2022
Rehabilitating Redside Dace Habitat
Project Objective
To rehabilitate Irvine Creek and other systems in the historic range of Redside Dace through riparian plantings, barrier removal and stream rehabilitation.
The Redside Dace is a native species of minnow that is known for its striking, bright red sides and charismatic behaviour of leaping from the water to catch flying insects. They were historically found in the headwaters of many of Lake Ontario’s headwaters as well as a few isolated populations in Lake Erie’s Grand River. In 2009 Redside Dace was listed as endangered under the Ontario Species at Risk Act. Urban development and agricultural activity have decimated Redside Dace populations. They are important indicators of water quality; therefore, the estimated 80% reduction of their population is incredibly alarming. Streambed alterations, increases in permeable surfaces, agricultural tile drains, impacts to headwaters, removal of riparian vegetation, warming of water, less food sources, introduction of invasive predatory species, eutrophication, siltation, and reduced water quality are some of the many impacts that have caused the rapid decline of Redside Dace numbers.
The purpose of Trout Unlimited Canada’s Redside Dace recovery project is to establish the Rehabilitation for Environmental Damage and Degradation (REDD) Team and identify and complete at least 30 rehabilitation projects in areas where Redside Dace are present to facilitate population growth of this endangered species. Activities that will be undertaken include riparian vegetation planting, in-stream bioengineering techniques, and barrier removal. These restoration efforts will be beneficial to other native species found in these streams because of increases in food availability, improvements to water quality, and increased availability of fish habitat. These projects will also benefit local landowners who have steadily been losing land to erosion along streams with no riparian buffer.
This project will take place in three phases that can occur in different orders, or simultaneously:
- Planting of riparian cover;
- Stream rehabilitating through in-stream structures;
- Removal of barriers to Redside Dace movement.
