Regions Affected

Primary Core Areas

Lake St. Clair:

• The nearshore habitats along the south shore of Lake St. Clair within the Essex-Erie region supports records of four high priority species: Northern Madtom; Lake Sturgeon, Eastern Sand Darter, and Channel Darter
• Additional surveys should confirm the presence/absence of several high priority species known from nearby adjacent locations to the Essex-Erie region: Pugnose Shiner; Spotted Gar and Channel Darter
• Note: Tributaries contributing directly to the nearshore habitats within the Essex-Erie region have also been included in this core area

Detroit River

• The Detroit River supports eight fish species at risk, four of which are of high priority: Pugnose Shiner; Northern Madtom; Lake Sturgeon, and Channel Darter
• The River Canard is the largest tributary of the Detroit River in Canada, and the wetlands located at its mouth support high quality wetland habitat
• The coastal wetland at the mouth of the River Canard and inland watercourse supports a recent record of one high priority species: Pugnose Shiner

Point Pelee

• The marshes and nearshore habitats of Point Pelee National Park support 9 of the 16 species at risk
• 7 species are currently present in the wetlands and nearshore habitats
• The nearshore habitats are also one of only two locations found along the north shore of Lake Erie with recent captures of channel darter
• Five species exist within the park boundaries (i.e., interior marshes); 2 of these are high priority (lake chubsucker and spotted gar)

Rondeau Bay

• Rondeau Bay is comprised of coastal wetland habitats along the interior north and east sides of the bay, and a few remnant pockets along the west side, as well as nearshore habitats along the Lake Erie side
• Rondeau Bay marshes support three extant high priority species: Eastern Sand Darter; Lake Chubsucker, and Spotted Gar
• Recent records of silver chub, warmouth and bigmouth buffalo are also known from this core area

Long Point Inner Bay

• The Long Point is the largest wetland complex on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes
• Long Point Inner Bay support historical and extant populations of five high priority species: Pugnose Shiner; Lake Sturgeon; Eastern Sand Darter; Lake Chubsucker; and Spotted Gar
• The largest tributary to Long Point Bay is Big Creek, which supports extant populations of warmouth and grass pickerel as well as historical records of two high priority species : Eastern Sand Darter and Lake Chubsucker

Secondary Core Areas

Catfish Creek

• Catfish Creek supports historical populations of Eastern Sand Darter and Black Redhorse

Big Otter Creek

• Big Otter Creek supported historical populations of one high priority species: Eastern Sand Darter

Assistance for this project was provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources