Glimmer of Hope for Endangered Beetle

Landowners Dave Dansereau and Tim Green are cautiously optimistic about progress from a meeting with the MNR, potentially saving them from the $200,000 cost of protecting a rare beetle.

Dansereau and Green are the owners of the Scone Dam, near Chesley, the only known place that Hungerford's crawling water beetle exists in Canada.

"It's continuing harassment." Dansereau says. "They're shirking their duties to protect a species and passing the buck onto the land owner."

The Ministry of Natural Resources requires the owners to sign a new Water Management Plan. This could leave the owners with a $200,000 expense for restoration and preservation.

The Sun Times previous coverage of the story detailed how the land owners and the MNR have been at odds over the years regarding the status and preservation of the beetle.

Dansereau and Green have attempted to sell the land to the MNR or have it designated as a protected habitat; efforts the owners say have been stalled due to a lack of co-operation from the Ministry.

The owners and the MNR came to an impasse, and agreed to meet for a private discussion that took place on November 6^th.

"They agreed to do more research on the beetle and have further discussions with me after Christmas." Dansereau said via e-mail. "I believe your original article was extremely helpful."

A representative from the MNR confirmed this information, but would not discuss the specifics of the private meeting.

MNR representatives stated that the hydro electric facilities located at the dam are known as "pulsing" power generators. The ministry is currently studying pulsing power systems and if they are a danger to the environment.

"Waterpower producers will not be compensated if it is found that existing operations are causing ongoing degradation of the riverine ecosystem and changes in level and flow operations are required." the MNR said via e-mail.

Pulsing water systems hold back the flow of water and release it in a gush or "pulsing" pattern to generate energy. The ministry prefers a free flow system, which doesn't interrupt the natural flow of water.

"I don't think they're going to find any evidence of damage." Dansereau said in response. "This facility has been here for 150 years. The Department of Fisheries has already concluded there's no damage."

The owners also say that the hydro facility in the dam runs on free river flow most of the time, only using a "pulsing" system for about a week this past summer.

Dansereau now plans to apply for funding to the new Endangered Species Protection Act with the provincial government. The act has a fund of over $15 Million it will use in order to acquire land for the purpose of wildlife protection. Dansereau hopes for the MNR's support in his application.

The MNR has stated that Dansereau's application will not be given special treatment, but will go through the same screening process as any other application.

"Endorsement by a local district office will not ensure that the project is funded." according to the official statement. "Applications for funding are ranked according to priority and species significance across the province of Ontario and funded accordingly."

"I'm fine with that." says Dansereau. "If those are the criteria being used, I'm in a great position. The ministry's own information classifies the beetle at the highest possible ranking of rareness. It doesn't get any rarer."

Hungerford's is protected as an endangered species in the U.S., but has never been officially recognized as endangered in Canada.