Cowichan Watershed Board

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • YouTube
MENUMENU
  • About
    • Indigenous Co-governance
    • Our Principles
    • Board Members
    • Staff Team
    • Non-Profit Society
    • Supporters (Coming Soon)
    • Contact Us
  • Targets
    • Water Quality
    • Estuary Health
    • Salmon Sustainability
    • Wise Water Use
    • Watershed IQ
    • Water Flows
    • Riparian Plants
    • Target Working Groups
  • Projects
    • Koksilah Low Flow
    • Twinned Watersheds Project
      • Riparian Plants
      • Indigenous Flows
      • Fish Habitats
      • Big Dancing Fish
    • Weir Ready (Coming Soon)
    • River Cleanup (Coming Soon)
    • Speakers Series
    • Past Projects (Coming Soon)
      • Water Challenge (Coming Soon)
      • Superheroes (Coming Soon)
  • Library
    • Board Meetings
    • Governance Documents
    • Maps
    • Media
    • Presentations
    • Videos
    • Reports
      • CWB Reports
      • Other Reports
    • All Library Items
  • Latest News
You are here: Home / content / Critical Habitat Designated for Cowichan Lake Lamprey

Critical Habitat Designated for Cowichan Lake Lamprey

December 2, 2020 by Jill Thompson

By Joy Wade, Fundy Aqua Services

Cowichan Lake lamprey are a species of fish found only in Mesachie, Bear and Cowichan Lakes, and nowhere else in the world. This parasitic fish species is one of only about 38 lamprey species worldwide.

Cowichan Lake lamprey was designated “special concern” in 1986 and after reassessment was designated “threatened” under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003.  The animal itself has protections under the act and as of February 2020, the habitat critical for their survival also became protected.  Critical habitat for this species includes Cowichan, Mesachie and Bear lakes themselves, as well as portions of key rivers and tributaries flowing into these lakes. Riparian areas varying from 15 to 30m width are also included as critical habitat. 

This means it is now prohibited under the Act to kill, harm or harass the fish itself and it is prohibited to destroy or damage nests and critical habitat. If anyone conducts these prohibited activities, charges can be laid under SARA. So if you are planning on changing riparian areas around the lake or disturbing sediment which may be a lamprey nest you may need a permit under the Fisheries Act as well as SARA first.

To learn more about the critical habitat and specific locations see: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/documents/3326. 

For information regarding development activity, email ReferralsPacific@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Call DFO’s Observe Record Report line (1-800-465-4336) when you see potential infringements to the species and its habitat.

Download here with photos

Filed Under: content

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Click image for Board Meeting Agenda Packages

CWB members-partial-2022

2022 Cowichan Watershed Board Members (5 members absent)

Cowichan Lake Weir Updates (Click image)

Final Design Concept image

Cowichan Lake Weir Updates (Click image)

Deep Dive! A story series about our Watershed.

The Discourse

Click for Cowichan Watershed feature stories from The Discourse.

Why Fish Need Water

Why Fish Need Trees

Latest News

  • Photos and Links from “Safeguarding XPey'” Speaker Night
  • Speakers Series Resumes! Mon March 20th 7pm.
  • Province invests $100 million for Watershed Security Fund and co-development of watershed security strategy
  • Watershed strategy co-developed with First Nations, $100 million invested

Sign up for E-News!

Board Meeting Notifications

Event Notifications

CWB Website

Home
About Us
Contact
Cowichan Basin Water Management Plan
Documents & Presentations
Privacy
Terms

Targets

Water Quality
Estuarine Health
Salmon Sustainability
Water Use
Watershed IQ
Water Supply
Riparian Area Protection

Cowichan Watershed

Introduction
Cowichan Lake
Quamichan & Somenos Lakes
Cowichan Estuary
The Weir

Logo Email

info@cowichanwatershedboard.ca

Mailing Address
4335 Riverside Road
Duncan, BC, V9L 6M8

Copyright © 2023 Cowichan Watershed Board - All Rights Reserved. | Design by MAC5 | Maintained by Shawn DeWolfe Consulting

sponsor logo
The Cowichan Watershed Board (CWB) gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the above organizations.