#ActForTomorrow: Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems

Courtney Beneteau has always had a strong passion for sustainability and preserving aquatic ecosystems. As the Lead Fisheries Biologist on RVA’s Ecological Services team, resident Freshwater Mussel Specialist, and one of RVA’s Certified Inspectors of Sediment and Erosion Control (CAN-CISEC), she works at the intersection of science, conservation, and engineering.

With a Master’s degree from the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor, she specialized in conservation genetics of Species at Risk (SAR) fish, work that now supports her use of emerging tools like environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify species not detected in traditional surveys.

Courtney’s background in environmental science shapes her understanding of sustainability, which she believes is strongly connected to biodiversity. She explains that everything is interconnected, when we protect and make space for whole ecosystems, we are ultimately protecting ourselves; as we all breathe the same air and drink the same water.

Much of her work focuses on protecting one of the world’s most imperiled and least talked about taxa: freshwater mussels. In Ontario, Canada, 41 native species of mussel quietly anchor themselves in rivers and lakebeds, filtering water and supporting aquatic life. Freshwater mussels are fascinating animals that depend on specific fish host species for larvae maturation. This commensal relationship is crucial for the mussels’ survival and a great example of interconnectedness. Early in her fisheries career, she had the distinct pleasure of working with the late Dr. Gerald Mackie, who helped shape her understanding and love for freshwater mussels.

When a proposed construction project intersects with the habitat of SAR mussels, Courtney gets to work with environmental agencies to acquire permits. A mussel relocation, she explains, is essentially a rescue mission. “We are basically rescuing the mussels from the footprint of a work area and moving them to a safe habitat, so the construction project does not accidentally harm them.” Because mussels are sedentary, they cannot escape on their own.

The actual process of relocating mussels is no small feat. The entire prescribed search area is surveyed one square metre at a time and mussels are collected, tagged, moved to a pre-surveyed location, and then monitored for two years.

According to Courtney, some of the most rewarding projects are those that visibly restore aquatic connectivity, especially by replacing undersized or perched culverts with clear span bridges. Watching a design come to life and then confirming ecological improvements post-construction is, she says, “very rewarding.”

As a specialist in the field, she believes protecting freshwater biodiversity begins with awareness. “A lot of people don’t even know about native freshwater mussels,” she says. Understanding concepts like the web of life helps people appreciate how connected everything truly is. At the project level, she points to improving wastewater effluent, removing fish migration barriers, enhancing riparian buffers, and reducing sediment loading with proper erosion and sediment controls. At the individual level, people can limit their use of synthetic fibres that contribute to microplastics that contaminate our freshwater systems, plant trees, and convert lawns into wild spaces filled with native shrubs and flowers.

In RVA’s larger environmental initiatives, she sees education as a powerful driver of change, “People can’t protect what they don’t know exists,” she says. Helping others recognize the species and ecosystems around them is, as she puts it, “a big part of our job as ecologists working in the engineering and construction sectors.” Through careful planning, detailed fieldwork, and a commitment to raising awareness, Courtney’s work continues to protect aquatic ecosystems. Working in an environment where change can take years can be discouraging, but she stays grounded in knowing that her work and that of her team is making a difference.