Piping plover (melodus subspecies) in various national parks: critical habitat description

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus melodus) is a migratory bird protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act as endangered. Within Canada, the Piping Plover (melodus subspecies) breeds in Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.), Quebec (Que.), Nova Scotia (N.S.), Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), and New Brunswick (N.B.). The Piping Plover (melodus subspecies) is a small, stocky shorebird with a total body length of 17–18 cm that is identifiable by its white belly, black band above its white forehead; black band across its breast, light grey to pale brown plumage on its back that resembles the color of dry sand, and a short bill that is orange with a black tip. Piping Plover (melodus subspecies) nest in early successional habitat characterized by a lack of dense vegetation on wide sand, gravel, or cobble beaches; barrier island sandspits; or peninsulas in marine coastal areas. The species typically arrives in eastern Canada beginning as early as the end of March, where they remain until fall migration in early September.

The Recovery Strategy for the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus melodus) in Canada (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=923) identifies critical habitat for the species in a number of areas, including a number of federal protected areas.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to subsection 58(2) of the Species at Risk Act, critical habitat of the Piping Plover (melodus subspecies) in Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area, N.B.; Portage Island National Wildlife Area, N.B.; Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada, N.B.; Kejimkujik National Park of Canada, N.S.; Gros Morne National Park of Canada, N.L. and Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada, P.E.I. is described as follows:

Any site with suitable habitat that has been occupied by at least one nesting pair of Piping Plovers (melodus subspecies) in at least one year since 1991 and that is listed in Appendix C of The Recovery Strategy for the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus melodus) in Canada.

Suitable habitat is early successional habitat characterized by a lack of dense vegetation on wide sand, gravel, or cobble beaches; barrier island sandspits; or peninsulas in marine coastal areas. Within these areas, suitable habitat is the area of the coastal zone extending from the low water mark and intertidal zone, up to the crest or peak of the vegetated dune (typically identified by the presence of marram/beach grass or other dune vegetation), and roughly approximated by the following habitat attributes: gently sloping foredunes; beach widths that afford protection from flooding at normal high tides; substrates of sand, gravel or cobble, or some combination of these; and foredunes that are either sparsely vegetated or relatively free of vegetation.

On barrier beaches or islands, critical habitat is comprised of the entire intertidal zone from the low water mark, sand flats, upper beach, dune, and associated habitats. On mainland beaches, critical habitat includes the entire area of suitable habitat including the intertidal zone from the low water mark, sand or mud flats and upper beach that normally include dune vegetation up to the crest or peak of the vegetated dune. Breaches that cross from the ocean to bays, low back shores, landward extensions of washovers, washover fans, sand fans, runs from ponds, and pond outlets are considered extensions of the beach habitat and therefore are critical habitat. When a distinct dune crest does not exist (i.e. where a dune is not present), the landward boundary of critical habitat extends to the line of permanent non-beach vegetation (e.g. marsh or bog vegetation, shrubs, trees, farmland) or another permanent physical structure (e.g. road, bridge, culvert, river).

Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area, N.B.

Those beaches located within the Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area, west of Highway 16, meet the description of critical habitat. The Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area is described in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations made pursuant to the Canada Wildlife Act and repeated herein as all those parcels of land in the County of Westmorland, in the Parish of Botsford, described as follows:

All those parcels dealt with on Plan 66182 in the Canada Lands Surveys Records at Ottawa and containing together about 554 hectares; Parcel 96-1 as shown on Survey Plan of Lands of Her Majesty in Right of Canada located on the north side of Highway 955, surveyed by Kenneth F. MacDonald, N.B.L.S., said plan filed with the Department of Public Works and Government Services as S-3838, a copy of which is recorded in the Canada Lands Surveys Records as FB 34121 and containing about 11.814 hectares; Lot 96-1 as shown on Survey Plan of Strait Crossing Development Inc. located on the north side of Highway 955 and on the east side of Trenholm Road No. 1, surveyed by Kenneth F. MacDonald, N.B.L.S., a copy of which is recorded in the Canada Lands Surveys Records as FB 34121 and containing about 64 hectares.

SAVING AND EXCEPTING:

Those parcels of land being more particularly described under Firstly, Secondly and Thirdly as follows:

Firstly:

All azimuths, distances and coordinates are referenced to the New Brunswick Stereographic Double Projection. All that parcel commencing at a point, said point being a survey marker situated on the easterly limit and the northerly limit of Parcel 92-2 as shown on Department of Supply and Services and of Public Works Plan S-2971, dated October 19, 1992, amended July 30, 1993, signed by D. E. Black, N.B.L.S., said point being shown on said plan as No. 9040 and said point having coordinates of East 505 184.913 metres and North 762 940.682 metres;

Thence following said easterly limit of Parcel 92-2, an azimuth of 289°32′37″, a distance of 127.091 metres to survey marker No. 9022;

Thence following a southerly limit of Parcel 92-2 as shown on said plan, an azimuth of 19°04′24″, a distance of 277.132 metres to survey marker No. 9044 at the beginning of a curve to the right having a radius of 1,722.807 metres;

Thence following said curve to the right having a radius of 1,722.807 metres for an arc distance of 77.993 metres to a point;

Thence on an azimuth of 179°41′12″, a distance of 377.546 metres to the point of commencement; Said parcel containing about 2.28 hectares.

Secondly:

Parcels 98-1, 98-3 and 98-4 as shown on Plan of Survey of Parcels 98-1, 98-3 and 98-4 being Lands of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, surveyed by Kenneth F. MacDonald, N.B.L.S., said plan filed with the Department of Public Works and Government Services as S-4047, a copy of which is recorded in the Canada Lands Surveys Records as Plan 81719 and containing together about 4.901 hectares;

Thirdly:

Parcels 98-2 and 98-5 as shown on Plan of Survey of Parcels 98-1, 98-2, 98-3, 96-2-A, and 98-5 and associated easements Parcels 98-1-E, 96-2-E, and 92-3-E, being Lands of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, surveyed by Kenneth F. MacDonald, N.B.L.S., said plan filed with the Department of Public Works and Government Services as S-4094, a copy of which is recorded in the Canada Lands Surveys Records as FB 34121 and containing together about 1.625 hectares. The remainder containing about 621 hectares.

Portage Island National Wildlife Area, N.B.

All beaches located within the Portage Island National Wildlife Area meet the description of critical habitat. The Portage Island National Wildlife Area is described in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Area Regulations made pursuant to the Canada Wildlife Act and repeated herein as the whole of the parcel of land, in the County of Northumberland, in the Parish of Alnwick, known as Portage Island or Wattham Island; said parcel containing about 451 hectares (1 114 acres).

Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada, Kejimkujik National Park of Canada, Gros Morne National Park of Canada and Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada

The area within which critical habitat is found in national parks is described below. Please refer to biophysical attributes described above to help locate critical habitat within the following areas.

Province Beach Longitude (W) Latitude (N) Description based on National Topographic Series (NTS)
Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada
N.B. North Kouchibouguac Dune 64.912 46.864 Beach associated with North Kouchibouguac Dune, bounded to the north by the northern extent of Pré à Germain and to the south by the channel Little Gully, as identified on the NTS map 21 I/15 (Edition 3, published in 1993)
N.B. Pointe Sapin Dune 64.873 46.933 Beach bounded to the north by northern extent of the park boundary, and to the south by the outflow of the Rivière au Portage into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as identified in NTS map 21 I/15 (Edition 3, published in 1993)
N.B. Portage River Dune 64.898 46.898 Beach bounded to the north by the outflow of the Rivière au Portage into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and to the south by North Kouchibouguac Dune, as identified on the NTS map 21 I/15 (Edition 3, published in 1993)
N.B. South Kouchibouguac Dune 64.893 46.808 Beach associated with South Kouchibouguac Dune, bounded to the north by the channel Little Gully and to the south by the channel Goulet de Saint-Louis, as identified on the NTS map 21 I/15 (Edition 3, published in 1993)
N.B. Tern Islands 64.874 46.778 Beach associated with the cluster of islands bounded to the north by the channel Goulet de Saint-Louis and to the south by the channel Goulet de Terre Noire, as identified on the NTS map 21 I/15 (Edition 3, published in 1993)
Kejimkujik National Park of Canada -- Seaside
N.S. Little Port Joli Bay 64.810 43.861 Beach separating Little Port Joli Basin from the bay of Little Port Joli, bounded to the west by Deadmans Rock and to the east by the eastern-most tip of the beach, as identified on the NTS map 20 P/15 (Edition 3, published in 2000)
N.S. St. Catherines River 64.829 43.842 Beaches associated with St. Catherines River Beach, bounded to the southwest by the western-most point of where the trail head first meets beach, and to the northeast by the eastern-most tip of the beach, as identified on the NTS map 20 P/15 (Edition 3, published in 2000)
Gros Morne National Park of Canada
N.L. Shallow Bay Beach 57.755 49.948 Beach adjacent to Shallow Bay, bounded to the north by Lower Head and to the south by the park boundary in Cow Head Harbour, as identified on the NTS map 12 H/13 (Edition 3, published in 1990)
Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada
P.E.I. Blooming Point 63.007 46.415 Beach and barrier islands located on the westward peninsula north of Blooming Point and adjacent to Tracadie Bay, and as identified as Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/07 (Edition 4, published in 1990) and extending onto NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Cavendish Sandspit 63.446 46.506 Beach and barrier islands associated with the westward sandspit located immediately west of Cavendish Beach, and that bounds the northern extent of New London Bay, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Clarkes Pond 63.40 46.50 Beach located between the northern extent of Clarkes Pond to Lake of Shining Waters and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, bounded to the west by the western extent of Clarkes Pond and to the east by the eastern extent of Lake of Shining Waters, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Covehead 63.166 46.430 Beach associated with the eastern portion of Brackley Beach, bounded to the west by northern extension of McMillan Point and to the east by the causeway that crosses the Covehead Bay outflow, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Robinsons Island Sandspit 63.271 46.446 Beach located on Robinsons Island, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Rustico Island Causeway 63.227 46.434 Beach adjacent to the causeway that links Robinsons Island with Brackley Beach, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Ross Lane 63.127 46.427 Beach associated with eastern portion of Stanhope Beach, bounded to the west by intersection of the seashore and northern extension of unnamed road passing through Stanhope by the Sea and to the east by Long Pond confluence with the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Shaws Beach 63.192 46.430 Beach associated with Brackley Beach, bounded to the west by Highway 15 and to the east by the northern extension of McMillan Point, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Stanhope 63.096 46.420 Stanhope Beach, bounded to the west by intersection of the seashore and the northern extension of Highway 25 at Stanhope Bayshore and to the east by intersection of the seashore and the northern extension of unnamed road passing through Stanhope by the Sea as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)
P.E.I. Stanhope Cape 63.141 46.431 Beach associated with Cape Stanhope, bounded to the west by the causeway that crosses the Covehead Bay outflow and to the east by northern extension of Highway 25 at Stanhope Bayshore, as identified on the NTS map 11 L/06 (Edition 6, published in 2001)

Note: the coordinates provided in this table are intended to orient the reader to the general location of a given beach. They are not intended to mark the exact centre of the beaches, which are part of dynamic coastal systems and change from time to time. Critical habitat exists at these beaches where the biophysical attributes for identification of critical habitat have been met.

November 5, 2012

ROBERT MCLEAN
Executive Director
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada

JEFF ANDERSON
Superintendent
Western Newfoundland and Labrador Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency

LINDA FRANK
Superintendent
Mainland Nova Scotia Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency

ROBERT MOREAU
Superintendent
Northern New Brunswick Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency

JEWEL CUNNINGHAM
Superintendent
Prince Edward Island Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency

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