Multi-species action plan for Waterton Lakes National Park., Bar U Ranch national historic site

Recommended citation:

For copies of the action plan, or for additional information on species at risk, including Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, residence descriptions, recovery strategies, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species At Risk Public Registry^Footnote1.

Cover illustration: © Parks Canada Agency. Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada and Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada. Photo credits: Parks Canada; half-moon hairstreak butterflies by Norbert Kondla.

Également disponible en français sous le titre :
« Plan d’action visant des espèces multiples dans le parc national du Canada des Lacs-Waterton et le lieu historique national du Canada du Ranch-Bar U [Proposition] »

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, 2017. All rights reserved.
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Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Recommendation and approval statement

The Parks Canada Agency led the development of this federal action plan under the Species at Risk Act. The relevant Field Unit Superintendent hereby approves this document indicating that the relevant Species at Risk Act requirements related to action plan development have been fulfilled in accordance with the Act.

Recommended by:

___________________________________________________
Ifan Thomas
Superintendent, Waterton Lakes Field Unit, Parks Canada Agency

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)^Footnote2 agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (Statutes of Canada 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 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 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 Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) and the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (BURNHS) of Canada and has prepared this action plan to implement the recovery strategies as they apply to the park and the BURNHS, as per section 47 of SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the province of Alberta 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

Special thanks are extended to those who contributed to the content of this plan and especially those who provided input and perspectives during the site analysis workshop in February 2015.

Executive summary

The Multi-species Action Plan for Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada and the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada applies to lands and waters occurring within the boundaries of the two sites: Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada (WLNP) and the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada (BURNHS). The plan meets the requirements for action plans set out in the Species At Risk Act (SARA (s.47)) for species requiring an action plan and that regularly occur in these sites. Measures described in this plan will also provide benefits for other species of conservation concern that regularly occur at WLNP and at BURNHS.

Where it has been determined that the sites can conduct 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 and national historic sites as well as by SARA. Additional measures that will contribute to the survival and recovery of the species at the sites 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.

No new critical habitat is identified in this action plan. Critical habitat for some species has been identified previously in their respective recovery strategies. 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 WLNP or BURNHS. Direct costs of implementing this action plan will be borne by Parks Canada. 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.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Executive summary
• Table of contents
• 1. Context
  • 1.1 Scope of the action plan
• 2. Site-based population and distribution objectives
• 3. Conservation and recovery measures
• 4. Critical habitat
  • 4.1. Proposed measures to protect critical habitat
• 5. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and benefits
  • 5.1. Costs
  • 5.2. Benefits
• 6. Measuring progress
• 7. References
• Appendix A: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for Species at Risk Act endangered and threatened species in WLNP and BURNHS
• Appendix B: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for other species at risk in WLNP and BURNHS
• Appendix C: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted for Species at Risk Act endangered and threatened species in WLNP and BURNHS. Greyed measures will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources become available
• Appendix D: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted for other species at risk in WLNP and BURNHS. Greyed measures will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources become available
• Appendix E: Effects on the environment and other species

1. Context

Canada’s national parks and national historic sites protect a country-wide system of representative natural areas and cultural sites of National significance. The Parks Canada Agency (PCA) is responsible for managing these special places for the benefit, education and enjoyment of Canadians, ensuring that they are protected and maintained so that they are left unimpaired for future generations.

With over a century of accomplishments in establishing and protecting national parks and national historic sites, Parks Canada is a recognized world leader in conservation. Canada’s national parks afford a high level of protection to plant and wildlife species that rely upon these lands for their habitat. National parks also provide a unique opportunity to engage Canadians in learning and stewardship activities focused on species at risk. The conservation of species at risk, using both ecological measures and educational programs, is an important part of the day-to-day work of Parks Canada.

This Species at Risk Action Plan describes the work that Parks Canada is doing as part of the larger national park conservation program to put vulnerable species on the path to recovery. It is one of the tangible ways Parks Canada protects species at risk, while providing ways to connect and educate Canadians about the wildlife and plant species at risk found in these special places. Parks Canada will take a leadership role in implementing this action plan, but its full potential will be achieved by working with others, including park visitors, neighbouring landowners, businesses, local residents and other Canadians.

Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) is 505 km² in size and is located in the southwestern corner of Alberta (Figure 1). WLNP forms part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which is a designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site due to its significant ecological, scenic and cultural values. WLNP also represents the core of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve and is part of the Crown of the Continent ecosystem, an area internationally recognized for its biodiversity, pristine mountain landscapes, important wildlife movement corridors and headwaters that drain into three oceans.

Due to its abrupt mountain and prairie interface, the park supports a high diversity of flora and fauna, including many species at risk. Four ecoregions - foothills parkland, montane, subalpine and alpine – are represented within WLNP boundaries in the Montane Cordillera ecozone. Neighbouring private and public lands are managed for cattle grazing, conservation and resource extraction by a variety of federal, provincial and local government agencies, private landowners, non-government conservation organizations, and the Kainai First Nation.

The park was established in 1895, initially protected by the federal government as a Forest Park Reserve, primarily at the urging of local ranchers. The park’s namesake lakes were named by Lieutenant Blakiston (a member of the Palliser Expedition), to honour a British naturalist, Squire Charles Waterton (1782-1865).

The health and viability of Kainai First Nation and Piikani First Nation (both members of the Blackfoot Confederacy), their places of cultural and spiritual significance, and economic opportunities, are inextricably linked to the health of their surrounding traditional lands and waters, which include WLNP. Many shared interests exist between these First Nations and Parks Canada, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage and the desire to build appreciation of the natural and cultural resources and to share this knowledge.

As well as being responsible for WLNP, the Field Unit Superintendent for the Waterton Lakes Field Unit is responsible for the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (BURNHS). Recognizing that the Bar U Ranch's long history provided an excellent opportunity to commemorate Canada's ranching heritage, Parks Canada acquired 148.43 hectares (367 acres), including the ranch's headquarters area, in 1991. It is located within the Prairie ecozone and consists of foothills parkland and foothills fescue ecoregions. A portion of Pekisko Creek flows through it. The Bar U Ranch was one of a small group of large, corporate ranches in western Canada. Established in 1882, it was one of the foremost ranching operations in Canada, including North America’s largest Percheron horse breeding program. Today’s national historic site features the original ranch headquarters, consisting of 35 historic structures, as well as a modern visitor orientation centre.

Flora and fauna have not been extensively surveyed at BURNHS. Recovery measures included in this plan target known species at risk. Surveys will be conducted in an effort to identify any others present.

Maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity is the first priority of national parks (Canada National Parks Act s.8(2)). Species at risk, their residences, and their habitat are therefore protected by existing national park regulations 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 Site 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 ongoing ecological integrity programs. National parks maintain comprehensive, scientifically rigorous ecological integrity monitoring and restoration programs that are organized according to the major ecosystems present in the park. Parks Canada’s ecological integrity programs make contributions to the recovery of species at risk by providing inventory and monitoring data, 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 both sites by improving the conservation status of native species and their habitat and maintaining biodiversity.

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 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 WLNP (Figure 1). The scope also includes all lands and waters within the boundaries of the BURNHS, and that are administered by the Parks Canada Agency as federal properties under the authority of the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act (Figure 2). This multi-species action plan has been written specifically for WLNP and BURNHS because PCA is legally responsible for species at risk on PCA lands and waters, has the ability to take direct conservation action, and deal with threats, legislation, and management priorities related to these lands. The advantage of a multi-species action plan is that it can minimize redundancies while allowing for coordination of key actions affecting multiple species at risk where these actions overlap in space or time.

Action plans are legally required for all SARA Schedule 1 listed endangered and threatened species once a final recovery strategy has been published on the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry. This action plan is a SARA action plan (as per SARA s.47) for six species: Bolander`s quillwort, half-moon hairstreak, common nighthawk, Lewis`s woodpecker, westslope cutthroat trout (AB population), and olive-sided flycatcher. This action plan is also consistent with current direction in the proposed recovery strategy for little brown myotis and the draft recovery strategy for whitebark pine.

This action plan addresses SARA-listed species that regularly occur in WLNP and BURNHS which require an action plan under SARA (s.47) and for which Parks Canada management actions can contribute to the species’ conservation, as well as other species of conservation concern (Tables 1 and 2). This approach both responds to the legislated requirements of the SARA and provides the Parks Canada Agency with a comprehensive plan for species conservation and recovery at these sites. The plan will be amended as required, or additional plans will be prepared, to meet SARA requirements for action planning.

2. Site-based population and distribution objectives

The potential for PCA to undertake management actions at the sites that will contribute to the recovery of each species was assessed. Site-specific population and distribution objectives were developed (Appendices A and B) 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 Appendices A and B rather than in the tables of recovery measures (Appendices C and D). 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 Canada National Parks Act and SARA, population monitoring, habitat maintenance and restoration through the existing management regimes at the site. For many species, population and distribution objectives for WLNP or BURNHS are not meaningful at the scale of this action plan for various reasons, including 1) threats cannot be controlled in or do not exist in the park/site (e.g., wide-spread disease, loss of overwintering habitat elsewhere); 2) species is only transient; 3) population within the site is a very small part of the Canadian distribution or is unknown or unconfirmed.

3. Conservation and recovery measures

Waterton Lakes National Park and BURNHS are vital components of the unique, biologically and culturally diverse landscape of the internationally-recognized Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. Since the early 1970s, WLNP has worked with partners and volunteers to improve the ecological health of the park, and increase opportunities to support the recovery of many of these species. The broad visitor base of the park provides opportunities to engage and connect with Canadians and get them involved in species recovery; to draw upon citizen science, volunteers and partnerships. Academic interest in the park has meant a consistent source of research and studies which support enhanced management and restoration efforts. Visitor and park/site operation facilities have been designed and continuously improved to provide meaningful experiences while protecting park/site habitats and species.

The action planning process identified measures to achieve the 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/site and which measures will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources come available (shown in Appendices C & D) involved a prioritization process. The process primarily considered ecological effectiveness of measures, and also included consideration of opportunities to increase the value of visitor experience to the park, opportunities to increase awareness through external relations, and budgetary opportunities and constraints. Wherever possible, Parks Canada is taking an ecosystem approach, prioritizing actions that benefit numerous species at once to effectively and efficiently protect and recover populations of species at risk.

Four themes emerge from these measures: 1) Active Restoration; 2) Invasive Species Management; 3) Forging Partnerships; and 4) Filling Knowledge Gaps. The recovery measures described in this action plan are organized according to these themes.

Active restoration

Restoration and protection of habitats and populations are key activities for the conservation and recovery of species at risk. WLNP and BURNHS will continue to actively restore species at risk. Active restoration measures will include managing visitor activity within Bolander’s quillwort Critical Habitat, implementing prescribed burn plans

Figure 1. Map showing Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada.

Figure 2. Map showing Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada.

Table 1. Species included in the action plan for Waterton Lakes National Park (status as of January 1, 2016).

Table 2. Species included in the action plan for the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (status as of January 1, 2016).

to maintain open grasslands and forests for species such as common nighthawk and whitebark pine, assessing candidate site suitability and feasibility for conservation and restoration of genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, and completing various efforts aimed at improving whitebark pine and limber pine recovery. In addition, efforts will continue to re-establish a self-sustaining northern leopard frog population in WLNP and to mitigate roadway mortality of long-toed salamanders near Linnet Lake through the existing directional fence and under-road tunnel system.

Invasive species management

Waterton Lakes National Park and BURNHS will continue to pursue invasive species management projects, both as a means of restoring balance to site ecosystems (a priority in the park and site management plans) and as a contribution to global research on invasive species management and long-term prospects for ecosystem restoration. Waterton Lakes National Park will carry on with its innovative invasive plant inventory and control program to maintain SAR habitat; an invasive plant management plan will be prepared for BURNHS. Pesticide best management practices will be developed and implemented to reduce impacts on aerial insectivores such as common nighthawk and little brown myotis, and on insects such as half-moon hairstreak. Research will assess effects of spotted knapweed invasion and control efforts on half-moon hairstreak habitat. The threat of white-nose syndrome to little brown myotis will be addressed through increased awareness and establishment of best management practices. Further research will determine distribution of native westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout versus non-native trout in WLNP and BURNHS waterbodies.

Forging partnerships

Effective collaborations are key to the success of this multi-species action plan. Species at risk recovery will be strengthened by working with Indigenous partners to incorporate Traditional Knowledge, and explore potential collaboration on SAR education and recovery. Increasing general species at risk awareness and species-specific communications via visitor experience and outreach opportunities with priority audiences will improve support and action toward conservation and management activities.

Waterton Lakes National Park will continue to actively support partners such as the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association in reducing grizzly bear-human conflicts on neighbouring private lands. With Indigenous partners and others, Parks Canada will continue to explore the Iinnii Initiative: a proposal to restore free-roaming bison in the transboundary region of Montana and Alberta. Cooperative partnerships will be pursued with other agencies, industry and stewardship groups toward westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout management and restoration efforts.

Filling knowledge gaps

Research and assessments are needed to fill gaps in the knowledge base and build programs for some species at risk. Many of these measures will benefit from the opportunity to work with citizen scientists and other partners. Various surveys for Lewis’s woodpecker, common nighthawk, little brown myotis and western bumble bee will be conducted to inform park/site management. Whitebark pine and limber pine stand assessments and habitat models and maps will facilitate targeted and efficient management and recovery of those species.

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 within WLNP/BURNHS that is identified in other recovery documents will be legally protected from destruction as per section 58 of the SARA. As of January 2016, it is not possible to identify any additional critical habitat in WLNP and BURNHS. Critical habitat has already been identified in WLNP in recovery strategies for Bolander’s Quillwort and Half-moon Hairstreak. Where critical habitat identification is not complete, it will be identified in an upcoming or revised action plan or recovery strategy. Refer to the schedule of studies in relevant recovery strategies for further details.

4.1. Proposed measures to protect critical habitat

There is no new critical habitat identified in this action plan. Critical habitat within WLNP and BURNHS that is identified in other recovery documents will be legally protected from destruction as per Section 58 (1) of the SARA.

5. Evaluation of socio-economic costs and 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 the action plan will be borne by Parks Canada out of existing salaries and goods and services dollars. This includes incremental salary costs, materials, equipment, and contracting of professional services for measures outlined in Appendices C and D. No major socio-economic costs to partners, stakeholders or Indigenous groups are expected as a result of this action plan. Additional resources or partnerships will be sought to support the measures noted in Appendix D.

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

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

5.2. Benefits

Measures presented in this action plan for WLNP and BURNHS 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 sites 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., managing visitor activity within Bolander’s quillwort critical habitat, combined with ongoing research and monitoring), active management (e.g., prescribed burning, invasive plant management), potential species re-establishment, and increasing public awareness and stewardship (e.g., signage, visitor programs, and highlights in communication media).

Potential economic benefits of the recovery of the species at risk found in these sites cannot be easily quantified, as many of the values derived from wildlife are non-market commodities that are difficult to appraise in financial terms. Flora and fauna, in all their forms, have value in and of themselves, and are valued by Canadians for aesthetic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, educational, historical, economic, medical, ecological and scientific reasons. The conservation of flora and fauna 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. Wildlife viewing and appreciation of wildflowers and related species are very popular activities in WLNP; local wildflower and wildlife festivals held annually raise awareness of conservation challenges, engage participation in recovery measures, and benefit local tourism operators and other businesses.

Implementing this action plan is expected to have positive benefits for park/site visitors, local residents, and Indigenous groups. 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 SAR 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 species at risk, opportunities for visitors and local communities to be involved in conservation issues, opportunities for integration of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge into conservation issues in WLNP and BURNHS, and greater awareness of Indigenous values and culture among local residents and visitors to the park/site. In doing so the plan supports the goals under the Species at Risk Act “the traditional knowledge of the aboriginal 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 implementation of the action plan (under s. 55 of SARA) will be done by assessing progress towards implementing the measures listed in Appendix C. 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.

7. References

Kondla, N.G. 2009. Waterton Lakes National Park – 2009 Half-moon Hairstreak Project Report. Report prepared for Parks Canada Agency. 17 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2005. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. vi + 38 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2010. Waterton Lakes National Park Management Plan. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. vii + 58 pp.

Parks Canada Agency. 2011. Recovery Strategy and Action Plan for Bolander’s Quillwort (Isoetes bolanderi) in Canada. Species at Risk ActRecovery Strategy Series. Parks Canada Agency. Ottawa. xiii + 22 pp.

COSEWIC. 2013. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Plains Bison Bison bison bison and the Wood Bison Bison bison athabascae in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xv + 109 pp. (www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm).

COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. iv + 103 pp. (www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm).

COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xiv + 84 pp. (www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm).

COSEWIC. 2014. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Western Bumble Bee Bombus occidentalis, occidentalis subspecies (Bombus occidentalis occidentalis) and the mckayi subspecies (Bombus occidentalis mckayi) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xii + 52 pp. (www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm).

COSEWIC. 2014. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Limber Pine Pinus flexilis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. ix + 49 pp. (www.registrelepsararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm).

Environment Canada. 2013. Management Plan for the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens), Western Boreal/Prairie Populations, in Canada. Species at Risk Act Management Plan Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. iii + 28 pp.

Environment Canada. 2015. Recovery Strategy for Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) in Canada [Draft]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa.

Environment Canada. 2015. Recovery Strategy for Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. ix + 110 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 Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vi + 40 pp.

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Half-moon Hairstreak (Satyrium semiluna) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 2 parts, 24 pp. and 33 pp.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Recovery Strategy for the Alberta populations of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) in Canada [Final]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. iv + 28 pp + Appendices

Smith, C. and C. Bradley. 2008. Surveys for Bolander’s Quillwort, Isoetes bolanderi, in

Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta 2002 – 2006. Unpublished Technical Report, Parks Canada, Waterton Park. 18 pp.

Appendix A: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for Species at Risk Act endangered and threatened species in WLNP and BURNHS

Appendix B: Species information, objectives and monitoring plans for other species at risk in WLNP and BURNHS

Appendix C: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted for Species at Risk Act endangered and threatened species in WLNP and BURNHS. Greyed measures will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources become available

Appendix D: Conservation and recovery measures that will be conducted for other species at risk in WLNP and BURNHS. Greyed measures will be encouraged through partnerships or when additional resources become available

Appendix E: 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^Footnote11 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 WLNP and BURNHS. 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 WLNP and BURNHS; 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 and site’s management plans (Parks Canada, 2005; 2010). Consequently, activities outlined in this plan address key management priorities aimed at improving the broader ecological health of both sites. 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.