Ecological issues: Endangered species

During the Canadian Geographic 2006 Canadian Environment Award ceremonies held on June 6, 2006, Environment Minister Barry Penner announced that the BC government has added 45 new species at risk to the list of threatened and endangered species that are now protected under government legislation. Red- and blue-listed (endangered, threatened and of special concern) species and their habitats are protected under the BC Forest and Range Practices Act. Among those 45 new species are the Bull Trout, the Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers, and the Fisher. According to the Ministry of Environment news release on this event, Penner states, "Our government is identifying and protecting those species and ecosystems that are most vulnerable."
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2006ENV0047-000745.htm

The question is, how far are MLA Barry Penner and the Ministry of Environment willing to go to help us protect Peace River's endangered and threatened species against Site C?

We have highlighted two key endangered species: the Bull Trout and the Grizzly Bear.

• Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea)
  
• Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina)
  
• Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis)
  
• Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
  
• Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni)
  
• Peregrine Falcon, anatum subspecies (Falco peregrinus anatum) - migrant
  
• Spottail Shiner (Notropis hudsonius) - potential downstream impacts to Alberta populations; likes clear rivers and lakes
  
• Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) - grassland areas
  
• Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
  
• Vesper Sparrow affinis subspecies (Pooecetes gramineus affinis) - mainly grassland areas
  
• Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) - listed under "hypothetical species" in the Birds of British Columbia (Vol. II) based on unsubstantiated records, including a report of a rail calling in the Boundary Lake (Goodlow) area
  
• Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2006. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC.
http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/

• American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
  
• American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
  
• Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
  
• Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens)
  
• Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
  
• Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus)
  
• California Gull (Larus californicus)
  
• Canada Goose Occidentalis subspecies (Branta canadensis occidentalis)
  
• Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)
  
• Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
  
• Fisher (Martes pennanti) - they use cavities in large diameter balsam (such as the "Big Bam" trees found along the Peace and tributaries floodplains) for their natal dens
  
• Goldeye (Hiodon alosoides) - likes "quiet turbid water of medium to large lowland rivers, the small lakes, ponds, and marshes connected to them, and muddy shallows of larger lakes"; potential downstream effects in Beatton and Alberta and associated with Site C.
  
• Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
  
• Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
  
• Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) - migrant
  
• Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii)
  
• Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) - mainly grassland areas
  
• Northern Long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) -- the bat species also use large aspen and poplar trees for summer roosting sites and they forage over water
  
• Pearl Dace (Margariscus margarita) - potential downstream impacts to Alberta populations
  
• Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
  
• Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
  
• Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) - migrant; nests along tributaries to the Beatton (Adswatim Creek) in the Ladyfern area (muskeg)
  
• Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
  
• Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - Birds of British Columbia (Vol. II) list it as an "uncommon spring and autumn migrant throughout the province" and a "very rare resident on the Peace Lowlands"; records are shown along both sides of the Peace, close to the Alberta border.
  
• Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
  
• Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus)

BC Conservation Data Centre. 2006. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. BC Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC.
http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/