Executive summary – Recovery strategy for the Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) – Great Lakes Plains population in Ontario

Prepared by Jane M. Bowles. Adoption of the Recovery strategy for the Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) in Canada (Environment Canada 2012).

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to the species.

The Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) (Great Lakes Plains population) is listed as endangered on the SARO List. The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment Canada prepared the Recovery strategy for the Showy Goldenrod in Canada in 2012 to meet its requirements under the SARA. This recovery strategy is hereby adopted under the ESA. With the additions indicated below, the enclosed strategy meets all of the content requirements outlined in the ESA.

The only extant sites for Showy Goldenrod (Great Lakes Plains population) in Canada are in Ontario, at Walpole Island First Nation, which lies on the delta of the St. Clair River. Here, Showy Goldenrod occurs with a number of other goldenrod species in rare remnants of fresh to dry open tallgrass prairie and Black Oak (Quercus velutina) savannah on sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils. Most plants grow in habitats with partial shade, but some stands are in open areas. Fire is an important factor for maintaining the tallgrass prairie and savannah habitats in which Showy Goldenrod grows.

The minimum area for a viable population may include the area occupied by extant stands together with the extent of contiguous habitat of the same vegetation community type. The main features that have been documented for sites supporting known extant populations include: 1) open areas of Fresh to Moist Tallgrass Prairie with few or no trees (canopy cover less than 10 percent); and 2) areas of Dry Tallgrass Savannah and Dry Tallgrass Woodland where the canopy cover of deciduous trees, usually oak species, is more than 10 percent.

Walpole Island First Nation’s position is that it has never ceded or surrendered lands on the deltaic deposits at the mouth of the St. Clair River. In the opinion of the author, it is recommended that the government of Ontario not apply a habitat regulation for Showy Goldenrod (Great Lakes Plains population) on Walpole Island First Nation lands.

Executive summary – Recovery strategy for the Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) in Canada

Prepared by Environment Canada (2012).

Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) is a large perennial herb with a range spread sparsely throughout much of the eastern United States and the Central Great Plains. This species grows mainly on sandy soils in open areas or under partial shade. Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) is listed as endangered on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA).

In Canada, Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) has only been found on the Walpole Island First Nation in the St. Clair River delta, southwestern Ontario where two extant populations currently exist. Two historic populations of the rigidiuscula variety from areas in Ontario, are considered extirpated; one in Lambton County and one in Perth County.

A small population of Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) was recently discovered northwest of Kenora, Ontario; the variety has not been named though it has been determined not to be the rigidiuscula variety. In November 2010, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed this Boreal population of Showy Goldenrod as threatened and occurrences in southwestern Ontario (i.e., the Great Lakes Plains population) as endangered. There are also two accounts of Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) of undetermined variety/population recorded for Manitoba that require investigation. This recovery strategy addresses only the Great Lakes Plains population of Showy Goldenrod. Should the Boreal population of Showy Goldenrod be added to Schedule 1 of SARA a separate recovery strategy will be prepared.

Threats identified to the Canadian populations of Showy Goldenrod, Great Lakes Plains population, include but are not limited to: habitat loss or degradation, changes to natural processes, invasive species, disturbance from recreational activities and seed predation. The species is also limited by its small population size and geographically-isolated population. Given that the species is found at the northern extent of its range and has a naturally limited distribution in Canada, it will likely always be vulnerable to anthropogenic and natural stressors.

Although there are unknowns regarding the feasibility of recovery, in keeping with the precautionary principle, a full recovery strategy has been prepared as would be done when recovery is determined to be feasible. The population and distribution objective is to maintain the current abundance and distribution of the two extant Canadian Showy Goldenrod, Great Lakes Plains populations. The broad strategies to recovery include but are not limited to: protection, conservation and management of habitat, monitoring and assessment of extant population(s), outreach and education and addressing biological knowledge gaps.

Critical habitat for this species is not identified at this time. Once adequate information is obtained, critical habitat will be identified and may be described within an area-based, multi-species at risk action plan developed in collaboration with the Walpole Island First Nation.

One or more such action plans will be completed for Showy Goldenrod, Great Lakes Plains population, by December 2017.