For Immediate Release
February 13th 2024
Black Redhorse Discovered in Fish Creek by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) staff made an exciting find in the waters of Fish Creek in London, Ontario this summer – the reappearance of the Black Redhorse, Moxostoma duquesnei, a Threatened fish under the Species at Risk Act. This species of sucker, found in only a few rivers in Canada, had not been recorded in the sub-watershed in over two decades. This discovery signals successful local conservation efforts.
“Our government is proud to support the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA)’s vital conservation work on the recently rediscovered Threatened Black Redhorse in Fish Creek. Through the Habitat Stewardship Program for Aquatic Species at Risk, we provided over $220,000 since 2019, with additional funding committed until 2025. This funding assists UTRCA in implementing proactive measures and Best Management Practices to support the recovery of Black Redhorse, such as planting riparian buffers, installing erosion control measures, and conducting monitoring surveys,” said the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
First designated as at-risk in Canada in 1988, the Black Redhorse’s Threatened status was reconfirmed in 2019 due to cumulative threats jeopardizing its survival. This fish prefers to live in moderate sized, cool, clear, fast-flowing streams. The main threats they face include pollution, climate change, severe weather, invasive species, biological resource use, human intrusion, and natural systems modifications.
Previously, biologists pinpointed the Thames River and the Grand River tributaries as having the healthiest of the remaining Black Redhorse populations in Canada. In fact, these populations may play a pivotal role in future conservation strategies, including translocations or artificial propagation if needed to bolster the species.
This is a small victory, signaling that the creek remains habitable to one of our country’s most at-risk species. The UTRCA works with local landowners and community partners striving to improve water quality. Through stewardship actions, it contributes to creating better living conditions for fish in rivers and streams.
Tatianna Lozier, UTRCA’s Stewardship Services Coordinator, shares, “In the last 20 years, the Clean Water Program has funded 85 projects in Fish Creek. The most commonly funded projects are tree planting, erosion control structures, and cover crops, all aimed at reducing sediment and nutrient runoff into nearby waterways. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in requests for stewardship support in Fish Creek, a trend that we are happy to see.”
Media contact:
Erin Carroll, Aquatic Biologist
[email protected]
519-451-2800 ext. 250
