Work

Conserving at-risk aquatic species in agricultural drains

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Many of Canada’s waterways are modified by the deepening and straightening of stream channels, converting them into agricultural drains to create arable land. While these agricultural drains support diverse aquatic communities and provide important habitat for species at risk, current policies allow for maintenance activities that threaten the survival and longevity of at-risk fish populations. Using three case studies from Ontario, we highlight current challenges to protecting aquatic species at risk in agricultural drains and potential conservation actions that can be taken to protect and restore aquatic species at risk and their habitat within those drains. Conservation actions may vary from ecological modeling to collaborative development of mitigation techniques, and restoration of naturalized habitat in anticipation of future alterations. We provide nine recommendations (including improved legislation, permitting, mitigation, and compliance) on how to better conserve and protect aquatic species at risk in agricultural drains in the future.

Source: FACETS

DOI: 10.1139/facets-2023-0194

Authors: Fielding A. Montgomery, Dominique Rumball, Ian D. Smith, Nicholas E. Mandrak

Institutions: Canadian Wildlife Federation, University of Toronto Scarborough

Language: English

Topic: Fish Ecology and Management Studies

Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Clean water and sanitation, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $984