Terms of Reference

Review of Alberta Environment & Parks Cumulative Effects Assessment Methodology

Regional Peer Review Meeting – Central and Arctic Region

September 18–20, 2018
Canmore, AB

Co-Chairs: Joclyn Paulic and Chantelle Sawatzky

Context

The Province of Alberta (Environment and Parks Department) has developed a new semi-quantitative approach to assessing threats to aquatic species at risk. This approach was developed for Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and is currently being applied to other East Slope Rocky Mountain salmonids at risk (Westslope Cutthroat Trout [Oncorhynchus clarkia lewisi] and Rainbow Trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss] (Athabasca River populations)) by our provincial partners. This model is being used in determining the best places for implementing recovery actions and conservation measures, providing best available information on what identified threats are driving population declines and determining areas where further research is required to address data gaps (informing the Schedule of Studies to Define Critical Habitat and understanding and prioritizing research). This approach has been introduced to DFO Species at Risk  biologists and DFO Science Recovery Potential Assessment leads and participants for East Slope salmonids and will be formally introduced as the approach to Threats Assessment for the three species in all subsequent provincial recovery plans. This has significant ramifications for DFO Species at Risk (SAR) Program, as adoption of Provincial Recovery Plans represents a best practice to ensure coordinated recovery and management of species at risk.

The advice will be used to inform SAR Program and DFO about the potential for use as a semi-quantifiable approach to threats assessment and as a robust method for geographically prioritizing recovery, regulation, research and management actions.

Objective

1. a) Conduct a critical peer review of the methodology developed by Alberta Environment & Parks to optimize recovery measures for East Slope Rocky Mountain salmonids at risk.

   b) Discuss the ability of the model to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and local ecological knowledge (LEK).

2. Assess the scope and limitations for application of the model as a surrogate approach in federal recovery potential assessment threats assessments (see DFO 2014), recovery planning and implementation for fish species at risk in the Province of Alberta.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Ecosystem Management)
• Government of Alberta
• Parks Canada Agency
• Academics
• Other invited experts

References

DFO. 2014. Guidance on Assessing Threats, Ecological Risk and Ecological Impacts for Species at Risk. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/013. (Erratum: June 2016).