Information in Support of a Recovery Potential Assessment of Bull Trout (Salvelinus Confluentus) (Saskatchewan – Nelson Rivers Populations) in Alberta
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Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document 2016/113 Central and Arctic Region Information in support of a recovery potential assessment of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (Saskatchewan – Nelson rivers populations) in Alberta Chantelle D. Sawatzky Fisheries and Oceans Canada 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6 December 2016 Foreword This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Research documents are produced in the official language in which they are provided to the Secretariat. Published by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 200 Kent Street Ottawa ON K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/ [email protected] © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2016 ISSN 1919-5044 Correct citation for this publication: Sawatzky, C.D. 2016. Information in support of a recovery potential assessment of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (Saskatchewan – Nelson rivers populations) in Alberta. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/113. v + 190 p. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... IV RÉSUMÉ ................................................................................................................................... V SPECIES INFORMATION...........................................................................................................1 BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................................1 SPECIES DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 2 TAXONOMY .......................................................................................................................... 3 LIFE HISTORY DIVERSITY ................................................................................................... 3 REPRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 4 DIET AND GROWTH ............................................................................................................. 5 PHYSIOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 6 INTERSPECIFIC INTERACTIONS ......................................................................................... 6 SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE ...................................................................................................... 7 ASSESSMENT ...........................................................................................................................8 HISTORIC AND CURRENT DISTRIBUTION TRENDS .......................................................... 8 HISTORIC AND CURRENT ABUNDANCE AND TRENDS ...................................................10 Population Status Assessment ..........................................................................................17 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................22 Stream Resident ...............................................................................................................22 Fluvial ................................................................................................................................22 Adfluvial ............................................................................................................................23 Spawning and Incubation Habitat ......................................................................................23 Fry and Young Juvenile Rearing Habitat ...........................................................................24 Older Juvenile and Adult Foraging and Overwintering Habitat ...........................................24 Habitat Availability .............................................................................................................25 Functions, Features and Attributes ....................................................................................38 Residence .........................................................................................................................38 THREATS AND LIMITING FACTORS ...................................................................................41 Naturally Occurring Limiting Factors ..................................................................................41 Anthropogenic Threats ......................................................................................................41 Threat Level Assessment ..................................................................................................63 MITIGATIONS AND ALTERNATIVES ...................................................................................70 Exotic/Invasive Species .....................................................................................................74 Mortality ............................................................................................................................74 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation ........................................................................75 Interactive and Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................76 EXISTING PROTECTION .....................................................................................................77 SOURCES OF UNCERTAINTY ............................................................................................83 REFERENCES CITED ..............................................................................................................83 APPENDIX 1 ...........................................................................................................................107 APPENDIX 2 ...........................................................................................................................160 iii ABSTRACT In November 2012, a meeting of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommended that Bull Trout, Salvelinus confluentus, (Saskatchewan – Nelson rivers, Designatable Unit [DU] 4) be designated Threatened. The reason given for this designation is that, “Historical range contractions now limit the populations to the foothills and east slopes of the Rocky Mountains, likely in response to habitat deterioration and reduced habitat connectivity through damming of the larger rivers. No populations are abundant and more than half show evidence of decline” (COSEWIC 2012). Furthermore, due to the threats faced by these populations “an aggregate decline in abundance of ≥ 30% over the next three generations is projected” (COSEWIC 2012). This was the first assessment of Bull Trout by COSEWIC and it has not yet been listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA) was developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to provide information and scientific advice needed to fulfill various requirements of the SARA, including informing both scientific and socio-economic elements of the listing decision and permitting activities that would otherwise violate SARA prohibitions, and the development of recovery strategies. This Research Document describes the current state of knowledge of the biology, ecology, distribution, population trends, habitat requirements and threats to Bull Trout in DU 4. Mitigation measures and alternative activities related to identified threats, which can be used to protect the species, are also presented. The RPA information may be used to inform the development of recovery documents and for assessing permits, agreements and related conditions, as per sections 73, 74, 75, 77, 78 and 83(4) of the SARA and to prepare for the reporting requirements of SARA section 55. The scientific information from the RPA also serves as advice to the DFO Minister regarding the listing of the species under the SARA. This assessment updates and consolidates the available scientific data pertaining to the recovery of Bull Trout (DU 4) in Alberta . iv Données et renseignements nécessaires à l'évaluation du potentiel de rétablissement de l'omble à tête plate (Salvelinus confluentus) (populations de la rivière Saskatchewan et du fleuve Nelson) en Alberta RÉSUMÉ Une réunion du Comité sur la situation des espèces en péril au Canada (COSEPAC) tenue en novembre 2012 a débouché sur la recommandation de désigner l'omble à tête plate Salvelinus confluentus de la rivière Saskatchewan et du fleuve Nelson (unité désignable [UD] 4) comme espèce menacée. Le motif donné pour cette désignation est le suivant : « Les contractions de l'aire de répartition historique limitent maintenant les populations aux contreforts et aux versants est des montagnes Rocheuses, probablement en réaction à une détérioration de l'habitat et à une connectivité réduite des habitats en raison des barrages érigés sur les plus grandes rivières. Aucune population n’est abondante et plus de la moitié des populations montrent des signes de déclin (COSEPAC 2012). » De plus, compte tenu des menaces auxquelles ces populations sont exposées, « un déclin total