Joint Response: Redside Dace Recovery Strategy (Caruthers Creek Watershed)

RE: Redside Dace Recovery Strategy (Carruthers Creek Watershed)

Dear Minister Guilbeault,

The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention the critical situation facing the Carruthers Creek watershed in Northeast Pickering. This vital natural area, which supports a diverse range of wildlife, is now under heightened threat. In 2023, 4,000 acres in Northeast Pickering were added to the urban boundary under Durham Region’s Official Plan, increasing development pressure on the watershed.

This unique ecosystem is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the endangered redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus), a fish that depends on Carruthers Creek’s clean, undisturbed waters to survive. As an indicator species, the redside dace reflects the overall health of the watershed; its decline signals broader ecological risks to the creek and to the many species and communities that rely on it.

While our focus is on Carruthers Creek, we recognize that the redside dace is threatened across Ontario, not just locally. Its critical habitat is increasingly jeopardized by urbanization, pollution, and major infrastructure projects, with insufficient action from the provincial government to address these threats.

Given this, we respectfully urge the Government of Canada to prioritize the protection of Canada’s endangered species, particularly the redside dace. This fish plays an essential role in maintaining the health of freshwater ecosystems, yet its numbers have sharply declined due to habitat loss, pollution, and the impacts of urban development.

We appreciate that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released the Federal Recovery Strategy for the redside dace earlier this year, which identifies Carruthers Creek as critical habitat. This strategy marks a crucial step toward reversing the species’ decline and preserving Canada’s biodiversity, particularly in vulnerable
areas like the Carruthers Creek watershed.

However, one critical action remains. We respectfully request the Government of Canada to:

1. Issue a protection order by January 25, 2025, as mandated by the Species at Risk Act, to ensure the critical habitat of the redside dace is safeguarded from further urbanization and major infrastructure projects, which, as identified in the recovery strategy, would likely lead to the species’ extirpation.

2. Ensure effective implementation of the Federal Recovery Strategy, working collaboratively with provincial and municipal governments, Indigenous communities, and local community groups to safeguard natural areas like Carruthers Creek from escalating urban pressures.

The survival of the redside dace is not only about protecting a single species but also about safeguarding the health and biodiversity of our ecosystems. By supporting its recovery, we protect Carruthers Creek, ensuring it remains a clean, thriving waterway that sustains all species and communities relying on it.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing issue. Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for Canada’s natural heritage, safeguarding both the Carruthers Creek watershed and the endangered redside dace.

We look forward to your timely response and action on this critical matter.
Sincerely,

Helen Brenner, Co-Lead
Stop Sprawl Durham

Tony Morris, Conservation Policy and Campaigns Director
Ontario Nature

David Morley, Director
Green Durham Association

Alexis Edghill Whalen, Chair
Land Over Landings

Max Hansgen, President
National Farmers Union – Ontario

Elizabeth Stocking, President
National Farmers Union – Ontario – Local 345

Lois Gillette, Publicity Coordinator
Durham Region Field Naturalists

Alyssa Scanga, Co-Lead
Climate Justice Durham

James Kamstra, President
North Durham Nature

Carolyn King, President
Pickering Naturalists

Claire Malcolmson, Environmental Consultant
Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition

Kevin O’Conor, President
Friends of the Rouge Watershed

Andrew McCammon, President
The Ontario Headwaters Institute

Katie Krelove, Ontario Campaigner
Wilderness Committee

Arlene Slocombe, Executive Director
Water Watchers

Liz Benneian, Executive Director,
Ontariogreen Conservation Association, and
Chair, Biodiversity and Climate Action Niagara.

Kathleen OHare, Director
No Clearcuts Kingston