Small-flowered Lipocarpha recovery strategy

About the Ontario recovery strategy series

This series presents the collection of recovery strategies that are prepared or adopted as advice to the Province of Ontario on the recommended approach to recover species at risk. The Province ensures the preparation of recovery strategies to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) and the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada.

What is recovery?

Recovery of species at risk is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened, or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species’ persistence in the wild.

What is a recovery strategy?

Under the ESA a recovery strategy provides the best available scientific knowledge on what is required to achieve recovery of a species. A recovery strategy outlines the habitat needs and the threats to the survival and recovery of the species. It also makes recommendations on the objectives for protection and recovery, the approaches to achieve those objectives, and the area that should be considered in the development of a habitat regulation. Sections 11 to 15 of the ESA outline the required content and timelines for developing recovery strategies published in this series.

Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for endangered and threatened species within one or two years respectively of the species being added to the Species at Risk in Ontario list. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for extirpated species only if reintroduction is considered feasible.

What’s next?

Nine months after the completion of a recovery strategy a government response statement will be published which summarizes the actions that the Government of Ontario intends to take in response to the strategy. The implementation of recovery strategies depends on the continued cooperation and actions of government agencies, individuals, communities, land users, and conservationists.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in Ontario, please visit the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Species at Risk webpage.

Recommended citation

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 2019. Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, Ontario. iv + 8 pp. + Appendix. Adoption of the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada (Environment Canada 2018).

ISBN 978-1-4868-3526-3 (HTML)
ISBN 978-1-4868-3527-0 (PDF)

Content (excluding illustrations) may be used without permission with appropriate credit to the source, except where use of an image or other item is prohibited in the content use statement of the adopted federal recovery strategy.

Cette publication hautement spécialisée « Recovery strategies prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 », n’est disponible qu’en anglais en vertu du Règlement 411/97 qui en exempte l’application de la Loi sur les services en français . Pour obtenir de l’aide en français, veuillez communiquer avec recovery.planning@ontario.ca.

Declaration

The recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) was developed in accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). This recovery strategy has been prepared as advice to the Government of Ontario, other responsible jurisdictions and the many different constituencies that may be involved in recovering the species.

The recovery strategy does not necessarily represent the views of all individuals who provided advice or contributed to its preparation, or the official positions of the organizations with which the individuals are associated.

The recommended goals, objectives and recovery approaches identified in the strategy are based on the best available knowledge and are subject to revision as new information becomes available. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy.

Responsible jurisdictions

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario
Parks Canada Agency

Executive summary

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 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 Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) is listed as threatened on the SARO List. The species is listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada prepared the Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada in 2018 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.

This addendum includes updated information on the status of the Holiday Beach population of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Essex County, Ontario, which is ranked "F" (failed to find), not "X" (extirpated), by the province of Ontario. Information on the habitat needs of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario has been expanded to include a description of occupied landforms, substrates and ecological communities, and a list of associated vascular plants.

The Critical Habitat section of the federal recovery strategy provides an identification of critical habitat (as defined under the SARA). Identification of critical habitat is not a component of a recovery strategy prepared under the ESA. However, it is recommended that the approach used to identify critical habitat in the federal recovery strategy be considered, along with any new scientific information pertaining to Small-flowered Lipocarpha and the community types in which it occurs, when developing a habitat regulation under the ESA.

1.0 Adoption of federal recovery strategy

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 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 Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) is listed as threatened on the SARO List. The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada prepared the Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada in 2018 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.

1.1 Species assessment and classification

The following list is assessment and classification information for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha). Note: The glossary provides definitions for abbreviations and technical terms in this document.

• SARO List Classification: Threatened
• SARO List History: Threatened (2008), Threatened (2005) – Not Regulated, Endangered – Not Regulated (2002), Threatened (1992)
• COSEWIC Assessment History: Endangered (2002), Threatened (1992)
• SARA Schedule 1: Endangered
• Conservation Status Rankings: G-rank: G5; N-rank: N2; S-rank: S2

1.2    Species description

Based on recent molecular analyses that demonstrates that not all species in the genus Lipocarpha are descended from a common ancestor, Bauters et al. (2014) proposed a classification revision to the genus. Under their revision, many members of the genus Lipocarpha are reclassified into the genus Cyperus, and the name "Lipocarpha micrantha" becomes a synonym of the name "Cyperus subsquarrosus." While "Lipocarpha micrantha" currently continues to be used on the SARO List, the new name has been accepted in the Database of Vascular Plants in Canada (Brouillet et al. 2010+).

1.3    Distribution, abundance and population trends

The federal recovery strategy indicates that the Holiday Beach occurrence of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Essex County, Ontario, is considered extirpated. However, the province of Ontario ranks this occurrence “F” (failed to find), not “X” (extirpated). This rank is based on the province’s application of the NatureServe key for ranking species element occurrences.

1.4    Habitat needs

Further details concerning the attributes and classification of locations occupied by Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario are provided here, based on observations in the provincial record (MNRF 2018).

Landforms where Small-flowered Lipocarpha is found include strands, spits, bars and tombolos. It also occurs on sand flats away from shoreline locations; for example, within the interior of one of the Sable Islands in northwest Ontario, 160 metres from the surrounding water body.

Small-flowered Lipocarpha is usually found on wet substrates, often on shoreline depressions or flats that are normally submersed. Less often, it is described from both the wet waterward portion of the beach and the dry landward portion, or the adjacent dune of the beach-dune complex where it grows. The substrate is most often described as sand but may consist of a combination of sand, gravel and cobbles. Sand substrates are medium to very fine textured.

In southwest Ontario (ecoregion 7E), the areas from which it has been reported would most likely be classified as Open Sand Dune ecosites. The ecosites with which it is associated in northwest Ontario (ecoregions 4S, 4W, 5S) have not been formally described and are provisionally classified as Wormwood Gravel Beach pending a more appropriate classification (W. Bakowsky, pers. comm. 2018). Informally, they are described as beach, sand flats, sand dune and marsh.

Small-flowered Lipocarpha also persists in submersed substrates that are exposed during low water years. At a location on the Lower Peninsula of Virginia, Small-flowered Lipocarpha remained submersed 15 to 30 metres from the shoreline, under approximately three metres of water, for 45 years until exposure initiated germination (DeBerry and Perry 2005). When surface water is present at normal depths, the shoreline flats occupied by Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario may resemble marsh, shallow water or open water ecosites.

The names of vascular plant species with which Small-flowered Lipocarpha is known to be associated in Ontario are given in Table 1 .

1.5    Threats to survival and recovery

The federal recovery strategy states that “water levels at the extirpated Holiday Beach population are manipulated to enhance duck habitat, resulting in the loss of much of the habitat where Small-flowered Lipocarpha formerly occurred.” Given the Ontario rank for this occurrence (i.e., not extirpated), water management and use is also identified as a threat at the Holiday Beach location.

1.6    Approaches to recovery

Information under the section on Threats to Survival and Recovery above is not discussed in the federal recovery strategy. The federal recovery strategy does not recommend recovery actions to address this threat. Therefore, consideration should be given to relevant recovery actions that would help to address it when developing recovery initiatives for this species in Ontario.

1.7    Area for consideration in developing a habitat regulation

Under the ESA, a recovery strategy must include a recommendation to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on the area that should be considered in developing a habitat regulation. A habitat regulation is a legal instrument that prescribes an area that will be protected as the habitat of the species. The recommendation provided below will be one of many sources considered by the Minister, including information that may become newly available following completion of the recovery strategy, when developing the habitat regulation for this species.

The Critical Habitat section of the federal recovery strategy provides an identification of critical habitat (as defined under the SARA). Identification of critical habitat is not a component of a recovery strategy prepared under the ESA. However, it is recommended that the approach used to identify critical habitat in the federal recovery strategy be considered, along with any new scientific information pertaining to Small-flowered Lipocarpha and the ecological community types it occupies, when developing a habitat regulation under the ESA.

Glossary

Bar

A spit that forms across the mouth of a river or at the entrance of a bay.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)

The committee established under section 14 of the Species at Risk Act that is responsible for assessing and classifying species at risk in Canada.

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO)

The committee established under section 3 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that is responsible for assessing and classifying species at risk in Ontario.

Conservation status rank

A rank assigned to a species or ecological community that primarily conveys the degree of rarity of the species or community at the global (G), national (N) or subnational (S) level. These ranks, termed G-rank, N-rank and S-rank, are not legal designations. Ranks are determined by NatureServe and, in the case of Ontario’s S-rank, by Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre. The conservation status of a species or ecosystem is designated by a number from 1 to 5, preceded by the letter G, N or S reflecting the appropriate geographic scale of the assessment. The numbers mean the following:

 

1 = critically imperilled
2 = imperilled
3 = vulnerable
4 = apparently secure
5 = secure
NR = not yet ranked

Edaphic

Of, produced by, or influenced by the soil.

Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA)

The provincial legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Ontario.

Species at Risk Act (SARA)

The federal legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Canada. This act establishes Schedule 1 as the legal list of wildlife species at risk. Schedules 2 and 3 contain lists of species that at the time the Act came into force needed to be reassessed. After species on Schedule 2 and 3 are reassessed and found to be at risk, they undergo the SARA listing process to be included in Schedule 1.

Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List

The regulation made under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that provides the official status classification of species at risk in Ontario. This list was first published in 2004 as a policy and became a regulation in 2008.

Spit

A long narrow ridge, usually of sand, which projects into a water body from the shore of the mainland.

Strand

A zone of exposed sand substrate along a shoreline with a surface exhibiting well-defined parallel or semi-parallel ridges separated by shallow swales.

Tombolos

A spit that has made contact with an island thereby connecting it to the mainland.

List of abbreviations

COSEWIC

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSSARO

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario

ECCC

Environment and Climate Change Canada

ESA

Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007

ISBN

International Standard Book Number

MNRF

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

SARA

Canada’s Species at Risk Act

SARO List

Species at Risk in Ontario List

References

Bauters, K., I. Larridon, M. Reynders, P. Asselman, A. Vrijdagh, A. Muthama Muasya, D. A. Simpson and P. Goetghebeur. 2014. A new classification for Lipocarpha and Volkiella as infrageneric taxa of Cyperus s.l. (Cypereae, Cyperoideae, Cyperaceae): insights from species tree reconstruction supplemented with morphological and floral developmental data. Phytotaxa 166(1): 1-32.

Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle and P. Desmet. 2010+. Cyperus subsquarrosus (Muhlenberg) Bauters in VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/30726. Accessed 8 June 2018.

DeBerry, D. A. and J. E. Perry. 2005. A drawdown flora in Virginia. Castanea 70(4): 276-286.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 2 parts, iii + 34 + 17 pp.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). 2018. Provincially Tracked Species Observations for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha). Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. Accessed 4 June 2018.

Personal communications

Bakowsky, Wasyl. 2018. Correspondence to E. Snyder. Community Ecologist, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario.

Appendix 1. Recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada

Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha): recovery strategy 2018

Official title: Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada 2018

Species at Risk Act

Recovery strategy series

Adopted under Section 44 of SARA

Document information

Recommended citation:

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 2 parts, 34 pp. + 17 pp.

For copies of the recovery strategy, or for additional information on species at risk, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, residence descriptions, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry.

Également disponible en français sous le titre « Programme de rétablissement du lipocarphe à petites fleurs (Lipocarpha micrantha) au Canada »

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2018. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-660-25760-0
Catalogue no. En3-4/289-2018E-PDF
Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada

Under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996), the federal, provincial, and territorial governments agreed to work together on legislation, programs, and policies to protect wildlife species at risk throughout Canada.

In the spirit of cooperation of the Accord, the Government of British Columbia has given permission to the Government of Canada to adopt the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia (Part 2) under Section 44 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada has included a federal addition (Part 1) which completes the SARA requirements for this recovery strategy.

The federal recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada consists of two parts:

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Part 2 – Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia, prepared by the Ministry of Environment.

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of recovery strategies for listed Extirpated, Endangered, and Threatened species and are required to report on progress within five years after the publication of the final document on the SAR Public Registry.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is the competent minister under SARA for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and has prepared the federal component of this recovery strategy (Part 1), as per section 37 of SARA. To the extent possible, it has been prepared in cooperation with the Province of British Columbia (BC) and the Province of Ontario (ON), as per section 39(1) of SARA. SARA section 44 allows the Minister to adopt all or part of an existing plan for the species if it meets the requirements under SARA for content (sub-sections 41(1) or (2)). The Province of British Columbia provided the attached recovery strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Part 2) as science advice to the jurisdictions responsible for managing the species in British Columbia. It was prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy and will not be achieved by Environment and Climate Change Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and Canadian society as a whole.

This recovery strategy will be followed by one or more action plans that will provide information on recovery measures to be taken by Environment and Climate Change Canada and other jurisdictions and/or organizations involved in the conservation of the species. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

The recovery strategy sets the strategic direction to arrest or reverse the decline of the species, including identification of critical habitat to the extent possible. It provides all Canadians with information to help take action on species conservation. When critical habitat is identified, either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA requires that critical habitat then be protected.

In the case of critical habitat identified for terrestrial species including migratory birds SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federally protected area^{footnote 1[1]} be described in the Canada Gazette within 90 days after the recovery strategy or action plan that identified the critical habitat is included in the public registry. A prohibition against destruction of critical habitat under ss. 58(1) will apply 90 days after the description of the critical habitat is published in theCanada Gazette.

For critical habitat located on other federal lands, the competent minister must either make a statement on existing legal protection or make an order so that the prohibition against destruction of critical habitat applies.

If the critical habitat for a migratory bird is not within a federal protected area and is not on federal land, within the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of Canada, the prohibition against destruction can only apply to those portions of the critical habitat that are habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies as per SARA ss. 58(5.1) and ss. 58(5.2).

For any part of critical habitat located on non-federal lands, if the competent minister forms the opinion that any portion of critical habitat is not protected by provisions in or measures under SARA or other Acts of Parliament, or the laws of the province or territory, SARA requires that the Minister recommend that the Governor in Council make an order to prohibit destruction of critical habitat. The discretion to protect critical habitat on non-federal lands that is not otherwise protected rests with the Governor in Council.

Acknowledgements

Development of this recovery strategy was coordinated by Kella Sadler and Matt Huntley (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service – Pacific Region (ECCC CWS-PAC). Substantial input and collaborative support was provided by Lauren Strybos and Justine Mannion (ECCC CWS - Ontario Region). Marie-Andrée Carrière and Andres De Vleeschauwer (ECCC CWS – National Capital Region), Ken Corcoran and Lesley Dunn (ECCC CWS - Ontario Region), Brenda Costanzo and Peter Fielder (British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Environment), Louise Blight, Rob Dinwoodie, Gordon Humphrey, and Lora Nield (BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations), Terry McIntosh, and Jay Fitzsimmons, Eric Snyder, Leanne Jennings, Glenn Desy, and Vivian Brownell (OMNRF Species Conservation Policy Branch), and members of the Protected Areas Section (OMNRF Natural Resource Conservation Policy Branch) contributed useful feedback and/or supporting information. Danielle Yu (ECCC CWS-PAC) provided additional assistance with mapping and figure preparation.

Additions and modifications to the adopted document

The following sections have been included to address specific requirements of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) that are not addressed in the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia (Part 2 of this document, referred to henceforth as “the BC recovery strategy”) and/or to provide updated and additional information. The adopted BC recovery strategy does not provide information for Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario or the historic population in Quebec; therefore the updated/additional species information provided in this federal recovery strategy is predominantly of that nature.

Under SARA, there are specific requirements and processes set out regarding the protection of critical habitat. Therefore, statements in the BC recovery strategy referring to protection of survival/recovery habitat may not directly correspond to federal requirements. Recovery measures dealing with the protection of habitat are adopted; however, whether particular measures or actions will result in protection of critical habitat under SARA will be assessed following publication of the final federal recovery strategy.

Executive summary

This section replaces the "Executive Summary” section in the BC recovery strategy.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) is a small (2 to 20 cm tall), annual herbaceous sedge. Its leaves and stems are clustered in small tufts and it produces green flowers arranged in dense, oval spikes, each 2–6 mm long. Small-flowered Lipocarpha was designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Threatened in 1992 then re-examined and designated Endangered in 2002 before being listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act in 2005.

In Canada, the Small-flowered Lipocarpha reaches its North American northern limit in British Columbia (BC), Ontario and historically into Quebec. In BC, populations occur around Lake Osoyoos and Lake Okanagan in the south Okanagan Valley, while in Ontario, populations are present in Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake and Tide Lake areas of northwestern Ontario. Populations have been extirpated in BC (east shore of Osoyoos Lake; last seen 1985), Ontario (Holiday Beach and Detroit River; last seen 1987 and 1901 respectively) and Quebec (Missisquoi Bay; last seen 1957). Small-flowered Lipocarpha grows on wet, sandy, exposed shorelines in areas prone to flooding. It prefers open areas, avoiding competition from other plants and does not tolerate the presence of organic sediments.

The greatest threat to the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is water management/use, which due to changes in seasonal water levels can affect the reproduction of this annual species. Other threats to this species are tourism and recreation development, livestock farming and ranching, recreational activities, and invasive non-native species.

The population and distribution objective for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is to maintain the distribution, and to maintain or increase the abundance of all known extant populations in BC and Ontario, including any new or re-discovered populations that may be found in the future.

One or more recovery action plans will be completed by 2023.

Recovery feasibility summary

This section replaces the "Recovery Feasibility Summary” section in the BC recovery strategy.

Based on the following four criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada uses to establish recovery feasibility, recovery of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha has been deemed technically and biologically feasible.

1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance.

Yes. Reproductively capable individuals are available at all extant^{footnote 2[2]} sites. This species is an annual plant, and reproduces from seed. Seeds that are produced in the fall (and banked within the surrounding substrate) will germinate the next time appropriate conditions occur. This may happen in the same location the next summer, or if conditions are unfavourable for growth, the seeds may not germinate for several years or even decades. The species is therefore subject to fluctuating population size from year to year. The maximum longevity of Small-flowered Lipocarpha seeds that are banked within the substrate is currently unknown.

2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration.

Yes. The Small-flowered Lipocarpha is mainly found on sandy beaches that are subject to seasonal flooding, therefore availability of habitat fluctuates with water levels. Although there is currently sufficient suitable habitat to support the species at occupied sites, extant populations in Ontario and BC are particularly susceptible to habitat loss from development, local destruction and/or deleterious water level management due to their small size. However, it is possible that more suitable habitat for the species might also be made available through habitat management or restoration.

3. The primary threats to the species or its habitat (including threats outside Canada) can be avoided or mitigated.

Yes. The primary threats to the species are loss and degradation of habitat due to development, controlled water level regimes, and invasive species. Stewardship efforts and cooperation with landowners and land managers can prevent or mitigate primary threats through conservation methods including habitat protection, inventory and monitoring, and habitat restoration/rehabilitation.

4. Recovery techniques exist to achieve the population and distribution objectives or can be expected to be developed within a reasonable timeframe.

Yes. General habitat restoration methods/techniques are known. Standard seed propagation techniques exist for re-introduction and/or augmentation efforts, should these activities be deemed necessary for conservation efforts.

1. Species status information

This section replaces the "Species Status Information” (Section 2) in the BC recovery strategy.

Legal Designation: SARA Schedule 1 (Endangered) (2005).

• ^a Rank 1 – critically imperiled; 2 – imperiled; 3 – vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; 4 – apparently secure; 5 – secure; H – possibly extirpated; NR – status not ranked
• ^b The Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List is a regulation under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 similar in context to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act.
• ^c Alabama (SNR), Arizona (SNR), Arkansas (SNR), California (SNR), Connecticut (S1S2), District of Columbia (S1), Florida (SNR), Georgia (S3?), Idaho (SNR), Illinois (S3S4), Indiana (SNR), Iowa (S4), Kansas (S2), Kentucky (S4?), Louisiana (S1), Maine (S1), Maryland (S1), Massachusetts (S2), Michigan (S3), Minnesota (SNR), Mississippi (S4), Missouri (SNR), Nebraska (SNR), New Hampshire (SH), New Jersey (S1), New Mexico (SNR), New York (S1), North Carolina (SH), North Dakota (S1?), Ohio (S2), Oklahoma (SNR), Oregon (SH), Pennsylvania (S1), Rhode Island (S1), South Carolina (S2), Tennessee (SNR), Texas (SNR), Virginia (S2), Washington (SNR), Wisconsin (SNR)
• ^d The three goals of the BC Conservation Framework are: 1. Contribute to global efforts for species and ecosystem conservation; 2. Prevent species and ecosystems from becoming at risk; 3. Maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems.

These federally protected areas are: a national park of Canada named and described in Schedule 1 to the Canada National Parks Act, The Rouge National Park established by the Rouge National Urban Park Act, a marine protected area under the Oceans Act, a migratory bird sanctuary under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 or a national wildlife area under the Canada Wildlife Act see ss. 58(2) of SARA.

It is estimated that the percent of the global range and population of this species in Canada is less than 1% (Smith et al. 2001).

2. Species information

2.1 Species Population and Distribution

Table 2 (below) replaces the table in Section 3.2 “Population and distribution" subsection in the BC recovery strategy, to provide an updated summary of the distribution and abundance of recorded Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations throughout Canada. Of the 18 known populations, 14 are currently considered extant: 3 in BC and 11 in Ontario. The BC populations occur at Osoyoos Lake (2 populations) and Okanagan Lake (1 population), in the southern interior of the province. The Ontario populations occur at Rainy Lake (9 populations), at Sable Islands – Lake of the Woods (1 population) and at Tide Lake – English River (1 population), in the northwestern part of the province.

Four populations are considered extirpated^{footnote 3[3]}: 1 population in BC (Osoyoos Lake – east shore), 2 populations in Ontario (Holiday Beach; Detroit River), and 1 population in Quebec (Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain). The extirpated Osoyoos Lake - east shore population has not been observed since 1985, and was likely lost to shoreline development. The Holiday Beach population has not been observed since 1987, despite thorough searches in 2001, and the beach habitat has been seriously degraded (Smith et al. 2004). The Detroit River population has not been observed since 1901 and the habitat has presumably been destroyed by shoreline development. The Quebec population at Missisquoi Bay has not been observed since the 1950s, despite intensive search efforts between 1989 and 2002 and habitat is thought to be degraded as a result of water quality issues (Smith et al. 2004).

3. Threats

Table 3 (below) replaces Table 2 of the “Threats Assessment" (section 4.1) in the BC recovery strategy, to provide information on the threats to all known Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations in Canada.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha threat assessment is based on the IUCN-CMP (World Conservation Union–Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system. Threats are defined as the proximate activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause in the future the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of the entity being assessed (population, species, community, or ecosystem) in the area of interest (global, national, or subnational). Limiting factors are not considered during this assessment process. Historical threats, indirect or cumulative effects of the threats, or any other relevant information that would help understand the nature of the threats are presented in the Description of Threats section.

• ^e Threat numbers are provided for Level 1 threats (i.e., whole numbers) and Level 2 threats (i.e., numbers with decimals).
• ^f Impact – The degree to which a species is observed, inferred, or suspected to be directly or indirectly threatened in the area of interest. The impact of each threat is based on Severity and Scope rating and considers only present and future threats. Threat impact reflects a reduction of a species population or decline/degradation of the area of an ecosystem. The median rate of population reduction or area decline for each combination of scope and severity corresponds to the following classes of threat impact: Very High (75% declines), High (40%), Medium (15%), and Low (3%). Unknown: used when impact cannot be determined (e.g., if values for either scope or severity are unknown); Not Calculated: impact not calculated as threat is outside the assessment time frame (e.g., timing is insignificant/negligible [past threat] or low [possible threat in long term]); Negligible: when scope or severity is negligible; Not a Threat: when severity is scored as neutral or potential benefit.
• ^g Scope – Proportion of the species that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10 years. Usually measured as a proportion of the species’ population in the area of interest. (Pervasive = 71 to 100%; Large = 31 to 70%; Restricted = 11 to 30%; Small = 1 to 10%; Negligible < 1%).
• ^h Severity – Within the scope, the level of damage to the species from the threat that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within a 10-year or three-generation timeframe. For this species a generation time of 2-3 years was used resulting in severity being scored over a 10-year timeframe. Usually measured as the degree of reduction of the species’ population. (Extreme = 71 to 100%; Serious = 3 to 70%; Moderate = 11 to 30%; Slight = 1 to 10%; Negligible < 1%; Neutral or Potential Benefit > 0%).
• ⁱ Timing – High = continuing; Moderate = only in the future (could happen in the short term [< 10 years or 3 generations]) or now suspended (could come back in the short term); Low = only in the future (could happen in the long term) or now suspended (could come back in the long term); Insignificant/Negligible = only in the past and unlikely to return, or no direct effect but limiting.

3.1 Description of Threats

Threat descriptions are provided in decreasing order of Threat Impact levels, as per classification in Table 3 above.

IUCN #7. Natural system modification (7.2 Dams and water management/use)

British Columbia

Information on this threat is available in the adopted BC recovery strategy (section 4.2).

Ontario

Water levels at the Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods populations are tightly regulated for economic, recreational and environmental purposes (COSEWIC 2002; Harris et al. 2004). On Rainy Lake, water level limits are set through a rule curve^{footnote 4[4]} established by extensive consultation and scientific studies. Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods are on the Canada – United States border, thus changes to water level regulation require the full involvement and approval of the International Lake of the Woods Control Board, the International Rainy Lake Board of Control, or the International Joint Commission (Harris et al. 2004).

As with the BC population at Osoyoos Lake, disruption of the natural cycle of flooding and draw-down can degrade habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and lead to long‑term habitat loss at both of the northwestern Ontario populations. High water levels may flood suitable habitat on sandy shorelines, which prevents germination of Small‑flowered Lipocarpha as the seed bank would be inundated. The species is highly sensitive to habitat conditions, thus minor alterations could render an area unsuitable (COSEWIC 2002). The maintenance of unnaturally low water levels over several years can also result in degradation of Small-flowered Lipocarpha habitat as shrubs and other highly competitive species may flourish in the absence of disturbance. Further research is required to determine the effects of the current water management regime on the Small-flowered Lipocarpha habitat at these locations.

Additionally, water levels at the extirpated Holiday Beach population are manipulated to enhance duck habitat, resulting in the loss of much of the habitat where Small-flowered Lipocarpha formerly occurred (Smith et al. 2001). Dredged materials and mounds of rotting vegetation have been deposited in other nearby areas, covering up the suitable flat, moist sand habitat for the species.

ICUN #1. Residential and commercial development (1.3 Tourism and recreation areas)

British Columbia

Information on this threat is available in the adopted BC recovery strategy (section 4.2).

Ontario

Development pressure is a historical threat at current sites in Ontario. The extirpated Ontario populations and habitat at Holiday Beach and Detroit River were directly affected by shoreline development. Shoreline development can replace sand beaches with artificial substrates and disrupt natural sand erosion and deposition processes, thereby degrading Small-flowered Lipocarpha habitat (Harris et al. 2004). Since Small‑flowered Lipocarpha populations at Sandpoint Island, Goose Portage, Poundnet Bay, Sable Islands, and Tide Lake in Ontario are secured within provincial parks or conservation reserves, currently these populations are not considered to be under threat from development. Several sites (Swell Bay, Redgut Bay 1, 2, 4, 5) occur on Crown Land, while the remaining site (Redgut Bay 3) occurs on Rainy Lake Indian Reserve 26B (Harris et al. 2004).

IUCN #6.1 Recreational activities

British Columbia

Recreational activities such as all-terrain vehicle use, or by people using the beaches for swimming or boating, results in the threat of direct trampling of plants and/or habitat degradation via disturbance and/or compaction of soils at all locations. The population at Sun-Oka Beach is located within a highly used Provincial Park, though provincial parks staff currently limit access during the growing season (Safford, K. and M. Weston, pers. comm. 2016). A residential development is proposed at the northwest end of Osoyoos Lake that, if approved, may increase recreational use of the beach habitat at the Osoyoos Lake – Willow Beach population.

Ontario

The remaining extant Ontario populations are relatively small, both in number of individuals and area, and are therefore vulnerable to environmental disturbance such as excessive recreational use of shorelines which could alter habitat (COSEWIC 2002; Harris et al. 2004). At the Sandpoint Island and Goose Portage populations on Rainy Lake, which occur in Sandpoint Island Provincial Park, recreational activities are likely to occur and may result in damage to plants (e.g., trampling).

IUCN #2.3 Livestock farming & ranching

British Columbia

Livestock ranching is a threat at the Osoyoos Lake population (#1) that can result in direct trampling of plants and/or habitat degradation via disturbance and/or compaction of soils.

Ontario

Livestock farming and ranching is not a known threat to Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations in Ontario.

IUCN #8. Invasive and other problematic species and genes (8.1 Invasive and non-native/alien species; 8.2 Problematic native species)

British Columbia

Information on this threat is available in the adopted BC recovery strategy (section 4.2).

Ontario

Invasive species may pose a threat to Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations in Ontario. Details on the extent of this threat are currently unknown; however, Small‑flowered Lipocarpha is known to be intolerant of competition from other plant species (COSEWIC 2002). Many Ontario populations occur on lakes where water levels are unnaturally regulated. This can allow shrubs, grasses, and other highly competitive and invasive vegetation (e.g., Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), European Common Reed (Phragmites australis australis)) to overtake sandy shorelines which provide habitat for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (COSEWIC 2002; Catling and Mitrow 2011; Catling et al 2014).

An “extirpated” population is one which was previously known to occur (i.e., for which there is historical record), but that no longer exists

The compilation of operating criteria, guidelines, and specifications that govern the storage and release function of a reservoir.

4. Population and distribution objectives

This section replaces "Recovery Goal and Objectives" (section 5) in the BC recovery strategy.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has determined the population and distribution objective for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha to be:

To maintain the distribution, and to maintain or increase the abundance of all known extant populations in BC and Ontario, including any new or re-discovered populations that may be found in the future.

Rationale

Canadian populations of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha represent the northern distribution limit for this species in North America; occurring in both the southern interior of BC and in northwestern Ontario. Current recovery efforts focus on maintaining the 14 known extant populations, as it is deemed unlikely that restoration and/or re‑introduction at extirpated sites where shoreline developments and/or severe degradation has occurred is biologically or technically feasible. However if additional naturally-occurring populations are discovered or re-discovered, these should also be maintained.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha was likely always naturally rare within its historical range in Canada. Although threat mitigation may address many of the threats to the species, considering the species’ historical distribution, and the limited amount of suitable habitat remaining, it is likely that the species will remain at risk in Canada.

The trend in population size (including direction, rate of change) for all extant populations is unknown; and it is important to note for future monitoring and/or trend estimation purposes that the population size of this annual species may characteristically fluctuate among survey years (Harris et al. 2004), depending on habitat suitability. Banked seeds may persist in the substrate for years, and the current abundance and potential viability of seeds at extant and extirpated sites is unknown. Specific targets for sustainable population numbers are therefore difficult to identify reliably. Where the best available information and/or long-term monitoring indicates overall population decline, deliberate attempts to increase abundance (e.g., through seeding, translocation of plants or change in land use management) should be considered. Additionally, a regular assessment of threats (e.g., water level management, shoreline development) and potential mitigation measures will be important in evaluating the recovery of this species.

5. Broad Strategies and General Approaches to Meet Objectives

5.1 Actions Already Completed or Currently Underway

The BC recovery strategy (section 6.1) provides detailed information on recovery actions that were completed or underway at the time publication (2011). Since that time, additional inventory/monitoring work has been completed by Terry McIntosh at Osoyoos Lake and Okanagan Lake (i.e., surveys of known sites and suitable habitat, in 2015‑2016).
Information on actions completed in Ontario for the purpose of meeting recovery objectives identified in this recovery strategy is provided below (Table 4).

5.2 Strategic Direction for Recovery

The BC recovery strategy provides a recovery planning table for British Columbia (section 6.2, Table 3 of that document). Table 5 (below) is included to provide strategic direction for recovery planning in Ontario.

^j “Priority” reflects the degree to which the approach contributes directly to the recovery of the species or is an essential precursor to an approach that contributes to the recovery of the species. Priority is characterized as essential (urgent and important, needs to start immediately), necessary (important but not urgent, action can start in 2-5 years), or beneficial (action would be beneficial at any time that it was feasible to start).

5.3 Narrative to Support the Recovery Planning Table

The BC recovery strategy (section 6.3 of that document) provides a narrative to support the recovery planning table for British Columbia. The information below provides narrative to support the recovery planning table for Ontario.

As the species has not been surveyed in Ontario in over a decade, monitoring of Small-flowered Lipocarpha population trends and habitat status, including water level monitoring, should be completed at extant populations. Successful monitoring will depend on surveying the populations at the right times of year as well as during low water levels (e.g., late summer to early fall), at appropriate intervals of time (e.g., over 2-3 years, as the number of plants can be highly variable depending on annual survey timing as well as between years), and taking regular water level readings at each occurrence. Monitoring should also be conducted to determine the habitat requirements (e.g., soil texture, substrate, moisture), and suitable water level regime for Small‑flowered Lipocarpha. Additionally, monitoring is required to assess the extent and effects of known threats such as water management/use, invasive species encroachment, recreational use of habitat, and shoreline development.

Research is required to determine if/when restoration is needed at extant populations. This includes conducting research on the physical habitat requirements of Small‑flowered Lipocarpha, seed production, seed bank germination rates and longevity, seed dispersal mechanisms, and seedling and juvenile development.

It is important to secure long-term protection for all known populations of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario. The populations occurring at Sandpoint Island, Goose Portage, Poundnet Bay, Sable Islands, and Tide Lake are located within provincial parks or conservation reserves, and continued collaboration with Ontario Parks is needed to manage lands containing Small-flowered Lipocarpha. With respect to the remaining populations, stewardship initiatives have been initiated with private landowners or management agencies. As the use of dams and water level management is one of the main threats to the species, collaboration among organizations such as the Lake of the Woods Control Board, International Rainy Lake Board of Control, International Joint Commission, and local hydropower operators is required to provide input on water level planning, and to work towards restoring a more natural flow regime to waterbodies on which Small-flowered Lipocarpha occurs. Communication among these organizations is necessary to ensure that the species’ needs are considered with respect to lake level management changes. Additionally, research and monitoring should be undertaken to investigate the optimum water regime necessary for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha to persist, prior to recommending any potential changes to existing rule curves and water level management practices at several populations if required.

6. Critical Habitat

This section replaces “Information on Habitat Needed to Meet Recovery Goal” (section 7.0) in the BC recovery strategy.

6.1 Identification of the Species’ Critical Habitat

Section 41 (1)(c) of SARA requires that recovery strategies include an identification of the species’ critical habitat, to the extent possible, as well as examples of activities that are likely to result in its destruction. The BC recovery strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha includes a description of the species’ habitat requirements. This science advice was used to inform the following critical habitat sections in this federal recovery strategy.

Critical habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is identified in this document to the extent possible; as responsible jurisdictions and/or other interested parties conduct research to address knowledge gaps, the existing critical habitat methodology and identification may be modified and/or refined to reflect new knowledge.

Critical habitat is partially identified in this recovery strategy. A schedule of studies (Section 6.2) has been established to provide the information necessary to complete the identification of critical habitat needed to meet the population and distribution objectives. The identification of critical habitat will be updated when the information becomes available, either in a revised recovery strategy or action plan(s).

Geospatial location of areas containing critical habitat

Critical habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is identified for 13 extant populations: 2 in British Columbia (Figures 1-2) and 11 in Ontario (Figures 3-8; Table 6).

The area containing critical habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is based on three additive components: (1) the areas occupied by individual plants or patches of plants within the past 25 years^{footnote 5[5]} including the associated potential location error from Global Positioning System (GPS) units (ranging up to 100 m uncertainty distance) around observations; and, (2) a 50 m distance (i.e., critical function zone distance^{footnote 6[6]}) to encompass immediately adjacent areas required for the persistence of local populations; and (3) the entire portion of distinct ecological features^{footnote 7[7]} which are associated with, and are integral to, Small-flowered Lipocarpha individual plants or patches of plants.

Biophysical attributes of critical habitat

Habitat needs for Small-flowered Lipocarpha are known only generally. Habitat types that are known to support the species include low dunes, swales, and shorelines of lakes and waterways that have natural flooding regimes, and soil of either mud, or coarse sand. These general habitat types are comprised by a suite of ecological properties that overlap to provide suitable habitat for Small-flowered Lipocarpha. The biophysical attributes of critical habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha therefore include all of the vegetation (composition and abundance of plant species), substrates, and related hydrological properties that comprise the habitat types described above, within the geospatial areas identified as containing critical habitat.

The areas containing critical habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha are presented in Figures 1-8. The shaded yellow polygons (units) shown on maps represent identified critical habitat, excepting only those features that clearly do not meet the needs of the species. These include: (i) existing anthropogenic features (e.g. paved roads, dock structures), (ii) submerged areas below the lowest recorded water level of waterbodies, and (iii) areas dominated by woody vegetation (trees, shrubs) and/or large perennials. These features do not possess the biophysical attributes required by the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and they are not identified as critical habitat.

The 1 km x 1 km UTM grid overlay shown on maps is a standardized national grid system that highlights the general geographic area containing critical habitat, for land use planning and/or environmental assessment purposes. More detailed information on the location of critical habitat to support protection of the species and its habitat in Ontario (Figures 3-8, Table 6) may be requested by contacting Environment and Climate Change Canada's Recovery Planning section at: ec.planificationduretablissement-recoveryplanning.ec@canada.ca.

• ^k Based on the standard UTM Military Grid Reference System (see The UTM Grid - Military Grid Reference System), where the first 2 digits and letter represent the UTM Zone, the following 2 letters indicate the 100 x 100 km standardized UTM grid followed by 2 digits to represent the 10 x 10 km standardized UTM grid. The last 2 digits represent the 1 x 1 km standardized UTM grid containing all or a portion of the critical habitat unit. This unique alphanumeric code is based on the methodology produced from the Breeding Bird Atlases of Canada (See Bird Studies Canada for more information on breeding bird atlases).
• ^l The listed coordinates are a cartographic representation of where critical habitat can be found, presented as the southwest corner of the 1 x 1 km standardized UTM grid square containing all or a portion of the critical habitat unit. The coordinates may not fall within critical habitat and are provided as a general location only.
• ^m Land tenure is provided as an approximation of the types of land ownership that exist at the critical habitat units and should be used for guidance purposes only. Accurate land tenure will require cross referencing critical habitat boundaries with surveyed land parcel information.

6.2 Schedule of Studies to Identify Critical Habitat

This section replaces Section 7.2 “Studies Needed to Describe Survival/Recovery Habitat” in the BC recovery strategy.

The following schedule of studies (Table 7) outlines the activities required to complete the identification of critical habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada.

6.3 Activities Likely to Result in the Destruction of Critical Habitat

Understanding what constitutes destruction of critical habitat is necessary for the protection and management of critical habitat. Destruction is determined on a case by case basis. Destruction would result if part of the critical habitat were degraded, either permanently or temporarily, such that it would not serve its function when needed by Small-flowered Lipocarpha. Destruction may result from a single or multiple activities at one point in time, or from the cumulative effects of one or more activities over time. Activities described in Table 8 include those likely to cause destruction of critical habitat for Small-flowered Lipocarpha, however, destructive activities are not limited to those listed.

The BC recovery strategy contains a section describing specific human activities likely to damage survival/recovery habitat. This science advice was used to inform the description of activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat in this federal recovery strategy.

• ⁿ Significant adverse effects are those that negatively impact the species’ survival and recovery. Success of the species’ survival and recovery will be assessed by the population and distribution objective, and the associated performance measures set out in this document, that: the distribution and abundance of Small-flowered Lipocarpha has been maintained, i.e., population size and extent of occurrence or area of occupancy at each site is stable and/or increasing.

7. Measuring progress

This section replaces “Performance Measures” (section 8) in the BC recovery strategy.

The performance indicators presented below provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives:

• the distribution of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada has been maintained (i.e., extent of occurrence has not decreased)
• the abundance of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada has been maintained (i.e., population sizes have not decreased)

Measurements of population size (as measured during peak flowering times) should allow for annual variation in numbers of flowering plants and related variation in annual monitoring results, i.e., trends in annual estimates are to be evaluated over the course of a longer time period, for example, over a five year interval.

8. Statement on action plans

One or more action plans for Small-flowered Lipocarpha will be posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry by 2023.

9. Effects on the environment and other species

This section replaces “Effects on Other Species” (section 9) in the BC recovery strategy.

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is conducted on all SARA recovery planning documents, in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. The purpose of a SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making and to evaluate whether the outcomes of a recovery planning document could affect any component of the environment or any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s (FSDS) goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that strategies may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process based on national guidelines directly incorporates consideration of all environmental effects, with a particular focus on possible impacts upon non-target species or habitats. The results of the SEA are incorporated directly into the strategy itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha occurs in the southern interior of BC, and the critical habitat identified for the species here is known to overlap with occurrences of other shoreline plants in the area that are characterized as species at risk. For example, the SARA Schedule 1 plant species Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia robusta), Toothcup (Rotala ramosior), Short-rayed Alkali Aster (Symphyotrichum frondosum) and Bent Spike-rush (Eleocharis geniculata) also occur at Osoyoos Lake in the Okanagan Valley. The provincially listed (BC) rare plants Awned Cyperus (Cyperus squarrosus), Thyme-leaved Spurge (Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia), and Beaked Spike-rush (Eleocharis rostellata) are known to co-occur in these areas as well. In Ontario, Western Silvery Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum), a designated Threatened plant species on Schedule 1 of SARA also occurs at Lake of the Woods. Additionally, the endangered Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus circumcinctus) is known to breed along shores in the Lake of the Woods area, and other federally-listed species at risk such as Golden-winged Warbler  (Vermivora chrysoptera), Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) are known to occur in the area as well. Holiday Beach is also known as a breeding area for the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) which is listed as Endangered on Schedule 1 of SARA and provides habitat for several raptor species including the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) and Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus).

The proposed recovery approaches are not expected to negatively affect any other native species of concern. The recommended habitat protection will indirectly benefit other species, including species at risk in the area. Increased public education and awareness may limit harmful recreational activities at these locations, and proper management of invasive species may restore habitat for other plant species at risk. In acknowledgement of the high potential for shared habitat among local species at risk, large-scale management actions, such as invasive species removal or the use of herbicides, should be planned and implemented carefully. All on-site activities (surveys, research, and management) to aid recovery of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha may potentially pose a threat to co-occurring species at risk (e.g., via trampling, increased herbivory as a consequence of animals using human-made trails, or inadvertent dispersal of alien species during disposal), unless care is taken to avoid damage.

10. References

BC Conservation Framework. 2015. Conservation Framework Summary: Lipocarpha micrantha. BC Ministry of the Environment. [Accessed December, 2015]

Catling, P.M. and G. Mitrow. 2011. Major invasive alien plants of natural habitats in Canada. 1. European Common Reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steud. Subsp. australis., Canadian Botanical Association Bulletin, 44(2): 52-61.

Catling, P.M., G., Mitrow, and A. Ward. 2014. Major invasive alien plants of natural habitats in Canada, 9. Reed Canarygrass, Phalaris Roseau: Phalaris arundinacea L. Canadian Botanical Association Bulletin, 47(1): 25-34.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2002. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the small-flowered lipocarpha Lipocarpha micrantha in Canada. Ottawa, ON. vi + 16 pp.

CMP (Conservation Measures Partnership). 2010. Threats Taxonomy.

Harris, A.G. R. F. Foster, G.W. Douglas and S.J. Smith. 2004. National recovery strategy for small-flowered lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada. Report prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Northwest Region, Thunder Bay and British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Air Protection, Biodiversity Branch. 25 pp.

NatureServe. 2015. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. [Accessed December 2015].

Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre. 2016. Element Summary Report for Lipocarpha micrantha Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. [accessed January 2016].

Ontario Parks. 2012. Sandpoint Island Provincial Park (P2589) Interim Management Statement [PDF - 336 KB]. [Accessed May 2016]

Safford, K. and M. Weston, pers. comm. 2016. B.C. Parks. Personal communication with Kella Sadler.

Smith, T. W., G. Douglas and A. Harris. 2001. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Small-Flowered Lipocarpha Lipocarpha micrantha. Interim report, submitted Sept. 2001. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa, Ontario. 24 pp.

Smith, T. W., G. W. Douglas and A. G. Harris. 2004. Conservation Evaluation of Small-flowered Lipocarpha, Lipocarpha micrantha (Cyperaceae) in Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 118:179-184.

Smith, T. 2016. Keys to the Cyperaceae of Ontario [PDF - 260]. [Accessed December 2016].

Part 2: Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia

Prepared by the Ministry of Environment

About the British Columbia recovery strategy series

This series presents the recovery strategies that are prepared as advice to the Province of British Columbia on the general strategic approach required to recover species at risk. Recovery strategies are prepared in accordance with the priorities and management actions assigned under the British Columbia Conservation Framework. The Province prepares recovery strategies to ensure coordinated conservation actions and meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada, and the Canada – British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

What is recovery?

Species at risk recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened, or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species’ persistence in the wild.

What is a recovery strategy?

A recovery strategy summarizes the best available science-based knowledge of a species or ecosystem to identify goals, objectives, and strategic approaches that provide a coordinated direction for recovery. These documents outline what is and what is not known about a species or ecosystem, identify threats to the species or ecosystem, and what should be done to mitigate those threats.

Recovery strategies are usually prepared by a recovery team with members from agencies responsible for the management of the species or ecosystem, experts from other agencies, universities, conservation groups, aboriginal groups, and stakeholder groups as appropriate.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in British Columbia, please visit the Ministry of Environment Recovery Planning webpage.

To learn more about the British Columbia Conservation Framework, please visit the Ministry of Environment Conservation Framework webpage.

Recommended citation

Ministry of Environment. 2011. Recovery strategy for small-flowered lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. 17 pp.

Cover illustration/photograph: Photograph by Terry McIntosh (with permission)

Additional copies: Additional copies can be downloaded from the B.C. Ministry of Environment Recovery Planning webpage

Publication information

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Recovery strategy for Small-Flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia [electronic resource]

(British Columbia Recovery Strategy Series)

Electronic monograph in PDF format.
ISBN 978-0-7726-6516-4

1. Cyperaceae--Conservation--British Columbia.
2. Endangered plants--British Columbia.  I. British Columbia. Ministry of Environment II. Series: British Columbia Recovery Strategy Series

333.95'321609711
C2011-909042-2
QL84.24 R4 2011

Content (excluding illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Disclaimer

This recovery strategy has been prepared by the B.C. Ministry of Environment as advice to the responsible jurisdictions and organizations that may be involved in recovering the species. The B.C. Ministry of Environment presents this document as part of fulfilling its commitments under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada, and the Canada –British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

This document identifies the recovery strategies that are deemed necessary, based on the best available scientific and traditional information, to recover small-flowered lipocarpha populations in British Columbia. Recovery actions to achieve the goals and objectives identified herein are subject to the priorities and budgetary constraints of participatory agencies and organizations. These goals, objectives, and recovery approaches may be modified in the future to accommodate new objectives and findings.

The responsible jurisdictions have had an opportunity to review this document. However, this document does not necessarily represent the official positions of the agencies or the personal views of all reviewers.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that may be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy. The B.C. Ministry of Environment encourages all British Columbians to participate in the recovery of small-flowered lipocarpha.

Responsible jurisdictions

The British Columbia Ministry of Environment is responsible for producing a recovery strategy for small-flowered lipocarpha under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada. Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service (EC-CWS) participated in the preparation of this recovery strategy.

Acknowledgements

This strategy is based on a previous draft prepared by George W. Douglas and Shyanne J. Smith (British Columbia) in cooperation with the members of small-flowered Lipocarpha Recovery Team: Harold Baumbrough (botanist), Brenda Costanzo (co-chair, B.C. Ministry of Environment), George Douglas (botanist, deceased), Orville Dyer (co-chair, B.C. Ministry of Environment), Pam Krannitz (retired, EC-CWS), Ted Lea (past co-chair, retired, B.C. Ministry of Environment), Alex McLean (B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range), and Dennis St. John (botanist). In addition, for earlier drafts, Ron Hall (Osoyoos Indian Band) contributed technical assistance. Brenda Costanzo and Terry McIntosh both provided additional comments and review, which lead to substantial updates to this strategy. Leah Westereng reformatted this document (Ministry of Environment 2010a).

Executive summary

Small-flowered lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) was designated as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) due to the species being disjunct in Canada, with only three extant populations in British Columbia (B.C.) and two extant populations in Ontario. It was listed as Endangered in Canada on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2005 due to being imperiled in Canada.

This recovery strategy only addresses the portion of the Canadian range for this species that occurs in B.C.

In B.C., small-flowered lipocarpha is ranked S1 (critically imperiled) by the Conservation Data Centre and is on the provincial Red list. The B.C. Conservation Framework ranks the small-flowered lipocarpha as a priority 1 under goal 3 (maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems).

The greatest threat to small-flowered lipocarpha is water management/use, which due to changes in seasonal water levels can affect the reproduction of this annual species. Other threats to this species are tourism and recreation development, livestock farming and ranching, recreational activities, and invasive non-native species.

The population and distribution goal is to maintain the distribution and to maintain or improve the abundance, of the three extant populations in B.C., as well as any other extant populations that may be identified or established.

The following are the recovery objectives:

1. To establish habitat protection for all known extant sites in B.C., with no loss or degradation of currently occupied habitat.
2. To assess and mitigate the extent of the main threats (tourism and recreation development, dams and water management/use, invasive non-native species) to the three populations in B.C.
3. To confirm the distribution of small-flowered lipocarpha in B.C. (existing and new locations), and update recovery objectives as needed.
4. To investigate the feasibility of establishing one new population in B.C. where there is suitable habitat, to compensate for the population extirpated in the province.

Recovery feasibility summary

The recovery of small-flowered lipocarpha in B.C. is considered technically and biologically feasible based on the criteria outlined by the Government of Canada (2009):

1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance.

Yes, there are three extant populations in B.C., with approximately 30,000–50,000 individuals present in an optimal year.

2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration.

Yes, there is habitat to support the existing populations in British Columbia, and additional suitable habitat might also be made available through habitat management or restoration.

3. The primary threats to the species or its habitat (including threats outside Canada) can be avoided or mitigated.

Yes, recovery actions such as stewardship and cooperation with landowners and land managers can prevent major threats.

4. Recovery techniques exist to achieve the population and distribution objectives or can be expected to be developed within a reasonable timeframe.

Yes, standard propagation techniques exist for raising new stock for translocation; also, general restoration methods/techniques are known.

1. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada species assessment information

Date of assessment: November 2002

Common name: Small-flowered Lipocarpha

Scientific name: Lipocarpha micrantha

COSEWIC status: Endangered

Reason for designation: A disjunct species occurring in only three sites with the largest population at risk from potentially significant habitat and population losses.

Canadian occurrence: British Columbia and Ontario

Status history: Designated Threatened in April 1992. Status re-examined and designated Endangered in November 2002. Last assessment based on an update status report.

2. Species status information

Small-flowered lipocarpha^{footnote 8[8]}

Legal designation

• Identified Wildlife:^{footnote 9[9]} No
• B.C. Wildlife Act:^{footnote 10[10]} No
• SARA Schedule: 1 (2005)

Conservation status ^{footnote 11[11]}

• B.C. list: Red
• B.C. rank: S1 (2000)
• National rank: N2
• Global rank: G5 (2002)

Subnational ranks ^{footnote 12[12]}

• United States: Alabama (SNR), Arizona (SNR), Arkansas (SNR), California (SNR), Connecticut (S1S2), District of Columbia (S1), Florida (SNR), Georgia (S3?), Idaho (SNR), Illinois (S3S4), Indiana (SNR), Iowa (S4), Kansas (S2), Kentucky (S4?), Louisiana (SH), Maine (S1), Maryland (S1), Massachusetts (S2), Michigan (S3), Minnesota (SNR), Mississippi (S4), Missouri (SNR), Nebraska (SNR), New Hampshire (SH), New Jersey (S1), New Mexico (SNR), New York (S1), North Carolina (SH), North Dakota (S1?), Ohio (S2), Oklahoma (SNR), Oregon (SH), Pennsylvania (S1), Rhode Island (S1), South Carolina (S2), Tennessee (SNR), Texas (SNR), Virginia (S1), Washington (SNR), Wisconsin (SNR)
• Canada: ON (S2), QC (SXII)

B.C. Conservation Framework ^{footnote 13[13]}

• Goal 1: Contribute to global efforts for species and ecosystem conservation.
  • Priority:^{footnote 14[14]} 4 (2009)
• Goal 2: Prevent species and ecosystems from becoming at risk.
  • Priority: 6 (2009)
• Goal 3: Maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems.
  • Priority: 1 (200

• Action Groups: Compile Status Report; Monitor Trends; Planning; List under Wildlife Act; Send to COSEWIC; Habitat Protection; Habitat Restoration; Private Land Stewardship; Species and Population Management

3. Species information

3.1 Species description

Small-flowered lipocarpha is a small annual sedge. The stems and leaves are usually less than 10 cm long and are about 0.5 mm wide. The flowers are arranged in dense, oval spikes, each 2–6 mm long. There are 1–3 spikes on each stem, which are subtended by 1–3 leafy bracts. Each spike has numerous inconspicuous flowers. The reproductive structures are concealed by 1–2 mm long, short-tipped scales (Gleason and Cronquist 1991; Douglas and Ceska 2001).

3.2 Populations and distribution

Globally, small-flowered lipocarpha is found in South and Central America, and in Mexico. From Mexico northward, small-flowered lipocarpha is found in various states in the United States, with the main range being from Texas north to northwestern Ontario and to the east coast of the United States. There are disjunct populations in Florida, California, and British Columbia. The species is also known from the Galapagos Islands and Africa (COSEWIC 2002). In North America,^{footnote 15[15]} small-flowered lipocarpha is extant in 21 states and is also found in Ontario (two extant and two extirpated populations) and B.C (three extant and one extirpated population; Figure 1). Less than 1 % of the global range of this species is found in B.C. (Smith et al. 2004).

In B.C., small-flowered lipocarpha is only known from Okanagan and Osoyoos Lakes (Table 1; Figure 2), where there are three extant populations: one on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve along Osoyoos Lake (Smith et al. 2004), one on private land on the northwest shore of Osoyoos Lake (Willow Beach) discovered in 2007 (BC Conservation Data Centre 2010), and one on Okanagan Lake (in Sun-Oka Beach Provincial Park) discovered in 2002 (Smith et al. 2004). One population on the eastern shore of Osoyoos Lake (Smith et al. 2004) has been extirpated since 1985^{footnote 16[16]} (COSEWIC 2002; Smith et al. 2004).

A foreshore survey of Osoyoos Lake in 2009 (BC CDC 2011) identified nine high potential foreshore habitats where small-flowered lipocarpha could occur, although it was not observed in 2009 when the survey took place.

• ^o Populations are separated by at least 2 km from one another as defined by NatureServe (2004).
• ^p Subpopulations as defined by the Conservation Data Centre (CDC) are within 1 km of each other.
• ^q Observations of the plants previous year’s growth in May 2011 confirmed that this population was present in the summer of 2010 (K. Sadler, pers. comm. 2011).

3.3 Needs of small-flowered Lipocarpha

3.3.1 Habitat and biological needs

In B.C., small-flowered lipocarpha is found in the south Okanagan Valley in two biogeoclimatic zones: the Bunchgrass very dry hot subzone (BGxh1) and the Ponderosa Pine very dry hot subzone (PPxh1). Climate in the Bunchgrass zone is warm to hot with dry summers and moderately cold winters, and the Ponderosa Pine zone is the driest and warmest forested zone in B.C. (Meidinger and Pojar 1991).

In the south Okanagan, small-flowered lipocarpha inhabits moderately wave-washed sandy shores as well as interdunal swales that have seasonal flooding but are protected from high waves and strong currents (Smith et al. 2004). This species requires fluctuating water levels, germinating only during low water periods. As well, this species is not a strong competitor, and it requires open, sandy areas (Sabourin et al. 1992). The fluctuation of water levels helps to maintain the open nature of the sites that small-flowered lipocarpha inhabits (Smith et al. 2004).

On Osoyoos Lake, small-flowered lipocarpha habitat is either a narrow (usually < 2 m wide) strip along the lakeshore or in interdunal swales. Originally, most of the open, sandy shoreline of the lake would have been suitable habitat but has been lost to development (McIntosh 2010). Plants occur on almost level ground (1–2% slope) on medium to coarse sand and exposure ranges from west to south–southeast. Although small-flowered lipocarpha is found within the low dune habitats on the east side of Osoyoos Lake, it has not been found on the dunes along the northwest shore of this lake (McIntosh 2010).

The Sun-Oka Beach population on Okanagan Lake is found in a moist, sandy swale behind the main beach area near the tip of a sandspit. Here, most of the plants occur along the drier edges of the trail that runs through this depression. Awned cyperus (Cyperus squarrosus), a sedge on the provincial Blue list (B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2010), is found here alongside small-flowered lipocarpha, as well as at Osoyoos Lake.

3.3.2 Limiting factors

Small-flowered lipocarpha requires a narrow habitat niche that includes seasonally wet, sandy beaches or swales that are maintained by a fluctuating water regime (COSEWIC 2002; Smith et al. 2004). Fluctuating water levels are required to expose the seed bank allowing germination as the substrate dries out. As small-flowered lipocarpha does not thrive when subject to competition from other plants, it requires fairly open habitats as well as protection from strong waves (Smith et al. 2004).

4. Threats

Threats are defined as proximate (human) activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of biodiversity and natural processes. Threats can be historical, ongoing, and/or likely to occur in the future. Threats do not include intrinsic biological features of the species or population such as inbreeding depression, small population size, and genetic isolation, which are considered limiting factors.

4.1 Threat Assessment

The threat classification below is based on the ICUN-CMP (World Conservation Union-Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system and is consistent with methods used by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre and the Conservation Framework. For a detailed description of the threat classification system, see the CMP website (CMP 2010). For information on how the values are assigned or overall impact is calculated, see Master et al. (2009) and table footnotes for details. Threats for small-flowered lipocarpha were assessed for the entire province (Table 2).

• ^r Impact – The degree to which a species is observed, inferred, or suspected to be directly or indirectly threatened in the area of interest. The impact of each stress is based on Severity and Scope rating and considers only present and future threats. Threat impact reflects a reduction of a species population or decline/degradation of the area of an ecosystem. The median rate of population reduction or area decline for each combination of scope and severity corresponds to the following classes of threat impact: Very high (75% declines), High (40%), Medium (15%), and Low (3%).
• ^s Scope – Proportion of the species that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10 years. Usually measured as a proportion of the species’ population in the area of interest (Pervasive = 71–100%; Large = 31–70%; Restricted = 11–30%; Small = 1–10%).
• ^t Severity – Within the scope, the level of damage to the species from the threat that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10-year or three-generation timeframe. Usually measured as the degree of reduction of the species’ population: Extreme = 71–100%; Serious = 31–70%; Moderate = 11–30%; Slight = 1–10%.
• ^u Timing – High = continuing; Moderate = only in the future (could happen in the short term [< 10 years or 3 generations]) or now suspended (could come back in the short term); Low = only in the future (could happen in the long term) or now suspended (could come back in the long term); Insignificant/Negligible = only in the past and unlikely to return, or no direct effect but limiting.

4.2 Description of Threats

The overall province-wide Threat Impact for this species is Very High^{footnote 17[17]} The greatest threat is water management/use, which due to changes in seasonal water levels can affect the reproduction of this annual species (Table 2). Details are discussed under the IUCN level 1 headings.

IUCN #7. Natural system modification (7.2 Dams and water management/use)

For over half a century, Osoyoos Lake water levels have been controlled by a downstream dam in the United States. The water levels have been set by the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control established by Order of the International Joint Commission (IJC). However, they depend entirely, within certain limits, on the economic needs of downstream users in the United States. The status reports for both scarlet ammannia (Ammannia robusta) and toothcup (Rotala ramosior), rare plant species that are also found along Osoyoos Lake, state that both species are under potential threat of rising lake levels (Douglas and Oldman 1998; COSEWIC 1999). As well, for small-flowered lipocarpha, Sabourin et al. (1992) state that “…alteration of natural water level cycles could result in the destruction of the habitat required by Lipocarpha micrantha.” Further, COSEWIC (2002) says that “artificial manipulation of water levels also threatens viability of existing populations.” The Osoyoos Indian Reserve location for small-flowered lipocarpha occurs on and around a lagoon, the water level of which is directly related to the managed lake water levels. Water level is also controlled on Okanagan Lake, where the Sun-Oka Beach population occurs, so natural system modification is a potential threat at this site.

Disrupting the natural cycle of flooding and draw-down can degrade small-flowered lipocarpha habitat and lead to long-term habitat loss. Too many consecutive years of low water levels may lead to the invasion of small-flowered lipocarpha habitat by shrubs (especially willows), grasses, and other highly competitive species (COSEWIC 2002; T. McIntosh, pers. comm., 2010). However, if water levels were maintained at a higher level for a longer period of time in late summer, the seed bank would not be exposed and small-flowered lipocarpha may not germinate (COSEWIC 2002). Conversely, if lake water levels were maintained at a lower than normal level, small-flowered lipocarpha would not have sufficient moisture to allow it to develop to a reproductive state. Additionally, if the lake levels do not fluctuate naturally, there is evidence that persistent lake levels cause wave action to be at a constant elevation over this period of time. Constant wave action then destroys the habitat for small-flowered lipocarpha by removing the gently sloping habitat that small-flowered lipocarpha requires. The resulting cutbanks and erosion that occur are evident along the east shore of Osoyoos Lake (C. Bjork, T. McIntosh, pers. comm., 2010).

IUCN #1. Residential and commercial development (1.3 Tourism and recreation areas)

The majority of the shoreline along Osoyoos lakeshore (total of 28.5 km) has been altered over time as a result of either total or continual removal of all vegetation along the beach to create swimming beaches. Shoreline found within the Osoyoos Indian Reserve #1 (approximately 12.2 km) remains potential habitat for small-flowered lipocarpha (BC Conservation Date Centre 2011). A recent survey of the Osoyoos Lake shoreline in 2009 found nine potential habitat locations for this species (McIntosh 2010), some which are on private lands, and one that was within a recent development footprint (BC Conservation Data Centre 2010). There has not been a survey of Okanagan Lake specifically for this species. However, it is suggested that Okanagan Lake could provide new collections (COSEWIC 2002).

Shoreline development presents a threat to small-flowered lipocarpha and its habitat in British Columbia. If significant development occurred, particularly near the subpopulation on Osoyoos Lake that is in a lagoon, such development may irreversibly alter lagoon hydrology, and affect small-flowered lipocarpha occurrences (COSEWIC 2002).

As the small-flowered lipocarpha populations at Sun-Oka Beach, Okanagan Lake are in a provincial park, and as such are legally protected through provisions of the Parks Act, these populations are not under threat from development..

IUCN #8. Invasive and other problematic species and genes (8.1 Invasive and non-native/alien species; 8.2 Problematic native species)

Invasive non-native plants, such as common burdock (Arctium minus), great mullein (Verbascum thapsus), silverberry (Elaeagnus angustifolia), willow species (Salix spp.), and Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila),potentially threaten small-flowered lipocarpha by reducing available habitat and competing for resources (Smith et al. 2004; T. McIntosh, pers. comm., 2006). However, we do not know the severity of this threat. As well, efforts to control invasive plants through mechanical or chemical means may inadvertently harm extant and currently unknown populations or individuals of small-flowered lipocarpha. There have been removal efforts of invasive species on Osoyoos Indian Reserve lands at Osoyoos Lake in 2004–2007, but the program has been discontinued. It is not known whether this removal has had a positive effect on small-flowered lipocarpha populations. Fluctuating lake levels help restrict the encroachment by native plants into small-flowered lipocarpha habitat. However, if lake levels are kept at a constant height, there could be infill by native species (Smith et al. 2004).

Low impact threats

Other threats include trampling from cattle grazing at Osoyoos Lake (IUCN #2.3), and recreational activities (IUCN #6.1) such as all-terrain vehicle use, or by people using the beaches for swimming or boating, also resulting in trampling of plants at all locations..

5. Recovery goal and objectives

5.1 Population and distribution goal

The population and distribution goal for small-flowered lipocarpha is to maintain the distribution, and to maintain or improve the abundance of the three extant populations in B.C., as well as any other extant populations that may be identified or established.

5.2 Rationale for the population and distribution goal

This species was likely always rare in B.C. and recovery, in this case, constitutes ensuring no further populations become extirpated and establishing one new population to replace the single known extirpated population. Although threat mitigation will address many of the threats to the species, the limited amount of suitable habitat remaining means that the species will likely remain critically imperiled (S1) in B.C. Small-flowered lipocarpha is an annual species, therefore germination success and microhabitat favorability can vary between years. Specific targets for population numbers are difficult to identify reliably, owing to natural fluctuation in population numbers from year to year. Long-term survey data could potentially be used to indicate the natural variability of the populations and then help to determine population targets, however, this data is not available.

5.3 Recovery objectives

The recovery strategy has the following objectives:

1. to establish habitat protection for all known extant sites in B.C., with no loss or degradation of currently occupied habitat
2. to assess and mitigate the extent of the main threats (tourism and recreation development, dams and water management/use, invasive non-native species) to the three populations in B.C.
3. to confirm the distribution of small-flowered lipocarpha in B.C. (existing and new locations), and update recovery objectives as needed
4. to investigate the feasibility of establishing one new population in B.C. where there is suitable habitat, to compensate for the population extirpated in the province

6. Approaches to meet objectives

A multi-species recovery approach is recommended for small-flowered lipocarpha. This list includes toothcup (Rotala ramosior), scarlet ammannia (Ammannia robusta), and other provincially listed species in B.C. that share similar threats and have similar property ownership in the southern Okanagan Valley. Any activities for recovery could be done with the Southern Okanagan-Similkameen Conservation Program.

6.1 Actions already completed or underway

Actions listed below have been categorized by the action groups of the Conservation Framework (Ministry of Environment 2010b). Status of the action group for this species is given in brackets.

Compile status report (complete)

• COSEWIC status report completed (COSEWIC 2002)

Send to COSEWIC (complete)

• Small-flowered lipocarpha assessed as Endangered (COSEWIC 2002)

Planning (complete)

• B.C. Recovery Strategy completed (this document, 2011)

Habitat protection, habitat restoration, and private land stewardship (in progress)

• The Sun-Oka Beach site on Okanagan Lake, which is found within Sun-Oka Provincial Park and is protected by provisions of the Parks Act, has a park management plan (2003) in place. Although small-flowered lipocarpha is not specifically mentioned in the park management plan, the species is listed in the B.C. Parks Annual Management Planning (AMP) review for that park. As well, the occurrence at Sun-Oka Beach is identified in the BC Parks Conservation Risk Assessment database and would be considered in the BC Parks impact assessment process for any proposed development or activity in the park.
• Survey of the majority of suitable habitat on Osoyoos Lake conducted in 2009 (McIntosh).
• Invasive species removal at Osoyoos Lake by the Osoyoos Indian Band (funded by the Habitat Stewardship Program) from 2004 to 2007. As we are unaware if monitoring has taken place, it is unknown whether this removal has had a positive effect on small-flowered lipocarpha populations.
• A fence has been erected at Osoyoos Lake population by the Osoyoos Indian Band to reduce access and thereby limiting invasive species dispersal by humans, horses, or cattle, and eliminate habitat and population destruction by motorized vehicles. It is not known whether this has made a positive impact on the species survival and recovery.
• Water levels: There have been discussions with the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control and the small-flowered lipocarpha recovery team regarding potential research projects to determine the water-level requirements of the species during all life phases.

Monitor trends (in progress)

• Local botanists continue to monitor known sites and survey for new populations. In B.C., casual surveys have been conducted regularly since 1991, and one intensive search was conducted in 2001 (Smith et al. 2004).
• Observations of the plants previous year’s growth in May 2011 confirmed that this population was present in the summer of 2010 (K. Sadler, pers. comm. 2011).

6.2 Recovery planning table

• ^v Threat numbers according to the IUCN-CMP classification (see Table 2 for details).
• ^w Essential (urgent and important, needs to start immediately); Necessary (important but not urgent, action can start in 2–5 years); or Beneficial (action is beneficial and could start at any time that was feasible).

6.3 Narrative to support recovery planning table

Recommended actions have been categorized by the action groups of the Conservation Framework.

6.3.1 Habitat protection and private land stewardship

It is important to secure long-term protection for known populations of small-flowered lipocarpha. For the Osoyoos Lake populations on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve and private land, this could be achieved by establishing a stewardship program or stewardship agreement. The Sun-Oka Beach population is within a provincial park and so is provided protection under the Parks Act and existing park management tools. BC Parks needs to be provided with location data so sites can be protected through management planning in provincial parks, and operational staff need to be educated annually to learn about the species and its habitat.

B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLMNRO) will endeavour to work with BC Parks and First Nations to identify and conserve this species and its habitat.

Communication with the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control is necessary to ensure that the species’ needs are considered with respect to lake levels changes. As well, the appropriate agency should undertake assessment and mitigation for the species with respect to shoreline development. Surveys for new locations of small-flowered lipocarpha should take place in low water level years around the shores of Okanagan Lake, and other lakes in the Okanagan Valley that have potential habitat.

Providing protection of the habitat alone will not be sufficient to support the population and distribution objectives for small-flowered lipocarpha. Research is required to help better understand small-flowered lipocarpha habitat requirements. A collaborative approach to research is encouraged, with the academic community and the hydropower industry as potential partners.

6.3.2 Monitor trends

Monitoring small-flowered lipocarpha population trends and habitat status, including water level monitoring, should be completed at extant and any new occurrences. Successful monitoring will depend on surveying the populations at the right times of year as well as during times when the beaches are exposed (e.g., late summer to early fall, when water levels are low enough to allow seed germination, growth, flowering, and seed set), at reasonable intervals of time (perhaps covering the span of a growth season 2-3 years, as the number of plants can be highly variable depending on annual survey timing as well as between years), and taking regular water level readings at each occurrence.

Monitoring should also be designed to help determine the habitat requirements (e.g., soil texture, presence of organics), and suitable water level regime for small-flowered lipocarpha. As well, to determine the effect of competition by other plants, either native or invasive alien species encroachment, plot-based methods with cover estimates could be used to provide an indication of the tolerance of small-flowered lipocarpha.

Potential lakeshore development, both commercial and recreational, must be monitored with respect to small-flowered lipocarpha occurrences and habitat. Development may affect factors such as population numbers and distribution, adjacent hydrological dynamics, lakeshore water levels, invasive plant distribution, and available shoreline for small-flowered lipocarpha.

6.3.3 Species and population management

Research needs to be undertaken to determine if the extant populations require restoration and if an additional population can be re-established. If either is deemed appropriate, there needs to be additional research conducted on physical habitat requirements of small-flowered lipocarpha, seed production, seed bank germination rates and longevity, seed dispersal mechanisms, and seedling and juvenile development. The information obtained from these studies will contribute to population translocation/re-establishment efforts.

7. Information on habitat needed to meet recovery goal

Threats to small-flowered lipocarpha habitat have been identified and habitat appears to be limiting for this species. To meet the population and distribution goal for this species, it is recommended that specific habitat attributes be identified for small-flowered lipocarpha and locations of habitat are geospatially described on the landscape to facilitate management to mitigate habitat threats.

7.1 Description of survival/recovery habitat

Currently only general habitat requirements are known for small-flowered lipocarpha (shorelines of lakes and waterways that have natural flooding regimes, and soil of either mud, coarse sand; see Section 3.3.1). Specific habitat requirements for the species and the relationship of fluctuation water levels (particularly with respect to controlled water levels on Osoyoos Lake) still need to be determined, in combination with the effects of minor anthropogenic disturbance (e.g. trailside growth pattern at Sun-Oka Beach). When this outstanding work has been completed, it would be beneficial if the habitat needed for survival/recovery of the species was spatially identified for small-flowered lipocarpha in B.C. (see Section 7.2). At minimum, survival/recovery habitat should include the known area of occupancy for this species.

7.2 Studies needed to describe survival/recovery habitat

A schedule of studies outlining the work necessary to identify survival/recovery habitat is provided in Table 4.

8. Measuring progress

The performance indicators presented below provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution goal and recovery objectives. Performance measures are listed below for each objective.

Objective 1: Area of occupancy has not decreased in any of the three known populations, and population monitoring indicates that, by 2021, the annual numbers of flowering individuals falls within an acceptable range required for long-term persistence at sites^{footnote 18[18]}.

Objective 2: Impact of the three main threats (dams and water management use; tourism and recreation areas; invasive non-native species) to the populations has been investigated as well as mitigated by 2016.

Objective 3: Suitable habitat has been surveyed for new populations, and the status of existing and new locations has been confirmed by 2016.

Objective 4: Research has been conducted to determine feasibility of establishing one additional population by 2018.

9. Effects on other species

Regulating water levels to promote small-flowered lipocarpha habitat and germination will also benefit other seed bank species. In B.C., toothcup and scarlet ammannia (both nationally endangered) occupy similar habitats that may benefit from changes to water levels that are made to meet small-flowered lipocarpha needs.

10. References

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2010. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. B.C. Min. Environ., Victoria, BC. [Accessed Sept. 22, 2010]

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2011. Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System (BIOTICS). Information requested and obtained on Jan. 10, 2011. B.C. Min. Environ., Victoria, BC.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 1999. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the toothcup Rotala ramosior in Canada. Ottawa, ON. vi + 19 pp.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2002. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the small-flowered lipocarpha Lipocarpha micrantha in Canada. Ottawa, ON. vi + 16 pp.

Conservation Measures Partnership. 2010. Threats taxonomy. [Accessed Sept. 22, 2010]

Douglas, G.W. and A. Ceska. 2001. Cyperaceae. Pages 12–199 in G.W. Douglas, D. Meidinger, and J. Pojar, eds. Illustrated flora of British Columbia. Vol. 6. Monocotyledons (Acoraceae to Najadaceae). B.C. Min. Environ., Lands and Parks and B.C. Min. For., Victoria, BC. 361 p.

Douglas, G.W. and M.J. Oldham. 1998. Status report on scarlet ammannia (Ammannia robusta Heer & Regel). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa, ON. 19 pp.

Gleason, H.A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. N.Y. Botanical Garden, Bronx, N.Y.

Government of Canada. 2009. Species at Risk Act policies, overarching policy framework – draft. Min. Environ. [PDF - 644 KB], Ottawa, ON. 38 pp. [Accessed May 3, 2010]

Master, L., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Bittman, G.A. Hammerson, B. Heidel, J. Nichols, L. Ramsay, and A. Tomaino. 2009. NatureServe conservation status assessments: factors for assessing extinction risk. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. [Accessed Sept. 22, 2010]

McIntosh, T. 2010. Foreshore plant species at risk inventory, Osoyoos Lake, BC. Report prepared for B.C. Min. Environ. [Accessed Jan. 25, 2011]

Meidinger, D. and J. Pojar. 1991. Ecosystems of British Columbia. B.C. Min. For., Res. Branch, Victoria, BC.

Ministry of Environment. 2010a. British Columbia guide to recovery planning for species and ecosystems. B.C. Min. Environ., Victoria, BC. 32 pp. [Accessed Oct. 9, 2010]

Ministry of Environment. 2010b. Conservation framework. B.C. Min. Environ., Victoria, BC. [Accessed Sept. 22, 2010]

NatureServe. 2004. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life [web applicaton]. Version 7.1. Arlington, VA. Habitat-based plant occurrence deelimitation guidanc. 1 October 2004. [Accessed Oct. 25, 2010]

NatureServe. 2009. NatureServe explorer: an online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. Arlington, VA. [Accessed July 26, 2010]

Province of British Columbia. 1982. Wildlife Act [RSBC 1996] c. 488. Queen’s Printer, Victoria, BC. [Accessed July 26, 2010]

Province of British Columbia. 2002. Forest and Range Practices Act [RSBC 2002] c. 69. Queen’s Printer, Victoria, BC. [Accessed July 26, 2010]

Sabourin, A., M.J. Oldham, and D. Paquette. 1992. Status report on the small-flowered lipocarpha Lipocarpha micrantha (syn. Hemicarpha micrantha) in Canada. COSEWIC, Ottawa, ON.

Smith, T.W., G.W. Douglas, and A.G. Harris. 2004. Conservation Evaluation of Small-flowered Lipocarpha, Lipocarpha micrantha (Cyperaceae) in Canada. Can. Field-Nat. 118(2):179–184.

Personal communications

Curtis Bjork, Botanical consultant, Clearwater, BC.
Terry McIntosh, Botanical consultant, Vancouver, BC.
Kella Sadler, Senior Species at Risk Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, Delta, BC.