Research Document 2021/047
Summary of Grass Pickerel surveys in Beaver Creek, Ontario, 2009–2015
By Colm, J.E and Mandrak, N.E.
Abstract
Agricultural drain maintenance may impact fish and fish habitat, and this is of particular concern where Species at Risk are present. Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus) is listed as a species of Special Concern in Canada and is a common resident of municipal drains in the Niagara Region. Drain maintenance was required in Beaver Creek, a municipal drain that supports a large population of Grass Pickerel. A six year study was conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to better understand the variability in the fish community and habitat in a typical Grass Pickerel population in the Niagara Region in order to inform future drain maintenance projects where Grass Pickerel exist. A total of 27,310 fishes representing 37 species were captured throughout the study. There were 4,971 Grass Pickerel caught, including 446 young-of-year; Grass Pickerel was the second most abundant species caught, representing 18% of all fishes over the six years. Grass Pickerel declined in abundance at two points during this study, first after 2009 and again after 2011; this may be related to high density and drought in those years, respectively. The habitat in Beaver Creek differed between sites, even adjacent sites in the same tributary. Some sites supported more fish, species and Grass Pickerel than other sites, and these trends remained consistent at each site through the study period. This study suggests that some sites offer better habitat for Grass Pickerel than others and this may be life-stage dependent, and that Grass Pickerel populations experience fluctuations in abundance likely resulting from variable environmental conditions.
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