Terms of Reference

Information for refining candidate critical habitat of White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), Upper Columbia River population

Regional Peer Review - Pacific Region

January 11, 2024

Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Paul Grant

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for identifying the critical habitat for aquatic species at risk listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as Threatened, Endangered, or Extirpated. Under SARA, critical habitat is defined as “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” and under section 41.1 of the Act must be identified to the extent possible, based on the best available information.

White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), Upper Columbia River population was listed on Schedule 1 as Endangered in 2006 and re-assessed as Endangered in the most recent Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC) status report (COSEWIC 2012). Information on White Sturgeon has been published within the Recovery Potential Assessment (RPA; DFO 2007) and Recovery Strategy (DFO 2014)1. Furthermore, information on White Sturgeon habitat use and quality (DFO 2009) and candidate critical habitat (Hatfield et al. 2013) are available. At the time of original critical habitat identification for White Sturgeon, spawning within the Kinnaird reach (downstream of the Kootenay-Columbia River confluence) had only recently been detected and therefore evidence was deemed insufficient to support its inclusion as critical habitat. Confirmation of the use of the Kinnaird reach by White Sturgeon was included within the “Schedule of Studies to Identify Critical Habitat” in the Recovery Strategy (DFO 2014)^{Footnote 1}. Following the recommendations, research in the Kinnaird reach has been undertaken, and the area appears to support all life stages with detection of annual spawning (BC Hydro 2023a, b). This indicates a need to review and update the science advice for candidate critical habitat for the population.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Species at Risk Program has requested that Science Branch update the candidate critical habitat recommended for White Sturgeon, Upper Columbia River population, using updated observation data. The assessment and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Response (SR) process will be used by the Species at Risk Program to ensure critical habitat is properly identified and protected for White Sturgeon, Upper Columbia River population.

Objectives

The specific objectives of this review are to:

1. Review information available from the Kinnaird reach on the habitat necessary for survival and recovery of White Sturgeon, Upper Columbia River population.
2. Update the functions, features, and attributes of the habitat across life stages.
3. Present updated candidate critical habitat spatial attributes for the Kinnaird reach.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Species At Risk)
• BC Hydro
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique
• Province of British Columbia

References

• BC Hydro. 2023a. Lower Columbia River Adult White Sturgeon Monitoring Program (CLBMON-28). Year 15 Data Report. Report by BC Hydro, Castlegar, 56 pp.
• BC Hydro. 2023b. Lower Columbia River Juvenile Detection Program (CLBMON-29). Year 13, 14, and 15 Data Report. Report by BC Hydro, Castlegar, BC, 57 pp.
• COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the White Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xxvii + 75 pp.
• DFO. 2007. Recovery potential assessment for white sturgeon. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/014.
• DFO. 2009. Assessment of habitat use and habitat quality for SARA-listed populations of white sturgeon in British Columbia. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/062.
• DFO. 2014. Recovery Strategy for White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in Canada – 2014.
• Hatfield, T., Coopper, T. and McAdam, S. 2013. Scientific Information in Support of Identifying Critical Habitat for SARA-listed White Sturgeon Populations in Canada: Nechako, Columbia, Kootenay and Upper Fraser (2009). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/153. viii + 103 p.