At-risk aquatic acrobat brings national recognition to small northern stream

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Peter Soroye
Key Biodiversity Areas Assessment and Outreach Coordinator

Published

2026-03-04

Two Tree River, a small waterway on St. Joseph Island in the Lake Huron watershed near Sault Ste. Marie, has been identified as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), thanks to the presence of a unique aquatic acrobat.

The area joins a national network of sites that are critical to the persistence of Canada’s most exceptional biodiversity.

This quiet river holds a distinction found nowhere else in the country: it supports Canada’s northernmost population of Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus), an acrobatic minnow famous for being the only minnow species in Canada that leaps out of the water to catch flying insects. With its bright red stripe, short lifespan, and unusual habit of using the nests of other fish species for spawning, Redside Dace is one of Canada’s most distinctive small fishes, and one of its most threatened.

Redside Dace has disappeared from many of its historical streams as habitat has been altered or lost. Habitat degradation associated with urbanization is considered the most important cause of the species’ decline, especially where waterways have been straightened, warmed, or stripped of the vegetation that supports their insect prey. Two Tree River is one of the least human-influenced habitats where the species still lives in largely intact conditions that allow it to feed and reproduce.

For a species that has vanished from many developed landscapes, this small northern river now represents an important stronghold and an opportunity to keep a remaining population healthy while supporting ongoing research into the conditions the species needs to thrive.

“Two Tree River is a stronghold for one of the coolest fish in Canada, and a great example of what we are trying to achieve with the KBA program – recognizing the underappreciated and lesser-known sites that are critical for supporting unique Canadian biodiversity. We’re glad to shine a light on this special area and the great conservation going on around it with the KBA designation.” - Peter Soroye, KBA Assessment & Outreach Coordinator, WCS Canada.

“We are thrilled to see Two Tree River recognized on a national stage for its ecological significance, and the Central Algoma Land Trust was proud to co-propose this KBA alongside WCS Canada. As we grow our conservation footprint, having a science-based tool like this designation is invaluable for our long-term planning. By identifying this river as a stronghold for the Redside Dace, we can better prioritize our future land protection efforts and work more effectively with the community to keep this unique northern population thriving.” - Carter Dorscht, Executive Director, Central Algoma Land Trust.

The Central Algoma Land Trust is currently integrating the Two Tree River KBA into its land protection strategies, with the long-term goal of securing permanent protection for key portions of this critical habitat. While identifying these future conservation opportunities, the land trust is already documenting the area’s biodiversity through iNaturalist to build a clearer picture of the river’s health and the many other wildlife species that benefit from the habitat it provides.

Although the KBA designation does not create legal protection, it provides a science-based tool that can guide stewardship, land-use planning, and conservation priorities in the region.