops, with low direct costs anticipated.

It is anticipated that, the research projects would be contracts funded through existing government programs and carried out through in-kind support from partner agencies such as the province of British Columbia, universities and stewardship groups. Finally, development of monitoring protocols will be low cost; however, implementation costs cannot be determined until protocols are finalized with detail on the level and frequency of monitoring activities to be undertaken.

There is a lack of certainty around the longer-term actions identified in the Plan. Discussions of the costs of implementation of monitoring protocols (Table 1) and voluntary stewardship (Table 2) would be speculative at this time and would depend on the willingness of other organizations to negotiate and enter into agreements with DFO. In the absence of any information on the potential contents of the plans and agreements, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the overall long-term costs should these actions be carried out by stakeholders on a voluntary basis. The Plan suggests that these agreements and recovery activities will be developed through a cooperative approach following discussion and negotiations across other agencies, levels of government, stewardship groups and stakeholders allowing for consideration of costs and benefits during the process.

Finally, the distribution of costs associated with the long-term activities (Table 1) and voluntary activities (Table 2) cannot be undertaken at this time as there has not been an assignment of responsibility by stakeholders, stewardship groups or agencies.

3.   Measuring Progress

The performance indicators presented in the associated recovery strategies provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives.

Reporting on the implementation of the action plan, under s.55 of SARA will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the broad strategies.

Reporting on the ecological and socio-economic impacts of the action plan, under s. 55 of SARA, will be done by assessing the results of monitoring the recovery of the species and its long term viability, and by assessing the implementation of the action plan. Recovery measures 22 and 23 in Table 1 outline measures to monitor the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker.

4.   Associated Plans

No other action plans have been developed for Salish Sucker or Nooksack Dace or are associated with this plan.

5.   References

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2007. Soil and Land.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2008. Estimation of the Economic Benefits of Marine Mammal Recovery in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Policy and Economics Regional Branch, Quebec 2008.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp. cf. catostomus) in Canada [Final]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver. ix + 64 pp.
• Government of Canada. 2005. Canada – British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk. (PDF, 1.46MB)
• Government of Canada. 2007. Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation. Ottawa, Ontario.
• Loomis, J.B. & White, D.S. 1996. Economic Benefits of Rare and Endangered Species: Summary and Meta-analysis. Ecological Economics, 18: 197-206.
• Pearson, M.P., T. Hatfield, J.D. McPhail, J.S. Richardson, J.S. Rosenfeld, H. Schreier, D. Schluter, D.J. Sneep, M. Stejpovic, E.B. Taylor, and P.M. Wood. 2008. Recovery Strategy for the Nooksack Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver. vi + 29 pp.
• Stewardship Centre for British Columbia. 2013. Species at risk voluntary stewardship practices (Pilot Edition). Species at Risk a primer for British Columbia. Available online at: http://www.speciesatriskbc.ca/guides[accessed November 2015].

APPENDIX A: 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 plan could affect any component of the environment or any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s² goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that implementation of action plans may inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process 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 action plan itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

This action plan will benefit the environment by contributing to the recovery of Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker. However, effects on other species were also considered. Action 7 in Table 1 refers to the identification of habitat management practices or guidelines that consider other species at risk in areas where Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker co-occur with other species at risk. This will help ensure that actions that are taken to benefit Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker do not have negative impacts on other species at risk.

The beaver management practices and guidelines referenced in Action 10 in Table 1 would impact American Beaver (Castor canadensis); however, care would be taken to reduce negative effects from the implementation of this recovery measure.

Generally, many of the actions identified in this plan address threats such as hypoxia, sediment deposition, toxicity, habitat fragmentation and introduced predators that negatively impact many aquatic species and amphibians. By addressing these threats, these actions will provide benefits to any such species that are present in watersheds where Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker are present. 

Fish species that co-occur with Salish Sucker and / or Nooksack Dace and that may benefit from these actions include Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) and Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).

SARA-listed species that co-occur with Salish Sucker and / or Nooksack Dace and that may benefit from recovery actions for Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker include Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa), Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), Pacific Water Shrew (Sorex bendirii), Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora), Western Toad (Bufo boreas), Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa), Oregon Forestsnail (Allogona townsendiana), Vancouver Island Beggarticks (Bidens amplissima), and Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini). 

These actions will also contribute to overall ecosystem and watershed health, which will provide benefits to many species and ecological services to Canadians living in these areas.

Given the considerations outlined above, the benefits of this action plan to the environment and other species are expected to far outweigh any adverse effects that may occur.

APPENDIX B: Record of Cooperation and Consultation

The Nooksack Dace and Salish Sucker are listed as Endangered on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). As aquatic species, they fall under federal jurisdiction, and are managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

DFO and the Province of British Columbia cooperated on the development of this document. Processes for coordination and consultation between the federal and British Columbian governments on management and protection of species at risk are outlined in the Canada-B.C. Agreement on Species at Risk (Government of Canada, 2005).

Consultations on the draft action plan occurred between February 6 and March 12, 2012. Consultation activities included:

• online posting of the draft action plan, a fact sheet on critical habitat protection and comment form;
• letters, emails and faxes with information on the draft action plan consultations and offering opportunities for bilateral meetings sent to 30 First Nations and aboriginal organizations;
• letters regarding the draft action plan consultations sent to over 3000 private landowners;
• emails regarding the action plan consultations sent to more than 300 stakeholders including agriculture associations, the agricultural industry, industry (e.g. the aggregate mining industry), utility companies, environmental non-government organizations, community stewardship groups, and representatives from municipal, provincial and federal governments;
• four face-to-face workshops held in Chilliwack and Burnaby with agriculture, local government, stewardship groups, utility companies and federal and provincial government representatives;
• four community open house sessions held in Burnaby, Chilliwack, Aldergrove and Harrison Hot Springs;
• public notices of the community open houses and action plan consultations published in local papers; and
• distribution of feedback forms and fact sheets on critical habitat protection at workshops and open house sessions.

Approximately 160 people participated in the community open houses and face-to-face workshops held in Burnaby, Chilliwack, Harrison Hot Springs and Aldergrove. Twenty-two people submitted comments and feedback on elements of the draft action plan via email, mail and the online comment form. Seven people or organizations submitted comments and expressed their thoughts via letters to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

¹Beneficial management practices can be defined as “science-based farm practices that minimize environmental risk while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the land and the economic viability of the producer.” (Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, 2007)

² Planning for a Sustainable Future: A Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada