Critical habitat is proposed for the Morrison Creek Lamprey in Morrison Creek, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Morrison Creek Lamprey is currently listed as Endangered in Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. The Morrison Creek Lamprey is endemic to Morrison Creek and any habitat that is critical for the survival and recovery for this species, must be afforded protection. Given the small size of the Morrison Creek drainage, the distribution of habitats for various life stages of the Morrison Creek Lamprey, the importance of consistent cold water to the continued survival of the species within the creek, and the extreme endemism of this species the critical habitat for the Morrison Creek Lamprey is recommended as the headwaters for the Morrison Creek watershed, Morrison Creek and Arden Creek in its entirety, and a riparian area of between 10 and 30 metres.

"The Western Brook Lamprey - Morrison Creek Population (Lampetra richardsoni), hereafter referred to as Morrison Creek Lamprey, was assessed by COSEWIC as Threatened in April 1999. In May 2000, the species' status was re-examined by COSEWIC and designated Endangered, and subsequently listed under the Species at Risk Act as Endangered in June 2003. In July of 2007 the final Recovery Strategy for the Morrison Creek Lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni var. marifuga) in Canada (NRTMCL 2007) was posted to the Species at Risk Public Registry. An updated COSEWIC assessment in 2010 confirmed the species' status as Endangered. The recovery goal as identified in the Recovery Strategy for this species is to "secure its long-term viability within its natural range." This report documents the progress of Recovery Strategy implementation for Morrison Creek Lamprey. It summarizes progress that Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Province of British Columbia's Ministry of Environment, and other interested parties have made towards achieving the goal and objectives set out in the Recovery Strategy including: conducting new research and monitoring activities (including advancing studies to support the identification of critical habitat); and completing management activities that help Canadians reduce impacts on, and better understand the threats to, Morrison Creek Lamprey"--Executive summary.

"Passive downstream traps were placed in the main stem and headwaters of Morrison Creek, Courtenay, BC as a part of ongoing monitoring of Morrison Creek Lamprey, a federally-listed endangered lamprey species found only in the Morrison Creek watershed. The total numbers of lamprey trapped were low; however, they are comparable to the results of other trapping studies since 2011. Although methods are the same, catches remain much lower than those reported in the late 1970s and 1980s when the population was discovered. The causes of this decline in catch are unknown. Recommendations are to continue monitoring the population both in the main stem and headwaters through trapping studies and, using our best knowledge, ensure the habitat is maintained in a manner which supports the functions of the population and mitigates the effects of harm"--Abstract, page v.